How best to kill the B-26?

[Oldman731]

This is a bona fide question.  What's the best way to attack the B-26?

- oldman

[Boozer]

I like to attack from high 10 or 2 and just clip off  1 wingtip

[Cobra412]

I find the B-26's alot tougher to down than the B-17's.  I tend to be very cautious in what attack I use.  For starters never move parallel with the group while attacking unless your out of guns range.  Unless your going in with wingmen it's not wise to go in at the 6 or 12 O'clock as did the Germans.  There's quite a few tactics that can be used and that can be found at Combat SIm Website.

Many like to come up from the belly due to the lack of a belly turrett.  I prefer to come in at the high 2 and 10 O'clock positions.  Coming across the nose of th lead and then across the wings of the number 2 bomber.  Use something with cannons and great BnZ capabilities as they are still tough to take down.  You need to zoom down and away from guns range then zoom back up to attack alt again.  Depending on what plane your using it may take 2 to 3 passes to drop them all.

[B17Skull12]

i personally like to spot from atleast 6k above dive directly on its six, hit wep while diving get to 500 mph, fire my 30mm a tad above the normal D300 shot and then hold fire for half and keep nose down, and hope that he blows up.  I like slashing the think.

[Ghosth]

B26 has enough speed to make attacking it in slower planes a risky business.

Stay fast, stay out of dead 6, high slashing attacks that don't blow your E are best.

Wingtips are still the best target, and mix up your routine. IE if first attack is from high 4 my second run will be from low 9.

If you do get back behind him do NOT stay still, keep your plane moving from side to side, curving up, down, etc.

[AmRaaM]

on the ground

[hogenbor]

I consider myself a fairly good shot (especially since I got some succes with the g-10's 30mm) but how people can consistently hit wingtips is beyond me.

B-26's are tough, front quarter attacks as described above work best but you need a LOT of speed/energy for that, and when you are chasing a B-26 there might not be enough time.

NEVER attack from dead six when slowly gaining, you will die if the pilot is any good.

When I attack them with a G-10 I  build a bit of altitude, get a LOT of speed with WEP, dive under them well outside gun range and loop under him (difficult). If you pull it off you get a beautiful planview shot.  Timing is everything. Don't collide and make sure you have enough E to pull some G when you pass through the formation (it makes you almost impossible to hit).

I once screwed up and ended up on the low six of the lead ship... enough to squeeze off 7 30mm's of which a least 4 actually hit the B-26 in the fuselage... but nothing happened. Upside down & out of E I helplessly drifted in the rear firing cone of the B-26 for a few seconds and was shot down.

[68KO]

The best way that works for me is to come up from underneath they have no protection. If they are a good pilot and on the deck protecting there weakness you come in right on top of them.

[Urchin]

I think I do it just like the Germans did, against all the bombers.  Run parallel and slightly above them (hold at about 2k distance), until you get about 2500-3000 yards in front.  At that point, you've got 2 options.  You either turn in for the head-on, typically not a direct headon because that'll get you killed.. but it is basically a headon.  Or, what I do is climb until I am almost directly overhead (slightly in front is good), then dive straight down on one bomber... make your pass, pull through going in the same direction as the bombers, use your speed to set up for another run.  

B26s are harder to kill than B17s, mostly because it takes longer to set up for a good attack on them.

[Kommandant]

Originally posted by AmRaaM
on the ground

I actually find the best Plane is the Yak9T and the best Tactic is straight down, or straight up. Aim for the wings and one shot with its nose cannon will rip off a wing.

[Widewing]

I don't know about anyone else, but I prefer baiting them into chasing me thru hangers..Works every time.

My regards,

Widewing

[Seeker]

They are defenceless from either lower front quater; but it takes a well aimed pursuit curve to do it.

Practise off line; you should be able to consistently do it against the drones before trying it on line; as a miss leads to a ram or death

In effect; it's a degree of head on. You know you like it :-)

Belly is also vulnerable; and an easier shot than the front quarters; but getting into position is more risky; again; it's best done from the front ; but you risk a ram if your timing's off.

[JB73]

tag team.

yaw-slide shot.

direct from below (Jaws attack).

stats for this tour:
jb73 has 20 kills and has been killed 1 time against the B-26B
last tour:
jb73 has 16 kills and has been killed 3 times against the B-26B.

they do work. just practice.

[Steve]

I prefer to attack from straight below as well.  Pulled off correctly, the enemy will get little opportunity to wax you.  I shoot the wings off.

[AKcurly]

Originally posted by Steve
I prefer to attack from straight below as well.  Pulled off correctly, the enemy will get little opportunity to wax you.  I shoot the wings off.

Won't work against an alert b26 pilot, Steve.  When he sees someone trying to set up a belly attack, all he has to do is fly level and wait until you are about d1.0 and climbing up.  At that point, he hits alt-x, gets in the rear gun and you're history: His tail gun is pointed straight at you.

The only safe attack against a b26 is forward and above, diving down or off a front quarter and up a bit and make a slashing attack when you reach about d2.5.

Oh, btw, the front quarter attack will get you killed against a b17.

curly