Well the plane in question was not even a B17 "flying fortress", Nor was it a lancaster, I think they were JU88s. The CV had all guns operational as it had just spawned from the last time the same guy sunk it.
Apparently this pilot has found some way to make his plane super tuff, this was not his first "how the hell is he still flying?" sortie I witnessed. Couple more instances like this & I will completely avoid attacking buffs.
Anton