Techniques for belly shooting buffs

[dtango]

I was on last night and ran into quite a few buffs- mainly B-17's and Lancs while riding in a P-51D.  I tried a different technique that I've seen before used on attacking bombers which is to approach from the rear hemisphere and from below to try and get a belly shot on the bomber.  (Albeit this works well against Lancs & B26's while the B17 and its ball turret can give you some problems.)

Anyhow, I really sucked at this.  As I pull into my climb and try to track and shoot the bomber I invariably seem to misjudge the lead and shoot behind the bomber, and depending on my E either blow my pass or end up hanging there nice and slow to be riddled by those cursed brownings or .50's in the tail.

What visual cues do people use to time the pull up and also to position for proper lead?  

Am I pulling up to late and too steeply?

Is this a lousy technique to use?

[SKurj]

I have infinetly more luck attacking from directly above, keep speed high, make the attack and zoom away for another pass.


Salvo

[Soda]

Belly attacking B17's isn't a great idea, too many guns can get you and your speed probably isn't enough to save you.  In any case, when I try this method against Lancs I tend to try to let the Lanc fly through the bullets rather than aiming for it directly.  Aim out infront, open fire just as you think the bomber will pass through the bullets and hope to heck you do some damage.  Immediately be ready to roll back way from the tail gun so you don't pop up D50 off his tail so he can bag you.

With some practice it works alright.  Let yourself get directly under the bomber before pulling up or you'll come up behind him and end up in a suicide tail chase.

-Soda

[Tac]

for belly shots, look straight UP and have the buff at d1.1 straight above you. then climp on wep... a steep climb. hit it with a snapshot in the wing if you can, then do a rollover over the top of the buff and dive back down to d1.5.

works wonders against b26 and lancs that DONT turn.

[dtango]

Thanks for the tips guys.

SKurl- I think after my miserable attempts at belly attacks, a diving attack is my preference now.  The climbing attack is pretty hard to master.  Its hard to keep your orientation with the lack of references since you are pointed up and all you see is blue sky and nothing else to give you a/c attitude cues.

Soda- suicide tail chase is an apt way to describe it.  I don't know, I need to practice restraint :-P.  I get too easily suckered into doing that.  I think that I'll blow by without taking too many hits when I do that.  Invariably 70% of the time I get killed and end up cursing myself for being a dweeb while 30% I kill the bomber and live to tell about it.  What's the quote?- "Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results."

Tac- thanks for the the tips on how you setup the attack.  Also, trying to saw off a wing with your bullets sounds much better than trying to turn the fuselage into swiss cheese.  

[-ammo-]

Gonna agree with skurj. The only way i attack buffs anymore is from high and fast. Dont try to correct much during your pass either, better to cash in all that speed and zoom out AHEAD of the bomber. This sets you up for another pass. Do not slow down to get you guns on him longer, do not push your  rudder and ailerons hard during your pass. Just judge your speed and your angle correctly in the beginning and pass and zoom, repeat. Try this and and see if it works for you as well as for me and my squad.

ammo

[loser]

i agree with not attacking buffs from the belly, especially the b17...

i fly the 17 alot and besides a straight and level 6 attack,, the belly attack is the easiest to deal with.

when attacking from above, it is much easier to jink or go knife edge (which provides a much smaller target.)  however the belly atack is usually performed with your wings // to the horizon,, which gives the buff gunner full view of your wing tips and horizontal stab.  

this disadvatange is in addition to the fact that unless you have tons of speed, you are going to stall out within spitting distance of the buff guns.

[Fastbikkel]

S! to you all,


My safest way to attack a b17 is to line up with it, fly 1.3k above it, pass it, make a split S and let ur guns rip.

This way you are denying the bomber any good chance of aiming. This is more easy for you (the attacker) because the b17 is a lot bigger than your fighter.

A b26 or a lanc is easy, just shoot his belly  

Greetings,


JG5FaBi.