Next time we run this, you guys might wanna reconsider what is a "rear" base and whats a "Frontline" base.
The closest German rear base to the channel is less than 5 minutes flying time from the Channel, while the Allies closest is A1 or A2. I went through a full half tank getting to Calais in a P-38J coming from the farthest forward I could find it- while the Germans can take up the recently enabled stuff from their "rear" bases, get to 20,000 feet and fly around 2 sectors into England by the time the Allies can get to the channel coast.
I know its supposed to simulate the fact that the Allies had to fly a long ways to get into combat while the Germans were over their own territory, but I think thats a big part of why we see nothing but Spitfires 90% of the time, no matter what stage of the war we are in. Right now only the Spit VIII, Spit IX and P-47D11 are available within 1 sector of the channel. The whole last time we had this setup, and so far in this one, I never saw a P-38, and only twice engaged a P-51 last time.
Some of us (myself and I won't name names
) have gotten so sick of the endless stream of Spits that we've stopped fighting them altogether. As soon as we see the "SPIT" icon, we just reverse and leave. I have actually been flying the MA more lately, where theres actually the odd chance that I'll get to fight something different. In fact I fought more American planes in one night of the Main last night than in the past month in the AvA, which is pretty sad considering we've had an ETO setup the whole time.
Personally I would love to see a USAAF vs LW tour with no Spits, Hurris, Typhoons or Tempests, but I know it'll never happen