Taking Down Bombers

[Pacifica]

Let's say you know that a few formations of enemy bombers are 10 minutes out from your field... what do you fly and why?

Do you aim for a certain part of the buff when you approach? I usually aim for an engine and unload, hoping it catches fire or a wing breaks off. I'm wondering if this is the most effective way-- or there's a better way to take them down and conserve ammo (especially when there's a few formations, and you wanna take as many down as possible)

Also, what is your strategy at approaching them? I know some guys like coming from above sideways, some like coming straight down at them from directly below them, etc...

[Husky01]

What do you fly?  ME-262

Why?  Fast heavy fire power 4 30mm cannons I belive.

Where to aim? Anywhere with 30s only takes a few hits here an there and boom no more buffs!  

How to attack? Come in high and on the nose kinda like a ho hardest for buff gunners to aim at.

[NoBaddy]

Something with cannons....lots of cannons.

Approach high 11 to 1 o'clock.

[Atoon]

I use a tempest cause I dont fly 262s enuff to be a threat in them.

I wont attack unless I have alt & speed, I usually attck diving in on an angle, with alot of speed, pick a wing & take it off, then re-alt, rinse, repeat.

Always best to have a countrymen with you, gunner can only aim at 1 at a time.

[thndregg]

You don't need loads of cannon rounds to take out buffs. A few well placed "spud" rounds from a Yak9T does fine. The Yak9U loves to set buffs on fire.

[cav58d]

109K4 with 75% fuel (max).  Aim out the outboard engine, abd bye bye buff.  Attack from high 6

[Krusty]

Planes with 6x50cal *can* attack bombers, but I've had a P51D put his ENTIRE ammo load into my B-17 and made it home (and have the screenshot to show all the bullet holes!!!).

P47s with 8x50cal actually do very well at bomber killing, if they com in high and fast. If they're below and slow they won't get a good solid hit.

Anything with cannon can kill a bomber easily. The more cannon you have (or the more ammo -- like a 190 with 500 rounds, but only 2 guns) the better your chances. 2 cannon are good, 4 are better. 30mm, *if* you can hit with it, is really better than 20mm, but it's far easier to land hits with the 20mm.

Speed is very essential to killing bombers. Either you're already at altitude and can dive (gaining speed) or you fly a speed demon plane, like a temp, typh, 190d, or La, or whatever.

[tedrbr]

buffs 10 minutes out?  Altitude undetermined?

type  /.show flak36   and curse that it still does not work.
type  /.show a26b  .... get madder still...grrrr.......

Yak9T, Jug, G-14 w gondolas, the K..... depends on the situation and numbers.

Try to get above them and come down from high 1 to 11.  If K1-67's, or B-26's, possibly try to come from below them.  If Lancs, approach from 10 or 2 position, slightly low.

[Mr No Name]

10 mins out... 109K4... Bomber patrol up to 20K 190A8  Above 20K TA152

[Raptor]

I up a jeep and try to move the sheep as far away from the hangars as possible!

[hubsonfire]

Canopy if I'm in front of the formation, wingroots if I'm not, regardless of plane type or situation. MGs seem to have a good chance of setting the bomber on fire, cannons either cause a fire, or take the wing off. The Yak9T is, as thndregg mentioned, excellent at neutering buffs, and all the more enjoyable because I'm fascinated by the large bore cannon hit animation.

[999000]

Its not the Bike..... Its who's one the Bike!
999000

[SteveBailey]

You don't need cannon rounds to kill buffs.  A good burst from 6. 50's in the canopy will pop  a bomber nicely.  Also, a nice stream into a wing w/ said bullets will saw it off or set it on fire.  It might take two passes if you break off the first pass as the gunners' tracers start to get close.  Bombers are not particularly hard to kill with the correct methodology(there are several).
Whatever attack  you choose you must must concentrate your hits w/ the .50's or the gunners will chew you up and  you will use up far more ammo than needed to knock said buff down.

I  know a 51 pilot who has 46 buff kills, this tour, (counting the big buffs only) to zero deaths  and all of his buff kills were in the 51D.
 

Concentrate your fire, duck out once the tracers get close and set up/ make another pass.  It's not that hard.  

[FrodeMk3]

My favorite is to come up level with the buffs-build up speed, get to about 1 to 1.5k out, then Dive about 2k below them. The Buff gunner usually stays in the tail. Then, level out, pull forward of him about 2 buff lengths, then come up vertical on wep straight into the belly. You can usually get a pass in, He's usually trying to jump from tail, to belly, then trying to find the top, as you come back for a pass straight down. Or, instead of coming back down, you can level out at the top of your climb, and pull ahead of him enough to make a diving attack on his nose. I like this kind of attack because it gives you options.

[ghi]

i agree with, Cav and NoName ,
 
most of the buffs are bombing at 10-15k, and K-4 has great, maybe the best  climbing speed, also fast at that alt, you can make multiple passes at high speed, safe attack them from above, ignites the fuel tanks, specialy B24s, vertical dive and fire cannon only , soo you know when hit with the 30mm, not with useles mgs, cuz the trajectory is diferent, same like in  IL2 killing gvs,
  if are close to your base, the bomber pilot  must be in F6 mode, doesn't have time for gunning, can take risk to park behind  and blast them
 f4U-4 is also great interceptor, i think outclimbs the K-4 from 14-to 20k  ,
P47N, and Ta152 if are high over 20k