I don't fly bombers, or at least I haven't for a few years, but I do kill lots of them. I can tell you what I like to see, and what I don't, from a bomber exterminator's point of view.
I like to see low bombers, either level or climbing, going straight. I don't care if they see me or not, and I don't care if they are shooting at me or not. I like to see their guns firing in different directions, cause it seems I get four kills out of the formation instead of three.
Getting good at shooting fighters will help in many instances, but in my opinion your best defense is your tactics-- not the guns.
I look at bombers like a mountain lion looks at a porcupine- tasty, but salamanderly. Worth the hassle, but it's best not to rush in carelessly.
What I DON'T like to see from bomber pilots-
1. Fighter cover. The smart kind. The ones that sit about 1500-2000 ft above the formation, and wait patiently until I close in for my shot. First, by being in that area, they are sitting in MY spot. That's rude. Second, they (being smart) realize that their goal is not to kill me, it is to force me to manuever in a way to avoid them and cause me to not have a shot on the buffs. Making me break turn or dive a bit is all it takes, upon which they resume their original position. The ones that chase me are ok though, I convince them to lose their E so they are lower than the buffs and out of my way.
2. TIGHT formations of 6 or more bombers. I really dont expect 3 bombers to hit me, or at least not very hard, but 6 right next to each other?!?!? Awful risky from my POV. I DO like to see loose formations though. That way after I kill the first 3, I can have 3 more for dessert. I especially like it when the second formation is about 3K behind the first.
3. Lone formations with a pilot that uses strategy. I hate bombers above 18K. Too hard for me to get and stay above them. I'm usually poking around under the clouds, so that forces me to chase them a long way to catch them and get above them.
I also hate bombers that are DIRECTLY below the cloud layer. That makes it too hard for me to keep close track of them as I dive and zoom on them.
I attack from above, slightly to one side, and slightly in front. I hate bombers that use speed to defeat my ability to zoom up and repeat. The ones that set their .speed to 300 are the worst. When I manuever above for my shot, and they set their auto-speed causing them to settle into a shallow dive, that bites. It really makes it hard to stay away from their 6. The only thing worse is when they use rudder to turn (staying in their guns) while I am zooming back up. Remember, I'm zooming to get above them and slightly in front again!! How can I do that efficiently when they keep altering their heading?!?!?! If this doesn't do the trick for them, and they hold rudder causing them to do a descending spiral, I'm likely have a stroke.
As a bomber pilot, your primary aim is to get the eggs on the target. If you don't get to the target, you fail. If you don't find a way to kill the fighter that's after you, you need to at least hamper his efforts to allow time for your friendlies to jump in. Or cause him to lose patience and go for the "easy" 6 shot. Or cause him to find an easier target.
It's funny, sometimes deviating from the straight line approach to the target will get you there quicker. Or at least get you THERE...
MtnMan