New change?

[Krusty]

Sketch: 90% of the gun cam footage from LW planes in WW2 shows rear angle attacks, and most of them get pulled off without instantly being shot down (like would happen in AH).

Also, LW units had their pick of bombers. In massive US air raids, the bombers would be scattered from 25k to 15k, many many miles wide and long. The LW would concentrate 1 squadron on 1 small group of bombers. Perhaps compared to the entire mission the allies were not outnumbered, but compared to the isolated group the LW was attacking at any given moment? Perhaps they were (*shrug*)

[Valkyrie]

My grandfather flew B-24's with the 98th from Aug 43 to jul 44 and never saw a german fighter. Saw plenty of 88s though.




Vlkyrie1

[daddog]

Sketch: 90% of the gun cam footage from LW planes in WW2 shows rear angle attacks, and most of them get pulled off without instantly being shot down (like would happen in AH).

I can’t help but wonder if that is due to the editors of the tapes/DVD’s we watch. It is common sense that the best footage would be from rear attacks where the fighters are closing at 200 mph or much less. If a fighter was coming in from the 10 to 2 O’clock position closure rate could be more like 500 mph. Kinda hard to get some good gun camera footage to sell at those speeds.

I have read many accounts that the LW was taught to attack from 10 or 2 O’clock and that attacking from the rear was very dangerous. That is quite obvious in Aces High. Many feared attacking bomber formations because of the deadly firepower the bombers had.

To me it boils down to the fun factor. Those that fly buffs (and most would rather not) would enjoy themselves more if they had drones and having more opportunities for squadies to gun for them. Those attacking bombers would enjoy seeing larger formations and the target rich environment. If the bombers suffer large losses then they would likely lose the frame even if they did a good job of bombing their targets. Over the years it has become pretty obvious in FSO that bombers, even with drones need to be escorted or they will suffer heavy losses.

[Drano]

Originally posted by daddog
Over the years it has become pretty obvious in FSO that bombers, even with drones need to be escorted or they will suffer heavy losses.

Yep. Its all about the routing, timing and most importantly good comms between the bomber lead and escort lead. If you didn't have those things going for your bombing mission it was gonna be, IMO, doomed from the start anyway formations or not. A well organized mission always stands a better chance of getting thru.

Drano

[Bannor]

Originally posted by trax1
Yeah our Buff's made it to our target and was able to make a second pass and take out every hanger at A22, thanks to the help of ~FATE~ squad, but on our egress we were slaughtered, not one of us was able to take down a 190, we got a couple smoking but there was no way to take one down with a single buff.

Thank you sir. Although we lost most of our pilots, we managed to draw off the 190's long enough to get you to target. WTG on A22 Clowns!:aok

Since we have formations off, I would suggest that if we use bombers for the largest squads.

[trax1]

Yea I saw the CiC orders Allies get formations:)

[daddog]

[Husky01]

Its all about the fun! And those guys that where flying 1 bomber for 40 min to 20 some K and getting shot down in 2 min where not having fun. Now with Formations available these guys have a better  chance of living and hitting there target which of course is more fun!

Ty for giving us Formations.