I've posted this before but I ran into almost this exact same scenaio again the other night, except this time it was a lone 190D-9 defending two sets of B-24's. Regardless, the results were almost identical (2 dead bombers and 4 left alone over unfriendly skies except this time the 190 broke off after blowing all his alt and before flying into my field ack) so I though it might be worthwhile to post this again:
I ran into one of the worst examples of bomber escort I've seen last night and thought I'd post here as a topic as I haven't seen it discussed in a while. I'll first lay out the scenario and actions of last night then discuss what was wrong, and what should have been done by the escorting pilot.
I was flying a FW190-F8 at about 21K, having run into several sets of bombers on an earlier flight in a BF109-K4. I spotted a dot ahead and below and headed toward it. As I approached I noticed there were two dots which turned out to be a set of Lancasters and a P-51 at ~18K. The P-51 was trailing the Lancs at co-alt ~1K off their 6.
As I drew into icon range I nosed down and hit WEP. When the P-51 noticed me coming he reversed and began a slight climb to meet me. I blew by as he reversed again to take chase. I took out the right drone and extended in a slow turning climb to the right, the P-51 in tow 3K back and losing ground.
The turning climb extension put me back behind the Lancs 3/9 line and, once there I heaved the nose around for a second pass. The P-51 was coming right at me closing fast. I blew stright by as he began to reverse and took out the lead bomber.
On the second pass the buff pilot hit my oil line and, with the P-51 back in tow, I decided to take the kills home before I was out of oil.
I began a WEP on dive for home with the P-51 in tow all the way. He eventually died in the field ack trying to vulch me (and I did get the kill) but thats another story.
So here's what I think he did wrong and what he should have done:
1. He was defending a 1K space between himself and the Lancs, well within an enemy guns solution.
Never defend a bomber from his close 6 co-alt. Your job as an escort is to eliminate threats before they get into guns range on the bombers. This cannot be done from a position within guns range.
There will be some argument on this but my opinion is that the best place from which to defend is the bombers high 6. At least 3-5K above them and ~3K behind them. This allows you to dive onto an enemy's 6 before they reach guns range. Even at that, timing is everything. [EDIT] Don't throttle back below cruise speed, maintain your position by zig-zagging behind and above the bombers.
Others will argue that the high 12 is a better position but this is more an offensive than defensive position, better suited to clearing the skies ahead of the bombers than actually defending them.
2. From his position on the first pass, this poor guy tried to reverse twice; once to come meet me and again to take chase then had to reverse again to take chase as I began my second pass.
Avoid reversing. Most buff hunters will come in from an altitude advantage with WEP on. This is why I prefer a high 6 escort position. If you have to reverse you give up too much E to stay with the attacker. Had the P-51 been in this position initially I may have decided to engage the P-51 first or simply gone on to look for another target. Either way the bombers would have been safe.
After blowing it on my first pass he should have taken position above and behind the bombers rather than trying to chase an extending attacker. This ultimately forced another reverse and another lost bomber.
3. The P-51 pilot's bruised ego and/or lust for a kill left his lone remaining bomber totally alone in enemy territory when i decided to fly home.
Do not engage enemy fighters who aren't a threat. Anytime you are engaged the bombers are on their own. You're job is to eliminate the threat to the bombers as quickly as possible and then move back into a protective position. Eliminating the threat doesn't mean you have to kill the attacker, just drive him away. Even an attacker who is extending away ahead of the bombers is better dealt with from the high 6 defensive position as he will have to reverse at least once, and probably twice to gain a guns solution leaving you with the E advantage.
I'm sure I've missed a few points here and others will chime in to fill the gaps but i thought this might be particularily usefull to the newer players.
to all the future escorts out there.
