I flew a set of Lancasters for the first time in months (my old primary buff ride) on Saturday afternoon. My target was a Knight city just across the pond from Bish territory. I found a friendly base at 4.5K, set up the formation with 14x1000 pounders and took off.
I set course SxSW planning to grab 23K alt, then turn ExNE to taget, level, open doors and take 2 passes, once across the south side of the city, once across the north hitting 5 of the 6 building groups on the combined passes. Due to the logistics of my course, and noticing that I would cross 3 enemy radar zones, I ended up climbing to 24.5K before leveling. Better safe than sorry.
On the way in everything went smoothly. No enemies although a few dar bars occasionally sprang up. The first pass drops were good at 3x1000 lbs each and damage was substantial. I continued east for one sector, verifying my new stable speed then turned back to target. I climbed slightly during the turn, then pointed the nose down with E6B open until I reached my verified stable speed then leveled and calibrated. By this time I was almost on target. 3x1000 away. 2x1000 away.
I opened the text buffer to watch the damage unfold, closed the bay doors and jumped to exterior view to turn for home. Oh s***t! 2 cons 2.0 and 2.5K off my six and closing... a P-51 and an F4U.
OK... Get alt. Don't make it easy on them. I jumped to pilot, hit auto climb then jumped to my rear guns. The Pony (a D model) was crawling up my direct 6 from below while the F4U (also a D model) was now co-alt and climbing off my left side but I could still track him from my rear guns.
I kept switching from plane to plane as I tracked them both, now about 1-1.5K off me. Don't fire. Don't wast ammo. Small bursts when you do. I've blown the ammo in Lancs too many times in the past.
The F4U's coming over. Small burst. Miss. He goes by left to right. Now the Pony. Short burst and I ping a wing. He dives away. The F4U is setting back up off my right wing and I can't track him from the tail. I jump to the upper gun. Short burst. He flys over right to left losing a little ground. Back to the tail gun. The Pony is back. Short burst. He backs off. The F4U comes again giving me a full profile.. short burst... lead is correct; hold the trigger... and he evaporates in a cloud of flame. The Pony's back. 800... I start taking pings... 600... short burst... is his prop stopped? Yes! I got his engine. He's falling back then breaks off in a dive. Thank God. I'm out of ammo in the tail. Whew!
I jump to pilot and turn for home, now at 31K. I set auto climb to descend gradually toward home. Just as I cross into the first friendly radar ring I notice a red dot just off my left side on radar. Oh s***t. Now what.
I jump to external view and 2-3K below and off my left side I see a set of silver buffs. The score-potato in me tells me not to do it but I can't resist the urge and set course to intercept.
Now I'm level on his 6 and closing. My score-potato conscience says "This is suicide... a few .303's against many .50's." but my more aggressive side says "Maybe he doesn't see you". I jump to the nose guns.
2.5K... 2.0K... 1.5K... 1.0K... 1000... 800... I start to take pings... 600 and I open up on him. He lights up but it sounds like a hailstorm on my Lancs. And then I hear a pop. Uh-Oh. That can't be good.
I jump to pliot and begin to break left and dive then jump to external view only to see that I'm offering a full profile at only 800 out. Worse yet, I'm missing a drone. Suddenly one fuel tank is leaking. Then another on the other side. Finally... out of guns range.
I continue to dive out and make base a few minutes later.
That was the most fun I've had flying bombers in I can't remember how long.
I gave the F4U pilot (someone I've fought before) a after the Pony dived away. I think he was miffed as to why. It was partially just a hello and partially a to all those who make this great game so fun.
