I've returned in worse shape than that.
I just wish I had taken a screen shot. I figured it was an every day thing that happened on AH, so I didn't. But it would seem that is not the case.
Well, if much of the damage done to the WW2 B-17's, were inflicted upon our B-17's, we just go poof. This does make me wonder what kind up upgrade to the damage system will come into play when the WW1 fighters are released. Will we start seeing more realistic damage inflicted? In other words, will our B-17's come back with huge chunks and holes missing from the tail, wings and elevator's, and not just parts missing? Will there be "gear drops" due to the loss of hydraulic fluid and flat tires? As is, if we lost most of our vertical stabilizer, we just fall from the sky like a rock (if the whole thing didn't just "drop off"). There are pictures of B-17's coming home with just a sliver of their vertical stabilizer remaining. I wish I had better luck in finding these photos. I have the instruction manual from a game, Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, but I don't have a scanner. It contains photo's of B-17's that returned home with extensive damage inflicted to them. That instruction manual included a little history of the 8th's role over Europe. Though I would not likely cite it as a viable source for information at this point, as far more accurate information is out now compared to when it was released (August of 1991).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oav6I0DcfY&feature=related0:27 The game manual had this picture and said it was the result of a flak blast. Wiki confirms this information...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Flying_Fortress It is towards the bottom of the page on the right hand side...
"B-17G-80BO 43-38172 8th AF 398th BG 601st BS damaged on a bombing mission over Cologne, Germany on 15 October 1944. Pilot 1st Lt. Lawrence De Lancey brought the wounded Fortress back to Nuthampstead, UK, where the photo was taken. Notice the upwards effect of the anti-aircraft shell; the bombardier S/Sgt. George E. Abbott was killed."
1:37 This would appear to be a result from flak.
2:29 A B-25 flying without a nose, possibly from flak.
2:42 This one here, looks like flak damage as well.
My point is, if any of this type of damage were to be inflicted to our planes, we either just fall apart or go poof. To this day, I have YET to see a bomber "cut in two"... Sure, I've lost my tail, but have never been "cut in two". Maybe I've been lucky?
