Best way to kill B17

[stealth]

Now I see people in there P51Ds fly on a B17 kill all 3 planes and leave with out a scratch. I'm curious on if there's a spot on the B17 which it can't get its guns on. Which spots are the best to fire at without using to much ammo and kill the B17. I usually just dive on it from above, which doesn't seem to be enough. Got any advice or tactics you use?

[RTHolmes]

wingtip

the belly is pretty soft on 17s too, they flame up nicely

[sirvlad]

I don`t know how those 1 pass guys do it either,but I aim only for 1 of the engines put a good solid burst of fire in to it and it`ll go up in flames real quick.Pull away and repeat on the next bomber.Usually works well for me.Stay away from b-26`s 9 out of 10 times they`ll get ya.

[The Fugitive]

You have very little time to shoot at a buff so you have to make what time you do have the best you can do. Have a plan! I saw a film of Steve killing buffs. He comes in from the high 4-5 and 7-8 positions with a bunch of speed. His flight path is to a point ahead of the buffs so he doesn't maneuver much keeping his speed up. He fires a good burst into the inner engine/wing root area either cutting the wing off or starting a fire. He "booms" back up without passing under the buffs to set up for the next pass. Take your time setting up for each pass, and stick to your plan. If there are a number of fighters going in on the buffs use the radio to co-ordinate at least 2 fighters coming in at the same time seeing as the buffs can only shoot at one guy at a time.

[stealth]

I heard if you fire just behind the cockpit the plane will light very easy. Area is only the size of 4supply boxes though.

[oneway]

I cannot speak for other 17 pilots...but as an avid practitioner of the 'Fortress' I will offer this up...

The two most favored gun positions of the buff guy are belly and tail...the least used (chin not included) are the waist or flank guns...the top gun is used less than the belly and tail because most (majority of attacks) come from low 6...the chin gun is rarely used by most 17 guys because they either fail to recognize its deep ammo reserve and fail to jump to it when a high attacker makes a stern to stem slashing attack and overshoots the bird...

I cannot count the times I get guys coming up on my six, climb to alt advantage...only to fail because they do not climb forward abreast...and instead attack from high 5, 6, 7...they do not have the self control and patience to set up the proper attack which is high forward left and right...

I frequently chop throttle to zero when a high 5, 6, 7 slasher comes in so it forces the overshoot and he thinks he can climb up 600 to 800 in front of me...that is when I finish him off by jumping chin...here is a tip...never over shoot a B17 and find yourself in front of his 50 chin...you will die...if the guy is any good...

Far and away, the most difficult attack profile to defend  is a fighter pilot who gains an altitude energy advantage above and slightly in front of the buff...and makes slashing attacks from either 1-2 o o'clock high, or 10-11 o'clock high...

One of the reasons is because the closure rate is is so fast...and only the top gun and intermittent single waist gun can come into play...the bottom of your dive attack profile should never extend below the plane of the buff...just keep doing extended side to side high hi yo-yo...getting clearance...then re-engaging...

The really good and patient attackers then extend out on the flank and set up for another slashing attack from the other side...but be extremely wary of the 17 pilot who turns and climbs into your forward slashing attack...this is a buff pilot that has been around the block...and you will find yourself climbing at his six as he extend away...forcing a long reposition on your part or more likely...impatience and a 6 attack...which is exactly what he is setting you up for...

To further exacerbate the issue for the bomber pilot...the top gun is very disorienting because it lacks visual clues as to its attitude relative to the center line and vector of the aircraft...unlike the belly gun and the tail gun that are very obvious as to the direction they are pointing the top gun can be very vertigo like...

If you want to kill bombers and you do not have escort harassment...attain high 1 or 11 o'clock positions and make slashing attacks aiming at the wing root...

That is more than I should have said but what the heck...very few have the patience to properly set up such an attack...

[oneway]

You have very little time to shoot at a buff so you have to make what time you do have the best you can do. Have a plan! I saw a film of Steve killing buffs. He comes in from the high 4-5 and 7-8 positions with a bunch of speed. His flight path is to a point ahead of the buffs so he doesn't maneuver much keeping his speed up. He fires a good burst into the inner engine/wing root area either cutting the wing off or starting a fire. He "booms" back up without passing under the buffs to set up for the next pass. Take your time setting up for each pass, and stick to your plan. If there are a number of fighters going in on the buffs use the radio to co-ordinate at least 2 fighters coming in at the same time seeing as the buffs can only shoot at one guy at a time.

I have a ton of run ins with Steve in his 51...and in fact have actively sought him out to in essence 'dual' him...

He attacks from the high 1-2 high 10-11....

At least that has been my experience and the reason I posted the above...

He is one of the best I have ever run up against...

Very few pilots have the patience of Steve to actually get the job done...

And you are absolutely correct that the wing root is the target when attacking from above...pick a wing root and focus on it...

Lastly...focus on the lead buff....it is extremely disorienting to the bomber pilot to bail a crippled bomber and get set back up in his new 'lead buff'...grab a gun...get re-oriented for the next attack...if you shoot down the lead...turn back in quick without extension and see if you can make a second attack while the buff pilot is regrouping....

Oneway

[RTHolmes]

right drone -> left drone -> lead

then you dont have to deal with the drones warping into your face on the way past, plus most buffers gun from the lead so it throws out their gunnery a little as a bonus

[groundfeeder]

I do fairly well in the gun positions of a 17, that said , the people who shoot me down the most take their time to set up the shot. gets irritating after awhile also!

It seems there are 3 types of attackers i usually encounter. Ill list in order of most hated to most favored from gunner standpoint.

Stalker:  Pilot stalks you for what seems like an eternity to get into the right firing position,screams in on a diving attack from a position not covered  well by the guns, usually front  outside quarter of the bomber drone. The pilot zips thru fast and maneuvers enough  to make him hard to track, climbs and repeats.

slasher: Pilot starts out taking his time to line up his approach, screams in shooting at whatever aircraft he has a shot at. Difference is he does not climb back up and return to his approach vector, preferring to settle in on your six (high or low) and then making his attack run from around the six position.

Meat cookie: Pilot makes climbing six approach , dives down, climbs up, rinse repeat , till in range on your six


I like the last one the best, they allow me the use of the belly gun as well as tail. Usually dead when they get near me

[columbus]

I heard if you fire just behind the cockpit the plane will light very easy. Area is only the size of 4supply boxes though.

It's not impossible. I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home, they're not much bigger than two meters

[LeDragon]

I like to go for the cockpit.  Even 99000 tend to give a "nice shot" via PM when you do this in a JUG.
 

[columbus]

[DEECONX]

Ya, the best spot I have found is the wing roots. 

[Wiley]

I like wingroots, I also like the cockpit if slashing from above.  Oneway mentioned the single most important thing though in a post that was all excellent advice.  Take the time to set it up properly.  Impatience when attacking a bomber is the single biggest cause of death in interceptor pilots.

Wiley.

[Ardy123]

I like hoing them if I can. Also, front quarter shots are nice and often fairly safe as they are usually expecting a con to attack from the back.