Krusty, I don't have any problem with your concerns regarding the bombers in game. I just saw the comment that suggested the bombers weren't flying at those alts and suggesting it was lower and it didn't sound right. It fit more for 24 ops then 17s so I decided to see what I could find.
You made the following comment that isn't accurate and it was a broad generalization about B17s:
"Most B-17s flew 20k (many flew LOWER) and at 180mph to and from the target. These bombers cruised to and from the target. Gas was life. They conserved it. ALWAYS. The only times they flew full power was emergencies or takeoff -- and that does NOT include climbout. They used cruise power to climb."
Were there missions flown at lower alts? Sure. But not the majority. Alt was also life for those guys and you can see by the wartime documentation More were flown towards the 30K end of things then the 20K. There are 24 missions listed on that page I posted. 2/3rds are 25K or above. All are above 20K suggesting fairly strongly that "Most B17s flew 20K(many flew lower)" is inaccurate.
BTW there were never tens of thousands of bombers in the air at one time. 1000 would be the top end. keep in mind a thousand bomber raid may include 2-3 Bomb Divisions going to different targets as well.
