Bomber Gunners Technique

[JimmyD3]

Thanks for all the input, I think I'll go right a book now that I have all this data

[icepac]

I can land hits on the buffs from a dead six attack at 1600 yards with the yak9t's cannon.

[LCADolby]

I can land hits on the buffs from a dead six attack at 1600 yards with the yak9t's cannon.

      

[Rolex]

I can land hits on the buffs from a dead six attack at 1600 yards with the yak9t's cannon.

No rounds in the game travel that far. That can be verified by testing with a target.

[Beefcake]

One mistake that I see a lot of bomber pilots doing is holding down the fire key while tracking a bandit. Instead you should fire short bursts of fire as the bandit closes in and only hold down the trigger when they're at D400 or less, otherwise you're wasting precious ammo on air.

[thndregg]

One mistake that I see a lot of bomber pilots doing is holding down the fire key while tracking a bandit. Instead you should fire short bursts of fire as the bandit closes in and only hold down the trigger when they're at D400 or less, otherwise you're wasting precious ammo on air.

I'm always reminding those folks in posted missions to be as conservative on ammo as possible, especially when we start out, beacuse we still have to make it home.

[icepac]

No rounds in the game travel that far. That can be verified by testing with a target.

You're right....they don't fire 1500 yards.

They actually fly out to 1999 yards.

[LCADolby]

You're right....they don't fire 1500 yards.

They actually fly out to 1999 yards.

Double           

I'd laugh and think "This guy's a n00b, easy scalp" if you were shooting at me 1.5k away or near 2k away.

[EagleDNY]

I fly 17s a lot (and get my share of fighter jocks with the bomber guns).

The fighter attacks generally break down into 3 categories. 
1.  The 6-lemmings.  Guys will crawl up your dead 6 in B17s thinking they can outgun you.   These guys may get a drone, but usually get a rude awakening at about 800 out.  These are pretty stable to shoot at so I will usually go slightly off center and try to saw off a wing.  6 or 12 .50 cals converging on a wing usually makes that happen pretty quickly.  If a guy is coming up my six in a perk ride (a tempest, or me-262) - I aim for the canopy and try for a pilot wound / kill.  Even if they get a drone on that first pass, if they are wounded they are done. 
2.  The hi-lo attacks.   The guys that have learned the lesson that you don't crawl up the tail of a pack of B17s will try diving down from on top or you, or zooming up from directly underneath.  These attacks are more dangerous, but if you learn to jump from top turret to tail or ball turret quickly you can give them a hail of bullets.   Guys coming down from the top will usually blow by the tail and attack from underneath - usually jump to the ball turret quickly and give them a burst there, and sometimes you will see them zoom out in front of you on the climb so you can get good shots in if you jump to the chin turret quickly.   The low zooming attacker usually will end up on your tail - not many of them will have enough E to zoom by and come at you from the top.  You can give them a burst with the ball turret and then jump to the tail guns for most of those guys. 
3.  The slashing attacks.   These are the most dangerous guys.  They have learned the lessons from #1 and #2, and will position themselves about 2K out, high on your wing and then come at you with a fast slashing attack.  First, learn to lead these guys by a lot and just get hits on them - this type of attack usually becomes a war of attrition as not too many fighters can put that much lead on you in the quick pass these guys make.  Also, as they are slashing across your formation, they tend to hit the drones first.   Learn to step on the rudder while you are in the gun turrets so that you can turn and put more guns on the target - just a light step on the rudder, drops your wing enough to get the extra guns into play.  I usually aim center mass at these guys and go for engine hits. 

Use your F3 view a lot to keep situational awareness.  Learn to control your buffs from the gun turret with your rudder so that you can take evasive action.   I like to make turns that either put my tailguns toward the enemy, or just frustrate them a lot while they are trying to line up for hi-lo or slashing attacks.  A lot of fighter jocks don't have patience, so if you make a few turns while they are trying to line up they will just dive on in on your tailguns and have a go.  I don't spare the ammo - you have plenty, and nothing makes a fighter jock not want to stay close to you like a hail of tracers. 

<S> and I hope to see you bombing your enemies into tiny bits. 


 

[MarineUS]

I let them close within 800, fire a short burst, watch the tracers impact, pilot normally panics.

If you are worried about the fighter you can do this technique: Full speed, level (X), when they get close press alt+x (You will climb), this will normally put them under you and give you a shot into the cockpit and then you get to watch as they follow you (if still alive), then press X and watch them go soaring above you and you can then place a large burst into the belly of the plane.

I'm one of the best shots in the DHBG for a reason.   (hehe had to toot my own horn  )

[Rich52]

I'm always reminding those folks in posted missions to be as conservative on ammo as possible, especially when we start out, beacuse we still have to make it home.

There are exceptions. You could be in B-26s, which I think Ive never ran out of ammo. Or at a point in your flight where theres no way your going to run out of ammo.

Then there is the philosophy of allowing the IB fighter to fly INTO your bullets stream, using one planes guns and then adjusting lead as he moves in closer and switching to "All guns". Ive had bomber gunners killed often but have rarely ran out of ammo Frankly. Most of the time only in KI-67s and even then very few times.

[wil3ur]

Lead is a bit more difficult in bombers than in a fighter where you're shooting out the front of your plane.  Not only do you have to take into account where their plane is going to be when your bullets arrive, but you have to take into account the forward and lateral motion of your aircraft as well.  When a plane is coming up on your 4-7 you'll shoot towards the inside wing to 'lead' the target.  You'll actually end up shooting behind the target because of how the battle is actually going.  Switching your lead to the outside wing places your bullet stream in front of the contact.

The concept gets even more difficult when people use high angle frontal attacks....

[Der Jude]

bombers should just accept it and not shoot back

[999000]

Pretend your AFK........then open up on them at 400 out ..if your in full zoom...you can read the pilots lips......something like OH toejam!
999000 <S>

[SmokinLoon]

I can land hits on the buffs from a dead six attack at 1600 yards with the yak9t's cannon.

 

I'd like to learn that trick.  First, getting the cannon to fire beyond 1500 yards and second just how to get so lucky at that range. Weighted dice? 

Now for the O/P-

First, remember that when you fire ALL of your guns the convergence is set at 500 yards.  If the enemy plane is simply hangin' out at 1000-1.5k out, use a single gun and fire some "warning shots".  Many times once you connect you will make them adjust their flight path enough to throw them out of sync which is good for you.  Once inside 800 yards just lead and fire fire fire.  In Lancaster, remember that your rear turret is your only .50 caliber and that it has limited ammo.  Use your top turret for long range "checks".

Secondly, always aim where they are going to be, when in doubt fire out in front and let them fly into your stream of fire. 

Thirdly, it take time and practice.