The B-25 (C/H) aren't all that much of a bullet sponge, it really depends on where you hit them. Hit them aft of the cockpit and it will soak up some damage because the rounds are largely hitting areas with no vital, critical components. Hit near or forward of the cockpit, wing root (especially vulnerable part on the Mitchell), or engine and you'll be very surprised at how little ammunition it takes. It takes me no more than a solid burst at the wing root or engine to catch a Mitchell on fire and it takes me no more than 3 passes to take out a formation. Those FW 190s you ran up against were obviously not very good shooters.
Again, it really depends on where you land your shots. I have no troubles with the 20mm cannon on the P-38 when engaging Mitchells, even the quad .50s are more than sufficient enough to down an entire formation.
Sure, the B-25C can defend itself but against a determined attacker that knows what he's doing, the B-25C doesn't have a snow ball's chance in Hell. This is the one bomber in which it is safe to engage from slighly below (to keep out of the top turret's line of fire) the dead six position and sit there plinking away at the Mitchell and there is nothing but that the Mitchell driver can do other than cringe and pucker up. Even coming from above, the top turret really isn't that much of a threat unless you are careless in your attack. Broadside attacks are also quite effective against the Mitchell.
As for the Me 262s that attacked you, all your anecdote does is tell me that you ran into a couple of Me 262 drivers that didn't know squat in attacking a bomber.
ack-ack
That's quite dismissive. Please keep in mind I'm utter RUBBISH as a bomber gunner. Absolutely the worse. And yet I've survived a massive onslaught of 190D-9s attacking me and made it out alive. I've shot down Me262s, something my aim should never have allowed. You only have to bank into a shallow turn to track targets setting up below you and fire on them as they come at you.
You can't say the attackers sucked, because the 190s were quite skilled and the 262s were serveral encounters and repeated on different days as well. It wasn't the same idiot every time.
As for my FIGHTER gunnery, it is quite good. I'm not the BEST shot, but damn sure well know how to shoot 4x20mm at a bomber. I made 3 runs on a single B-25C in a Fw190A8 (4x20mm) and landed hits squarely on the fuselage just forward of the wings but behind the cockpit.
Further, when I hit one repeatedly with 37mms (this has happened on numerous occasions, as I enjoy flying P-39s) it has been in vital spots. Spots including wing areas where fuel was stored, engines (point blank), and even directly below the cockpit glazing with a side-angle.
You may not have much regard for the B-25's capabilities, but denying it soaks up damage is ludicrous.
