Ackstars - Historically Accurate?

[Vulcan]

Last night was watching TV and a thing about the Luftwaffe Nightfighters.

They were interviewing a German pilot who said in the early war it was fairly common to have returning RAF Bombers 'ackstar' (our term not his) over German airfields early in the mornings. IE, if the bombers didn't encounter any fighters on the way home they'd give the gunners a blast down low.

Also interesting to note, his favourite night fighter - a JU88 with 3 x  20mm in the nose. Said it ran rings around the ME110.

That would be a nice addition to the AH lineup HT?

-vlkn-

[Dago]

To most of us, the term Ackstar refers to taking a bomber up at a field under attack to use it as a "flying ack wagon".

Alot of guys, myself included, have accepted that there were times bombers were used low level in the attack mode to strafe enemy installations, and possibly even an airfield or two.

It is the practice of taking off in a bomber in the face of fighter attack that is not considered historically accurate.  When one country in the game has knocked out all the ack at a field they are attacking, bombers shouldnt be rolled to replace the downed ack.

That is not historically accurate, not smart and is considered a very dweebish move.

Dago

[Gadfly]

I thought "AckStar" indicated robot gunners.  At least, that was always the rationale against it, given that it is just as historical as about 99% of the rest of the game.

Edit>>Lizking

[This message has been edited by Gadfly (edited 06-19-2000).]

[Hangtime]

My reading indicates that a singleton attacking an alert german airfield in strafe mode was a quick way to get a nylon letdown...

One pass maybe.. but 2 passes was an invite to a supper of brauntwurst and yeagerschnitzel, for the duration, if yah wuz lucky.

Hang

[Soulyss]

that was the feeling I got from my readings Hangtime the first couple flights got through ok with surprise butpitty those flying tail end charlie.  One pass was all you got before the gunners could get a bead on ya.  

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"Sorry can't talk now, gotta shoot."
            -Bud Anderson

[This message has been edited by Soulyss (edited 06-20-2000).]

[Kieren]

Agreed. Mighta been ok the first couple of nights, but I imagine after field defences were stiffened this didn't happen too much.

And circling low over the field in a bomber would be plane silly...