Alternative thought for limiting lives in order to promote teamwork.
I was discussing this in another thread, but it actually has to do with an Axis Versus Allies type of Arena.
Blkmgc, I like the idea, minus the life limit. 
I do think there are a number of other ways to achieve a less Kamikaze mindset. I believe the idea put out for the (scrapped) Combat Tour would be a huge draw, to have a "career" that gives promotions for successful sorties landed .
I am trying to think of a way of doing so, with what we have now. Let's start with perk points. Perk everything exponentially except for a few planes that would have been the staple of that period. Adjust perk points so that the loss of two or more planes (effectively ''cartoon life" equivalents) will effectively be a demotion in pilot status, ie. not enough perks to fly the same level of ride as in previous mission.
Something like this:- Pacific Theater - F4F Wildcat, A6m2 Zero, Spitfire I, TBM Avenger, D3A1 = 0 perk points
- Pacific Theater - FM2, Hurricane I, SBD, A6m5b, B5N = 30 perk points
- Pacific Theater - F6F Hellcat, Ki61, Seafire, F4U-1, Ki67, B25 = 60 perk points
- Pacific Theater - F4U-1D, Ki84, Hurricane IIC, Ju88 (substitution), Boston, = 90 perk points
- Pacific Theater - F4U-1C, P38G, Bf110C (substitution) = 120 perk points
- Loosing a perked ride would effectively loose 15 perks per loss of plane, 10 per ditch. The amount of perks earned from downing a single aircraft may need some adjustment. I propose that perks be a little easier to attain at the onset. Keeping and accumulating them however should be designed with a noticeable impact on the pilot's "career" for any result other than a successful landing.
So, after 2 or so botched missions you are back to flying what the Senior Pilots have left you. Perk points will start at zero beginning every map reset, or frame.
