| Coming Back Alive: European Air War
by Jim "Twitch" Tittle |
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Do not be dismayed if you feel like you are the only one helping the Fatherland. You can always make a first pass on the U.S. bombers before the escorts interfere. Just keep it up! Puzzling over this one, I've tried different methods to encourage my guys to succeed. I thought those pesky escort fighters might be distracting my guys, so I have told Schwarms 2 & 3 to hit the bombers while my section tangles with fighters. I have sent Schwarms 2 & 3 to mess with the escorts while my flight hit the bombers. Same result- low scores. You must carry the whole Staffel! Sure, historically a staffel did not knock down ten bombers from a formation. Germany is going to lose the simulated war anyway, but I feel that my A.I. comrades should fare better. And remember, if you are flying in a campaign fatigue is modeled so don't send the same pilots up every time. WINGMAN BLUES Flying as an American there is a difference in wingman performance most of the time. Other guys get kills with you. The Brits fall in between the performance of the Germans and Americans, returning less often without kills than do their American counterparts. Experience shoud make a difference, but seems to have little effect on the outcome. Before engaging you MUST instruct pilots under your command to drop their auxiliary tanks. Sure it's one of the first things a combat pilot is trained to do, but your A.I. fly boys all missed class that day. After scattering to engage enemy planes you will see tanks still slung under the fighters upon regrouping. Duh! I find attacking German bombers in 1940 is just as easy in the pre-patch version. While many on the forum board say the He 111 and Ju 88's are tougher, consider this. I began a Hurricane career. I had never flown the Hurri against bombers and it was the first career in it I tried. In my first mission I knocked down seven 111's from 6 o'clock before running my .303's dry. No real damage to my plane allowed a leisurely flight home with my wingies. I use all settings to full except enemy skill at "veteran." But again, mine were the only kills scored! |
 Tackle the Big Boys When approaching any gaggle of aircraft from 6 o'clock the closer plane to target is the one that is higher on your screen. The U.S. bombers stack their formations differently than, say, Aces Over Europe. As in reality, they're more vertical than horizontal, and this gives better fire coverage. We've all found this out the hard way! The best way to take out bombers is from six o'clock. Oblique angles from 7-9 and 3-5 o'clock low or high offer slim advantages and you'll find yourself spraying several planes where you should concentrate on one. Fire rockets from 2000 feet or 650 meters, slightly above the target. Commence short bursts to range in your guns from a bit farther out and watch the tracers for adjustment of nose attitude.
 I have tried most methods of pounding the big boys. Head-on exposes you to less fire but the window to aim and fire is short and you must turn, overtake the formation, and gain enough lead to turn and attack again. I have found that creeping in at just barely 6 o'clock low is good. Open up at 2,000-2,500 feet(700-800 meters). Go to Page Three
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