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ATAG_EvangelusE
Feb-07-2014, 18:15
A single fighter on HE111 formation from rear, even at high speed, is risky. If you are on your own heres a very short vid showing 'head on' can work with a bit of practice and the AI never get a hit due to the combined vector speeds!

Its simply the law of nature in practice 'wound - stalk - kill', I am pretty sure that the Polish Pilots of 303 Sqdrn used this tactic to kill pilots during the BoB.

EDIT. Added a few more clips.



https://vimeo.com/87677060

ATAG_Snapper
Feb-07-2014, 18:35
Excellent video, Evangeluse! :thumbsup:

We we all know the 111's are the most difficult formation to hit without getting nailed. I've even done diving left to right passes at 360+ mph IAS and still gotten nailed. Gonna have to practice my head on approaches!

Headshot
Feb-07-2014, 21:07
Wow excellent head on gunnery. The amount of lead you use is amazing.

RAF74_Buzzsaw
Feb-08-2014, 03:19
Players will need to use these kinds of attacks for all bombers with TF 4.2. :salute:

Tettric
Feb-08-2014, 14:49
Excellent shooting!
Did you add an effect to the gun-sight at all? It looks ever so slightly different...

ATAG_EvangelusE
Feb-08-2014, 15:09
Hi Tetric (and thanks to all for the replies BTW), I increased the brightness of the vid slightly before uploading as it was recorded on the Autumn map and looked a bit dark - probably explains why the gunsight looks slightly different.

ATAG_Lewis
Feb-08-2014, 20:12
People who live in greenhouses shouldn't throw stones....

http://albumwar2.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/38647.jpg

Headshot
Feb-09-2014, 01:58
People who live in greenhouses shouldn't throw stones....

http://albumwar2.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/38647.jpg

Right or wrong, bomber crews were the bravest of the brave.

Gromit
Feb-10-2014, 10:04
I find it very difficult to position yourself directly on the bombers nose!, nearly always end up with a deflection shot of some sort.

Tettric
Feb-10-2014, 18:29
Hi Tetric (and thanks to all for the replies BTW), I increased the brightness of the vid slightly before uploading as it was recorded on the Autumn map and looked a bit dark - probably explains why the gunsight looks slightly different.

I see, it looked like you had added a shimmer to the gunsight. All in all quite a nice effect in my opinion, even if it was unintentional!
:)

9./JG52 Reinhart
Feb-15-2014, 23:17
Players will need to use these kinds of attacks for all bombers with TF 4.2. :salute:

+1
I was attacking a Wellington yesterday from dead astern and his gunner was LITERALLY pointing about 45 degrees away from me... and I was the only one anywhere in the area LOL

CanvasKnight
Feb-16-2014, 01:00
I find it very difficult to position yourself directly on the bombers nose!, nearly always end up with a deflection shot of some sort.

It just takes practice. And time to get into position I suppose. It was the best way to attack bomber formations. It was many years ago, but I used to do it all the time against B-17 and B-24 high alt fliers on Warclouds. One of the missions in the USL tournament in the year that I participated in that was also a high altitude (8000 meters/25000ft-ish) interception against a formation of 150 B-17s and B-24s so we spent a lot of time experimenting with different attack types against dense bomber boxes with the old Il-2's accurate gunners. The one that gave me the most success was the head on attack for sure. That and the slashing attacks. Pretty much anything except attacking from the rear or below and behind (the B-17s belly turret would get you then) works, so its just a matter of finding the method that suits the individual fighter pilot best. I even tried super steep angle dives from behind a couple of times that had some decent results with 30mm cannons, but would only allow me one chance at attacking the formation since I would have to dive through the formation to avoid getting ripped up by gunner turrets on recovery. And once you're below the formation you can't exactly pull back up into it if its a formation of 150 bombers that cover the sky as far as you can see in every direction, lol. Man, those were the days. So yeah, my squadron settled on head-on attacks with slashing attacks after recovery, though we usually had to tangle with the other squadron's escorts after the first head on.