Bomber formation

[DEDMANcjp]

I need advice on how I should form up in a bomber formation after take off,  Eg., if I take off 4th in line 

where am I expected to be in the formation.  Flying LW .

Thanks for any advice.

[Mukai]

Is this in the Career with AI? Because I too would like to know this. I find I need to jostle around and basically wait for a gap before I know where to go

 

So what formation is used for LW or Soviet bombers?

 

Also, as an aside, do i drop my bombs when flight lead says? And conversely when I'm leading will the AI drop theirs when I bomb?

 

(sorry for the slight hijack of the thread)

[Ribbon]

Just don't fly in "idioten reihe" formation, everything else works!

[LukeFF]

4 hours ago, Mukai said:

Also, as an aside, do i drop my bombs when flight lead says? And conversely when I'm leading will the AI drop theirs when I bomb?

 

Yes and Yes

[MiloMorai]

On ‎12‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 11:27 AM, DEDMANcjp said:

I need advice on how I should form up in a bomber formation after take off,  Eg., if I take off 4th in line 

where am I expected to be in the formation.  Flying LW .

Thanks for any advice.

 

You would be in Printy's (a/c #350) position.

[Swing]

On 12/28/2018 at 4:02 PM, Mukai said:

And conversely when I'm leading will the AI drop theirs when I bomb?

 

When you are leader you need to indicate the order "copy my action'" before 

[Mukai]

Awesome, cheers guys

[RedeyeStorm]

For luftwaffe the even numbers are to the left of the leader, uneven on the right. Just finished a mission flying as number two.

[Herne]

On 12/1/2018 at 4:27 PM, DEDMANcjp said:

I need advice on how I should form up in a bomber formation after take off,  Eg., if I take off 4th in line 

where am I expected to be in the formation.  Flying LW .

Thanks for any advice.

 

Bomber formations from what I have seen tend to take a V formation. If on the runway I am on the right or left side of the runway then I will try to stay on that side for the bomber formation.

 

as number 4 I think you should be on the left side able to observe two planes on your two o clock one of which will be the leader

Edited December 30, 2018 by =11=Herne

[Zirashi]

On 12/28/2018 at 5:39 PM, MiloMorai said:

 

You would be in Printy's (a/c #350) position.

That report is nuts. Out of 90 men, only 4 escaped the attack and the rest basically had a 50/50 chance to either have been captured or killed. And this is in mid 1944 when the allies were basically wrapping it up and the Luftwaffe was on its last legs.

 

Bomber crewman must’ve been one of the most insane duties to have.

[LukeFF]

13 hours ago, [Pb]RedeyeStorm said:

For luftwaffe the even numbers are to the left of the leader, uneven on the right. Just finished a mission flying as number two.

 

Yes, that's how it works.

[MiloMorai]

Group assembly

 

303 BG missions, http://303rdbg.com/missions.html

 

Includes diagrams of a/c positions.

[DEDMANcjp]

Thanks all.  Very much appreciated

[[DBS]Tx_Tip]

Excellent link. Appreciate it.

[MiloMorai]

9 minutes ago, [DBS]Tx_Tip said:

Excellent link. Appreciate it.

 

Another link for you, https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/details/formationsflug/

[Sgt_Joch]

On 12/30/2018 at 6:31 AM, Zirashi said:

That report is nuts. Out of 90 men, only 4 escaped the attack and the rest basically had a 50/50 chance to either have been captured or killed. And this is in mid 1944 when the allies were basically wrapping it up and the Luftwaffe was on its last legs.

 

Bomber crewman must’ve been one of the most insane duties to have.

Standard LW tactic was to concentrate their forces on one unit, preferably one in the rear or out of position or without fighter support. So overall loss rate for the entire mission might be low but very high in the unfortunate unit that was targeted.

 

But yes, very dangerous duty. My great-uncle flew on RAF bombers, he made it through the war.

Edited December 31, 2018 by Sgt_Joch

[MiloMorai]

USAAF Combat Operations,  http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/May.43.html

 

Ignore the claims.

[[DBS]Tx_Tip]

19 hours ago, MiloMorai said:

USAAF Combat Operations,  http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/May.43.html

 

Ignore the claims.

Ahh so that's where the chronology has gone. My link to the original went AWOL long ago.

Thanks for posting...