http://www.squadselectseries.comThe USAAF was going deep with the lead bomber box hitting targets NE of Berlin and the trailing bomber box hitting oil targets NE of Perlberg(91). Along for the ride was a box of AI B17s that were obviously straight from the states and had all manner of problems during the long flight in to the German capital.
A well-coordinated fighter escort plan had all three boxes well covered once the enemy found them inbound to the NW German coast. Initial Bf109 strippers played cat and mouse with the high escort and the sturmbock 190s roared in executing deadly head-on attacks that singled out the lead group particularly and the following AIs to a lesser degree. Many excellent attacks were witnessed but the escort proved more than capable of defending the B17s from those enemy fighters foolish enough to press their attacks from a poor position. 17 Luftwaffe fighters were shotdown, only 1 confirmed kill by a B17, the rest went to the P47Ds and P51Bs. The Luftwaffe shot down 14 escorts in return but it was their devastation of the AI B17s that proved the difference during the frame. 25 AI B17s and 7 player B17Gs were shot down by effective and repeated attacks on the bomber boxes. The lead bomber box was wiped out as were four of the six AI flights. Only the trailing box of player B17s made it to their target near 91 and caused it heavy damage. Their return was well covered by escort and reception fighters and they lost only a few AI bombers during the night.
The USAAF leadership later vowed not to send untried bomber crews so deep into Germany and stepped up training and practice missions accordingly.
Luftwaffe take an early lead 113 to 87 over the Allies.
NOTES
1 - Some AI routines were not keeping speed or formation about a quarter of the way into their flight, others after that. Two entire flights managed to ditch themselves on the ground and none made it to target. 28 target had only 4 buildings left standing so is ruled destroyed to compensate for the dismal AI performance.
2 - Late testing on the AI mbls shows they are not consistent over a long run and exhibit a weird wobbling. Reducing the time the bomb doors are open seems to eliminate much of the wobbling that results in ditching and helps keep formations intact. Further testing continues but the behaviour of the AI should improve.
3 - Because the AI mbls are so hard to coordinate with the players the rules are changed slightly to allow all the players to fly together as a lead box and the AI to pick up the rear. This way if the AI start to go off it will simulate the fractured tail of the bomber stream. Rules adjusted to indicate this.
4 - AI B17Gs seem quite fragile but there is some improvement coming down the pipe on the damage models. Obviously the weapons and tactics of the AI mbls were set too low and will be increased and their formations will be closer together to help improve their survival. Look for two formations of 6 flying close together with distance between other similar formations. Continue to conduct high speed off angle attacks or those deadly HOs.
5 - some confusion on the player AI wingman setting. Set it to d1 which is 100 yrds. I was saying 300ft but that ended it up as D3. Its feet in the mbls and yards in the player box. My mistake.
jabo
Can't remember when that happened last. 
