Hi there, I read your post with great interest.

Don't underestimate the effectiveness of the defensive machineguns that were fitted to bombers.
Read some of the combat reports of RAF (Or Luftwaffe) fighter pilots and you will see that the single engined fighters did not always chew up bombers, the reverse was also true!

The Ju 87 ace, Rudel, was also classed as a fighter ace destroying at least 12 single engined fighters with the front guns on his dive bomber.

His rear gunners also accounted for many more.

Shooting down bombers is not a one way process especially in the case of the American B17's and B24's.
The planes in each formation cover each other beautifully! 

I enjoy taking them on much more than I enjoy dog-fighting... Its harder to bring the "dicke-autos" down than it is P47's or P51's!  The Heavies are much more of a challeng, ESPECIALLY if you fly on 100% reality - finite amunition, finite fuel and Normal damage...

Reading the combat reports, the experience is realistic.

Can I suggest you look out for a book in the second hand bookshops?  Its called "I Flew for the Feuhrer." by Heinz Knoke, published by Corgi in the 1970's.  Its  the Autobiography of a fighter pilot who flew against the American heavies from 1943 to 1945 and gives an accurate picturee of just what it is like to fly against bombers whose gunners could hit a fighter at a range of a kilometer!

Yes, I'm not surprised that you prefer dogfighting... its easier!

All the best,
Ken Attwood,
Newquay,
Cornwall,
(Not in the UK)