Well, I thought once I captured Berlin, this would all be over and we could go home.  I guess not.  At the end of the real war, there was some question about whether or not the German Army would retreat into the mountains near Austria for a last stand and it appears to be coming true here.  

For the record, I got the P-80 in May 44, the P-55 in Dec, 43 and every other aircraft way ahead of schedule.  For some reason, I always end up going back to the Jug for my missions.  The P-55 is a joke.  It has no range. no bomb load, and no ammo.  The P-80 is too powerful almost for this.  But the Jug has range, Ammo to spare, can carry bombs and a drop tank, and can take on the best the Germans have.  No, much like the real pilots, over time I have come to much respect this big ungainly goofy bird.  I can now see why pilots loved it so much.



Update:  They surrendered after the next mission!

Lots and lots of Close air support.  Most of my missions involved attacking Tanks in the open.  Load up two 1000 pound bombs and use those to take out your target.  After you do your job, look around for dug in Tanks or Infantry and have your wingmen bomb the crap out of them.  While they're doing that, look around for Artillery and Ammo dumps to shoot up.  If you can't find that, then a convoy will usually show up and you can shoot that up.  I never return from a mission with ammo.  Usually, I would score around 10-20 armored vehicles, another 20 Howitzers, and uncounted crates, sandbags, tents, etc....

I played on full realism (if you're going to play on anything less, then why'd you even buy the game?) with blackouts, redouts, etc.  In the end I ended with the rank of Brigidier-General and something like 58,000 prestige, but most of that had been used.  Really, once you get the second Jug, you don't need another plane.  The Lightning is about useless in any form.

Here are my Stats...

Congratulations Pippin,

I don't have the patience or whatever it takes to figure out a campaign and stick with it till the end. I just prefer to fly a mission or two, blow some stuff up and then call it a day.

That's okay by me.

But you really deserve a pat on the back and a "job well done" for your efforts. The U.S. flyboys back in the 40's would have been well served by your skill as a pilot, knowledge of the different aircraft that you aviated and the dedication that you've displayed to see a difficult task through all the way to completion.

Hitler and his Luftwaffe hadn't a chance against dedication of this type.

Take a few days R&R Pippin and then report back to duty sir. We need men like you to keep Stalin and his Red Army and Air Force in its place because his greedy eyes are on the plunder of all of Europe.

Has anyone here actuallly completed a campaign as a bomber pilot?

Pippin,

You are right! I loaded the P-47 up with 1000 LB'ers every time and pounded secondary and tertiary targets each mission when possible.  I have advanced into the Ruhr Valley and it looks like I am on my way to victory. It does seem that hitting the armored vehicles does the most good for advancing the campaign.

Also, you were correct about the other planes later in the war. They just don't get the job done like the Jug. I flew the P-38J and the P-51B and quickly went back to the P-47.

Thanks again for your excellent advice. I was about to uninstall it and trade it in, but it seems to have new life. I think it will become a definite keeper.

Cheers!

Watch yer six.

Nikoman

New Post:  I love this simulator.  Been flying for real so this is a lot cheaper.  I agree about knocking out a lot of the ground targets to advance.  I'd rather dog fight all day but it doesn't get ya there.  I have destroyed over 200 ground targets and over 125 planes shot down.  It is Mid March 45 now and I'm a Lt Gen and wondering if this is really over at the end of April.  I really like the 262 with the monster cannon on the front.  I can't get the 51 to go as high as I can with the 47 thou.  Sick