I posted this on SAS Site as well. I have had the sim for about a month now. Got it patched up to 4.12.2 and was getting my a** handed to me every mission, so I reverted back to 4.10.1, but with that comes frustration when your going 260 MPH and bombers are pulling away from you and climbing at the same time, so I decided to go back to 4.12 and only do QMB practice until I can start a campaign.

My needed advice is how to effectively attack bombers? Of course the rear approach is certain death as the AI gunners are very very good. I have tried getting above them off to the side, but as the bomber passes under the wing I lose sight of them, dipping the wing to regain their position of course causes me to turn into them and as I dive, yup..I'm at their 6 and getting shot up by the tail gunner.

I do want to practice tactics but what are some tips how to do this?

Thanks

You have to be patient to get in a position to engage bombers.
Never attack from behind.

Fly at them from their left or right directly, or the FRONT quarters. Depending upon the bomber and where their defenses are, you can sometimes attack from above... or below...

Best way to say it is slash attacks from the side. Extend. Turn around. Repeat.

Just don't sit behind them. You're basically "standing" still for them to shoot you.
Short bursts and see if they drop their bombs prematurely. If they do, move on to the next one, no need to continue to engage if their payload threat is mitigated.

You will learn to have a better feel for your position in relation to them. Situational Awareness (SA) is extremely important.

Tolwyn is right. Slashing attacks from the front or side at high speed. Stay FAST, use deflection shooting, don't get too close. If you do it right you should get plenty of hits on bombers but rarely get hit yourself. Any other method and you are toast.

Which bombers are you trying to down? Is it Bettys? God I hate Bettys.....

I tend to misjudge distance on slashing attacks usually missing the merge or destroying the target with my plane which is not to be recommended. I fly out of range underneath at full chat until the target goes behind canopy and then pull up and give them what for in the guttywuts.
Beware though of rear gunners in D3A or Stukas that seem to be able to fire through the floor of their kites.

Thanks guys, practiced a lot this weekend both with the enemy empty and default in QMB. More practice, but it's getting better. I too, like BD-123, tend to misjudge distance using slashing attacks. Learning to not turn and get behind those bombers when I miss a pass, but to extend and set up for another pass.

2 things I have learned: 1 - I probably wouldn't have lasted very long as a pilot. 2 - these guys had balls of steel my hats off to them and a huge Thank You for what you did.

Turn off the Vulnerability options and you can attack them with impunity.


Wheels

'2 things I have learned: 1 - I probably wouldn't have lasted very long as a pilot. 2 - these guys had balls of steel my hats off to them and a huge Thank You for what you did

Although I agree with your testicular sentiments, many contemporary personal accounts I have read particularly from pilot's involved in the Battle of Britain tended to disregard rear gunners as ineffectual especially in regard to Stooks and 110's, other than concentrated fire from tight formations.

Much gun camera footage can confirm this, showing most attacks conducted from the target's 6. I have in mind the chilling footage of a 109G6 surgically taking apart a B17 (seen here at 2.30")

So one doesn't have to feel bad at copping a packet from AI rear gunners in this sim as they are not accurately depicted!
Did I mention I hated Betty's BTW?

Ahh wheels, I don't wanna do that, I wouldn't really learn a thing. I think I'm starting to get this down. Started the USAAF Campaign flying the P-40 - Started at Pearl. Shot down 2 DA3 and 1 B5N, didn't get hit at all. My aim stinks as I used up all my ammo. Then continued the campaign, have shot down 3 Betty's so far and only 1 hit me good but was able to make it back and land.

Learning to use the Gunsight view better as well, that makes it a little easier too.

One thing is the initial position before your slashing attack, try to have the sun on your side of the bomber if possible (it's supposed to work better since 4.12 IIRC), and more important before turning into the bombers you need to be at their 10 or 2 o'clock, starting an attack from 3 or 9 ends in the 6 sector. Starting from above allows also to lure turret gunners by diving into the belly side and pulling late, gunners need more deflection since you're not coming at them directly until it's time to shoot, and the target is much bigger when seen from the sides and above or below.

When you start a dynamic campaign, you can also change the difficulty in conf.ini, it's pretty essential with the new AI or you won't last long. Even with easy AI settings in dgen it's very easy to end on the wrong side of a sharpshooter.

Better than any of my sorties. I typically end up with a seized engine and a dead stick landing if it was a good mission.


Wheels

Kill those Betties Kevin KIIIIIL THEM!