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Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers?

Posted By: NotRelevant

Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 03/31/21 11:13 PM

Title.

I'm curious if anyone actually flies bomber careers or flies as an observer, or if it's just scout only for you lot?
Posted By: Fullofit

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 12:09 AM

Used to have a lovely DiD career in a DH4 until I ripped the wings off after shooting down 5 Albs and ran out of ammo.
Then there was that Caudron DiD career in Verdun. Does Strutter count?
Posted By: LtCasey

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 05:31 AM

I fancy about a Roland Pilot carreer.
Posted By: Albert Tross

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 08:35 AM

LtCasey - I've had many a good jaunt in the Roland it's good fun, fast enough to take on most scouts in mid/late 1916. It turns like a slab of stone though if you lose speed.

Fullofit - the Strutter definitely counts, I'm flying one for the French at the moment. I managed to find the earliest Esc to be equipped with them fully without joining as a top rank. Esc 123 in November 1916.

The Caudron, the FE2B, all good fun and don't forget, a lot of the aces got their first kills flying two seaters.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 12:19 PM

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NotRelevant, I have done many careers over the years in OFF and WOFF as a bomber pilot, but then I'm an old B/R man at heart. The Roland is a killer, as is the Brisfit on the Entente side. But if you really want a challenge try the Gotha, that one is a handful and then some.

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Posted By: AceMedic88

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 12:38 PM

I've tried the RE8 a few times...safe to say those campaigns are rather brief
Posted By: Adger

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by RAF_Louvert
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NotRelevant, I have done many careers over the years in OFF and WOFF as a bomber pilot, but then I'm an old B/R man at heart. The Roland is a killer, as is the Brisfit on the Entente side. But if you really want a challenge try the Gotha, that one is a handful and then some.

.


Think a Gotha career is going to be my new German career choice in BHaH II, Lou..I must be mad screwy biggrin
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 12:58 PM

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Adger, we prefer the term 'barmy' around here. biggrin

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Posted By: Albert Tross

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 01:14 PM

Speaking of Gothas chaps. Has anyone come up against one on the western front? Or do you only see them in Home Defence campaigns?
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 01:20 PM

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I've happened upon them several times in campaigns, up near the channel ports on historically correct dates. So, yes.

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Posted By: Albert Tross

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 01:30 PM

Thanks Lou, yes I've come up against them when trying Home Defence campaigns and the Quick Scenarios but not on the western front which would make sense if they're only active on the days (and nights) they were active historically, like 13th June 1917 for example, and not just flying random sorties.
Posted By: RAF_Louvert

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 01:36 PM

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While I was flying in France and/or Belgium at the times I mentioned, it would make sense that you would likely only see the Gothas over these countries on their way across the Channel to bomb England. Although, there were some Gotha sorties against Paris, so perhaps if you had your timing right you would seem them along that route as well.

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Posted By: jerbear

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 03:57 PM

I like to fly two-seaters, especially in a ground attack role.

Recon. and Artillery observation are not really supported in the Sim, although you are given missions of this type you can't really make a Recon. report or correct fall of shot.

You have to use your imagination..

This was a disappointment to me until it occurred to me that, as the pilot, I fly the plane, I don't observe fall of shot or even drop bombs. That's the job of your observer. My job is to get him to the target and allow him to do it. When bombing, if you turn autopilot on when you get him over the target he will do it very well indeed, you just have to give up a little control for awhile and stick your ego in your back pocket.

Ground attacks are different and you can take more control over it. On these missions, I drop the bombs at low level myself. I have an old thread somewhere on here that discusses them a little. Your Franz can do a good deal of damage with his moveable gun or guns if you put him in a good firing position.
Posted By: orbyxP

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by jerbear
You have to use your imagination..

This was a disappointment to me until it occurred to me that, as the pilot, I fly the plane, I don't observe fall of shot or even drop bombs. That's the job of your observer. My job is to get him to the target and allow him to do it.


True, but since this is a video game and not real life, it would be great if recon and artillery observation offered more than flying in circles around the target. It would give two-seater careers more viability/playability over fighter pilots.
Posted By: carrick58

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 06:53 PM

Ive flown some of them then switched to fighters. 3 careers were two seat only. A French C-4, Brit Sopwith 1 1/2 er, and a N-10 ? (what ever the 2 seat was called.} The 1 1/2er was the longest and victory's were piling up then POW.
Posted By: NotRelevant

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 07:06 PM

I might just do a gotha at some point. Are there any like, sights? Or do you do it by just guessing. Or does the AI drop them.
Posted By: Albert Tross

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/01/21 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by NotRelevant
I might just do a gotha at some point. Are there any like, sights? Or do you do it by just guessing. Or does the AI drop them.


You can do either, drop them yourself or engage the autopilot and the AI will do it.

There is a bombsight mod which JJJ65 kindly updated to PE. It works really well and I use it a lot.

Obviously when the new version comes out, it would need reworking.
Posted By: catch

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/02/21 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by jerbear


Recon. and Artillery observation are not really supported in the Sim, although you are given missions of this type you can't really make a Recon. report or correct fall of shot.

You have to use your imagination..




Originally Posted by orbyxP
[quote=jerbear]

it would be great if recon and artillery observation offered more than flying in circles around the target. It would give two-seater careers more viability/playability over fighter pilots.


I started a thread over on CA on this subject. The devs have yet to respond so maybe it cannot be done or not a high priority ? Pity, 'cause it would add a lot to the sim I think.
Posted By: xNightFlyerx

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/22/21 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by LtCasey
I fancy about a Roland Pilot carreer.
I recenly started a pilot in Roland. Flieger Rutger Moltke. Interesting plane to fly my poor pilot had rocky start and unfortunate end. 2nd mission crashed on takeoff sent to hospital for 8 days,4th mission forced down wounded,6th mission engine failure shortly after takeoff and final unlucky 7th forced down after being shot. I almost made it back to airfield, I thought I lost enemy but He snuck up on me and flamed my engine at treetop level. I rolled over and faceplant RIp. The observer was completely useless unfortunately He only fired one time.
Posted By: Bletchley

Re: Does anyone actually fly bomber/observer careers? - 04/22/21 09:55 AM

Hi Albert, I mostly fly as bomber/recon these days as I am getting old with slow reactions and decreasing eyesight, so I just get shot down a lot in fighters smile

Some time ago I created a set of 'historical mission types' that take the stock mission types for both fighters and bomber/recon and expand upon them to give a bit more variety, especially to bomber/recon careers, and add a bit of fun as well. These are available to download from Sandbaggers mods site in both the 'Bletchley' version and in a couple of other versions. I am using the Bletchley set in WOFF BH&H2 and they seem to work OK so far! Try them if you like, they need to be installed in WOFF and then activated in Workshop by clicking on '3rd Part Mission Types'.

B.
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