Using air effectively

[greenmoray1]

When using the air portion of this game I find myself clicking on a lot of enemy red marked hexes when I click on the bomb unit button. I see that the game has auto recon by pushing the "a " key but it only goes for a few seconds. But back to the other parts of the air war in this game, is there any other way to bomb airfields and units. Is there some auto aspect I'm missing or is it that you are clicking many hexes to bomb. It takes a while. Maybe I'm missing something or is that the deal? Lastly, any advice in this bombing units and airfields like targeting certain ones rather than clicking on every hex marked red. I'm guessing there is some clear answer to this thanks.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: greenmoray1

When using the air portion of this game I find myself clicking on a lot of enemy red marked hexes when I click on the bomb unit button. I see that the game has auto recon by pushing the "a " key but it only goes for a few seconds. But back to the other parts of the air war in this game, is there any other way to bomb airfields and units. Is there some auto aspect I'm missing or is it that you are clicking many hexes to bomb. It takes a while. Maybe I'm missing something or is that the deal? Lastly, any advice in this bombing units and airfields like targeting certain ones rather than clicking on every hex marked red. I'm guessing there is some clear answer to this thanks.

You have just opened pandora's box [:D]

See the 8MP AAR for how important air force use is to this game.

[Telemecus]

ORIGINAL: greenmoray1
I see that the game has auto recon by pushing the "a " key but it only goes for a few seconds.

Change your options to higher message levels. You will find it gives you much more detail, and takes much longer!

ORIGINAL: greenmoray1 is there any other way to bomb airfields and units.

F7 to bomb units, F6 to bomb airbases

ORIGINAL: greenmoray1 advice in this bombing units and airfields like targeting certain ones rather than clicking on every hex marked red.

Bomb units with highest detection levels, lowest fortification levels, the better enemy units first (guards/elite/motorised) and best of all bomb units before they retreat due to one of your ground attacks - the enemy your air disrupted can become loses if they then have to retreat. Remember ground support (which happens automatically with your ground unit battles) is three times more effective than ground bombing. So do not do so much ground bombing that they are too fatigued to give ground support.

On air bomb modern Soviet fighter types, recon, Il-2s and very long range bombers before everything else. Bombing I15 biplanes, or fast medium bombers is probably a less good use of your bombers. The Soviet side only makes six good recon aircraft a turn - destroy enough and you can leave them blind. (Whether that means anything if you are playing the AI is an open question)

[greenmoray1]

Thanks for the advice on the air aspects and changing message level, much appreciation.

[thedoctorking]

Bombing a lot early in the turn, for the Soviets, can run up fatigue levels of Axis fighters, exhaust their fuel and ammo stocks, and make them vulnerable to airbase strikes later in the turn. Doesn't work in reverse, though.

[hei1]

Question on the air command structure (Axis view): does the distribution of air groups ("Gruppe") on different air bases - even far away from the squadron ("Geschwader") commander or staff unit ("Stab") - effect the air combat? For ground units it does, for units in a "Luftflotte" it does (one attack from units of one Luftflotte). Or is the "Stab" and "Gruppe"-structure only decorative? I would appreciate something like for ground corps.
Thanks in advance for any information.

[xhoel]

They are only decorative. You have a lot more flexibility in the air.

[Telemecus]

You can use the stabs for places where you would not want to commit a whole group. For example 3 or 4 fighters to cover rear area strat bombing can do it just as well as 40 - but you would rather just use 4 for that?

[hei1]

Thanks - so air combat is really much more flexible. The proper air logistics / supply is difficult enough...
BTW: is there any chance to get more experienced pilots (this was a bottleneck in history, beside fuel). E.g. by scrapping outdated air groups or unused (Axis) recon? Does it accelerate the "production" of new planes (with pilots)? Do the experienced pilots go into a "pool"?
Thanks for your patience.

[Telemecus]

Tracking pilots individually with their experience is a feature of WitE2 - but sadly not of WitE1. in WitE1 pilots are assumed to come with the planes, so scrapping them will not release anybody to a separate piloot pool. The experience of each airgroups in that sense is independent of all other air groups.