Pilot Experience

[OG_Gleep]

Below is the results of the 3rd time I've run through this scenario, and all 3 times I had similar results. A 4th time was muted because I included other Fighter Bombers in the same misison.

Anyhow, I on a chance before rotating the 35th from PM to Aus, set them to Naval Attack, 100 feet. Their morale was below 50, and the AI was making a push to Lae and Gilli at the same time. Bombers were stretched, so I said what the hell and put the 35th at 100, while the 36th attacked at 10k feet with the bombers. I had been loosely following the experience levels of the various Fighter/FB groups since end of May 42. I made a excel spreadsheet indicating how many in the 90's, 80's and 70's each group had and how many were on the edge (89,79,69). No mission has gotten me the kind of jump this did.

I have used strafe before, but never in a Naval Attack. Only time I hit 100 feet is if I am trying to skip bomb.

Strafing ground troops or airfields are just like any other mission. The TF that was hit was only 3 ships, and they were hit twice (6 launched on their own and missed the target).

So does anyone know exactly how experience works? The only theory I have is that the gun hits register as bomb hits as far as experience gain goes. Or is this normal and I just missed something? Anyone have a turn with a huge TF within easy Fighter Bomber range they can run a test on?

35th FS = Naval Attack at 100 Feet
Target: Enemy TF with 3 AP's
Result: All 3 sunk after 2nd Attack

L.Witt: 84 - 86......................+2
L.EverHart: 84 - 86...............+2
K.Pool: 83 - 85.....................+2
D.Jacobson: 80 - 80..............+0
N.Reid: 79 - 80.....................+1
R.Colgrove: 79 - 80..............+1
C.Weaver: 79 - 82................+3
G.Holder: 78 - 79..................+1
A.Sullivan: 76 - 78................+2
R.Parker: 75 - 77..................+2
R.Crow: 75 - 76....................+1
W.Dwyer: 74 - 75..................+1
V.Winders: 73 - 74 ................+1
E.Brogden: 72 - 73.................+1
J.Henry: 71 - 72.....................+1
A.Stoltz: 64 - 69.....................+5
D.McGovern: 64 - 69...............+5
H.Iverson: 62 - 64..................+2
V.Dobbs: 61 - 62....................+1
R.Thanos: 61 - 61...................+0
N.Rea: 61 - 62........................+1
U.Broros: 60 - 62....................+2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,34


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
Beaufort x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 36
B-26B Marauder x 21
A-20B Havoc x 24


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Muko Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryotaku Maru, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 415
Guns lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
9 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
6 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,34


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
Beaufort x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 33
B-26B Marauder x 20
A-20B Havoc x 11


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Muko Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryotaku Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 194

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 200 feet
1 x Beaufort at 200 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 15000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 15000 feet