Looking for help with a WW2 B17 raid mission

[Tree_Beard]

As a true masochist, I decided I wanted to try to use the mission editor to set up a fairly realistic WW2 B17 raid, with fighter escort, across the channel to carpet bomb a rail yard in France. 

The amount of trial and error I've gone through up to this point to try to get the AI to do something close to what I want it to do is mindboggling.. like multiple days worth. 

At this point, I've got the mission to the point where my bombers don't all immediately collide at mission start and my escort fighters usually sort of form up with the bombers as they cross the English coastline. What they do next, however is generally a total crapshoot. 

Now my latest issue is that, despite the fact that I have every B17 group set to "no reaction to threat," as soon as they get within the threat ring of the German flak in Normandy, the entire formation of B17s (60 planes) makes a sudden extreme turn to I guess try to RTB, usually resulting in like a dozen collisions. Ridiculous. Also, no matter what I do I can't get my German interceptors to climb to altitude by the time the B17s arrive. 

This has been such a frustrating experience,  I'm pretty much ready to give up at this point. Figured I'd post the .miz file here to see if by any chance someone knows how to fix this mess.

I want my B17's to proceed south, link up with the escort fighter groups at the coast, fly across the channel, fight through the German interceptors, and drop ordinance on the target. I have some client slots already incorporated and would like to plug in a few more for the red side. 

Not expecting anyone to drop what they are doing and look at this but any help would be appreciated. 

Operation Argument.miz

[Seaside]

So I was having a similar situation using Betty bombers flying over anchored ships to bomb the land behind.

 

What I finally discovered was that the first waypoint (0) had things like radar usage, chaff etc. I think this interferes with ww2.

Do exactly these steps

Clear all waypoints.

Put at ALL waypoints, Formation- bomber element, reaction the threat-no reaction. NOTHING else.

At the Bombing waypoint add Bombing (I assume carpet bombing would work although I didn't try it.)

 

If using torpedo bombers you will have to use En-route task - Anti ship (This will place this at all waypoints but it should be fine)

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this is interfering with fighter aircraft as well.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Seaside

[Seaside]

The other issues I'm having are Bombers not returning fire and fighters not hitting anything.

The fighters not hitting may be related to the Wildcats I was using. Spitfires hit ok.

I am using modded aircraft so maybe I'll try a mission with stock aircraft.

 

So far in the 2 missions I tried, neither B-26's or Betty's returned fire.

 

Edited May 5, 2023 by Seaside