Ditching

[Edgehog]

I find it rather unfair that enemy (AI) aircraft can ditch after being riddled with bullets and are not destroyed (and the kill is not registered). Further to this, If the player aircraft ditches, then it is immediately destroyed and the "kill" is counted. Ditching in WWII had a high probability of survival, especially near ships or land. I think this should be modeled and if AI aircraft are not destroyed, the player aircraft shouldn't be either. (It'd be nice to see the pilot bobbing up in the swells on a yellow raft, just as it can be seen dangling from a 'chute! Or at least bobbing with the mae west...)

[RichCotte]

X2 for this!!!

[Mr_sukebe]

On 8/15/2025 at 4:36 AM, Edgehog said:

I find it rather unfair that enemy (AI) aircraft can ditch after being riddled with bullets and are not destroyed (and the kill is not registered). Further to this, If the player aircraft ditches, then it is immediately destroyed and the "kill" is counted. Ditching in WWII had a high probability of survival, especially near ships or land. I think this should be modeled and if AI aircraft are not destroyed, the player aircraft shouldn't be either. (It'd be nice to see the pilot bobbing up in the swells on a yellow raft, just as it can be seen dangling from a 'chute! Or at least bobbing with the mae west...)

Survival rates from ditching did improve dramatically during the war, above all by planning and integration with surface rescue craft.  However, early war, rates were pretty diabolical.

Edited 20 hours ago by Mr_sukebe

[Gunfreak]

3 hours ago, Mr_sukebe said:

Survival rates from ditching did improve dramatically during the war, above all by planning and integration with surface rescue craft.  However, early war, rates were pretty diabolical.

The Americans became experts at picking up downed pilots in the Pacific. One was the destroyer around the fleet. But Americans submarines picked up hundreds of pilots the last few years of the war. Then you have the sea planes that also picked up hundreds. In some cases both subs and sea planes would pick up pilots just a few hundred meters of Japanese held island. Bullets and shells churning up the sea as the planes landed and grabbed the pilots aboard.

[Reflected]

Don't forget the PBYs either. Ditching really needs some work in DCS, especially with the PTO coming.

[Gunfreak]

5 hours ago, Reflected said:

Don't forget the PBYs either. Ditching really needs some work in DCS, especially with the PTO coming.

It's bad enough you can't ditch in the channel in ETO. It will be even worse in ETO. It you were in doubt you could do the landing on the boat (damage, visibility, etc) you ditched close to a destroyer in the fleet and got picked up. 

I also hope they fix the instant death of ejection into the sea. This is needed both both for Korea and Vietnam. Untold number of pilots got saved by barely making it feet wet in a damaged jet and ejecting into the water. Some times so close to shore the north Vietnamese tried to get the pilots by sending patrol boats after them