BAD APPLES III LOG UP TO MISSION 15 - WILHELMSHAVEN

This paints a rather grim picture. 18 KIA and 2 B-17s lost. Only the ENGINEER remains from BAD APPLES I. It seems to be dangerous in the NOSE - with 7 KIA already. The rest are evenly spread across the other 8 crew-stations. A lot of destroyed fighters, though we might allow for a little over-reporting. Bombing is poor overall but with some better percentages mixed in. Funnily enough, the third best score was achieved with a destroyed bomb-sight - bombing by blind chance.

The crew is gaining experience and can give the Luftwaffe pause for thought. They will have their work cut out as more and more missions are flown beyond the range fighter cover. The Thunderbolts and Lightnings do great work but still leave little gaps even before zone 5 and 6. 

I can't pretend my simulation is in any way accurate but it does capture the feel of those early months quite well. It feels dangerous but the B-17 (if not the crew) can survive a lot of punishment and still bomb and return. Often I've felt this is it as 3-4 BANDITS close in only to see them driven off or the B-17 soak up hit after hit.