1.0.9b (2024-03-21)
Release 1.0.9b - 'Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby'
This patch updates gameplay and UI with some other minor fixes, tweaks the fighter behavior and new time bar and fixes a very serious CTD mid-mission.
Gameplay
- Reworked fighter attack
- Fighters now attack in multiple waves of squadrons (2 waves of 4 aircraft instead of 3 waves of 6) per airbase, instead of single squadrons.
- Fighters are now a little more aggressive and will pull out of attacks later.
UI Features
- Time can now be controlled from a new UI at the bottom of the screen
- Bombardier search/rate toggle now has an icon/button at the bottom of the bombardier action screen
- Compartments and stations are disabled when viewing fighters
Major fixes
- Fix for crash to desktop related to fighters in historical missions
- Fix for crash to desktop when swapping to a fighter and selecting a B17 compartment
- Fix for crash to desktop when too many airbases are attacking the squadron
Minor fixes
- Scroll Bar now ties to mouse wheel for menus
- Training mission typos
- Fix for inability to quit pilot training mission
- Time bar no longer off the edge of the screen
- Select time to reset to normal speed
- No longer able to change speed while paused
- Icon bar help no longer shows if icons are invisible
B-17 serial 42-32076 was accepted into service in January 1944 arriving in Great Britain on the 2nd of March. It was flown from RAF Bassingbourn by the 401st bombardment squadron of the 91st bombardment group. Dubbed 'Shoo Shoo Baby' by its crew after a popular song by the Andrews Sisters, it flew 24 successful missions, before mechanical problems deep in enemy territory forced the crew to land the Aircraft in neutral Sweden where it was interned. A deal was struck between the US and Sweden to gift several B17's to Sweden for civilian purposes including the (renamed) 'Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby', in return for repatriation of air crew.
Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby is one of a handful of surviving B17's today.
1.0.8 (2024-03-11)
Update 1.0.8 - Stormy Weather
This patch fixes a Crash and Start Mission Issue.
Serious
- Fixed instant return to debriefing room when starting missions
- Fixed crash to desktop on Opportunity for the Axis mission start
- Removed 4 pass limit on fighter attacks
Update 1.0.7 - Winged Victory
This patch fixes several AI issues and includes some Quick Mission and Front End enhancements.
Bomber Formation AI
- Catastrophic collisions should be significantly reduced when formations are turning
- Bombers will leave formation if they cannot maintain cruise speed
Note: Flak damage severely impacts the aircraft control surfaces, which impacts the bomber's ability to maintain formation positioning currently. We're aware of this and are continuing to work on improvements to this.
Fighter Attack AI
- Fighter->B17 collisions should be significantly reduced
- Fighter AI will avoid bomber formation airspace
- Fighters will abort and head home after 4 passes (instead of 15 minutes), absent damage, fuel low, out of ammo
- When breaking off an attack, fighters will maintain break off posture until clear of the target
- When intercepting the target, fighters will abort if they get too close if that have failed to begin Attacking
- Gunners will only announce fighters if the fighter is directly attacking
Attack of the Axis
- More squadrons, more fighters
- Attack wave squadrons are staggered
Front End
- Controls can be reset with right click (on the control window on the right)
- Text windows in the front end will page up/down with mouse wheel
Please keep the feedback coming and follow the game on social and on the major gaming platforms for the latest updates.
1.0.6 (2024-02-21)
Update 1.0.6 - Duffy's Tavern
This fix patches several 'quality of life' issues
- Fix for nose geometry
- Navigator Map recenters on plane on entry
- Radio operator can use book without going to manual
- Compartment and station icon bars are accessible externally
- Drift adjustment no longer needs the user to depress 'N' in bomb sight
- Gun geometry update
Please keep the feedback coming and follow the game on social and on the major gaming platforms for the latest updates.
1.0.5 (2024-02-16)
Update 1.0.5 - Hellzapoppin
This is a hot fix for a crash bug when accessing a station with a missing crewman
Serious Issue Fixes
- Fix for crash when accessing a station with a missing crew member
Minor Issue Fixes
- Fix for maps not able to be dragged at high zooms
- Fix for Aircraft status wrap after accessing bombardier screens
1.0.4 (2024-02-14)
This week we have focused on issues with AI and physics timing, as well as some quality of life improvements to the bombing
Timing and Stability
- Landscape tile generation has been temporarily dropped back to original game rate as it was causing frame spikes, causing integration issues for Physics and AI. The process of tile generation will be reworked to not impact on frame time
- Time acceleration has been capped to 8x as higher rates were also causing integration issues
- Event Scheduler has had extra guards added
- Possible heap corruption fix
- Fix for occasional crash when accessing fighter formations via the icon bar
Bombing
- Bomb sight terrain window has been adjusted
- Bomb sight screens now has drift visible as part of the Aircraft info
Misc
- Graphics updated for the radio operators table
Please keep the feedback coming and follow the game on social and on the major gaming platforms for the latest updates.
1.0.3 (2024-02-06)
1.0.3
Issue fixes
This patch includes fixes for several serious issues:
- Bomb sight world render is now centered on crosshair
- Fix for crewmen disappearing when swapping stations
- Fix for control reset data incompatibility leading to corrupted controls and crashes
1.0.2
New Features
- Most scenes have been updated to 4k
- Training mission 1:
The tutorial now:
- Includes tour of all compartment views
- Places aircraft in flight as we switch to Nose view
- Has better descriptions of the instruments views
- Includes firing the guns in Top Turret section
Issue fixes
Blocker/Serious
- Don't force switch to AI when switching screens (particularly bombardier) of selected character
- Training missions have had blockers removed
Minor
- Retain AI/manual state of already selected crew
- Stop the edge bars activating while mouse controlling external cam
- Fix for text being invisible on the operations room blackboard
- Fix for fires not rendering
- Scale mouse drag inputs for bombardier and navigator to reflect the new resolution
1.0.17.1 (2025-01-29)
1.0.17.1 Ain’t it Gruesome
This build contains user modifiable nose art and control changes
Features
- Any PNG added to UserAssets/NoseArt/New can be added to your B17 as nose art. Nose art must be 512x512 or smaller.
- Controller gamepad can be bound as buttons
- Controller Triggers can be bound as buttons
Hotfixes
- Nose art preprocessing has been updated to allow for separate port and starboard artwork.
- Example logo artwork and template artwork added to UserAssets\NoseArt\New folder
- Nose art UV area has been adjusted forward (hat tip to MicroProse discord legend Vipre)
- Join the discussion https://discord.gg/7ZacVDyP
42-29863 - Ain't it Gruesome
In 1943, Clark Gable, star of 'Gone With The Wind' was one of Hollywood's most famous actors. After the death of his wife in a plane crash in 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Forces, joining the 8th Air Force. He flew as a gunner and cameraman on several missions.
On 12th August 1943, he was gunner in B17 #42-29863 'Ain't it Gruesome' in a raid over Germany. He had wedged himself behind the top turret gunner for a better view. He almost lost his life when a 20mm shell went through the flight deck, removing the heel of his shoe and missing his head by 30 cm.
The footage collected by Gable and his crew was used to produce 'Combat America', a documentary on B17's used to promote war bonds.
Brave the deadly skies of occupied Europe!
1.0.16 (2024-11-11)
Update 1.0.16 - Norma-J
This release incorporates the fixes identified by our Discord community. Special thanks to them for finding and reporting a number of transition crashes, both with full information and full respect.
Do you also want to be part of a special community?
Join our discord today!
Features
- Compartment UI now has additional 'status' icons. These show fire, injury and repairable mechanical issues, and will be white, yellow or flash red depending on severity
- Strategic map (particularly for squadron mode) now has extra target information with target priority and current damage state, allowing better mission planning
- Control data overhaul - Part 1:Data. Controls are now stored in plain text files, and are keyed off of device serials, rather than index provided by OS. This is the first part of a set of controller changes to come, and will mean easier binding process for a wider range of peripherals. Note that this first change is geared more towards joysticks and throttles. Game Pad control will be addressed in future updates
Fixes
- Re-Enabling allied fighter control for Campaign and Squadron mission
- Fix for crash in P-38
- Screen Transition Crashes (Hotfix 1.0.16.1)
- Bomb Bay to exterior
- Gun firing in quick missions
- Bombardier instruments to cabin
Norma-J
In October 1943, during a raid on Munster, waist gunner George Rankin narrowly saved his crew when a German rocket came through the waist window. He quickly grabbed the spluttering rocket and threw it back out, where it exploded in flames below.
Later, pilot Bruce Riley skilfully landed the plane in a manner that could have been straight out of a Hollywood movie. With less than two minutes of fuel remaining, two non-functional engines, and no radio assistance, Riley managed to land safely in dense fog with almost no visibility.
Brave the deadly skies of occupied Europe!
Microprose
1.0.15 (2024-09-27)
Update 1.0.15 - Jersey Bounce Jr
Features
- Olive Drab Skins
- Overhaul of skin damage system - GPU based now
- B17 Cockpit Dials, Gauges, Lights & Switches
- B17 Cockpit Camera Controls Updated:
- Action View: HAT and Padlock controls
- Instrument View: F4-F8 keys to go directly to OG views. Arrow keys to cycle through views including new views.
- Window View: Mouse look and Instrument Snap control (defaults to Ctrl-P) to enable cockpit interaction mode. Useful for some hard to reach places from other views like the Prop Pitch levers.
- New indicator to show/enable/disable AI engine management
- Skill information in rose controller
Fixes
- Landing AI now uses engine management
- Targets no longer slide while looking through the Norden Bombsight
- Bombardier action and instrument view masks have been fixed
- Memory optimisations, to prevent framerate issues for some users
- Main menu will no longer wrongly map to HOTAS throttle controllers
- Fix for crash to desktop when a crewman is unable to get a next viable position
- Joysticks with throttle and rotational control can be bound
Jersey Bounce Jr.
It was radio operator Forrest Vostler's fourth mission in B-17 42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr' on a mission to Bremen. After the B-17 had bombed its target, it was damaged by Antiaircraft fire and forced out of formation, making it a target of opportunity for German fighters.
The aircraft was hit by multiple 20mm cannon shells, two of which exploded in the radio compartment, severely damaging Vostler's legs, chest and face, including shrapnel in his eyes.
The severely damaged aircraft limped most of the way home, with the crew jettisoning any extra weight they could.
Despite both sets of injuries Vostler kept firing at the enemy, and then after the pilot announced they would have to ditch in the channel, although he could barely see and was barely conscious he managed to fumble around with the damaged radio enough to send a distress signal.
Due to Vostler's actions all crew survived. For his bravery he was awarded the congressional medal of honor.
Brave the deadly skies of occupied Europe!
Microprose
1.0.12 (2024-07-29)
Update 1.0.12 - Memphis Belle
This patch contains new high definition B17s
Features
- New B-17, with the top level of detail coming in at just over 50,000 polygons.
- Cheyenne Tail Turret
- Upgraded Texture Damage
- Physical Damage Model
- Historical Liveries
- Serial Numbers
- Dynamic Crew in external view
- Rendering Improvements
- Optimized Graphics Settings
B-17 F 41-24485 'Memphis Belle' was named after pilot Robert K. Morgan's sweetheart, Margaret Polk, who lived in Memphis Tennessee. It was one of the first B17's to complete 25 combat missions, after which it was returned to the United States to help sell war bonds. It inspired two films, a 1944 documentary, and a 1990 feature film. It was restored in 2005 and is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio
Ensure you follow the game for updates on the roadmap and patch notes.
1.0.11 (2024-06-03)
Update 1.0.11 - Susan Ruth
This patch contains major fighter and AI changes
Major Fixes
- Fix for aircraft targeting overflow causing bullets not to impact fighters after a while
- Chin, Cheek, Ball, Left Waist and Right waist guns now fire and hit targets
Minor Fixes
- Damage is more sensibly applied to physics components, damage to control surfaces will now effect control
- When an aircraft is hit with bullets, we mark is as damaged by bullets so that when/if it crashes into the ground we'll count it as shot down instead of 'accidental'
- Fix for UV crawling on terrain
- Binding a joystick axis no longer blocks keys
- Fix for time skip failing due to bombardier after bombing target
- Windows Icon
Features
- Different enemy fighter squadrons now have tuneable skill levels. The skill level of enemy fighters at the moment random on Mission levels, but will steadily ramp up in 'Attack of the Axis'
- All B17 Gunners are now hitting with significantly more accuracy
B17 42-31499 'Susan Ruth' was one of 20 B17s from the 306th bombardment group to bomb the Frankfurt rail yards on 8th February 1944. It was damaged by flak over the target, but remained flyable, however the bomber was targeted by two German fighters over France, killing the radio operator and the ball turret gunner, and forcing the rest of the crew to bail out of the mortally wounded aircraft.
Scattered over the countryside, 5 of the surviving crew managed to evade capture for a while with the help of Belgian and French resistance, but 3 were eventually captured and executed by Nazi partisans. Too injured to make the arduous journey over the Pyrenees to Spain and allied Gibraltar, the pilot, Howard J Snyder, joined the 'The Maquis', a local resistance group, and continued to fight the Nazi regime from the ground until liberated by US troops months later.
1.0.10 (2024-04-08)
Update 1.0.10 - Lovely Julie
This patch contains UI updates and a crash fix
Major Fixes
- Fix for crash when time skipping and enemy pilots are aborting mission
Minor Fixes
- New crews will now have officer and enlisted images sorted
- Extended UI for controlling bomb action screen
- Manual icon is no longer visible on screens with no manual override
- Can no longer access enemy fighters as pilot when under attack
B-17 serial 43-38172 'Lovely Julie' took a direct flak hit over Cologne, blowing off almost the entire nose, killing the bombardier, Sgt George Abbott, and destroying instruments and the oxygen supply.
The pilot, Lawrence DeLancey managed to drop to a lower altitude while still under fire, and nurse the bomber home, making a safe landing despite sub zero winds and no brakes.
