User manual GAMES PC B-17 FLYING FORTRESS - THE MIGHTY 8TH

Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Section One: Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Setup and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 The ReadMe file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Section Two: The Getting Started Guide . . . .11 The Game Tutorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Overview . . . . . . . . Starting Off . . . . . . Game Controls . . Getting Around . . Warning Red Text Skip Time . . . . . . Accelerate Time . . Crew Management . Returning Home . . . Mission Debriefing . Saving the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 .12 .20 .22 .23 .25 .25 .26 .28 .28 .29 .30 .30 .31 .31 .32 .34 .35 .35 .35 .35 .35 .36 The Training Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Taxi and Take Off . . . . . . . . . . Approach and Landing . . . . . . Feathering/Restarting an Engine Bombing ­ Good Conditions . . . Bombing ­ Poor Conditions . . . Gunnery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Limping Home . . . . . . . . . . . Attack of the Axis . . . . . . . . . Where are the `Little Friends'? Opportunity for the Axis . . . . . Fighter sweep over France . . . Defence of the Reich . . . . . . . . . . . . The Quickstart Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Section Three: Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 The Main Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Player Options Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Controls Menu . . . . . . Realism/Difficulty Menu Graphics Menu . . . . . . Sound Menu . . . . . . . Load/Save Menu . . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 .40 .42 .43 .43 .44 .44 .44 .45 .45 .45 .45 .45 .47 .47 .47 .47 .47 .48 .49 .49 .50 .50 .50 .51 .51 .52 .52 .52 .52 .53 .53 .54 .54 .54 .55 .55 .55 .55 The Game Options Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 The Campaign Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Bomber Commander Campaign . The Squadron Commander Campaign The Single Mission Game . . . . . . . . . The Quickstart Mission . . . . . . . . . . The Training Mission . . . . . . . . . . . Play a Historical Mission . . . . . . . . Bombardment Division/Group Screen . . Campaign Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customise Bomber Screen . . . . . . . . . New Bomber Name . . . . . . . . . . . . Choose Nose Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bomber Crew Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . Squadron Bomber Names/Nose Art . . . Squadron Crew Screen . . . . . . . . . . . The HQ Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 The Operations Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Map ­ Planning the Mission . . . . . Map Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Map Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Map Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting up a Reconnaissance Mission Setting up a Bombing Mission . . . . . Target Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . The Primary Target . . . . . . . . . . . The Secondary Target . . . . . . . . . . Setting Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . Intelligence File ­ Target Details . . . . . The Blackboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outside ­ Inspect the Bombers . . . . . . Bomber Clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mechanical File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Management File . . . . . . . . . . Crew Replacement File . . . . . . . . . . Next Bomber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clipboard ­ Choose Bombers for the Mission Ordnance ­ Select Munitions for the Mission Blackboard ­ View Mission Summary . . . . . The Squadron Commander's Office . . . . . . . . In-tray `Read New Mail' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Out-tray `Read Old Mail' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Information File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bomber Information File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medical File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Squadron History Files (The Bookcase) . . . . Inspect the Bombers (Window) . . . . . . . . . The Bomber Commander's Office . . . . . . . . . In-tray `Read New Mail' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Out-tray `Read Old Mail' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Information File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inspect the B-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Mission Briefing Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . View Route Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . View Reconnaissance Film . . . . . . . . . . . . Read Mission Briefing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beginning the Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your Mission Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . The Squadron Commander . . . . . . . . . . . The Bomber Commander . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Portrait Panel (pop up menu) . . . . . . Crew Position Panel (pop-up menu) . . . . . Crew Views Panel (pop-up menu) . . . . . . . External View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compartment View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Action View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Window View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Pilot and Co-Pilot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Bombardier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Engineer/Top Turret Gunner . . . . . . . . . The Radio Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Gunners (Ball Turret, Waist 1 and 2, Tail) Compartment Selection (pop up menu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 .56 .57 .57 .57 .57 .57 .57 .58 .58 .58 .58 .58 .58 .58 .58 .59 .59 .59 .60 .60 .60 .60 .60 .61 .61 .61 .62 .62 .63 .63 .63 .63 .63 .63 .65 .67 .68 .69 .70 .71 Inside the Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Section Four: The Training Schools . . . . . . .73 An Introduction to the Basics of Flight . . . . . . . . . .74 Flying School (Pilot and Co-Pilot) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Control Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pilot's and Co-Pilot's Instrument Panel The Take Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Starting your Engines . . . . . . . . . . Taxiing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Pilot Helper . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting into the Air . . . . . . . . . . . Climbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Levelling the B-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . Trimming and Cruising . . . . . . . . . Turns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stalls and Spins . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forming Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flying a Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Initial Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . Flying Over the Target . . . . . . . . . The Rally Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Return Home . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feathering the Engine(s) . . . . . . . . Engine Fire Extinguishers . . . . . . . War Emergency Power . . . . . . . . . Lock Out AI Engine Control . . . . . . Landing the B-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pre-landing Checks . . . . . . . . . . . Pilot Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Traffic Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . Pilot Helper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Final Approach . . . . . . . . . . . The Landing Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taxi to Hardstand . . . . . . . . . . . . Bombardier ­ General Principles Bombing Factors . . . . . . . . . . The Bomb Run . . . . . . . . . . . . Salvo Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . Intervalometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 .82 .83 .85 .86 .87 .87 .88 .89 .89 .90 .91 .91 .91 .91 .91 .91 .92 .92 .92 .92 .93 .93 .93 .93 .93 .93 .94 .94 .94 .94 .94 .95 .96 .97 .98 .98 Bombardier School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Searching for the Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Bombing Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 The Chin Turret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Navigator School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Pilotage . . . . . . . . . . Dead Reckoning . . . . . The Navigator's Map . . Map Controls . . . . . . . The Map Icons . . . . The Map Symbols . . Re-setting Waypoints Navigation Realism . The Drift Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 .100 .100 .100 .101 .101 .102 .102 .102 Engineer School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Fuel Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Radio Operator School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 The Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Messages Inward Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Messages Outward Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Gunnery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 Gunner Skills . . . . . . . . . . . Machine Guns . . . . . . . . . . Gunsights . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Clock System of Defence The Zone Firing System . . . . Sighting and Firing . . . . . . . Red Text Warning . . . . . . . . Unjamming Machine Guns . . Ammo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 .106 .106 .106 .107 .107 .107 .108 .108 Section Five: Crew/Bomber Management . . .109 Moving Crew to New Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Red Text Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Injured Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Panic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Repairing items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Fighting Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Baling Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Bomber Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 External Views . . . . . . . . . . . . Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Formation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accelerate Time (Home) . . . . . . Decelerate Time (End) . . . . . . . Skip Time (Return/Enter) . . . . . Mini-Time Skip . . . . . . . . . . Pause Simulation (Pause/Break) Jump to Other Bombers . . . . . . Aircraft Select Pop-up Menu . . Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Text Warnings . . . . . . . . Engine Fire Extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 .113 .113 .113 .113 .113 .113 .114 .114 .114 .115 .115 .115 Mission Debriefing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Medals, Promotions and WIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Section Six: Fighter School . . . . . . . . . . . .117 Fighter Cockpit Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Single­engine Aircraft Controls . Twin-engine/jet Aircraft Controls Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Artificial Horizon . . . . . . . . . Airspeed Indicator . . . . . . . . Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . Altimeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . Engine Temperature Gauge . . Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manifold Pressure Gauge . . . Rate of Climb Indicator . . . . Fighter Controls . . . . . . . . . . Take Offs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing Fighters . . . . . . . . . . Navigation to Target . . . . . . . . Escort Fighters . . . . . . . . . . Luftwaffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Landings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 .119 .120 .120 .120 .120 .120 .121 .121 .121 .121 .121 .121 .122 .123 .123 .123 .123 .123 .124 The Fighter Escort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124 P-38 Lightning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 P-47 Thunderbolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 P-51 Mustang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 The Luftwaffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 Attacking the Bombers FW 190 . . . . . . . . . . Bf-109 (Me-109) . . . . Me-262 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 .129 .130 .131 Section Seven: Customer Information . . . . .141 Infogrames Customer Service Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142 Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143 Introduction They called it `The Mighty Eighth', the US Army Air Force 8th Bomber Command. The force that flew daylight missions over occupied Europe, striking at specific military targets with pinpoint accuracy. The main drawback was that enemy fighters and flak concentrations could clearly see them in daylight. The solution was massive defensive bomber formations that had to fight their way there and fight their way back. B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' recreates that era, in a Second World War simulation that gives you total control of every aspect of the strategic air war (including the opposing fighters). You'll learn to fly the legendary B-17G `Flying Fortress' and feel the power and grace of the massive four-engine bomber. You can also be one of the escort fighter pilots and fly the P-38 `Lightning', the P-51 `Mustang', or the P-47 `Thunderbolt'. In addition, you can take on the role of the Luftwaffe and jump into the cockpit of the German interceptors: the Bf-109, FW-190, and the jet powered Me-262! This is the ultimate flight crew simulation, as you become an expert at all ten B-17 crew positions allowing you to take off and land the massive bomber, shoot from all turret positions, navigate across a realistically mapped Europe, send radio messages, carry out bomb runs, release the bombs and watch them hit the target! B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth'. The complete WW2 strategic air war flight simulation 8 Section One: Technical Specification Make sure the specification shown on the B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' box matches that of your machine. Installation · · · · Insert the B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' CD into your CD-ROM drive. If autorun is enabled, B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' will take you to the installation screen. Click on the `Install' button and follow all on-screen directions. If autorun has not been enabled, you'll have to double-click on the `My Computer' icon on the Windows® Desktop, then on the CD-ROM icon, and then click on `Setup.exe'. Follow all on-screen instructions. The simulation will now install. · Once B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' is installed it will appear in the Program Group on the START Menu. Loading · Select Start > Programs > MicroProse > B-17. The game will now load. The Read Me file The B-17 Flying Fortress `The Mighty Eighth' CD-ROM has a Read Me file where you can view trouble shooting and updated information about the product. To view this file, double-click on "Read Me" in the B-17 directory found on your hard drive. You may also view the Read Me file by first clicking on the START button on your Win95/98/Millennium taskbar, then on Programs > MicroProse > B-17 > Read Me file. 10 Section Two: The Getting Started Guide The Game Tutorial Overview Well, you've successfully installed and loaded the game and you're itching to get into the air in that big bomber and see some WW2 action. This tutorial will get you up and running in a Bomber Commander campaign game, but it will not teach you the complete simulation (manual flying, bombing etc). For that you will need to try the specific Training and Quickstart Missions using the Training School sections later in this manual. Starting Off After the opening animation screens you will see the Main Menu screen. New Game Game Options Before you do anything else you must check the status of the Navigation realism. Navigation is an important factor in the simulation and the aircraft can fly at three levels of Navigation Complexity: Historical, Easy or Flawless. For this guide we don't want you to get lost so you will be flying with Flawless navigation. Click on the Game Option icon (bottom left) - a red light will switch on when selected. · Click on the Continue button (bottom right). You will be taken to the Game Difficulty/Realism menu screen. · Select the second icon down on the left (marked 1, 2, 3) and click on the Continue switch (lower right). · Scroll down the list to Navigation Complexity and make sure this is set at `Flawless'. If it isn't click on the line and click on Flawless in the lower panel. · · Click on the Continue switch (lower right). Click on the return to previous screen switch (lower left) to return to the Main Menu screen. · 12 Now we want to play a New Game (the icon of the B-17 ­ lower left). · Click on the icon (a red light will switch on when selected) and then click on the Continue button (bottom right). Select to Play a Single Bomber Commander Campaign (the single aircraft icon ­ top left) and flip the Continue switch. You will be taken to the Game Type screen. · You will now be taken to the 8th Air Force Division screen. Here you can choose which Bombardment group and which Squadron in that Group you want to join. Different Bombing Groups are based at different airfields across England. · · Select the 401st Bombing Group from the left hand panel. Select the 612th Squadron from the right hand panel. The lower graphic panels will show the insignia of the Bombing Group and the specific Squadron you have chosen. At the bottom of the screen is a Campaign Start panel (covering the period December 1st 1943 to February 10th 1945). This is where you choose the campaign length. · · · Click in the panel until it shows the date March 1st 1944. Flip the Continue switch (lower right). Click on a `nose art' name for your bomber (click and drag the scroll bar to view all options in the left panel). Now click on the Bomber Name panel (top), delete the default name with the Backspace key and type in your own choice of name for your bomber and press Return/Enter. Flip the Continue switch (lower right). You will now be taken to your bomber Name and Nose Art selection screen. The picture will be shown on the right hand panel. · Try to match the name to the nose art you have chosen. · Your next stop is your Crew screen. This shows the current crew for your B-17. Remember that in a Bomber Commander campaign you are in overall charge of the ten-man crew and the one bomber. 13 · · · · Click on the top left portrait (the Bombardier) and the bombardier's name will appear in the central panel. Click inside the name panel and delete the name using the Backspace key. Type in a new name (it could be your own) in the two panels and press Return/Enter. Flip the Continue switch (lower right) and you will be taken to the HQ Corridor screen. Squadron Commander's Office Bomber Inspection Bomber Commander's Office Briefing Room Operations Room The HQ Corridor gives access to various mission planning and briefing screens. If you were playing the Squadron Commander game you would be able to plan all strategic operations in the Operations Room but as Bomber Commander you will NOT have access to mission planning. But you do have your own office. · Click on the door on the far left of the HQ Corridor and you will enter your office (you must try to be a bit more tidy!). Click on the book on the left of your desk and you will open the Crew Information File. The first page will open on the Bombardier details and will show the name you inserted in the Crew screen. Clicking on the tabs along the side of the book will show details for all ten crew (coded by position: TG ­ Tail Gunner, N ­ Navigator etc). Here you will find information about your crew and your bomber. · 14 · · Click away from the pages and the book will close. Click on the book on the right of the desk and the Bomber Information File will open This shows the details of the bomber you renamed. This is a new campaign so there will not be details of any previous missions. · · Click anywhere away from the book to close the file. Click on the windows to go outside to Inspect Bomber and you will be taken to your Jeep. Click on the B-17's name on the clipboard. A clipboard will show the name of your bomber. · This will take you to the aircraft waiting at its dispersal point (in the 3D world). Inspection is particularly useful when you have returned from a mission and want to see the damage your bomber has sustained. Full camera views are available: Numeric Keypad Plus + and Minus = Zoom in/Zoom out. Arrow keys = move the view left/right/up/down. PageUp/PageDown = tip view up/down. Ins/Delete = rotate view left and right. Mouse Alternately, you can use the mouse (with the right mouse button pressed in to zoom in/out and the left mouse button pressed in to rotate view). · Press ESC to return to the jeep bonnet ­ this contains the Crew Management File. · Click on the Crew Management File. This shows a summary of the crew's abilities. A cross `X' shows the correct job of each crew member, a slash `/' shows a competence in another job. It's here that you can reassign your crew and manage their abilities as the campaign begins to take its toll and injuries or KIAs accumulate. To change a crewman's job, click on the slash and it will become a cross. Note: Other crew positions will be automatically adjusted to fit in with your choices. · Click on the right hand page to turn it over and you will see details of each crewman's skills. These will improve as each man gets more and more mission experience. · Click away to close the book and click on the bunch of keys to return to the airbase. You will be returned to the HQ Corridor. Now you have examined all aspects of your crew and bomber, you'd best get a briefing about your first mission. 15 · Click on the doorway on the near left to enter the Briefing Room. Film Screen Map Read Mission Briefing The Briefing Room gives you all the current information available about your target (or targets) and the routes there and back. In the centre of the stage there are facilities to see a fly-over film of your target, as it will appear to the Bombardier. · Click on the film screen and watch the film carefully. In this tutorial guide you'll be sitting in the Bombardier's seat during the bomb run so it'll help if you recognise the target. When the film has finished or when you have pressed ESC, you will return to the Mission Briefing room. · Click on the Map on the right of the stage to see bomber route, the target and the route back. = = = = Zoom in/Zoom out. move the map left/right/up/down. tip map up/down. rotate map left and right. The Map can be controlled by using the numeric keypad keys: Plus and Minus (+/-) Arrow keys PageUp/PageDown Ins/Delete Alternately, you can use the mouse (with the right mouse button pressed in) to move the map in all directions. The map shows Waypoints, Initial Points, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary targets (if available) and Rally Points. The red arrows show the direction of travel along the route. · Place your mouse cursor on a gold pyramid waypoint marker (you might have to tip the map view) and you will see the height the bomber formation should be flying at when it hits that particular waypoint (you might also have to zoom in with numeric keypad + key). Press ESC to leave the map and return to the Briefing Room. · You've now seen a reconnaissance film and the route to the target but you've still to read all the target details. 16 · Click on the green Mission Briefing file on the desk in front of you. This opens on the Mission Summary page that includes details on the Primary and Secondary targets, type of bomb selected, distance to travel and fighter escort details. · Click on the right hand page of the Mission Briefing file and it will turn the page to show the Primary Target details including Flak Strength, Fighter Strength and Target Intelligence. Click again on the right-hand page to view details of the Secondary Target. When you have read about the mission targets click on the right hand page again. · · You will now have to sign that you have read and understood the target/ mission details. · · Click on the line (marked by an X) and a signature will appear. Click away from the book to close the Mission Briefing file and return to the Mission Briefing room. Click on the door on the right of the Mission Briefing hut (Start Mission) to enter the 3D simulation. Now let's start the mission. · Computer control icon Now you've made it to the aircraft dispersal point. The B-17 has bombs loaded, fuel tanks are full and all the crew are ready for the off. You will see an outside view of the aircraft and the game will be in computer-controlled mode (a small computer icon will be shown on the lower right of the screen). Note: The default is always computer control whenever a view or crew position is changed. Use the numeric keypad controls +/- to zoom in and out on the B-17, the arrow keys to move left/right/up/down. PageUp to tip up and PageDown to tip down the view. Ins and Del will rotate the view left/right. Or you can move the mouse, with the right mouse button pressed in for zooming in/out or the left mouse button pressed in to tip or rotate the view. 17 Before you can do anything you must give the orders to begin the mission. · Press F1 to go inside the aircraft. You will now be on the flight deck just behind the Pilot/Co-Pilot seats on the flight deck. To give the Begin Mission order you must go to the Radio Operator station. · Press keyboard key 6 and you will jump to the Radio Operator's Compartment view. You will now see the Radio Operator sitting at his station with a highlight around him. You now need to go to the Radio Operator's Instrument View and can do this in one of two ways: move your mouse cursor to the extreme right side of the screen (in the middle) to reveal a bank of five view icons. The current view is lit with a red light (the figure icon). Click on the fourth icon down (the dial icon). with the Radio Operator selected (highlighted) press key I. Either Or This will bring up the Radio Operator's Instrument View (a radio set and two message books). · · Click on the `Outgoing Messages' book (on the left) and it will open. Look for the Begin Mission order. Before you can do anything you must take control away from the computer AI. This is a feature of B-17: everything will work on computer control but if you want to influence a position or character, you must take manual control. Manual control · Press key M and the `computer controlled' icon will disappear and be replaced by the manual control symbol (a `hand' icon). Find the Begin Mission order and click on it. You are now in control of the Radio Operator. · The order to start engines will be issued and Begin Mission will disappear from the messages list (you will not need to use it again on this mission). 18 · Click away from the book and you will return to the Radio Operator's Instrument View. Hover the mouse pointer to the extreme right of the screen (near the centre) to open the View Menu panel. This is available in all internal B-17 screens. Select the second icon down on the View Menu panel and you will return to the Compartment View (or press key C). Press keyboard key 3 to go to the Pilot's Compartment view. Press F2 to go to an outside view to see the aircraft taxiing to its take off position. You should hear the engines starting. · · · · Note: If you return to the Radio Operator's position he will now be back in computer control ­ this applies to all crew management positions in the simulation. The B-17 will now taxi to the main runway, followed by the rest of the squadron. · Watch this from the outside view (using the mouse or numeric keypad controls). Use the camera keys especially the zoom out feature to see the whole airfield. The bomber will taxi to the main runway followed by the rest of the squadron and take up a position at the head of the take off runway. The simulation also has a Pilot Helper key (H) that can guide you in various aspects of the simulation. In take off, if you press key H you will see a large green cone take up position in front of the aircraft. This leads you to the main take off runway. Press key H to switch off Pilot Helper. Eventually when you get to the take off runway, the B-17 will stop briefly for the final checks to be carried out. It will then speed up and take off. The landing gear will retract and the other aircraft in the squadron will follow the leader. Your B-17 will circle until the other bombers in the squadron form up with it. When taking off in manual mode the Pilot Helper key (H) also comes into play here. When you hear the command `Join Formation' press H and you will see a white formation box appear (you might have to look for it with view keys). This box is where you should be for all the squadron to form up with you). 19 Game Controls You can `pause' the simulation at any time by pressing the Pause/ Break key (toggle). The Home key will speed up the simulation 2, 4 or 8 times. The End key will slow down the simulation (if things are happening too quickly) 2, 4, 8 times. Once in the air and in formation, the B-17 will head for the target, perform the mission to the best of the crew's current ability/initiative, defend itself against any attack, and try to return home and land. If you want to skip large chunks of time when nothing important is happening, press the Return/Enter key to Time Skip. You cannot skip when there is an important game event happening (flak attack, fighter activity etc). You need not do anything if you don't want to. But the fun of this simulation is that you can jump into any position and take over manual control of that job! Similarly, you can jump into the escort and enemy fighter cockpits and dogfight with your enemy. Or, you can simply admire the views of the aircraft crossing a fully mapped Northern Europe! In this tutorial guide we'll jump into a variety of positions. You should still be in external view, in the B-17 squadron formation. · Skip time (press Return/Enter) as much as you can to speed up the `getting there' procedure. If you are unable to skip time that means that a `game event' is happening, such as escort fighters scrambling, flak firing or enemy fighters engaging you in combat. Now let's look at the Pilot and Co-Pilot controls. · Return to the Pilots' Compartment view by pressing F1. You should be on the flight deck just behind the Pilot and Co-Pilot. (If you are not press key 3 and select Compartment View from the right hand pop-up menu.) · Select the Pilot (if he's not already selected) by clicking on the figure on the left. All members of the crew have their own set of specific views. The Pilot has an Action view (accessed by pressing key A) which drops you into his seat looking out of the front window (and left/right in the cockpit), and an Instrument view (press key I) showing the fully functioning cockpit dials and switches/levers. All these views can also be accessed via the View Menu panel by hovering the mouse cursor on the central right edge of the screen. 20