Bomber pilots in this sim tend to have short but storied careers--it is just a fact of the situation and theater. For that reason, bomber pilot can rise through the ranks very quickly, and with relatively few air-hours and sorties, in comparison with fighter pilots. Bomber pilots will want to concentrate on destroying as many ground, naval, and AA targets as possible, while also extending their career through as many sorties as possible, to reach the highest possible rank before their inevitable-but-heroic demise.

Sturmovik pilots are somewhat similar to bomber pilots. This is a very, very dangerous but important career. Sturmovik aircraft--also known as attack aircraft, ground-attack aircraft, attack bomber, strike aircraft (later usage), Schlachtflugzeug ("battle aircraft", German), and sturmovik ("storm-trooper", Russian)--can do it all--whether its taking on enemy bombers, night fighter duty with their on-board radar, taking on enemy fighters (usually with assistance of fighters, when possible), and perhaps most important, taking on the ground attack and close air support duties. Strike pilots are not as concerned with racking up air-to-air victories--though they can do that and do it well. But they concentrate just as much on low-level ground support missions, taking out AA and flak with strafing runs or low-level bomb drops, taking out convoys and other important individual ground targets, and other similar missions. For that reason, your strike pilot career is separate from both your bomber pilot career and your fighter pilot career. Strike pilots can rise through the ranks more quickly than fighter pilots but not as quickly as bomber pilots, and with relatively few air-hours and sorties in comparison with fighter pilots (but more than bomber pilots). Sturmovik pilots will want to concentrate on destroying as many ground, AA, naval, and enemy bomber targets as possible, while also extending their career through as many sorties as possible, to reach the highest possible rank before their own inevitable-but heroic--demise. Sturmovik aircraft include the Bf-110, Beaufighter, Blenheim fighter models, Ju-88C models, and Stuka (Ju-87).

Because the career arc of Bomber Pilots vs. Sturmovik Pilots vs. Fighter Pilots is so different, you have a separate career as each type of pilot. Look for--and search for--(bomber) and (sturmovik) in the stats listings above to see various types of pilot careers. No suffix at the end of your name indicates your fighter pilot career.

When You Die

When you die, your career, rank, and aircraft access is reset. In addition, there is a short timeout before you can fly from forward bases. So you want to work HARD to stay alive! Disengage early, while your aircraft is still flyable. Use your parachute. Try to parachute or crash land on land--not on water--if at all possible. Try to crash land or parachute onto friendly territory rather than enemy territory--if you are captured, your career ends. If on water, aim for landing in friendly territory, where your chance of survival is much higher.

After you die, you are restricted from flying for a period, OR restricted from spawning in to forward bases for a period, depending on server settings. If you are restricted from spawning in to forward bases, just choose a base well back from your front line (as shown on the Flag Screen map). Usually you will need to be at least 60 km (37 miles) back from the front line.

Some traces of past lives are recorded as part of your stats, and those who have previously reached high ranks may find that it is just a bit easier to reach that rank the second time around . . .

We'll be looking for our first 20 - 50 - 100 - 150 flight (and even higher!) careers. Additional ranks and aircraft unlock all the way up!

Ground Deaths

TWC Tobruk Campaign Server Stats are more lenient than Cliffs of Dover Stats in one specific area: Deaths while you are on the ground.

Many times if you hit a hangar or other ground object at low speed, after your aircraft explodes in CloD, you will see a message, 'You were injured in that incredible fiery explosion, but somehow survived. Your career will continue.'

This happens when you are on the ground and the collision speed is relatively low.

To maximize your chances of survival, make sure you are on the ground and going as slowly as possible prior to any impact or collision. For example, if you slide along the ground and crash into a hangar or house at 10-20MPH, you will very likely survive. If you crash into the building 20 feet up at 90MPH, you will almost certainly die.

Notes and Details about Rank & Ace Levels

Ace Level

Your Ace Level is based purely on the number of kills you have participated in. Full Victory counts 1, Shared Victory counts 0.5, and Assist counts 0.25. 5 kills=Ace, 10 kills=Double Ace, etc. When you die, your Ace Level--and the privileges that go with it--are reset.

Rank