Is it better to bail out or to crashland?

[Darkreaver1980]

I wonder if i should bail out or try to crash land the plane?

I think the pigeon bonus only applys if you crash land with the plane, so bailing out would be actualy worse for the crew?

[bukkie661]

It's situational. Bailing at low altitude is unwise. You might also not have parachutes for everyone and you might be forced to crashland the rest after the others have bailed at medium altitude. That should give you the highest crew-survivability.
But it all hinges on where you recognize that you should have scuttled the plane a long time ago.

[Darkreaver1980]

i always bailed on low alt, did work everything or do they get a worse survival rating if you bail on low height?

[bukkie661]

Originally posted by Darkreaver1980:

i always bailed on low alt, did work everything or do they get a worse survival rating if you bail on low height?

Bailing in low altitude is about the same as just jumping out of the plane with an umbrella. I always use "Boost" to climb to medium quickly, throw out everybody that have a parachute and scuttle the rest. Last time I had to do that, Five people came home. You should also try to have the bail&scuttle happen over the channel, of course. If you bail&scuttle over Dresden...

[FreedomFighter]

Crashland is better since you will get both Dingy and Pigeion bonus. Best option is to hit ESC > Option > Quit game cause this game clearly not making for faliure stage in mind. You lose way too much stuff almost like you hit New Game but in hard mode since enemy already beef up but you back to almost 0.

[magik tho]

You get a lot of catch up bonuses in terms of levels and starting plane parts.

You get a survival bonus for being next to the bomber, IE being in it, so it's best to just crash land. You only bail if you are about to die.

[spineyrequiem]

Having bailed out then crashlanded next to the crew, the bonus does apply if you're just near it, and depending on the exact level of messed up of your plane bailing out might save them (in this case three out of five surviving crew made it, with one dying 'cause he bailed out too late and the pilot decided to emergency land directly into the White Cliffs)

[[OG] Salvi]

I did a bit of testing with this.

If your plane is getting pretty badly damaged and is still in danger then it's best to order a bail out (fighters still attacking, flak fire or flak ahead of you).
You don't get any of the plane's survival bonuses though unless the crew member(s) bail close to where the plane emergency lands.

If there is no enemy fire and you have a clear landing zone (water or clear land without trees), try an emergency landing.
But before you do, dump any remaining bombs (they can blow up with a hard landing) and if your plane's gear is broken or only one works then order the remaining crew to bail just before your emergency landing as they'll land safe and in range of the plane to use the dinghy, etc.
Of course you'll have to decide if your pilot stays and risks the emergency landing or bails out too.

Bailing out without an emergency landing attempt is a good idea when the chances of pulling a landing off are slim when the plane is under attack and getting heavy damage. Better to have some chance to save your crew even without any plane bonuses.
Just remember to manually have your pilot grab a parachute and jump after the crew has.

Oh and just to note, if you ditch in the sea.
Put your gear down, as for some reason a gear up landing on water is the same as a gear up landing on land.

[Adidas]

@detox super good advice, thank you! So you found that parachuting just before ermergency landing still counted as a survival bonus? I thought you had to be *in* the bomber (ie, no one bails, everyone stays in while it emergency lands) for that bonus to take effect?

[David]

They just have to be "near" the bomber. Parachutes drift, so higher altitude bails means more drift, and obviously more time to reach the ground.

[KannaKaname]

Just to add a note. If for some reason you have to do an emergency landing in England, feel free to do it.

Last time I crashed right into London and the whole plane busted into flame. Yet the plane was magically recovered & repaired, and everyone came back in one piece, just marvellous.

[SyrsaFox]

If you've got one wheel left, it's best to jettison the rest of your bombs, bail out whoever you can near base (if possible), then crash land wheels up with only your pilot, if that is also possible.

I keep enough parachutes for everyone but the pilot. It's easier to replace a pilot and a plane than an entire crew and a plane.

If you're taking too much damage and you're not near enough to the target, don't hesitate to abort the mission and return to base. No shame in living to fly another mission.