DCS Mosquito Oboe Tutorial

Hey everyone, Reflected here, and today I’m going to show you how to bomb your target using Oboe. It’s a super interesting technology that Mosquitos used for blind bombing and for pathfinding. This is not part of the core game, but I managed to recreate the system using complex triggers, and in my upcoming Mosquito campaign for DCS World, there will be a mission where you have to use it. This tutorial should help you understand the system and complete the mission successfully.
CORRECTION: I've come across some sources since making this video, and adapted the mission accordingly:
1) you'll fly on the path all the way to the release point.
2) The path is slightly west of the target to allow for the fact that the bombs' trajectory will be tangential to it.
3) I corrected the release signal to be 7.5 seconds long like IRL
4) when the signal starts you'll need to adjust your heading to the briefed one to make sure you're pointed toward the target when you pickle.
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Theory
4:56 - Night flying in DCS
6:26 - Practice
22:30 - Campaign info

[@havocmwf]

I am awe-struck. Being able to recreate an Oboe night attack is amazing and your herculean effort and time spent in doing so have to be commended.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you, appreciated!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

CORRECTION: In an interesting discussion on the forums, I've been kindly pointed toward some sources since making this video, and adapted the mission accordingly: ( Smith, Albert; Smith, Ian (2003): Mosquito pathfinder. and masterbombercraig.wordpress.com/bomber-command-structure/no-8-pff-group-bomber-command/pathfinder-force-pff/pathfinder-methods/oboe/ ) 1) you'll fly on the path all the way to the release point. 2) The path is slightly west of the target to allow for the fact that the bombs' trajectory will be tangential to it. 3) I corrected the release signal to be 7.5 seconds long like IRL 4) when the signal starts you'll need to adjust your heading to the briefed one to make sure you're pointed toward the target when you pickle. Thanks for all the kind feedback, I'm really looking forward to sharing all these missions with you. What I forgot to mention is that this is a bare bone demo version of course, in my campaign you'll hear radio chatter from the controller and from your navigator, and you'll only hit the target if you're within parameters. If you're outside, you'll miss. I implemented a testing trigger just for myself, and if you look closely you'll see a 'hit' message when I pickle, meaning I was within parameters - but that message will be removed from the campaign version, and you'll get this feedback - or the fact that you missed - from the navigator or the controller.

[@indianajon7980]

Wow. Something I have read about countless times but never thought I would be able to 'experience' through simulation. Thanks for this hidden gem. Well explained and demonstrated

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! Yeah, seeing it 'in practice' is sometimes worth a 1000 words, it's something that's pretty hard to describe

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

One of my grandfathers was a professional oboe player for the Halle Orchestra, whilst the other was a navigator for the RAF (613 City of Manchester Squadron) in a De Havilland Mosquito F.B. MkVI. It's probably why this kind of thing appeals to me.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

That's amazing! Legends, both of them. They must have had some amazing stories to tell.

[@ChuckOwl]

Very cool. I was planning on adding an OBOE section to my guide just for fun. I'm glad to see a proper demo.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks, really looking forward to your guide. Aside from real life manuals, they're my No.1 go-to source for information.

[@ChuckOwl]

@@ReflectedSimulations Oh, you...

[@BlueBaron3339]

Yes, the early stages of radio navigation just prior to the VOR and DME arcs. Dit dah, dat dit - A and N were used for commercial aircraft. Hear one and you're to the left of course, the other to the right. When "on the beam" you heard continual dots. No indicators needed. Just your ears. Same principal here. I have to give you credit. Back when I worked at Microsoft I tried to get the MSFS team to include this in their Centenial of Flight edition. Nope. But you're more clever than most MS employees. Yeah, I know that's not saying much 😂 🤣 But, damn it, this is impressive!!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Haha, thanks!

[@simaddiction]

Great video and very useful. This is what I love about the DCS community. Not only are these real life systems usable, but there are guys and gals out there willing to make training videos about them and there are people who will actually take the time to use the systems. Thanks very much.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Cheers

[@PappyGunn]

18 Megahertz!!!! Literally unplayable!! Big fan of WW2 air war here. First time I saw a video explaining OBOE. Very good work. There should be a glass nose Mosquito option and pathfinding missions. These were the elites.`

[@HydroSnips]

Always very impressed by your dedication to historical accuracy and simulation. Never seen an Oboe simulation before, in fact despite being accustomed to the bombing & nav aid from books on the subject, this is strangely enough the closest I’ve come to seeing it in practice!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks, it will be super fun to fly - but very challenging too

[@MaxMnemonic]

Looks extremely awesome! Can't wait to try your campaign Reflected, well done :)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! :)

[@omarselim6281]

I was never interested in warbirds but I seriously would buy the mosquito just for this campaign

[@warbirds-blog]

A very very cool addition to the Mosquito experience. Can't wait for your new campaign!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks!

[@user-px5ut8zq2j]

Really good. Don't forget that to this the Mosquito has to have a crew of 2, that would ease the work load a lot. But well researched and cleverly done. I also notice you have the same problem as I do with the Mosquito Artificial Horizon. I think this is a bug, as I can't believe that such an important instrument for flying at night was allowed to be so unaccurate....

[@weswheel4834]

Thanks for the video, very interesting :) Both the mission and the campaign sound very interesting, and I love all these old details.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you!

[@Snowy57]

Brilliant! If ever there was a reason to trim your aircraft this is probably it. I am so lookimg forward to the campaign.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! This mission will probably be one of the most challenging ones you've seen in DCS, but it's a lot of fun too!

[@TOMCATnbr]

Pretty complexe but very immersive and interesting!!! You've done a killer job here!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Merci mon pote :)

[@TOMCATnbr]

@@ReflectedSimulations you're welcome buddy 😁

[@ricbish4122]

Looks pretty cool but anything with the Mosquito is cool. I understand the concept but didn’t really understand how you did it. Still seems pretty cool. A couple of training missions for this would help for sure. Hopefully by the time your campaign is out they’ll have more weapons for the Mossie, like rockets etc. Thanks for the sneak peak. Also wanted to say thank you for having the options in the campaigns to skip or replay etc. Makes it a little more fun if I get stuck completing one. So thanks for all your hard work!

[@KRW628]

I've read about something called "Pathfinder" missions, but I never new what it was. WOW! Thank you.

[@b4ptist]

I'm trying to figure out if I should get the DCS mosquito or the IL2 one thats coming out soon, it is my favorite aircraft, and I just want to say thanks so much for creating this content! I did not know about this system for bombing, its cool enough I got to learn about it, but even more amazing that you managed to create this mission! well done!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! Check out my other Mossie tutorials, you'll see how much effort went into modeling all the systems and switches, it's a masterpiece by ED. If you're into such details, then I recommend the DCS version. I like Il2 as well, but I really prefer DCS for its complexity and details. All those systems make sure it never 'gets old'.

[@theflyingfool]

Brilliant effort, but you really should have spent more time trimming at the beginning so you were bang on 25k & 210, then you wouldn't have been bouncing up & down, spending capacity on trying to keep on parameters when you could have concentrated much more on the attack. Fantastic that you've managed to recreate Oboe, well done!!

[@paulf1389]

Any chance in getting a training mission based on this? This looks really awesome.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Maybe I'll include an airstart training run with the campaign.

[@stevenleach9522]

Sweet.😊 My kind of flying...! Great video, thanks!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks!

[@darrenpaech1342]

Looks really good, keep it up!

[@ianrobertcope]

fabulous really enjoying your videos

[@markusv311]

Thanks for that teriffic content. Totally amazing. Cant wait to fly that mission, but first I wanna close all my P-47 activities

[@spigot993]

Superb, that you're factoring in these aspects of the Mossie is fantasic, I know this is specific to the plexi-nose, but very cool. I've already decided the campaign is a buy based upon you sharing your ground work, knowledge and in other campaigns; reaching out to the likes of Bio for their first-hand expertise. I am curious.... I wonder what would happen through missions in the campaign, if I not only tuned into 668, but also those of Germany Calling, or others.... hmmm.

[@markusv311]

This looks so awesome. I love nightfighting. I hope there will be one day a mission where you habe to protect lancasters from He 219 or Bf 110 with the mossie

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Well, if you show me how to develop new aircraft using the mission editor :D btw you'll have some night fighting too in the campaign.

[@markusv311]

@@ReflectedSimulations haha, sure😂. Lets hope one day DCS will be there. However, the fact that ypu are building up such amazing stuff is just terriffic. I will go for that campain for sure. Thanks for all that stunning work👌

[@loganafrancisco]

Absolutely fantastic tutorial!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks a lot!

[@dorian4219]

excellent idea ill have to buy the mosquito just for your campaign :)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks, it's well worth it even without my upcoming campaign :)

[@flutter8712]

Sounds cool and scary as well! Would like to try this out!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

It is, both :)

[@TheNemoyo76]

Wow, that's fantastic work.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Cheers

[@romainlerallut1409]

Outstanding !

[@rocketknight228]

Great content! Hoped you would show how close was the hit)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! In the campaign you'll be able to hit or miss, getting different feedback. Of course for this mission I removed all voice overs and chatters. But for testing purposes I did include a trigger, and when I pickled can see a 'hit' message, so I was on the money. I'm still at about 50% though, it really takes precision..

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

Totally cracks me up how useless the ADI is in DCS, which has been ever since Black Shark with backup ADIs in modern aircraft that have other means to feed the correctly indicating main ADIs. Without those mechanisms it takes like 5 minutes, maybe 10 minutes max to render the gauge completely useless. If I was an aircraft manufacturer, I'd never have installed such things in any cockpit. Simply can't be right the way it is in DCS. Great work on the Oboe though - this really is something different :) Oh BTW if only you you could make the other guys drop their bombs when you do... ;)

[@kenmartin2173]

Wow. I don't think my heart can handle this!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

My heart rate was skyrocketing during the last 3 minutes!

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

@@ReflectedSimulations Those must have felt like 3 hours though :D

[@indianajon7980]

First time I watched this it sounded easy. Now I have to actually do it.....not so much!

[@Rabble1narms]

same boat for me - sortie 2 up next and I'm back for refresher - good flying to ya!

[@ReflectedSimulations]

It’s actually a lot like a case 3 in a Tomcat. Except you use your ears instead of looking at needles

[@indianajon7980]

@@ReflectedSimulations thanks. Yes gave it a try and there is definitely a case 3 vibe. Was 'easier' and more intuitive than I thought although missed the target as I was so keyed up I dropped the bombs early. Definitely want to give it another try and after the mission couldn't stop thinking at what an ingenious system it was. Looking for a couple of books on it now. Thanks for an ace campaign!

[@Ian-zb3rp]

I had sweaty palms just watching that :)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

haha, wait until you do it yourself!

[@lankypilot778]

God help those poor French farmers under my drop.. 🤦 Well done tutorial tho, thanks :) Not only fun missions but great history lessons too, hadn't heard of it before.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

haha, I'll include a practice mission too :)

[@talvid1988]

I'm looking forward to trying OBOE. I checked the site campaign list and bought V for Victory seeing that it is now out.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Good luck!:)

[@talvid1988]

aww buggar! I tried.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

@@talvid1988 did you hit the factory?

[@talvid1988]

@@ReflectedSimulations I got into a flat spin while trying to stay on path near the target and lost 2,000 ft of altitude but recovered, and somehow was still close enough to get the tone for bomb drop, but my heading was way off, and speed too low and the photo flash showed the bombs hit in a field. I will try it again. Operation Jericho went well, I bombed the southeast guard shack and made it home, got the DFC for that raid. Reading the briefing beforehand really helped me do it right. On sortie 6 today I held 30,000 feet of altitude no problem, and the photo recce mission was a success. Smashing campaign!

[@crunchieRL]

Stressful or what? Great watch

[@VirMaximiAnimi]

Hello! I watched your Tutorial already five times... It is superb! The only thing I missed is the I.P. (Initial Point). Was this IP situated on the Path? So North of the 'A' mark (from MOUSE)? Or was the IP in the vicinity of the 'Z' mark (from CAT)? Thanks for any clarification and help! I am working on the subject because I'm living in the town of Bourg-Leopold. The military camp here was bombed using OBOE on May 27/28th 1944. But two weeks before this bombardment, Bomber Command tried to bomb the camp (barracks) already on May 11/12th; also making use of OBOE. BUT... the first time (so during the mission of May 11/12th) they MISSED their target and got their T.I.'s and markers on the small town of Beverloo, 3.7 miles further South on the Path... Given a speed of 210 - 220 mph this makes about 60" (seconds) of flight. A delay in the "PICKLE" mark by MOUSE? Jamming or a delay in the transmissions...? Any idea?

[@generalgrevous1984]

Excellent vid. Explains a lot. I'm new to DCS and am wondering if you are using Track or VR? I just got my VR headset and want to use mouse and keyboard instead of controllers but have to wait until the damn controllers time out. 😶

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thanks! Unfortunately I only have 'facetrack' which is pretty jumpy :(

[@generalgrevous1984]

@@ReflectedSimulations Thanks for the reply.

[@Cessna152ful]

it's basically a DME arc bombing run.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Exactly. But you have to use your ears instead of looking at instruments

[@TheRigmarol]

I really enjoyed the mission video. Where do I find the mission files to play on my own? Thanks.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Thank you! It’s part of the V for Victory campaign, available at the ED store

[@jorgentoll314]

Seriously awesome! But I wanted to see those bombs hit! ;)

[@favoriteblueshirt]

Epic.

[@jagheterbanan]

Manage to stay on path and numbers pretty good on my first attempt, however the doors weren’t open when the time came.. 🤦‍♂️ Hardest I think part is staying on altitude, the Mossie is ridiculously sensitive in pitch. Something doesn’t feel right when the altitude indicator jumps up and down like that, gaining or loosing hundred feet in a second.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Haha, happened to me too on several occasions. I was too concentrated on the signal.

[@mhamla0357]

Cant wait!

[@gibbs677bg]

really needed to see that bomb drop:(((((

[@dixieduffy7]

As someone who enjoys flying in DCS and is the only one of my friends who actually owns the mozzy. I don't think I'm NEARLY qualified to fly such a mission. I'm gonna try anyway, but probably fail miserably.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

It's pretty challenging at first, but once you get the hang of it it becomes really simple. Good luck!

[@superfroggy8971]

Do you have a video about using scripts in the mission editor? I'd be interested to see how you used the OBOE script.

[@ReflectedSimulations]

It’s not a script, just a bunch of trigger lines that I set up based on my research.

[@superfroggy8971]

@@ReflectedSimulations interesting. The only thing I could find about the OBOE system in DCS was the script written by Draken35 there’s very few mentions of it. I get the cat and mouse concept just very new to the mission editor 😅

[@ReflectedSimulations]

@@superfroggy8971 yes he also wrote a script, although I'm not familiar with it. My campaign uses my own triggers that I set up based on extensive research. It took a bit of testing and creativity, but I made it work :)

[@gmangnall]

Just seen this - whilst I am in the middle of doing just the same OBOE misison!!! Regularly hitting within 3-500 ft of the target from 20k feet

[@ReflectedSimulations]

What do you mean doing the same Oboe mission? This one is from my campaign and it has not been released. Or you mean you're also building one?

[@Martinko_Pcik]

That was interesting. Did you hit the target ?

[@ReflectedSimulations]

As a matter of fact I did. In the campaign you'll find out after landing when the target photos are developed.

[@AdmiralQuality]

The fighter-bombers didn't use OBOE. Only the bomber variant had it.

[@gibbs677bg]

he actually said that in the vid!!

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@gibbs677bg Then why are we doing this? LOL! I wish ED had done the bomber variant, that's my favorite. But of course they had to do the pew-pew version. (Hey, ED, I know how you like selling upgrades for modules we've already bought. How about it?)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

9:32 - If you make a B version for DCS, I promise I'll update the mission ;)

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@ReflectedSimulations I promise I'll buy it. (Unlike the A-10C II which continues to piss me off. LOL!)

[@ReflectedSimulations]

@@AdmiralQuality If they HAD to chose one, I'm glad they went for the 'pew-pew' version, we can use it for a wider variety of missions. But those plexi noses look so much better! :)

[@MarcTNL]

Seems terribly difficult and inacurate ? I can't even acurately hit a truck with a bomb in broad daylight, no wind, no counterfire, at groundlevel !

[@ReflectedSimulations]

Not THAT difficult once you get the hang of it. Reminds me of a CASE III night landing in the Tomcat. And the RAF never went for too much precision in WW2 anyway, so you don't need to hit trucks, more like factories or a part of a city.