Make regular checks to ensure the crew is OK and that the guns aren't jammed
-it's easy to miss messages in the heat of combat. Keep at least one pilot 
healthy because the plane can end up in a spin if it's in a turn when the 
pilot is hit, giving little time to bail out.Make the radio operator send a
MayDay message to improve your chances of survival when you're bailing out 
over the channel. Landing an engineless,bullet-ridden, flame-scorched B-17 
after a mission is risky and difficult. Bail out over the channel to ensure
mission success. Before landing, attempt to heal injured crew otherwise they
are hospitalized. Having more than one crew member perform first aid on a 
casualty increases the chances of success.