Missions can vary from simple base defense to escorting a squadron of bombers deep into enemy territory. Missions can be historical or they can design their own missions to fly. A full tour of duty requires the squadron commander to command 16 fighters starting in 1943. Pilots will have different personalities which make them suitable for some missions but not for others. It is a good commander who knows what his men will do when he gives the orders.
Pilots gain experience and skill levels.
If a pilot it lost he is replaced by a green recruit that you have to train. You can play as allied or German against humans or strong computer artificial intelligence. You choose targets, pilots, planes, mission and other factors and the group goes off and returns for a debrief of all the events of the mission. A combat log summarizes what happened and decides whether the mission was victory, defeat or tie. If you do not want to fly an entire tour of duty, you can fly single missions, either in quick start or with full mission plannning.