Have Noptepad ++, I will try the Hex editing when I get the time.
Regarding the weak planes, I to like John get Sunderlands early in the war and for once I think AoD nails it completely when it comes to anti-aircraft warfare for subsims : the powerful 20's where, when aimed with a good crew, historicaly very good at shooting down planes. Currently reading a french book about submariners in WWII by Jean-Jacques Antier and in it, U-boat commanders say that the bullets would literally chew the plane and it's unfortunate pilot.
All this to say that weak planes are very realistic