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Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

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DIVISION TACTICS 273<br />

Figure 7-6.<br />

Sections in Trail<br />

the more line-abreast arrangements, since with trail formations leading<br />

elements are poorly placed for rapid support of trailing elements.<br />

When the division is composed of only three aircraft, a modification of<br />

the old vie can be useful. This formation, depicted in Figure 7-7, places a<br />

section in loose trail on the lead fighter. This arrangement is particularly<br />

well suited to the use of decoy tactics. The lead fighter can "stooge" around<br />

looking helpless until it is attacked by the enemy, at which time the<br />

trailing section, often stacked high, can swoop in <strong>and</strong> pull off a rather rude<br />

surprise party. Separation between lead <strong>and</strong> trail elements of this formation<br />

normally should be such that a bogey cannot slip into its weapons<br />

parameters behind the lead fighter without entering the trailing element's<br />

firing envelope.<br />

The [German] is a master at using stooge decoys who would probably be as<br />

helpless as they look, if half the Luftwaffe were not keeping a jealous eye on<br />

them from the sun.<br />

Group Captain Reade Tilley, RAF<br />

The reverse of the vie is the "section-<strong>and</strong>-stinger" formation depicted in<br />

Figure 7-8. In this case the single fighter (the "stinger") trails the lead<br />

Figure 7-7. Modified Vic

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