Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 359
element, as explained earlier, offers added safety in an uncontrolled environment.
With just two fighters, only a leader with designs on his
wingman's wife or his stereo would call for this tactic under most combat
conditions.
During the course of this increasingly difficult fight it was proved that the
leader of the fighter squadron only received full recognition if he asked
nothing from his men that he was not prepared to do himself.
Lt. General Adolph Galland, Luftwaffe
Pincer
Description
The pincer is a two-pronged, bracketing attack, also sometimes called a
"heart-attack," which is analogous to the visual bracket attack. Figure
10-8 illustrates the pincer.
At time "I" the fighters, initially positioned with near-zero aspect,
begin displacement turns in opposite directions for independent stern
conversions or FQ attacks. Approaching time "2" the enemy fighters
detect the attack and turn toward the northern fighter. As soon as such a
bogey turn is noticed, the southern fighter must immediately turn to
collision course to avoid being left out of the action. The northern fighter
pilot continues his attempt to get outside the enemy section without
giving away an angular advantage. At time "3" the northern fighter passes
the bogeys nearly head-on, while the southern fighter has gained an offensive
advantage.
Had the bogeys continued straight ahead, both fighters might have
achieved offensive positions from opposite sides. Once again, the chance of
escaping visual or radar detection is enhanced when the fighters split high
and low to bracket the enemy in altitude during the attack.
Figure 10-8. The Pincer