Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

Hi All,
presently reading the mission- and claim reports of 316th Fighter Squadron.
In a claim report a pilot is using the word "Luftberry" and I am not sure of the correct meaning. I assume it is very similar to "dog fight" but would be happy to learn more about this expression.
Thanks a lot in advance
Rolf

Re: Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

I think you're referring to the Lufberry Circle?

Re: Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

Hi VtwinVince
The entire sentence is: Lt. Allen and Lt. Pardue then went into a Luftberry at 12,000 ft., with two other Me´s and while circling and Lt. Pardue cut off one ME in a left turn and scored hits on the ME with pieces falling off. The Me pilot was last seen bailing out.
Thanks a lot in advance
ROlf

Re: Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

The WW 1 Lufbery circle was the idea to form a defensive circle where each aircraft in the circle
protected the rear of the aircraft in front of him.

If an enemy aircraft tried to enter behind any of the aircraft in the circle the allied aircraft
behind would thus shoot it down

In WW 2 the idea to do so was more or less dead since the performance of aircraft had
increased dramatically. New ways of entering combat made such circles outdated.

At least early in the war it was still in use especially by fighters having less good performance.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

The manoeuvre was named after the Franco-American Great War ace, Raoul Lufbery (with one ‘r’ incidentally, despite how everyone went on to spell it afterward!). Whether he actually invented it, I don’t know.

Re: Luftberry?? what is the meaning?
 

In his book Rickenbacker says that when Lufbery was c/o of the 94th. he ordered his pilots to circle the field twice before landing to avoid the frequent near-misses and collisions; originally called the "Lufbery Show". Presumably where the "circle" comes from, and a post-WW1 term as Stig described ?
Nick