Development of the Schwarm

[Steve Church]

Hello,

I've been a member of the forum now for a few months, but have never posted before.

I'm a professional pilot based in the north central USA. My passion for aviation began when I became interested in the fighter aircraft and pilots of WWII. It has led me to a challenging and rewarding carrier.

I've made a long study of the fighter tactics and methods of these pilots and one of the questions I still have is - what inspired the Germans to start flying in pairs and fours during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's?

I'm aware that Werner Mölders is primarily credited with the invention, combat testing and eventual implementation of the 'Schwarm'. What I'm trying to get to the bottom of is; what influenced the Luftwaffe to start experimenting with flying fighters in pairs and fours rather than the usual three aircraft formation? I believe that I read, or heard, somewhere that Günther Lützow accidentally discovered that a pair of fighters was superior to a three aircraft 'vic'. The story goes that when he was commanding the first Staffel of Bf 109s in the Spanish Civil War, there were so few of them that he was forced to divide his fighters into groups of two instead of three because he didn't have enough aircraft to put up even two flights of three. He and his fellow pilots soon discovered that a pair was superior to a trio and this eventually led to Mölders adopting the pair concept and developing the 'Schwarm'.

Does this sound correct? If so, where can I find it in print? I'd like to get the story straight and properly reference it, if possible.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Steve

[Heuser]

Hello Steve!
I´ve got a book named "Die Jägerasse der deutschen Luftwaffe 1939-45", written by Mike Spick. The original edition was published by Greenhill books, but I don´t know it´s english name. The you´ll find a detailed description of the development of the Rotte- and Schwarm tactic during the Spanish Civil War. Caused by only five Bf 109, as you mentioned...
Hope this helps,

Best regards, Heuser

[George Hopp]

The equivalent English-language book by Mike Spick was "Luftwaffe Fighter Aces," published in 1996. But, I think that recently it was reissued under another title.

[Steve Church]

Thanks, I found an english language version. It is 'Luftwaffe Fighter Aces'. The information is all in there, as stated, in a section of the prologue called 'The Legion Condor'. I had read it years ago and forgotten where it was published. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Steve

[Nick Beale]

I don't know the answer to the original question but I do wonder if the Schwarm was a rediscovery of the lessons of the Great War (along with oblique-firing guns)?

[SES]

Hi,
Everything moves in circles great or small, but in circles it moves and hard learned experiences from previous conflict are sometimes forgotten. During unrealistic peacetime training the the Vic (3 aircraft in a close formation) may be attractive, but it is an unwieldy formation, which hardly can maneuver and where the wingmen's eyes are glued to the leader instead of scanning the sky for baddies. The RAF also utilized the Vic during the B-o-B, but in many sqns it was quickly abandoned because of too many losses to unobserved bounces.
In the Pair or the Rotte the wingman can devote more time to look-out and less time to staying in formation, the combat effectiveness of the formation of 2 aircraft in a loose formation is actually higher than that of 3 aircraft in a close formation. When you combine 2 pairs you have a section. If all 4 members have freedom of action and maneuver you probably have the most effective fighter formation.
But back to the circles. During the Cold War we again saw some airforces utilizing The Welded Wingman Formation and only real conflict and realistic exercises forced those air forces to reconsider and revert to the loose formation.
There is a highly recommendable book on this subject by AVM J.E. Johnson called "Full Circle", Chatto and Windus, London 1964, no ISBN nr.
bregds
SES

[ChrisMAg2]

A little addition:
The germans did train and use all three formations:
2 a/c, Rotte (wing, consisting of wingleader [Rottenführer] and wingman)
3 a/c, Kette ("V" or Vic)
4 a/c, Schwarm, the RAF called it AFAIK "The four fingers". The RAF and the USAAF adopted this to their 4 in diagonal line formation somewhen around BoB.

The "Kette" was in deed proven to be ineffetive (too rigid and unflexible) and use was later drastically lessened.

[Mikkel Plannthin]

I'm in the middle of reading Johnson's 'Full Circle' which is mentioned by SES. I find it very interesting in understanding the more tactical side of combat fighting. Highly recommendable.

Mikkel

[Ruy Horta]

Seem to recall that the Soviets flew in pairs during the Spanish Civil war as well.

[Graham Boak]

However, the Germans would never admit to having learnt anything from the Russians. Even if they did, which isn't demonstrated.