American Escort Fighter Formation Details

[Kurtl12]

Hello to everybody,

Looking for detailed information regarding Escort Fighter Formations during 1944. I have some rough information about the Flight codes.
Is it right that each flight had to consist of 4 planes, each squadron about 4 flights? Was the position of for example the red flight always the first, followed by green on the left hand wing side?

If someone had position 2 in yellow flight what does that mean? Was he flying on left wing or right wing side of the flight leader?

What color name was that one of a fifth flight? I know red, green, blue and yellow flight. Were there any other?

Is there a document available which shows how it actually was meant somewhere on the net?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Kurtl

[drgondog]

Kurt - to some of your questions

Red - always lead. The position of flights varied but usually went like this:

Formation and climb out - lead squadron climbing out with other squadron in trail below. For weather climb out each flight and a/c within flight would separate to minimise mid air collision,

As to position of Green, Yellow, Blue (and White and Purple for augmented missions - usually when an A and B Group was sent out), it varied but for 355th FG but usually Yellow was right and Blue/Green on left or in trail and above...(I need to check on this) - in a finger four left position looking at each flight as one of your left hand fingers - This assembly was strictly for purpose of tight formation.

Escort positions usually had Red and Yellow up front and Blue/Green in trail and above

The standard mission for 8th AF fighters was usually four flights of 4, with spares also fying to 'fill in', and for long missions a Radio Relay team of two would fly near French Coast to relay radio traffic.

When a 'standard profile' escort mission was flown the squadrons would vary lead from one mission to another but positioning varied based on perceived threat. more often than not the lead squadron would take the high front position and stagger the other two on middle and trail position depending on strength of other fighter groups in the area or whether this group was only escort in area.

The High Squadron was usually the designated 'Bouncer', but of course the Luftwaffe had their say in this tactic from time to time, depending on where they attacked. Typically the Lead Squadron would range in front to protect against head on attacks, depending on the spacing between bomber wings

Usually each squadron would split up into two sections of 8 and 'S' across the top of the bombers, each section ranging away, then back across each other.. this is where actual flights varied in finger four left or right positioning within section and flight. Within the section, the flights would spread out and the trail flight would again position high, in trail to protect the lead flight.

'Break' discipline was usaully based on positioning within the flight. If close formation, finger four left, the left pair in trail would break left and lead would break right to keep from turing into each other.

Regards,

Bill Marshall

[Kurtl12]

Thanks for your detailed ansere. It's a good help. It brings up a new question for me. What is meant by groub A and B? I have read in several report about planes class "A" and class "B" too, but have no idea what is meant by that.

Kurtl

[drgondog]

The A and B (and Occasionally C) Group concept eveolved as the operational strength of 8th AF Fighter Groups approached 60-70 fighters..

In mid 1944, particularly Normandy Invasion time, not only were Squadrons flying 2-4 missions per day, but the Group would put two separate forces up at the same time - each under separate leadership for separate mission objectives

For the 355th FG this operational procedure started in early Fall of 1944, then increased in frequency during 1945. In one case for the 355th there was an A, a B and a "C" Group put up at one time but in this case "C" was a section of two flights providing Security for 2nd Scout Force Mission.

In the case of A and B, there were two scenarios - one in the aforementioned situation in which a Purple and White Flight was put up by one squadron - or a flight or two from another Squadron to comprise the "A" or "B" Group. Quite frequently one or the other 'Group" would be fewer ships in number because the particular mission was not deemed requiring a maximum effort

As I recall the 355th put up a couple of missions in which 70-72 ships participated at the same time - all from 355th with augmentation from 2nd Scout Force which was 'part of' 355th at Steeple Morden. I know the 4th, 78th and 56th also had some maximum effort missions in April 1945 with that many ships.

Regards,

Bill