USAAF Battle Formations

[Cees Steijger]

USAAF VIII Fighter Corps fighter groups used to fly in Finger Four formation of two elements. But in a battle formation the planes of the two elements had a different position. What was that difference, can somebody explain?

--Cees Steijger

[udf_00]

Combat Profile, Mustang: The P-51 Merlin Mustang In World War 2
Roger A. Freeman
p.15 :
Close formation
Planes fly about 75 yards apart
Open or 'battle' formation
Planes fly about 250 yards apart

[Buckeye30]

The "Finger Four" was standard through the war but flights and squadrons positions varied; until 1944 when the enemy coast was reached they formed line-abreast stepped up and down, as in diagram 2. Aircraft in a flight were about 750 ft. apart, the distance still able to read code letters. Then sections of 2 flights parallel, until the bombers were reached when the squadron (4 flights) formed around the box.

Flight = 4 aircraft, Squadron = 16, Group = 48.


Nick




formations by Nicholas King, on Flickr

[R Leonard]

Larger separation might have something to do with turning radius

[Buckeye30]

Yes the gap between squadrons in a group mission was 1 mile, between elements in a flight of 4 was 250 yds.; a 16-plane squadron was spread over at least 2 miles. If a flight needed to change position in a 90* turn and still maintain side-by-side elements, the second element (nos. 3-4) passed under the lead (nos.1-2), so when completed their relative positions were reversed.
Formations were opened up just before the coast was reached, an improvement on earlier Eighth ops. (P-38s & P-47s) where spacings were closer (more risk of collisions and less chance to spot enemy aircraft).
Regards
Nick

[Cees Steijger]

Many thanks. This is helpful. --Cees

[Cees Steijger]

Clear! Thanks for this.

[Cees Steijger]

Thanks!