Suicide four ???

[Many Souffan]

Bonjour.

I work on Ian Gleed and in particular when he was Wing Co of 244 Wing

And I have seen many times the term : Suicide four.

What means this term ?

By advance thank you.

[udf_00]

From a hazy memory, the four spitfires IX in high cover.

[Many Souffan]

Hello udf_OO

Thank you, I think it's exactly that, my hazy memory too, was not sure.

But what it seems sure that this term is reliable with Spitfire Mk IX

So now I look for if this was introduced by Ian Gleed or it existed before...

Thank you again.

[Orwell1984]

Phrase shows up here in a cached page devoted to an auction of the Squadron Leader N[eville] F. Duke, D.S.O., O.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C.:

https://webcache.googleusercontent.c...&ct=clnk&gl=ca

Wednesday, 3 March 1943: Duke led a section of 92 on a “Suicide Four” patrol to the Gabes area, and brought down a 109 - ‘the enemy aircraft turned sharply in a climbing turn to the left. I observed strikes with cannon in the fuelage and wings. After the second burst the enemy aircraft went down vertically with smoke coming from the fuselage. Flight Sergeant H. Patterson confirms seeing it crash.’

[Many Souffan]

Thank you Orwell1984.

Very interesting.

Because at this date (3 march 1943) there is not yet Spitfire Mk IX inside the 244 Wing.