Wingman Tactics from RCAFFB.COM

Two aircraft flying and fighting together is the core of organized aerial combat. The idea of flying in a formation is to bring numerical superiority into the fight: more eyes, more guns, more SA-overload for the quarry. Since WWI, three main tactical doctrines have evolved, described briefly below.

In the arena, wingpairs generally employ a combination of all three depending on the situation. Note that any wing pair that wishes to be effective in the fight need one outstanding trait beyond SA and a measure of tactical acumen: the ability to communicate actions, warnings and intents in the heat of combat. Your wingman may be completely unaware of the fact that you are dragging a bogey, or that three bogeys entered the fray while he was turn fighting. Timely communications may decide the fight.

Also called welded wing from the way wingmen formatted as closely as possible on their leader, often only a foot or two away. No matter what, the wingman would stick to his leader like bad breath. In the arena, the fighting wing is not very effective except against sitting ducks like bombers and other slow, vulnerable aircraft. The leader of the wing does all the decision-making and fighting, whereas the wingman flies as close as he can and keeps a defensive lookout. His job is to clear away bandits that try to nail his leader, up close when the bandit is already in a dangerous position. Ironically enough, the wingman is often the first to go down if attacked, since he’s generally flying in a vulnerable trail formation and is using the better part of his faculties to keep position. This formation is good for air shows and little else. Enjoy it for snapping photos and then get back into a loose line abreast.

This doctrine splits the flight into an “engaged” and a “free” fighter. Usually, the leader becomes the engaged fighter when encountering a target, but when surprised at a disadvantage either may become the engaged fighter. The flight using double attack doctrine usually flies a more relaxed formation with a lateral separation of up to one full turn radius. Leadership is also more relaxed and the flight moves by mutual consent, established by timely communications as to heading and target selection. Once engaged, the free fighter stays above the action, on guard against wildcard bogeys and as a ace-in-the-sleeve should the leader blow his attack and become defensive.