Fighter Combat

Section Tactics,Two-versus-OneNever break your formation into less than two-ship elements. Stay in pairs. Aman by himself is a liability, a two-ship team is an asset. If you are separated,join up immediately with other friendly airplanes.Major Thomas B. "Tommy" McGuire, USAAFBackgroundSection is the term used to describe a team of two fighters acting in concertagainst the adversary. This concept was first employed early in World WarI by the Germans Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann. Even in theinfancy of air combat, it was readily apparent that one-versus-one engagementhas serious flaws in practical application. Among these failings isinadequate defense against surprise attack by an unseen opponent. It hasbeen estimated that throughout the history of air combat 80 to 90 percentof downed fighter pilots were unaware of their danger until the moment ofthe attack. Suprise, then, and, conversely, the avoidance of surprise, mustbe considered the most vital element in air combat.The first rule of all air combat is to see the opponent first. Like the hunterwho stalks his prey and maneuvers himself unnoticed into the most favorableposition for the kill, the fighter in the opening of a dogfight must detectthe opponent as early as possible in order to attain a superior position for theattack.Lt. General Adolph Galland, LuftwaffeMost aircraft, and particularly single-seat fighters, have blind spots thatcannot be monitored visually on a continuous basis by the pilot. Theunderside of the aircraft and the rear hemisphere are usually the mosttroublesome areas. Although these regions can be checked sporadically byrolling and turning the aircraft, this technique may not be adequate againstan attacker with high closure. Additionally, one-versus-one combat, andparticularly weapons employment during combat, demands that the