Fighter Combat

SECTION TACTICS, TWOVERSUS-TWO 259contact with two separate bogeys without also having to clear the wingman'ssix, but the fact that both fighters are engaged in close proximity,and are trading bogeys back and forth, inevitably leads to chance sightingsof the wingman. When these opportunities arise, the pilot should quicklycheck the airspace around the wingman visually, announce any bogeys in athreatening position, and attack them if possible. The mere presence oftwo fighters alternately threatening each opponent keeps an adversaryfrom concentrating on either fighter for any length of time. Knowing that asecond fighter is in the area also tends to make an individual bogey lessaggressive against any one fighter. This condition is sometimes referred toas "mutual support by presence."Again, a hypothetical sample engagement should serve to clarify someof the techniques involved in this method. Figure 6-9 depicts the sameinitial head-on approach situation shown in Figure 6-5, except that thistime the bogey pilots see both fighters and split, denying the attackers aquick kill opportunity. Each friendly pilot continues his pincer maneuverin an attempt to get outside the hostile section and keep both bogeys insight on the same side of the aircraft. This tends to draw the adversariesapart, making it unlikely they will be able to keep track of the other half ofthe fight.Figure 6-10 shows that each pilot passes his bogey close aboard on theside away from the second bogey, and continues to turn in the sameFigure 6-9. Loose Deuce Engagement, Two-versus-Two