Fighter Combat

DIVISION TACTICS 283on the lookout for threats to friendly fighters. Whenever a wingman issighted, the airspace all around his aircraft should be scanned visually todetermine if he is under attack or is pursuing a bogey that might make aneasy target. Egress from the hostile area should be made with other friendliesif at all practical. When a pilot is leaving the area, he should make a"bugout" call on the fighter frequency so that the remaining friendly pilotscan assess the changing numerical odds.If you have a lot of pilots flying around you, many to fly with, then you are notvery keen to look around. A lot of people are not looking at all.Colonel Erich "Bubi" Hartmann, GAPThe problems associated with gaggle tactics are the same as for loosedeuce, with the added difficulties arising from increased numbers offighters and bogeys. With more bogeys comes greater difficulty in definingthe threat sector, since some of the enemy are almost always unaccountedfor at any one time. Some degree of task overloading is generally presentthroughout the engagement. As the battle continues the bogey cloud tendsto expand and it becomes more difficult to define. When he is unsure of thethreat sector the pilot might be well advised to extend a considerabledistance from the fight, though preferably he should remain within visualrange of some participant, and then return in an attempt to redefine the"fur ball" from a distance. Extending away in the direction of the sun orclimbing or diving to highlight the fight against low or high clouds areeffective techniques. Due care must be exercised during these maneuvers,however, since enemy pilots may be using the same methods. The pilotcannot afford to padlock some aircraft in the distant fight and neglect hisFigure 7-14. Gaggle Engagement (Conclusion)