US AAC/AAF Doctrine: FM 1-15, Air Fighting, 1940 - 6: Tactics of Aircraft fighting defensively
CHAPTER 6 TACTICS OF AIRCRAFT FIGHTING DEFENSIVELY
108. GENERAL.-a. The air fighting tactics employed by bombardment and reconnaissance and observation aviation forces are based upon maintaining the integrity of command during the execution of their primary missions of air attack and air reconnaissance and observation.
b. The success of these forces in their operations is measured by the efficiency with which these missions are performed. For this reason they habitually avoid air fighting whenever it is possible to do so without jeopardizing the success of their missions.
109. EVASION.--The ease of evasion in air operations serves as an advantage to the penetrating force in avoidance of the opposition of the enemy fighting force. Routes and the timing of operations will be planned to favor evading enemy pursuit aviation. Localities where the enemy fighting force is active, or that are likely to contain observation stations, are avoided so far as possible, and the mission is conducted so that the command is exposed to interception for a minimum period of time. Camouflage, darkness, cloud formations, poor visibility, altitude, circuitous routes, and speed are factors that may be utilized in various situations to favor evasion.
110. SECURITY OF DEFENSIVELY FIGHTING FORMATIONS.-a. The fighting strength and security of a defensive formation are affected by
(1) Quality of leadership.
(2) Discipline and cohesion of the formation.
(3) Skill, alertness, initiative, and indoctrination of the air gunners.
b. A bombardment formation can develop a formidable concentration of fire which, combined with effective tactics and a high standard of discipline, provides it with great power of resistance to pursuit attack. Since the cohesion of a defensive formation is so essential to its protection, the enemy will endeavor to disorganize it in order that it may be defeated in detail. This must be strongly resisted.
c. Every effort must be made by the defensive formation to provide security against surprise. This is best achieved in the air by a proper disposition of aircraft and by the constant use of a well-planned system of protective observation covering all possible avenues of enemy approach.
d. Recognition by all individuals of the command of the futility of an attempt by individual airplanes to avoid the effect of fire by escape or by taking cover tends to preserve the integrity of the force.
111. SINGLE AIRPLANE.-a. Combat type.-When a single combat type airplane is attacked by hostile pursuit it maneuvers in order to bring the greatest number of guns into play against the hostile unit. It operates at the maximum speed in order to reduce the speed margin available to the attacker.
b. Reconnaissance and observation type.--(1) Aircraft designed primarily for reconnaissance and observation with the ground forces are usually limited in performance because of the special characteristics required for the execution of their normal tasks. The armament generally comprises fixed forward firing guns and flexible guns in the observer's cockpit. This disposition of guns permits either offensive or defensive tactics in the conduct of air fighting. The object of such fighting is always the preservation of the aircraft and crew in the execution of missions. For this reason air combat is not initiated by this type of aircraft.
(2) If attacked by hostile aircraft during limited penetrations of enemy territory, every effort is made by maneuver to carry the fight to a position over friendly ground forces. When over friendly territory, maneuvers should be conducted that place the airplane at an altitude which denies attack from beneath and favors support from small arms ground fire.
112. FORMATIONS.--When combat cannot be avoided, defensive forces seek to arrange their elements so as to concentrate maximum fire against successive threats in the order of their immediate importance. The elements of the formation are so disposed or maneuvered as to prevent or minimize the possibility of enfilading fire being directed against two or more elements.
a. Speed and movement.-The defending command normally operates at maximum formation speed in order to reduce the speed margin available to the attacker. It may use turns or irregular movement to disrupt the simultaneous assaults of fighter aviation and to induce a series of attacks against which fire can be massed successively. Since movement will interfere with the stability of the gun platforms, the degree of such movement should be restricted during the times fire is being delivered.
b. Fire and vulnerability.--The commander endeavors to deliver the maximum fire while presenting minimum vulnerability. Maximum flexibility of massed defensive fire requires the close grouping of fire weapons with consequent reduction in ease of maneuver. The commander must adapt his tactics to meet immediate needs. When attacks at short ranges may be expected from several directions, the close grouping of defensive weapons is most effective. At long ranges the vulnerability of the massed formation exceeds the relative advantage of massed defensive fire. During long range attacks, security may be improved by increased spacing and erratic maneuvering of units. The formation must be prepared to close rapidly in event the attacker closes in. Formations which offer the minimum target to the enemy while uncovering the maximum number of guns should be employed in defensive tactics.
c. Bombing attacks by hostile pursuit.-Time fuze bombing attacks launched by hostile fighters from a horizontal approach should be avoided by changing course, airspeed, and altitude as the attacking unit approaches a position for bomb release. Dive bombing attacks should be opposed by gun fire and maneuver.
