The history of aviation started in the early 20th century when the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight of an airplane was achieved by the Wright brothers in 1903. It was probably the next day when someone asked how airplanes could be used as weapons in warfare. However, it wasn’t until World War I that military aviation began to take shape. Initially, aircraft were used for reconnaissance and scouting missions, but as the war progressed, their role expanded to include aerial combat and localized bombing.
One key development in military aviation during those early years was the concept of flying multiple aircraft in formations. The first formation flights were undertaken by the French and German air forces about 1915. Initial experiments proved that pilots flying in groups of two or three could provide mutual protection and support. However, it wasn’t until 1917 when the Royal Air Force (RAF) introduced the “Vic” formation that flying in formation became a standard tactic.

The “Vic” formation, also known as the “Vee” formation, involved at least three aircraft (and often as many as fifteen) flying in a triangular formation, with the lead aircraft at the front and the other aircraft on either side. This formation provided several advantages, including improved visibility, increased firepower, and enhanced protection. By flying in close formation, pilots could cover each other’s blind spots and respond quickly to threats.

During World War II, flying in formation became even more sophisticated. The introduction of radar and other technological advancements enabled aircraft to fly in larger and more complex formations, with multiple squadrons and groups working together to achieve strategic objectives. The RAF’s “Finger Four” formation, which involved four aircraft flying in a staggered formation, became a standard tactic for fighter squadrons.

Look at your right hand and your finger tips
The United States Air Force (USAF) and the United States Navy Aviation developed their own formation tactics. One of the most successful was the “Thach Weave,” another was the “Combat Spread.”
The Thach Weave was developed by John S. Thach, a U.S. Navy aviator near the end of World War II. The weave was a defensive aerial combat maneuver where two or more planes would fly an intentional crisscross pattern to counter enemy attacks. It involved two aircraft flying in a circular pattern, with each aircraft covering the other’s tail.
The Combat Spread involved a group of aircraft flying in a loose, staggered formation, but in pairs so that they are separated by no more than 1,500 feet vertical distance. The lower elevation aircraft is the “defender,” while the wingman flies above in the “perch” position with each aircraft providing cover for the others.
The “spread” was a highly successful attack tactic. When an enemy aircraft became a target, it had only a twenty-five percent chance of escape – that would be to out-run the other planes. Such attempts to out-fly an American jet were usually failures since there were only a few planes in the enemy’s inventory that were more powerful than the American Grumman F series Tomcat fighter jets or the Lockheed P series jets.

In the post-war period, the continued development of jet aircraft and missile technology led to further changes in formation flying tactics. The introduction of air-to-air missiles and beyond-visual-range combat capabilities quickly reduced the need for close formation flying.
Today, military aviation continues to evolve, with the introduction of advanced technologies such as precision-guided munitions that can be targeted to within 30 feet from the other side of our globe by using Global Positioning System (GPS) software.
However, the principles of flying in formation remain an essential part of military aviation, with pilots still relying on formation tactics to achieve strategic objectives and to protect themselves and their fellow pilots from harm.
Thankfully, now that we are well into the 21st century, formation flying is still important, but the actual flying is often an entertainment performance for grounded audiences at airshows. Watch the sky. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels could be just over the horizon.

And who knows, they may be flying in a “Vic” or “Finger Four” formation that proves our military is combat ready the very second they finish entertaining you with their wingtip-to-wingtip maneuvers.
A very interesting article although it was actually the German fighter pilot Werner Mölders who originated the Schwarm (finger four) formation which, being more practical that their dated Vic one, was adopted by the Royal Air Force and subsequently by other air forces.
This article reminded me that I had a Lockheed coloring book as a child, although I don’t remember if it depicted any of the planes flying in formation.
Very interesting article. Thank you for sharing!