Air tactics: Boelcke, Mannock, Malan

Dikta Boelcke > .

Early Flight, WW1 Aerial Combat - Leo Orbis >> .

Air tactics: Boelcke, Mannock, Malan:

Boelcke's list of tactics:

1.1 1. Try to secure the upper hand before attacking. If possible, keep the sun behind you
1.2 2. Always continue with an attack you have begun
1.3 3. Open fire only at close range, and then only when the opponent is squarely in your sights
1.4 4. You should always try to keep your eye on your opponent and never let yourself be deceived by ruses
1.5 5. In any type of attack, it is essential to assail your opponent from behind
1.6 6. If your opponent dives on you, do not try to get around his attack, but fly to meet it
1.7 7. When over the enemy's lines, always remember your own line of retreat
1.8 8. Tip for Squadrons: In principle, it is better to attack in groups of four or six. If fights break up into a series of single combats, pay attention that several comrades would not go after one opponent.

Mannock's fifteen rules on air combat:

1. Pilots must dive to attack with zest, and must hold their fire until they get within one hundred yards of the target
2. Achieve surprise by approaching from the east (German side of the front)
3. Utilize the sun's glare and clouds to achieve surprise
4. Pilots must keen physically fit by exercise and the moderate use of stimulants
5. Pilots must sight their guns and practice as much as possible. Targets are fleeting.
6. Pilots must practice spotting machines in the air and recognizing them at long range, and every aeroplane is to be treated as an enemy until it is certain it is not
7. Pilots must learn where the enemy's blind spots are
8. Scouts must attacked from above and two-seaters from beneath their tails
9. Pilots must practice quick turns, as this manoeuvre is used more than an other in a fight
10. Pilots must practice judging distances in flight as these are very deceptive
11. Decoys must be guarded against—a single enemy is often a decoy—therefore the air above must be searched before attacking
12. If the day is sunny, machines should be turned with as little bank as possible; otherwise the sun glistening on their wings will give away their positions at long range
13. Pilots must keep turning in a dogfight and never fly straight unless firing
14. Pilots must never dive away from an enemy, as he gives an opponent a non-deflection shot—bullets are faster than aeroplanes
15. Pilots must keep an eye on their watches during patrols, on the direction and strength of the wind
Edward Mannock


Malan's 10 rules:

1. Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of one to two seconds only when your sights are definitely "ON".
2. Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body: have both hands on the stick: concentrate on your ring sight.
3. Always keep a sharp lookout. "Keep your finger out".
4. Height gives you the initiative.
5. Always turn and face the attack.
6. Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best.
7. Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area.
8. When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as a top guard.
9. INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAMWORK are words that MEAN something in Air Fighting.
10. Go in quickly – Punch hard – Get out!