ArtKramr wrote:

ubject: Long-range Spitfires and daylight Bomber Command raids (was:
#1
From: Guy Alcala

flying loose formation just made you a magnet for the fighters,

What does that mean? If you were there and fighters were there they would come
after you no matter what the formation. Period.

snip

Generally true, although it depended on the state of morale and training of the
fighter unit. Inexperienced units and twin-engined nightfighters operating by day
were often told to only go after stragglers; units with shaky morale sometimes
found a reason not to attack (this was more prevalent in the 1944-45 period).
Still, given the choice of attacking the groups that were flying tight or the ones
that were flying loose, which do you think they chose? AOTBE, they chose to go
after the group with the worst formation, as numerous german fighter leaders have
stated.

Of course, that assumes that there are no escorts around to get in the way or make
them attack the first available formation, and sometimes there are other factors.
If all three groups in the wing box were flying good formation, then they'd
typically hit either the high squadron of the high group or more often the low
squadron of the low group, preferably the outside wingmen of the last element (aka
'Purple Heart Corner'), because they've got the least support of any a/c in the
formation, it's easier for the fighters to break away after a pass without worrying
about a collision, and if the bomber in that position is damaged it can't drift
back and down while passing through the formation and still deriving some
protection from the other a/c (for a while, anyway). When they fall back, they're
out all by themselves.

Guy

P.S. I'll be offline for a couple of days, so if you reply don't expect one from
me for a bit.