Finger Four Formation Error (?)

[-)-MAILMAN-]

Originally Posted by Tolwyn

I wasn't going to reply, but I will. ( heh )

That photograph is a modern representation of the formation. I'm looking at this from the time period.

"The formation consists of a flight of four aircraft, composed of a "lead element" and a "second element", each of two aircraft. When viewing the formation from above, the positions of the planes resemble the tips of the four fingers of a human right hand (without the thumb), giving the formation its name. "

Middle Finger Lead
Index Finger #2
Ring Finger #3
Pinky Finger #4



Now, there's nothing wrong with a reverse-finger four depending upon circumstances, but historically, the above definition serves the WW2 era.

Vik
Diamond
Eschelon L / R
Line Abreast
Line Astern
Finger Four

It's not a HUGE deal, merely pointing out an inconsistency from the original definition of what a Finger Four formation was in Ww2, from what I understand.

Towlyn's diagram is how I have seen the formation described in the reference book (flight spacing horizontally and vertically within the squadron is in the reference as well as the group all flying finger four). USN used the terms Division (flight) and Section (element).