I seldom post on this forum, however, earlier this morning I read channel 200 banter between two accomplished and respected pilots. The argument morphed into (adjectives omitted): "The only kills you can get is from BNZ, you can't win 1v1"...and so on.
As most of you know all of the following tactics were practiced by all parties during WWII:
Overhead Approach - aka BNZ
BFM (Basic Fighter Manuevers) - aka Turn Fighting / Stall Fighting
Straffing - aka Vulching
WRT the Overhead Approach, the following is taken directly from the Navy's fighter pilot manual, ORDERS FOR GUNNERY EXERCISES:
Tactic: Overhead Approach from the Same Course
1. Start a smooth, nose high, 180 degree turn toward the target...
2. Upon reaching a point ahead of and in the same vertical plane as the target's flight path...
3. Roll over to inverted flight...
4. Drop the nose on down, then sweep it up slightly ahead of the target...
5. You should reach effective range while still in a dive of not less the 60 degrees, which should flatten out
so that you pass the target at about a 45 degree angle.
6. Pull out below, recovering right or left of the target's flight path, and climb to a second attack position.
These tactics were incorporated into Navy flight doctorine during the early stages of WWII. It was designed to use the F-4F's speed advantage in a fight versus entering a turn fight with the more manueverable Zero.
The bottom line, a kill by any of the above 3 methods is a valid kill...unfortunately, big ego's don't die as easily!!!
Regards,
DAGO
