Since i love to fly tactically every chance i get here is just some information that I would like to get some more attention on because now a days I've noticed when flying with a wingman the lead and wingman tend to get their respective roles mixed up so I'll show some light on this subject so everyone can get on the right track.
.:The Leader:.The Leader’s primary responsibility is navigation, prioritization of targets, selection of tactics, and shooting down the enemy. His secondary responsibilities are communications with larger formations and the ground controllers, and protecting the wingman. He must communicate with his wingman through flight cues, voice, and in the simulation world, text.
.:The Wingman:.The Wingman’s primary responsibility is protecting the Leader by spotting the enemy, and keeping the enemy off of the Leader’s tail. His secondary responsibilities are navigation, communications, and engaging the enemy. He must communicate with his Leader through flight cues, voice, and, once again, text.
The Wingman typically flies in relatively close formation with the Leader either inline or, most often, obliquely to the rear at almost the same altitude.
In WWII, roles were established on the ground and held fast throughout combat, with the more experienced pilot being Leader and the junior pilot being Wingman.
There were exceptions to the rule, of course. When Bud Anderson and Chuck Yeager flew together they exchanged roles fluidly as the situation dictated, for example. But both were expert fighter pilots that understood doctrine and tactics and were comfortable with both Lead and Wingman roles.
If either the Leader or the Wingman experienced mechanical difficulty or was damage in combat, both would return to base together whenever possible. A lone, damaged fighter is easy pickings, and the guy behind the stick was more than an online alias with a refly button.
.:Responsibilities:.Navigation- While the Leader is the one responsible for navigation (as the Wingman must follow him, even if in the wrong direction), if one is separated it is useful to know where one is at and the direction of either the target or the airfield. If you’re the Wingman and the Leader is going the wrong way, tell him.
Situational Awareness- The Leader is responsible primarily for the front, sides, and above the pair, while the Wingman is responsible for the sides, the rear, above and below. Both should check each other’s position constantly as well. “Primarily” doesn’t mean that the Leader doesn’t "check six" or the Wingman doesn’t scan above and to the front; it just means that each will spend a little more time scanning their zones. The Leader is
looking for something to kill; the Wingman is looking for
who’s trying to kill them.:Positioning:.“Loosey Deucy” - The most common and effective pairing is the Wingman slightly lower and to the right or left of the Leader with about fifty to one hundred meters distance. If the pair is too close together, they represent a single target to an unseen attacker! The Wingman is lower in order to see the Leader and keep formation.
Line Abreast- Side-by-side, with both splitting the sphere of scanning the skies for enemies.
Line Astern - Ducks in a row. Usually caused by the Leader outrunning the Wingman, it’s also the most common formation when attacking ground targets.
Overwatch - The Wingman is high and to the side of the Leader, with two to three hundred meters separation. The Wingman must be far enough left or right to easily see and keep with the Leader. It’s a good technique if the Leader has just finished a successful attack and is attempting to regain energy
