I always forget this one…:rolleyes:
For the Luftwaffe everything is clear: Schwarm (4 aircraft) and Rotte (2 aircraft).
But then, for allied names, RAF and USAF mixed it, and I never seem to remember.
So, how did RAF call a 2-aircraft formation? and 4-aircraft?
And the USAF?
2 = pair
4 = 2 pair = flight
A squadron should be 4 flights = 16 planes (in air, more in total).
So far I think RAF and US is the same, but then comes Wing and Group where it differs.
2-3 squadrons is a Wing in RAF, but in US it’s a group. And 3-4 wings makes a group in RAF, but in US 3-4 groups makes a Wing.
I think that’s it.
Thanks Mikke, but I think that a pair is a “section” in USAF?
And in pre-war formations I read that a 3-aircraft Vic formation was called a section too?
Hmm, might be so.
Starting at the beginning of the war RAF Squadrons comprised of 16 available aircraft, but only twelve flew at any one time. This left 4 on the ground and in the hangars being worked on.
Each twelve aircraft flying consisted of two Flights A and B. Each of these flights had two sections of 3 aircraft each. A flight had Red and Blue sections while B flight had Yellow and Green sections.
Individual code letters for aircraft usually were for each flight, A flight taking the letters A through to M and B flight taking letters N through to Z.
No idea when it changed for the RAF but up until the Lean into France in 41 this was the standard practice
According to Shaw, chapter 5. A section ´consist of two planes.
“Section is the term used to describe a team of two fighters acting in concert against an adversary”"
A four ship formation is a Division.
The Japanese used 3 a/c formations during WWII and called it Shotai.
Shaw does not mentioning anything of when or how the definition of sections and divisions came about.
I also know, heard? the term “element leader”.
Finger four of a Flight of four with a Flight lead consisting of two sections (elements?)and their 2 (section) element leaders?
In 310 and 322 I use:
Element = 2
Section = 4
Flight = 12
I think the RAF standardised on the Finger-4 some time in 1942 but it had been adopted ad-hoc prior to that. A section then became 4 aircraft composed of two pairs. Two sections became a flight and two flights a squadron.
For operational purposes, both flights of the same squadron may not have participated in the same mission unless maximum strength was required. I think the 8 aircraft formations became quite common in the run up to and after D-Day so it was possible to achieve maximum coverage by alternating flights on escort or fighter sweeps throughout the day. Maybe one section from B-Flight would operate with A-Flight if 12 rather than 8 aircraft were needed. That way some pilots are always stood down and get some rest each mission.
I recall from Clostermann that in 122 Wing two flights of 8 aircraft - not necessarily from the same squadron - would operate in parallel about 10-20 miles distant so that one could support the other if they ran in to difficulties (though he’s not always the best source for accurate info).
[QUOTE=Marsh EAF19
I recall from Clostermann that in 122 Wing two flights of 8 aircraft - not necessarily from the same squadron - would operate in parallel about 10-20 miles distant so that one could support the other if they ran in to difficulties (though he’s not always the best source for accurate info).[/QUOTE]
In modern NATO terms it would have been called a package.
Definition: Sqd working together on the same overall objective.
Example of a large package:
SQD - Task
19 - Fightersweep
92 - Fightersweep
51 - Supression of enemy airdefence (SEAD) -
602 - Groundstrike
331 - Escorte 
Thanks everyone, a very interesting discussion.
EAF is mainly a WW2 RAF squadron (and I do not want to fly in Vic) I feel we should go for the designation that Marsh mentioned:
Pair (2 aircraft)
Section (2 Pairs)
Flight (2 Sections)
Squadron (2 Flights)
If we allow element as pair, thats should fit with 310/322 except for Flight/Squadron
I quite like ‘package’, though. Has an RAF toungue-in-cheek feel to it 
Nepe, if you swap a pair of 2 for vic of 3 the same breakdown works for VVS or early war formations