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33-603: It is a tactical formation maneuver in which two or more allied planes wove in regularly intersecting flight paths to lure an enemy into focusing on one plane, while the targeted pilot's wingman would come into position to attack the pursuer. Thach had heard, from a report published in the 22 September 1941 Fleet Air Tactical Unit Intelligence Bulletin, of the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero 's extraordinary maneuverability and rate of climb. Before even experiencing it for himself, he began to devise tactics meant to give

66-693: A Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boat on 13 November 1942. Vejtasa remained in the Navy after the end of the war and served in the Korean War as air officer aboard USS  Essex from 1951 to 1953. He commanded the ammunition ship USS  Firedrake from July 1959 to August 1960 and the aircraft carrier USS  Constellation from November 1962 to November 1963. He received the Legion of Merit for his work as Commander Fleet Air, Miramar , from 15 August 1965 to 7 June 1968. He retired on 1 July 1970 as

99-721: A captain. Vejtasa and his wife Irene had three children. Vejtasa died on January 23, 2013. In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea. He was also awarded two Bronze Stars , the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal and was inducted into the Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame in 1987. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting

132-617: A direct hit on one of the hostile vessels. By his superb airmanship and outstanding courage he contributed to the destruction of the three enemy ships and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against

165-529: A much slower Dauntless dive bomber . In fact, Japanese records show that no Zeros were lost. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded his second Navy Cross. Vejtasa was transferred to fighters, piloting the Grumman F4F Wildcat , and was assigned to the newly formed Fighting Squadron 10 , under Lieutenant Commander James H. Flatley , aboard USS  Enterprise . During the Battle of

198-680: The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands , he was credited with downing seven Japanese aircraft in one mission, becoming an "ace in a day" . Vejtasa was born to Czech-Norwegian parents at an isolated homestead in Montana on July 27, 1914. He attended Montana State College , before transferring to the University of Montana . He joined the Navy in 1937 and became a Naval Aviator on 13 July 1939. Commissioned an ensign in August, he

231-506: The Medal of Honor was denied. He is the only World War II carrier pilot awarded the Navy Cross "for both dive bombing and aerial combat." He left Flying Squadron 10 in May 1943 and returned to the United States to serve as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Atlantic City . He saw no further combat. At the end of the war, his tally was 10.25 victories, including a quarter shared credit for

264-432: The "Thach weave". The theory behind the beam attack was predicated on the 2-plane element of the finger-four formation . It was executed either by two fighter aircraft side-by-side or by two pairs of fighters flying together. When an enemy aircraft chose one fighter as his target (the "bait" fighter; his wingman being the "hook"), the two wingmen turned in towards each other. After crossing paths, and once their separation

297-516: The Japanese Zero pilots flying out of Rabaul . Saburō Sakai , the famous Japanese ace, relates their reaction to the Thach weave when they encountered Guadalcanal Wildcats using it: For the first time Lt. Commander Tadashi Nakajima encountered what was to become a famous double-team maneuver on the part of the enemy. Two Wildcats jumped on the commander's plane. He had no trouble in getting on

330-621: The Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa dived and skillfully attacked one of three Japanese aircraft tenders or transports and obtained

363-473: The Ninth Academy of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation presented an upgraded version of its "loyal wingman" FH-97A at the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow . The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat is another example. Swede Vejtasa Stanley Winfield "Swede" Vejtasa (27 July 1914 – 23 January 2013) was a United States Navy career officer and World War II flying ace . During

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396-467: The Santa Cruz Islands , he was credited with downing seven enemy aircraft in one mission – first two Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers attacking USS  Hornet , then five Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers targeting Enterprise – becoming an " ace in a day ". (Postwar analysis confirmed two dive bombers and two torpedo bombers. ) Lieutenant Vejtasa was awarded his third Navy Cross for this achievement. Seventy years later, an attempt to upgrade this to

429-446: The U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the engagement with enemy Japanese naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. As great numbers of enemy dive bombers and Torpedo Planes launched a vicious attack upon his carrier, Lieutenant Vejtasa unhesitatingly challenged and shot down two Japanese dive bombers and then gallantly led his patrol in an attack on a group of enemy Torpedo Planes with such daring aggressiveness that

462-544: The challenge. The Japanese also eventually figured out how to break the Thach weave. For example, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands when USN and IJN strike forces passed each other, Zeros from carrier Zuihō led by Lieutenant Moriyasu Hidaka attacked USN aircraft. In response, Ensigns Al Mead and Raleigh Rhodes in their Wildcats performed the maneuver, but were outmatched and were eventually forced to ditch their ruined fighters. In another example, initially USN Lieutenant Commander Sam Silber and his wingman executed

495-447: The danger of becoming separated from the formation leader. According to Smith, wingmen are expected to remain with the leader, even at the cost of giving up an easy kill. The development of UAVs led to the development of such vehicles as " loyal wingmen " flying in formation with a manned fighter aircraft serving in various supporting roles. The European development project FCAS includes such UAVs. The Chinese Feihong Company under

528-575: The enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. On 4 May, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa participated in dive bombing attacks on the enemy in Tulagi Harbor which resulted in

561-421: The formation was completely broken and three of the hostile bombers jettisoned their torpedoes as they fled. Lieutenant Vejtasa then personally shot down five of the remaining Japanese planes, making a total of seven enemy aircraft destroyed in a single flight. His superb airmanship and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Vejtasa's exploits in

594-474: The highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and leader of a Combat Air patrol of four fighters of Fighting Squadron TEN (VF-10), attached to

627-471: The maneuver with a relative success during the Raid on Kavieng in 1944. However, a few days later they used it again and the attackers shot down the wingman, while Silber's aircraft was severely damaged. Wingman A wingman (or wingmate ) is the pilot of a secondary aircraft providing support or protection to a primary aircraft in a potentially dangerous situation, traditionally flying in formation to

660-451: The most notable among them was USN ace Swede Vejtasa , who claimed that it is ineffective when faced with experienced attacking pilots. During the training sessions, James Flatley and Vejtasa tested the maneuver with their divisions playing attacking and defending teams. In all attempts the attackers prevailed. According to Vejtasa, he then challenged Thach himself to repeat the exercise with him in order to prove his point, but Thach ignored

693-541: The nose of one of your airplanes pointed at me." Thach carried out the first test of the tactic in combat during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, when a squadron of Zeroes attacked his flight of four Wildcats. Thach's wingman, Ensign R. A. M. Dibb, was attacked by a Japanese pilot and turned towards Thach, who dove under his wingman and fired at the incoming enemy aircraft's belly until its engine ignited. The maneuver soon became standard among US Navy pilots and

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726-478: The responsibilities as mutually exclusive: to never lose the leader requires that the wingman watch what is in front of him/her while warning the leader of threats requires focusing on the rear. In order to protect the leader, the wingman needs to react constantly according to his surroundings and movements. Smith described the difficulties of flying under conditions of poor visibility and the trying effects on human perception under such conditions, especially considering

759-438: The right wing of and behind the lead. This second pilot is called the "Wingman" because he or she primarily protects the lead by "watching his back." The wingman's role is to support aerial combat by making a flight both safer and more capable: amplifying situational awareness, increasing firepower, and allowing more dynamic tactics. The concept of a wingman is nearly as old as fighter aviation. On 9 August 1915, Oswald Boelcke

792-626: The role of defenders, O'Hare meanwhile led four Wildcats in the role of attackers. The defending aircraft had their throttles wired (to restrict their performance), while the attacking aircraft had their engine power unrestricted – this simulated an attack by superior fighter aircraft. Trying a series of mock attacks, O'Hare found that in every instance Thach's fighters, despite their power handicap, had either ruined his attack or actually maneuvered into position to shoot back. After landing, O'Hare excitedly congratulated Thach: "Skipper, it really worked. I couldn't make any attack without seeing

825-414: The side and slightly behind the primary craft. The term is sometimes used in reference to the secondary aircraft itself, particularly when it is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) rather than human-piloted plane. According to the U.S. Air Force , The traditional military definition of a "Wingman" refers to the pattern in which fighter jets fly. There is always a lead aircraft and another which flies off

858-592: The sinking or damaging of at least eight enemy vessels. On 7 May, he took part in a dive bombing attack on an enemy carrier in the Coral Sea which resulted in the sinking of that vessel. On 8 May, while on anti-Torpedo Plane patrol, he engaged enemy bombing and Torpedo Planes heavily supported by fighters which attacked our forces. The attacks on 4 and 7 May were pressed home in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire with no regard for personal safety. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa's conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with

891-522: The slower-turning American Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters a chance in combat. While based in San Diego , he would spend every evening thinking of different tactics that could overcome the Zero's maneuverability, and would then test them in flight the following day. Working at night with matchsticks on the table, he eventually came up with what he called "beam defense position", but which soon became known as

924-524: The tail of an enemy fighter, but never had a chance to fire before the Grumman's team-mate roared at him from the side. Nakajima was raging when he got back to Rabaul; he had been forced to dive and run for safety. The maneuver proved so effective that American pilots also used it during the Vietnam War , and it remains a viable dogfighting tactic today. Some pilots criticised the Thach weave. One of

957-446: Was adopted by USAAF pilots. For instance, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands , Flatley's division of four Wildcats encountered Zeros from Jun'yō and deployed Thach weave defensive tactics when they attacked. One of the attackers was Lieutenant Yoshio Shiga , who gave up after he made several runs. Marines flying Wildcats from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal also adopted the Thach weave. The tactic initially confounded

990-413: Was already acting in the role when he shot down a French airplane pursuing Max Immelmann . Colonel Robert Smith provided an extensive description of the work and role of wingmen during the Korean War . Among a wingman's primary responsibilities are remaining close to the leader of the aerial formation and warning the leader of any immediate threats at the cost of losing mutual protection. Smith described

1023-571: Was awarded his first Navy Cross . During the Battle of the Coral Sea , he and several other dive bomber pilots sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May 1942. Walter Schindler , the staff gunnery officer and future vice admiral, filmed the day's strike as Vejtasa's temporary rear gunner. The next day, while flying in defense of the American task force, Vejtasa claimed to have shot down three Mitsubishi A6M Zeros , despite flying

Thach Weave - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-498: Was first assigned to Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5) aboard the aircraft carrier USS  Yorktown that same month, flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber. After the United States entered World War II , then Lieutenant (junior grade) Vejtasa attacked three Japanese "aircraft tenders or transports", scoring a direct hit on one of them "near Salamaua and Lae , New Guinea ", on 10 March 1942, for which he

1089-447: Was great enough, they would then repeat the exercise, again turning in towards each other, bringing the enemy plane into the hook's sights. A correctly executed Thach weave (assuming the bait was taken and followed) left little chance of escape to even the most maneuverable opponent. Thach called on Ensign Edward "Butch" O'Hare , who led the second section in Thach's division, to test the idea. Thach took off with three other Wildcats in

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