Availability of planes dictated actual make-up of overall formation on any mission. This formation served a dual purpose. It gave the gunners the best shooting view and

created the best flying conditions by reducing turbulence from the planes next ahead. The less turbulence the tighter the formation could fly. This permitted better overall defense from enemy fighters. The rear or fourth plane in each Squadron was referred to as "Tail End Charlie," or "Coffin Corner" because this was the most vulnerable spot in the formation and attacked first by the enemy. Pilots who could not or would not fly the real tight formation were assigned this undesirable spot. "Flying Coffin" was the nickname German fighter pilots gave the early models of the B-17 furnished to the British in 1941. These models were poorly protected and therefore easy prey.

Courtesy USAF Archives

The following is a simple diagram of the normal combat formation used by the Mighty Eighth Army Air Force, as it came to be known, operating out of England:

PART 4