Keith Willshaw wrote:

"WalterM140" wrote in message
...
Once air superiority was available the RAF flew their
daylight missions in loose gaggles of 2-4 aircraft staggered
in height to minimise flak damage.



That might have been influenced by the fact that no other aircraft type
could
fly in the tight formations used by the B-17.


It has more to do with the doctrine of the self defensing bomber
that was adopted by the USAAF. You'll find that B-24's
also flew in such formations.

I've heard that B-26s could also fly in very tight formations, but I
shouldn't
think as at high an altitude as the B-17.

B-17's could maintain formation at heights almost twice as high as the
altitude
at which Bomber Command usually operated, either by day or by night.


True but irrelevant since bomber command didnt fly defensive
formations by day after 1941.

I believe they did from 1944 on, but it was a somewhat looser formation than
the US flew. The RAF apparently preferred to allow a little more room for
minor evasive action.

Guy