With the failure of the strikes launched by the defenders at Midway, Admiral Nagumo was faced with a quandary. Would he order a second strike against the atoll, as recommended by the strike leader who reported significant damage but considered that a second strike would be necessary to knock out the defenses, or would he hold his aircraft in readiness for an attack against the American Navy? The fact that the submarines had reported no deployment from Hawaii gave cause for optimism among the staff that Operation MI was proceeding according to plan. Yet Nagumo was nagged by the worry that an enemy who had shown himself as determined as had the men who attacked the fleet regardless might yet have another surprise in store.
So for us non-pilots, does the 'parade ground' formation subject planes in the rear to be in 'dirty' air, with more turbulence? I can imagine this required more throttle adjustments for those further back. I can see some advantages - pilots can more readily communicate to each other with hand signals while under radio silence. Perhaps also if attacked by fighters, the rear seat gunners can give each other better covering fire if they are closer together.
It makes them use their throttles excessively, maneuvering to stay in formation, which uses up gas - somebody in the back of a "parade ground formation" is probably using gas at least 50% faster than the guy leading the formation. Think about a gaggle of people running, and how much extra effort the ones in the rear expend.
So for us non-pilots, does the 'parade ground' formation subject planes in the rear to be in 'dirty' air, with more turbulence? I can imagine this required more throttle adjustments for those further back. I can see some advantages - pilots can more readily communicate to each other with hand signals while under radio silence. Perhaps also if attacked by fighters, the rear seat gunners can give each other better covering fire if they are closer together.
It makes them use their throttles excessively, maneuvering to stay in formation, which uses up gas - somebody in the back of a "parade ground formation" is probably using gas at least 50% faster than the guy leading the formation. Think about a gaggle of people running, and how much extra effort the ones in the rear expend.