Remember The Fallen With This Chilling “Grumman Cats” Missing Man Formation

Updated Jul 5, 2020 7:03 PM EDT

On this Memorial Day, we give thanks to all who have served and sacrificed, and especially those brave Americans who gave their life in defense of our nation. Although we debate the defense issues of the day here on The War Zone, one thing that is undebatable is the fact that freedom isn’t free, it has been paid for in lives cut short, dreams unrealized and incredible valor by far better people than I.

We also cannot forget our greatest allies, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with our forces to confront evil. Just like our heroes, many of their country’s finest were sent on missions for which they wouldn’t likely return. In an a new age that seems to be marked by decreasing international unity and wavering appreciation for alliances, it is worth remembering America’s best friends on the battlefield as well.

One way our air arms honor those who have passed is by performing the missing man formation. A fingertip arrangement that sees the third aircraft pull-up into a steep climb, ascending to the heavens while leaving a solemn empty spot in the formation from which they departed. It is an incredibly moving sight, and some have done it better than others.

One of these displays in particular was especially unique and downright fantastic. In 1996, at the NAS Oceana Air Show, legendary high-time Tomcat pilot Dale “Snort” Snodgrass flew the missing man in a Tomcat alongside three other legendary “Grumman Cats.” All piston powered aircraft, these included F8F Bearcat, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat. Not only does Snort stay in position with the comparatively slow-flying WWII fighters, but he does so with the Tomcat’s wings swept fully back. The climb out is just chilling.

Here’s another clip of the formation a 2:21, but you may want to watch the whole thing because it has Snodgrass’s whole two aircraft routine with the Tomcat and the Tigercat, it is truly an amazing thing to behold:

The missing man formation aerial salute dates back to the 1930s, with its origins emanating from Britain, and there have been a few variations over the decades, but the “finger four” formation, with a division of aircraft and the number three pilot pulling up into a steep climb over the target has become pretty much standard by now.

Dedicated funeral and memorial flyovers, which often include missing man formations, are especially important within the culture of military aviation and among aircrews who are tasked to fly them. There is a special connection that exists and a drive by military aviators to honor their fellow warriors. I have personally seen aircrews go to great lengths to execute these flyovers even in the most abhorrent of conditions—a testament to the esprit de corps of America’s flying forces.

Although fast jets certainly give one heck of a performance, other aircraft, including helicopters, execute missing man formations as well. And one place where the missing man formation occurs periodically is over Arlington National Cemetery .

The peace on this hallowed ground is interrupted from time-to-time with the thunder of roaring jets overhead—a thunderous cry stating one more of America’s cherished warriors is on their way to the heavens.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.

更新于美国东部时间2020年7月5日晚上7:03

值此阵亡将士纪念日之际，我们向所有服役和牺牲的人们致以崇高的敬意，尤其要感谢那些为保卫国家而献出生命的勇敢的美国人。虽然我们“战区”栏目会讨论当今的国防问题，但有一点毋庸置疑：自由并非免费，它是由无数英年早逝的生命、未竟的梦想以及远比我优秀的人们所展现的非凡勇气换来的。

我们也不能忘记我们最伟大的盟友，他们与我们并肩作战，共同对抗邪恶势力。就像我们的英雄一样，他们国家的许多精英也被派往执行那些他们很可能无法返回的任务。在这个国际团结日渐式微、对联盟的重视程度似乎也在下降的新时代，我们更应该铭记美国在战场上最忠实的盟友。

我们的空军部队缅怀阵亡将士的一种方式是进行“失踪者队形”表演。这种队形由三架飞机组成，第三架飞机拉升至高空，直冲云霄，在它起飞的队形中留下一个庄严肃穆的空缺。这是一个令人无比动容的景象，有些飞机的表演比其他飞机更加精彩。

其中一场表演尤其独特，堪称精彩绝伦。1996年，在奥希纳海军航空站航展上，传奇的“雄猫”战斗机飞行员戴尔·“斯诺特”·斯诺德格拉斯驾驶着一架“雄猫”战斗机，与另外三架传奇的“格鲁曼猫”战斗机一同飞行，其中一架是F8F“熊猫”、F6F“地狱猫”和F7F“虎猫”。斯诺特不仅能与这些飞行速度相对缓慢的二战战斗机保持同步，而且还让“雄猫”的机翼完全后掠。爬升过程令人叹为观止。

这是编队飞行的另一个片段，时长 2 分 21 秒，但你可能想看完整版，因为它包含了斯诺德格拉斯驾驶“雄猫”和“虎猫”两架飞机的完整飞行表演，这真是令人叹为观止：

失踪者编队空中致敬仪式可以追溯到 20 世纪 30 年代，起源于英国。几十年来，虽然有一些变化，但“四指”编队（飞机分成几个部分，3 号飞行员拉起飞机在目标上空进行陡峭爬升）现在几乎已成为标准做法。

专门用于葬礼和纪念飞行的飞行表演，通常包括“失踪人员编队飞行”，在军事航空文化以及负责执行这些飞行任务的机组人员中具有特殊的意义。这其中蕴含着一种特殊的情感，也体现了军用飞行员缅怀战友的强烈愿望。我曾亲眼目睹机组人员即使在最恶劣的条件下也竭尽全力执行这些飞行表演——这充分展现了美国空军的团结精神。

虽然高速喷气式飞机的确能带来惊人的飞行表演，但其他飞机，包括直升机，也会进行“失踪者编队”飞行。而“失踪者编队”飞行表演的地点之一，就是阿灵顿国家公墓上空。

这片神圣土地上的宁静不时被头顶喷气式飞机的轰鸣声打破——一声雷鸣般的呐喊宣告着又一位美国珍爱的战士即将升入天堂。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

评论加载失败，请刷新页面。