Missing man formation

Last updated
Missing man formation
Missing Man Flyover formation.jpg
Pilots assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) perform a Missing Man Flyover formation, above USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), during a wreath-laying ceremony held on the flight deck in memory of a service member killed during a training accident.
Statusactive
GenreMemorial service salute
Activityairshows, sporting events

The missing man formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flypast of aircraft at a funeral or memorial event, typically in memory of a fallen pilot, a well-known military service member or veteran, or a well-known political figure. [1] [2] [3] The planes fly in a formation with a space where one plane should be, symbolizing the person's absence. Though similar formations have occurred as early as World War I, the first flypast in the modern formation of four planes is believed to have occurred in 1931 at the funeral for Charles W. "Speed" Holman. [4]

Contents

Missing man formations are also used in motorsport in memory of a recently deceased driver and in American football in memory of a recently deceased player. [5] [6]

Description

Missing man formation based on finger-four; Flight leader (#1), lead's wingman (#2), and second element lead's wingman (#4) are present, but second element lead (#3) has departed or is not present. Missing man formation diagram.svg
Missing man formation based on finger-four; Flight leader (#1), lead's wingman (#2), and second element lead's wingman (#4) are present, but second element lead (#3) has departed or is not present.

Several variants of the formation are seen. The formation most commonly used in the United States is based on the "finger-four" aircraft combat formation composed of two pairs of aircraft. [7] The aircraft fly in a V-shape with the flight leader at the point and their wingman on their left. The second element leader and his wingman fly on the right. [4] The formation flies over the ceremony low enough to be clearly seen and the second element leader abruptly pulls up out of the formation while the rest of the formation continues in level flight until all aircraft are out of sight. [4]

In an older variant, the formation is flown with the second element leader position conspicuously empty. [4] In another variation, the flight approaches from the south, preferably near sundown, and one of the aircraft will suddenly split off to the west, flying into the sunset. [8] In all cases, the aircraft performing the pull-up, split off, or missing from the formation is honoring the person (or persons) who has died, and is representing their departure. [9]

In memorials

Permanent memorial sculptures depicting the missing man aerial formation exist at Randolph Air Force Base (Missing Man Monument, 1977, Mark Pritchett) in San Antonio, Texas, [10] [11] Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (Missing Man Memorial, 1995) in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Valor Park (Missing Man Formation, 2000) near the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. [12] [13]

Outside the United States, a missing man memorial was dedicated at the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum ( Missing man salute  [ nl ], 2004, Leendert Verboom) near Soesterberg Air Base to commemorate the 21 June 1944 crash of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Connie" following a bombing raid in Germany; [14] [15] [16] it was moved to the CRASH Luchtoorlog- en Verzetsmuseum '40-'45  [ nl ] museum near Rijsenhout in 2014. [17] [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker</span> US military aerial refueling and transport aircraft

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave the aircraft the internal designation of Model 717. The KC-135 was the United States Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratofreighter. The KC-135 was initially tasked with refueling strategic bombers, but it was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hickam Air Force Base</span> United States Air Force base at Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii, USA

Hickam Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The installation merged in 2010 with Naval Station Pearl Harbor to become part of the newly formed Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, on the island of Oʻahu in the State of Hawaiʻi. The base neighbors Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and currently shares runways with the airport for its activities and operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Bong</span> United States Army Air Forces Medal of Honor recipient (1920–1945)

Richard "Dick" Ira Bong was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended. Bong was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1986 and has several commemorative monuments named in his honor around the world, including an airport, two bridges, a theater, a veterans historical center, a recreation area, a neighborhood terrace, and several avenues and streets, including the street leading to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Thunderbirds</span> Air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force

The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force (USAF). The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created 70 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convair F-102 Delta Dagger</span> Cold War interceptor of the US Air Force

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair. A member of the Century Series, the F-102 was the first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter operated by the United States Air Force (USAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northrop T-38 Talon</span> Military advanced trainer aircraft by Northrop

The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation. It was the world's first supersonic trainer as well as the most produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lackland Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near San Antonio, Texas, part of Air Education and Training Command

Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Bexar County, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and an enclave of the city of San Antonio. It is the only site for USAF and United States Space Force enlisted Basic Military Training (BMT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nineteenth Air Force</span> Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for flying training

The Nineteenth Air Force is an active Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force. During the Cold War it was a component of Tactical Air Command, with a mission of command and control over deployed USAF forces in support of United States foreign policy initiatives. The command was reactivated in 1993 under Air Education and Training Command with a mission of conducting AETC's flying training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas C-133 Cargomaster</span> US heavy lift four engine turboprop military aircraft, 1956

The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster is an American large turboprop cargo aircraft built between 1956 and 1961 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for use with the United States Air Force. The C-133 was the USAF's only production turboprop-powered strategic airlifter, entering service shortly after the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which is designated a tactical airlifter. It provided airlift services in a wide range of applications, being replaced by the C-5 Galaxy in the early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Education and Training Command</span> Major command of the United States Air Force responsible for military training and education

Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph C. McConnell</span> American Fighter Pilot

Joseph Christopher McConnell Jr. was a United States Air Force fighter pilot who was the top American flying ace during the Korean War. A native of Dover, New Hampshire, Captain McConnell was credited with shooting down 16 MiG-15s while flying North American F-86 Sabres. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in aerial combat. McConnell was the first American triple jet-on-jet fighter ace and is still the top-scoring American jet ace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter</span> 1951–1978 American strategic tanker aircraft

The Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter is a four-engined, piston-powered United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It replaced the KB-29 and was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo K. Thorsness</span> US Air Force officer and Medal of Honor recipient

Leo Keith Thorsness was a colonel in the United States Air Force who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the medal for an air engagement on April 19, 1967. He was shot down two weeks later and spent almost six years in captivity in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. After his military service, Thorsness served one term in the Washington State Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic F-84F Thunderstreak</span> 1950 fighter-bomber aircraft

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soesterberg Air Base</span> Airport in Soesterberg, Netherlands

Soesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) military air base located in Soesterberg, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east-northeast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui</span> Pakistani War Hero (1935-1965)

Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui was a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force who is known for his gallant actions in two of the aerial dogfights during Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and is a recipient of both the Hilal-e-Jurat and the Sitara-e-Jurat military awards from the Government of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing EC-135</span> Command and control aircraft by Boeing

The Boeing EC-135 is a retired family of command and control aircraft derived from the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter. During the Cold War, the EC-135 was best known for being modified to perform the Looking Glass mission where one EC-135 was always airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command post for the Strategic Air Command in the event of nuclear war. Various other EC-135 aircraft sat on airborne and ground alert throughout the Cold War, with the last EC-135C being retired in 1998. The EC-135N variant served as the tracking aircraft for the Apollo program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finger-four</span> Fighter aircraft flight formation

The finger-four formation is a flight formation used by fighter aircraft. It consists of four aircraft, and four of these formations can be combined into a squadron formation.

References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Missing man formations at Wikimedia Commons

  1. ↑ Edwards, Bob (May 28, 2001). "Missing Man Formation" (link to audio). NPR . Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  2. ↑ "Histories: The Missing Man Formation". All POW-MIA. Archived from the original on 21 November 2000. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "The History of The Missing Man Formation". Old Glory Traditions. Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ford, Daniel (May 2001). "High Honor". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  5. ↑ Riggs, D. Randy (2018-06-21). "F5000 Drivers Honor Racer Jeff Green With Missing Man Formation". Vintage Motorsport. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  6. ↑ Stubbs, Roman (September 1, 2018). "Maryland football started its season with a missing-man formation". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ Engber, Daniel (December 14, 2005). "What's the "Missing Man" Formation?". Slate . Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  8. ↑ "Missing Man Flyover honoring San Antonio WWII Veteran happens tonight". KTSA. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  9. ↑ Zielinski, Todd (2012-10-12). "'Missing Man' symbol of loss". Luke Air Force Base. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Missing Man Monument, Randolph AFB, Texas | Local ID: 342-USAF-50384". National Archives, Record Group 342: Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. March 4, 1977. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Missing Man Monument". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "Valor Park". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "Civic Memorials Development Guide" (PDF). Tecstone Granite USA. 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  14. ↑ Shot down descriptionfor Consolidated B-24H-1-CF Liberator at the Aviation Safety Network . Retrieved on 6 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Missing Man Salute Memorial". Traces of War. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Soesterberg, 'Missing Man Salute'". Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Consul Unveils Relocated Missing Man Salute Monument to U.S. Airmen" (Press release). Consulate General of the United States, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. September 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Missing Man Salute monument" (in Dutch). CRASH Luchtoorlog- en Verzetsmuseum '40-'45. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.