Notes from HARE (Pete Zaitcev):
Note 1: This memo was received in 1st NASTY communication. Cage left the
 squad since that what I hope allows me to publish the memo.
Note 2: I changed the layout a little bit.

Date: 1998 12 11
From: Cage (Jim Cook, k7djr)

Bros 

If you would like to see the graphics let me know and I will send 
them to you. Here are some basic tactics that I use in combat.  
These both work and have saved my bacon on more then one 
occasion. 

1)  The Loop 

Biggest problem most people get into in a furball is the loop of 
death type.  The reason I call it the loop of death is because 
the last one to initiate the loop dies.  As the illustration 
in LOOP.BMP shows the first one who starts the loop can extend it 
to the point where he is at a higher altitude then his opponent. 
This forces one of two things.  First you try to climb up to him 
and get slow and stall then die or you dive and he gets on your 
tail.  Even if you go into another loop he will be able to cut 
inside your loop and again you die.  The best way I have found to 
counter this problem is to do a modified version of the split-s. 
I say modified because it is actually a inverted loop.  What 
happens when you do this is create a complete circle taking the 
advantage away from your opponent.  While he is loosing his E 
climbing into the loop, you are maintaining your E while going 
inverted.  As you start into your climb your opponent will just 
be coming out of his top arc.  Because of this he will be hanging 
there going slow and making him an easy target.  Mean while you 
will still have all your E and can climb to him an make a good 
shot.  Even if you don't kill him you will have forced him into a 
dive to try and disengage from you.  When he does this you'll 
have completed you loop and be right on his six.  Nothing short 
of out running you will save him because now you have the 
advantage. 

2) The Higher Flying Enemy 

This is the most biggest problem people have in dealing with a 
much higher opponent.  Every thing I have ever read on the 
subject says to go into a slight dive to gain E then a 
2500 yards pull up into him and make a head on pass to equal out 
your energy state.  I am here to tell you that if you try this 
not only will you end up stalling but you will give your 
opponent the upper hand very quickly.  In HiTactics.BMP I show 
the best way I have been able to come up with that works 99.9% of 
the time.  Timing is of the essence here and if you start the 
maneuvers to soon or to late you'll lose all your advantage.  The 
two ways to deal with a high flying opponent is to either fly 
towards him or away from him.  You have to keep a close eye on 
him to make sure of what he is up to.  But always keep you nose 
or tail to him.

If you fly towards him watch for when he starts 
his dive on you.  Once this happens go into a shallow dive (1000 
FPM) to pick up energy.  When he gets to 1500 yards pull up and 
do a loop.  As you dive down it causes him to dive steeper to 
stay on target and by the time he's at 1500 yards his speed will 
be to great to react to your loop.  
He will just blow by you and when you come out of the loop you 
will be on his tail.  If he continues the dive then you have him 
but if he climbs back up for altitude start the maneuver over 
again.  Eventually he will screw up and you will have him.

If you are flying way from the bog fly straight and level and make a 
good target for him.  When he dives on you wait again till he is 
1500 yards behind you then break left or right.  Follow the 
break up with a spiral split-s and if done right you'll be right 
on his tail again.  I have found that most pilots that blow by 
you keep into the dive to gain speed for an escape but if you 
have timed it right you'll have enough energy to cut inside him 
when he finally goes vertical.  When that happens you'll catch 
him slow in the top of his arc.  I can't tell you how many F4F's 
and F6F's I have kill in this manner because I lost count LOL.  
If nothing else they may keep you alive long enough for help to 
get to you. 

The last word of advice is when a bog is on your tail change 
direction and altitude constantly.  Keep from becoming 
predictable and you just may live to tell the story.  While 
flying a spit in big pac one night I was forced into a 5 on 1 
furball with a P-38, a Spit, and 3 Oscars.  I dove on the 38 and 
managed to shoot him down but lost allot of E in the 
process.  By changing my altitude and direction I managed to get 
3 of the 4 bogs below me.  I dove in to the 3 and managed to hit 
the Spit pretty hard.  I continued my dive to gain speed and went 
down to the deck.  The Spit which was the only plane that could 
of caught me was smoking and could not over take me.  I made it 
back to base and lived to tell the story.  Well now that I have 
written a book I will let you guys get that coffee and wake up.  
Take care bros and best in life to you and your families. 

Cage