Malan helped the RAF move from the rigid three aircraft "vic" formation to the four aircraft "fingertip," thereafter evolving to the "
fluid four" formations seen for the next half century in the USAF.
British Empire fighter pilots moved from single aircraft to formation tactics; specifically, they invented the "finger four" formation, known to US airmen down through the next 60 years or so as "
fluid four." On 30 April 1916, Capt William Milne led the first finger-four flight, and a second Canadian, Lt C.
Fighter pilots today would recognize his formation with a division of four aircraft divided into two mutually supporting sections of two aircraft each--today called the "
fluid four." The result was that look out was improved.