Editing Missing man formation (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Missing man formation diagram.svg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|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.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://fray.slate.com/id/2131916/ |title= What's the "Missing Man" Formation? |first= Daniel |last= Engber |date= December 14, 2005 |work= [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date= 2011-09-12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927010924/http://fray.slate.com/id/2131916/ |archive-date= September 27, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

In an older variant, the formation is flown with the second element leader position conspicuously empty.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-06-10 |title=Missing Man Flyover honoring San Antonio WWII Veteran happens tonight |url=https://www.ktsa.com/missing-man-flyover-honoring-san-antonio-wwii-veteran-happens-tonight/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=KTSA |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zielinski |first=Todd |date=2012-10-12 |title='Missing Man' symbol of loss |url=https://www.luke.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/360108/missing-man-symbol-of-loss/https://www.luke.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/360108/missing-man-symbol-of-loss/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Luke Air Force Base |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>