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{{Short description|Aerial combat rules}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2012}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2025}}
{{move to wikisource|date=August 2011}}
[[Adolph Malan|Adolph Gysbert Malan]] DSO & Bar DFC (24 March 1910 – 17 September 1963), better known as Sailor Malan, was a South African [[World War II]] [[fighter pilot]], who led No. 74 Squadron RAF during the height of the Battle of Britain.<ref>{{cite ODNB|first=John|last=Ray|title=Malan, Adolph Gysbert [Sailor Malan]|id=72030|date=23 September 2004}}</ref> Malan developed a set of simple rules for fighter pilots, which were eventually found throughout [[RAF Fighter Command]]:

== Rules ==
"TEN OF MY RULES FOR AIR FIGHTING"

# Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Fire short bursts of 1 to 2 seconds and only when your sights are definitely 'ON'.
# Whilst shooting think of nothing else, brace the whole of the body, have both hands on the stick, concentrate on your ring sight.
# Always keep a sharp lookout. "Keep your finger out!"
# Height gives You the initiative.
# Always turn and face the attack.
# Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best.
# Never fly straight and level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area.
# When diving to attack always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as top guard.
# INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAM WORK are the words that MEAN something in Air Fighting.
# Go in quickly – Punch hard – Get out!<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kaplan |first1=Philip |title=Fighter Aces of the RAF in the Battle of Britain |date=2008 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location=Havertown |isbn=9781844155873 |page=109 |chapter=3: Adolph 'Sailor' Malan}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Dicta Boelcke]], a First World War dictum on air combat, by German ace Oswald Boelcke
* [[Mick_Mannock#No._74_Squadron|Mannock's fifteen rules on air combat]], World War One

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Battle of Britain]]
[[Category:Rules]]
[[Category:Aerial warfare tactics]]

Ten Rules for Air Fighting - Revision history

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