Are there any unwritten rules of engagement regarding dogfights?
In combat there is one rule: Win. A late friend of mine, a World War I ace, was fond of saying, “If you find yourself in a fair fight, it means you ‘fouled’ up.” He didn’t say “fouled.” Today we have rules of engagement governing military behavior and ethics in almost every conceivable situation. There was nothing similar for aviation in World War II other than international rules about bombing cities. Each pilot was largely on his own; some would gladly kill a defeated opponent hanging in a parachute or running on the ground. Others would wave or salute. Luck of the draw. Is aerial combat as practiced by Southerland and Sakai really a lost art? It’s not so much a lost art as a changed game. Pilots still train for dogfights, but with the advent of the air-to-air missile, modern combat bears little resemblance to that of Sakai and Southerland. With much higher speeds and far greater engagement distances, today’s fighter pilots just don’t see the enemy as before. Also, recall that air co
