 Johnson flew various operations over France including the Rhubarb ground attack missions which Johnson hated — he considered it a waste of pilots . Several successful fighter pilots had been lost this way . Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock and Wing Commander Paddy Finucane were killed on Rhubarb operations in August 1941 and July 1942 respectively . Squadron leader Robert Stanford Tuck would be captured carrying out a similar operation in January 1942 . During this time , Dundas and other pilots also expressed dissatisfaction with the formation tactics being used in the wing . After a long conversation into the early hours , Bader accepted the suggestions by his senior pilots and agreed to the use of more flexible tactics to lessen the chances of being taken by surprise , or " bounced " . The tactical changes involved operating overlapping line abreast formations similar to the German Finger @-@ four formation . The tactics were used thereafter by RAF pilots in the Wing . 
