 Johnson set about changing the wing 's tactical approach . He quickly forced the wing to abandon the line @-@ astern tactics for the finger @-@ four formation which offered much more safety in combat ; enabling multiple pilots to participate in scanning the skies for enemy aircraft so as to avoid an attack , and also being better able to spot and position their unit for a surprise attack upon the enemy . Johnson made another alteration to his units operations . He loathed ground @-@ attack missions which highly trained fighter pilots were forced to participate in . He abandoned ground attack missions whenever he could . During these weeks , Johnson 's wing escorted United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF ) bombers to targets in France . On a fighter sweep , Ramrod 49 , Johnson destroyed an Fw 190 for his eighth victory . Unteroffizier Hans <unk> from 6 Staffel baled out , but his parachute failed to open . 
