Three fighter aircraft vic

Can anyone give me information on the origin of the vic-3 formation? When was it developed and what was the genesis? When was the formation formally designated as the RAF standard fighting area tactical formation?

[Terry_Crisp]

Arthur G. Lee mentions practicing this formation in early 1918 when stationed in England. They got very good at flying lovely tight formations then had to abandon them as impractical when they returned to the front. The lesson had to be relearned by the RAF in the early days of WW II.
Hope this helps,
Terry

[Barrett]

Far as I know,the 3-plane vic lasted clear into mid-1943 before the Japanese Navy finally acknowledged the vast superiority of the 2-plane section & 4-plane division.