[Barrett]

I severely doubt that the missing man formation originated in WW I, whether MvR was the object or not. In my experience, it has always been flown in the WW II "finger four" tactical formation, as if your right-hand fingertips were the four aircraft seen from above. The lead position is the second from the left, with No. 2 being the index/trigger finger. No. 3, leading the second element, is the ring finger with the pinkie being echeloned back on the far right. During the pass over the "target" No. 1 pulls up abruptly and out of formation, leaving the "missing" space between No. 2 and No. 3.