Who came up with that Cobra maneuver

I know that most of the people on this forum are at least somewhat familiar with dogfighting techniques of fighter pilots. But some may have thought that some sort of unique tactic was created in the movie Top Gun. You know, the one where the MiG is on Maverick’s tail and then he suddenly slows down and the MiG overshoots and Maverick is suddenly on his tail and get the kill.

I thought a real life similar experience that has been written down in a book would be enjoyable for some to read. It was written down in a book called Malta Spitfire and involves Britain’s most troublesome pilot in his own words….

“It was another trip on the Comines run, shaping up pretty much like the previous show, only we were the boys flying top cover this time. Everything was all serene until we were leaving the target, when a flock of Focke-Wulfs came down on us from above. Three of ‘em jumped my tail position, their favourite trick(and ours!), to cut me out from the herd and the bastards seemed to be coming at me from every corner of kingdom come. Tracers were putting on a regular fireworks display around the cockpit. I was whipped around in turn after turn, trying my damnedest to get out of harm’s way. One guy shot my hood off, just as I was going into a climbing flick roll. The going was getting extremely tough. Looked like almost anything might happen to Mrs. Beurling’s boy, Georgie, almost any second. I decided to get the hell out of there, if I could. Suddenly, as the three Jerries all came at me ay once from behind for the kill, I lowered my landing flaps and slowed the old Spitter down to a walk. The Huns all overshot me. By the time they’d turned to come back my flaps were rolled up again and I had pushed on the emergency boot, which gives you extra power for a short time. Young Beurling was heading for home, high-tailing!”