I have once been told that pilots do seperate themselve from the formation when they, for example, want to relieve themselve. However this would be unfortunate timing during a refuelling. On the other maybe not, with an extra pair of eyes in the sky. An if he was allready done with the refuelling? Or maybe it was something else!
Nice shots! I caught a few of that flyover as well ... though not as much contrail in mine
At one point, each plane had a very clear contrail forming into one massive contrail. Very impressive, though by the time I was able to start shooting they had passed in to warmer air.