Li Mei has a king-size desk that is large enough to be used as a double bed. Of course, it's not about showing off, it's about being useful. This desk is filled with a variety of model airplanes. What B-17, B-24, P-38, Spitfire, BF109, FW190, BF110 and the like are all over the table. When Li Mei was fine, she fiddled with these things and studied tactics. Sometimes, when he was too tired after researching, Li Mei simply took a nap at the big table, which earned him the nickname "Tactical Maniac".

It's already midnight, but the "tactical maniacs" have not rested yet. He was working on a new tactic with his guests in his office: box formation.

The so-called box-shaped formation refers to a dense formation on a larger scale than the previous 4-aircraft formation/6-aircraft formation. It consisted of 12 or more bombers, lined up in the sky in the shape of a large box. In this way, no matter from which angle the enemy plane attacks, it will be attacked by the self-defense machine guns of several bombers at the same time, and when several or even dozens of such box formations are combined, even the best fighter pilots dare not say that they will be able to retreat when they attack them.

Historically, the box-shaped formation was made by a group of guys led by Li Mei, but now, the appearance of Ron has advanced the appearance of this formation by several months.

"Ah, it doesn't look like I'm wrong, as long as the Germans haven't resorted to air-dropped time bombs and air-launched large-caliber rockets, this formation is basically invulnerable in front of those ordinary fighters. At least, if I had been asked to take a squad of German fighters, I would have no choice at all. The guest yawned.

TMD, all the way from North America, hasn't had much rest, and it's really hard to meet every buddy whose eyes light up when he hears the new tactics.

"Lieutenant Colonel Ron, thank you so much for your help." Li Mei looked at her watch and smiled a little embarrassedly, "Oh, it's not early, it's half past two." I'm so sorry to come to me, I didn't arrange for you to have a good rest, and I still dragged you to sleep. Why don't I take you to the dorm? ”

At 7 a.m. the next morning, Ron woke up. However, he was not happily "sleeping until he woke up naturally", he was woken up by all kinds of noisy sounds on the airport.

Got out of bed, opened the curtains and looked out, the airport was already busy. One bomber after another left the hangar, some were doing pre-takeoff maintenance, some were refueling, and some had already begun to taxi to the main runway.

"Got a task? Why didn't you tell me beforehand. Ron thought as he hurriedly put on his military uniform, wiped his face indiscriminately, and went out.

Sitting on the Willis Jeep, who was assigned to him, he slipped to the side of the runway and saw Li Mei standing on the side of the runway and pointing fingers.

"Hey, Ron, you're awake too?" As soon as she saw Ron jump out of the jeep, Li Mei immediately yelled at him.

"Hehe, you're shaking the mountains here, if I don't wake up, I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a pig."

Ron walked over and stood with Li May.

"Are there any combat missions today?"

"No, there is only a mission to bomb the Germans tomorrow, and now it's just training." Li Mei suddenly asked, "Do you know what the training subject is?" ”

"How do I know that I didn't come from a heavy bomber?" Looking at the smile that couldn't be hidden in the corners of Li Mei's eyes, Ron suddenly moved in his heart, "It shouldn't be a box-shaped formation, right?" ”

"Haha, you guessed it. In fact, our original formation foundation is good, practice today, and tomorrow we can use this to surprise the Germans. Li Mei looked triumphant.

At 7 o'clock in the morning, such a drill can be carried out, that is, before that, Li Mei and his people have already eaten, held a tactical meeting, and arranged training tasks. Damn, when did this guy get up? He didn't sleep at all.

A B-17 stopped at the beginning of the main runway and was ready to take off. Li Mei waved to Ron,

"Since you're up, come up with me and have a look."

Just as she was about to board the ramp of the B-17, Li Mei suddenly seemed to remember something.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? But it doesn't matter, it's still too late. ”

He turned around and shouted to the driver, "Hurry up and get two field rations, and bring a set of aviation jackets." ”

I have to say that Li Mei's efficiency is indeed very high, but two minutes, before the fourth engine of the plane has started, the jeep drove back, bringing the two things Li Mei said.

The so-called field dry food, to put it more clearly, is compressed biscuits and canned luncheon meat. However, the air team has preferential treatment, and there are two more chocolates. And the airline jacket, that's a real goodie. This leather jacket is made of fine sheepskin with a long and dense wool color. The warmth effect is absolutely top-notch when worn on the body. You must know that the average flight altitude of the B-17 is more than 7,000 meters, and many times, especially when returning home after the bomb has been dropped, in order to avoid enemy aircraft, the flight altitude is even higher than 8,000 meters. In Europe, at such altitudes, whether in summer or winter, the temperature is always below freezing, and even cold to minus twenty or thirty degrees. Unlike passenger planes, the cabin of the B-17 is not sealed, whatever temperature is outside, what is the temperature in the cabin, without this thing, the last day, all ten people on the plane will become popsicles.

The plane began to glide down the runway, and then flew lightly and smoothly.

Before the plane climbed too high, Ron grabbed the water in the kettle and hurriedly ate a field ration. After a while, it will not be easy to eat, and everything will be frozen like ice.

Because the pilots of the 305 Bomber Brigade actually have a good foundation. It's really hard to get in a new formation. But is that all Li Mei's training is?

Gradually, the fleet climbed higher and higher, and soon reached an altitude of 7,000 meters. It was already cold in the cabin, and Ron wrapped his aviator jacket tightly while chatting with Li Mei in a manner that almost yelled at each other (very loudly):

"It's not that cold in the Pacific Ocean, it's tropical. I'm afraid it won't be so cold until 30,000 feet. ”

"It's okay here, but it's actually the heavy's position that's the coldest. Why don't you try it? ”

I came here to learn about the strategic bombing of Europe, and of course the position of the machine gunner should be experienced. Ron stood up, stomped his foot hard, and walked to the top machine gun tower closest to him.

"Hey, bro," Ron took two steps up the ladder and patted the Heavy on the leg (the inside was noisy due to the unsealed cabin, and even more so with the machine gun tower separated from the outside by a layer of glass.) The low whistling of the engine and the noise of the body rubbing against the air at high speed were mixed together, and no one could hear normal speech. In general, calls are made through headsets and microphones. But Ron was a supernumerary, so he wasn't equipped with it) shouted, "Come down, I'll take you up for a while." ”

Someone to take over, even if it's just a moment, the top machine gunner is still very happy. After figuring out what Ron meant, he immediately climbed down from the top machine gun tower and gave up his position to Ron.

Ron sat down in the Heavy position, fastened his seatbelt, put on the Heavy's large headset and goggles and began to perform his duties as a Heavy.

It's really colder here than in the cabin, and the cold wind blows through the various seams like a knife on the face, and if you don't bring goggles, I'm afraid you won't even be able to open your eyes. But there is also a place that cannot be compared with the cabin, where the field of view is wide, and from here you can see many B-17s near and far, flying in a tight box-shaped formation. Behind them, there was a long, snow-white trail. The track was glittered silver by the bright morning sun of England. It's like a silver ribbon. If you look at it from a distance, the confluence of the wake of these bombers must be like a river rushing forward in the sky, unstoppable.

One of the duties of the machine gunner is self-defense, and the other is vigilance. Especially the machine gunner, who is located in the top machine gun tower, after all, his position is the one with the best view. Just as Ron was busy admiring the view, he suddenly noticed some small black dots in front of him.

"Fighter spotted ahead!" Ron immediately raised the alarm and stared at the objects with wide eyes as he pointed his machine gun forward.

At this time, Li Mei's voice came from the headphones: "Ron, don't be nervous, it's our P-40, to imitate the enemy." ”

"Damn, I've already played simulated enemy forces here, General Arnold's idea shouldn't have come from Li Mei, right?" Ron thought silently.

This conjecture is true, but Li Mei initially carried out this kind of training mainly to get the pilots used to not dodging. The second is to take the opportunity to train the machine gunners.

But by the time Li Mei told Ron the truth, Ron was no longer nervous. Because he had already recognized that the planes were all P-40s. This is one of the planes that Ron is most familiar with. It was on this plane that he began his flying career. That kind of flying was recognizable to Ron from afar.

The planes passed through the box-shaped formation of the B-17, and then rushed over from other angles and again through the formation. The captain's shout came from the headset:

"Write down how many shots you shoot!"

After several rounds of simulated attacks, when it came to the simulated target area, with Li Mei's order, the B-17 began to change formation, and the bombers at the bottom of the box formation began to accelerate, flying a little in front of the bombers on the upper floors, and then began to simulate bomb dropping, and then the bombers on the upper floors also began to simulate bomb dropping. (This was done to avoid the threat of bombs dropped by the bombers on the upper planes to the bombers on the lower decks)

At the very moment when the box was opened, the group of P-40s rushed over again. However, the process of opening the box was very short, and in just two minutes, the B-17 was once again restored to box formation.

"This drill is good, go back and sum it up, and surprise the Germans tomorrow. All return! Li Mei's command came from the headset.

The B-17s still returned in box formation, while the P-40s gathered together in a large formation to accompany the B-17s. Frozen Ron, quickly ran down from the machine gun tower, although it was cold in the engine room, it was still much better than the machine gun tower. Li Mei smiled and handed Ron a large piece of chocolate.

"Eat some of this and it will warm up a lot."

Ron smiled and took it......

After the plane landed, Ron reported the number of shots he had fired to the captain and went to the cafeteria for lunch. After lunch, as soon as I walked out of the restaurant, I saw Li Mei walking here.

As soon as Li Mei saw Ron, she pounced and punched him in the chest affectionately,

"Ron, do you know how much our new formation's defense has improved?" Without waiting for Ron to react, he gave a direct answer, "The machine gunner's chances of firing at the enemy have nearly doubled!" Now...... However, the moment the box is opened, it is our weakness, and we will practice in the afternoon! ”