Although the Allied operation was most forcefully coordinated by the Führer, Cherbourg was still a troublesome target for the American military. The Germans had a large number of fortifications near Cherbourg, and the artillery in these fortifications could be used both at sea and land. But none of this is a big deal. Because, in the hands of the Americans, there is now a large killer fuel air bomb specially designed to deal with fortifications. Although the Americans could give the Germans a little more time, the Germans, who had already understood the principle of such bombs, were most likely able to change these fortifications into special airtight fortifications capable of fighting it. But now, no matter how you look at it, the Germans do not have time for such a task. What really makes the US military scratch their heads is that they don't know how far the Germans will destroy Cherbourg.

"If I were German, I would have turned Cherbourg into ruins." General Eisenhower spoke of this at a military conference, "I will blow up all the docks, all the trestles, and all the waterways with mines, and tear down all the houses in Cherbourg, and fill all the garbage in the waterways." We're afraid we won't be able to use the port for months. ”

Subsequent aerial reconnaissance also confirmed that Eisenhower's concerns were not unfounded

"Ron, come and see." Eisenhower said to Ron.

Ron walked over and saw a lot of pictures spread out on Eisenhower's desk.

"These are all pictures of the port of Cherbourg?" Ron asked?

"Yes." Eisenhower replied, "Yesterday's picture over there, today's picture here, you see, the Germans are so fast at destruction!" ”

Ron picked up the photos and looked at them, and in these photos, you can easily see the difference between the photos taken in the two days. Some of the tall gantry cranes that still exist in yesterday's photos have completely disappeared in today's photos, and some of them have been broken in the dock, and the remaining half are still standing there. In addition, there are traces of explosions in many places on those dry docks.

"They're destroying it very quickly." Ron sighed.

"That's it, if we go on like this, when we reach Cherbourg, Cherbourg is afraid that there will be nothing left." Eisenhower exclaimed, "Ron, do you think we can take Cherbourg with a paratrooper force?" ”

However, before Ron could answer, Eisenhower laughed to himself.

"It can't be. Cherbourg had four whole regiments of German troops there, and the city airborne was simply suicidal. But it's ...... to watch them destruct like this," Eisenhower said, shaking his head, "Ron, it's mainly another matter to come to you this time. We received information that the Germans urgently transferred the SS 17th Panzer Division from Brittany to reinforce the defenders of Cherbourg. I think they may be intending to attack us from the flanks with detachments in order to slow down our march towards Cherbourg. Obviously, for every day we spend on the road now, we will spend another week in the future when we clean up the harbor. In order to contain the attacks of the German Panzer Divisions, I need more from your wing. Now that the German assault on Sword Beach has been repulsed, I think they have lost the possibility of taking the beach, so your wing no longer has to carry out road-blocking and anti-tank missions near Caen. I hope that you will quickly shift the direction of your wing's operations to the area of Saint-Sauvo to help us repel the enemy's armored forces and break through the enemy's defenses. What do you think about this plan? ”

Ron walked over to the wall, where a huge map hung there. Ron looked at the map carefully, then turned around and said to General Eisenhower: "General, you know that in ground battles, the land forces demand a lot of our reaction time. To meet this requirement, we need to ensure that there are cruising aircraft with bombs in the sky at least most of the day. It's not far from Pusmouth to St Sauvo, but it still takes a while. Moreover, the frequency of sorties of pilots in some time ago was very high. This causes them to be extremely tired. I don't think it's going to be a good time for them to keep their attendance so high for so long. And in order to maintain the pressure on the Germans while attendance is declining, I think it would be best to have an airfield to move forward. ”

General Eisenhower also walked to the map, he looked at the map, and asked, "Ron, where do you think this forward airfield should be placed?" ”

"Preferably in an area within 100 kilometers of the Saint-Sauvo line." Ron said. This forward airfield does not need to be too big, it only needs a dirt runway that can take off and land attack aircraft, as well as some supporting refueling, bomb hanging, and transportation management facilities, which can support a squadron of attack aircraft.

"Very well," Eisenhower said, "I will discuss your proposal with the people in the relevant departments." ”

……

That afternoon, Ron was again informed by Ike that there would be a meeting at three o'clock about the advance airport, and he had to be on time.

In the afternoon, Ron showed up at the venue on time. Eisenhower was not present at this meeting, and he was so busy that he couldn't stop spinning like a top. The meeting was presided over by a lieutenant colonel named Mitterrand, one of Ike's staff. In addition to Ron, the rest of the attendees were more engineering and technical personnel.

"General, we have conducted an investigation in the area you want, and there are not many places suitable for building an advanced airfield that can support the operation of a squadron. Topographically, there are probably only four places like this. Two of these were within the shève range of the coastal guns of the German coastal forces. The remaining two do not have this problem. It's just that it still takes some time to build such an airport, especially now that the capacity is limited. It is difficult for us to get enough supplies to build such an airport. We estimate that it will take about 9 to 11 days to complete such an airport. ”

"No," Ron said immediately, "I can't wait so long on the battlefield!" Are there any other options? ”

"There are other options as well. But...... Look, General, from here," a major explained, pointing to the map, "and all the way to here, the road has a straight road here that is nearly a mile long. As long as we slightly strengthen the weak points of this road, we should be able to meet the take-off and landing of attack aircraft. In fact, if you don't take into account the foundation, the C47 can take off and land here. ”

"And what about the supporting facilities?" Ron asked. He knows that an airport is not as simple as a runway.

"Refueling can be done by tankers for the time being, and some other facilities can also be used temporarily and then built slowly. If we use this stretch of road, it will only take us about 3 days to convert it into an airport. ”

"The other troops won't need to use this road, will they?" Ron asked again. Ron had heard Pokryshkin talk about the current road into the airport. In fact, the Soviets often did just that. However, Pokryshkin also mentioned that once again, as soon as their plane was parked on a stretch of road, they encountered a group of friendly tanks racing tanks, and then, a runaway tank crashed into at least 4 fighters. Ron didn't want this kind of tank and attack aircraft to rush to his own airfield.

"No, General, there is still a road from here to here, and although the road is in poor condition, it is not impossible to walk. Other troops can go that way. ”

……

Ron himself flew a P/A38 attack aircraft over France. Just last night, Ike got the news that the "forward airfield" mentioned in the last meeting was almost complete and could receive planes. So Ron personally piloted the attack plane, and flew towards the "airfield" with half a squadron of 12 P/A38s.

Above Ron's head, Pointon escorted Ron with 12 P81 fighters.

"Hey. Ron, believe it or not, I can shoot you down in 45 seconds. Boynton said to Ron over the radio. The so-called 45 seconds is an allusion to Ron when he first established the "Reverse Cross" force, when Ron declared that any student who could hold out in an air battle with him for 45 seconds without being shot down would lose $100 to his opponent. As a result, until leaving the "reverse cross", no student was able to take the money. Ron, on the other hand, earned the nickname "45 Seconds" at the time.

"Hehe, aren't you bullying this attack plane? Are you so afraid of me that you dare to use only fighter jets against my attack aircraft? Ron shot back unceremoniously.

In the midst of such laughter, a straight road appeared in front of them. At the same time, three green flares rose from the ground in front of them. The "Forward Airport" is right in front of you.

Ron lowered his altitude and began circling around the runway. Take this opportunity to make some preliminary observations about this airport. There are a number of prefabricated houses next to the runway, and some are still under construction. The airport tower had already been built, but from a distance, it looked like it had been made of steel bars and some plates.

Ron lowered his altitude and began to fly towards the runway.

The runway was narrow, but it was flat, and Ron's rear wheels landed on the runway first, jumped slightly, and then began to taxi down the runway honestly, and then the nose part of the nose part of the front wheel also fell to the ground. In the end, the plane successfully stopped at the end of the runway.

"No. 1, it landed so beautifully!" From Ron's ears, the voice of the tower was heard.