On July 16, 1940, Hitler issued Directive No. 16 to prepare for an attack on Britain, also known as the "Sea Lion Plan". Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

The "Sea Lion Plan" provided for the start of an air offensive against Britain around August 5, and then a landing date would be decided based on the results of the air offensive. Therefore, the key to the success or failure of the "Sea Lion Project" will depend on the outcome of the air campaign, and Hitler pinned all his hopes on the Air Force Commander Goering.

Goering swore that Hitler assured him that his air force "would be able to defeat Britain in just four days, as it had done against Poland." But both the megalomaniacal Goering and Hitler ignored Britain's enormous war potential.

On July 16, 1940, Hitler issued an order for the "Sea Lion Plan" to land in Britain, and the Luftwaffe targeted the convoy in the English Channel and carried out harassing attacks on British ports on the south coast of Britain, with the aim of luring British fighters to annihilate them. But the British Air Force was not fooled, and each time they used their radar advantage to form a local advantage by fighting more and less, and this tactic also damaged the German morale, and in just one month the Luftwaffe lost 296 aircraft, while the British only lost 148.

Enraged, Goering immediately intensified his attacks on the British, and from August onwards, the Luftwaffe began to bomb British airfields, radar warfare, aircraft factories, and supply facilities, and sought a decisive aerial battle with British aircraft. The Luftwaffe flew nearly 1,000 sorties every day, seriously damaging five military airfields and six radar stations in southern Britain, and almost destroying the entire communications system in the south

In the face of the overwhelming number of German planes, Churchill was so anxious that his lips were foaming, and he was anxious to look for reinforcements all over the world, and the first thing he thought of was Britain's big cousin, the United States. However, because isolationism was prevalent at this time, the United States could not give too much help to the British, and at best it could only support some aircraft, but now Britain's biggest problem is the lack of pilots, especially those with actual combat experience. When Churchill asked Roosevelt for help, Roosevelt could only helplessly support some supporters, but it was still a drop in the bucket.

"Please tell me honestly if the Royal Air Force of the British Empire can hold out." In the basement of 10 Downing Street, Churchill was asking his Air Force commander, Lieutenant General Dowding, earnestly.

At this time, Churchill's face was still full of stubbornness, and Dowding, who was wearing a blue-gray military uniform and silver hair standing in front of him, looked tired, and saw him say bitterly: "Your Excellency, the Germans are now bombing us with a thousand sorties a day, and our number of planes has been reduced to less than six hundred. Our lads are exhausted, we lack planes, we lack pilots, we lack everything we can fly, and if we don't get help as soon as possible, the Royal Air Force of the British Empire, which we are so proud of, will soon shed its last drop of blood. ”

Looking at Dowding's tired face, Churchill took two steps forward and patted him on the shoulder and comforted: "Don't worry, President Roosevelt has promised me to send us a batch of support as soon as possible, the planes will be there, the pilots will also be there, at most half a month, the supplies will arrive." ”

"I hope so!" Dowding was not confused by Churchill's pie, but said in a straight tone: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, I can only say that if there is no strong support, our Royal Air Force will lose most of its combat effectiveness in half a month, and I am by no means alarmist. ”

"Okay, I got it." In the face of this upright and stubborn subordinate, Churchill had no choice but to comfort him as much as possible.

Just as Dowding was about to take his leave, there was a knock at the door, and soon the British Foreign Minister George trotted in, with a sleepwalking look on his face, and shouted: "Your Excellency, the United States Government has just sent a telegram that in three days a group of planes and pilots will arrive in England, and they will help us to defend ourselves against the attack of Nazi Germany." ”

"What!"

As soon as George's words fell, Churchill immediately stood up, and the pipe in his mouth almost fell to the ground, only to see his eyes widen in almost disbelief, "George, you say it again!" ”

George repeated aloud: "We have reinforcements, a full hundred and twenty pilots and the same number of planes, and in three days we will arrive in the port of Liverpool, and they will be with us against the Germans!" ”

"This ...... How is this possible? Churchill still couldn't believe it, "Just yesterday President Roosevelt told me that I could only send a few sporadic volunteers, why are so many people suddenly coming here today?" ”

At this time, George said with some embarrassment: "Your Excellency, our reinforcements are not Americans, but from the Huaxia Air Force!" ”

"Huaxia Air Force?" Dao Ding on the side was also stunned, he frowned and said: "Huaxia is even suffering from Japanese aggression in its own country, how can there be a surplus air force to support us, George, are you joking?" ”

"No...... It's true! George was also anxious, "Your Excellency Prime Minister, General Dowding, that's what the telegram says, look! With that, he took out a telegram from his pocket and handed it to Churchill.

Churchill snatched the telegram and read it three times by two, the expression on his face became indescribably strange, and he sighed for a long time and said: "It's them, it's the air force of the Third Army in China, they are finally here!" ”

Three days later, on the evening of August 10, a convoy of more than 30 transport ships escorted by more than 10 destroyers sailed into the port of Liverpool.

Looking at these soldiers, many dock workers were taken aback, and one of the workers shouted with wide eyes: "God, how can the Germans be here?" Damn, I'm going to kill them! With that, the impulsive worker was about to rush over.

"Stupid, keep your eyes open and see, they're yellow! And the badges on their hats, which are different from the Germans! Someone next to him quickly grabbed the impulsive companion.

These people who had just disembarked were the Third Army, which had come to Britain from far away China, to aid the British Air Force. (To be continued.) )