The 8th Air Force of the U.S. Army has 41 bomber groups and 7 fighter groups, and 3 of them are P-38 "Lightning" fighter groups; As well as 2 P-40, and 2 P-47 fighter brigades. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

For the 8th Air Force, which accounts for the majority of bombers, there are only about 10 new P-51 Mustang fighters and B-47 "Thunder" fighters.

So at this moment, Eisenhower was only able to send 8, plus a large group of P-38 "Lightning" fighters, to Karl? Andrew? Spatz's bombing group of the two escorted the escort.

At this time, there were about 398 B-17 bombers, which took off one after another, and those British bomber groups of "Lanchester", "Halifax", "Stirling", and "Wellington" also took off one after another.

As soon as they reached the air, they formed a line of defenses and flew violently in the direction of Pantelleria and Sicily.

Because they planned to divide their forces into two routes, and at the same time attack the occupied areas of the German and Italian armies there, as well as various military buildings.

I thought that the 12th Bomber Group of the US Army, which had been completely annihilated in two weeks, and was successfully attacked by the Germans on the Bang Kok Peninsula and this morning; All the British and American pilots who have been killed, take revenge.

At this time, Chen Yanlong, who was studying the layout of Pantelleria Island and Sicily, had also received a report call from Kesselring.

"Führer! Our radar systems in Sicily and Pantelleria have detected a large number of British and American enemy planes flying towards our two places! Ask for instructions! ”

As soon as the call received Chen Yanlong, Kesselring immediately reported.

"How many of them are there? Do you know what types of aircraft there are? ”

Chen Yanlong asked nervously.

"There are more than 600 aircraft, as for the type, there is no detailed data for the time being, but now it can be judged that the number of their bomber group is relatively large; And they are also preparing in batches to carry out simultaneous attacks on our two islands! ”

Kesselring thought for a moment and confessed.

"Did the 3rd Air Force arrive at the Sicilian airport as I told you?"

Chen Yanlong continued to ask.

"The five wings of JG1, JG2, JG3, JG4, and JG26, as well as the 3rd Brigade and the 122nd Brigade, are all here! But the pilots of the JG1 Wing and the 3rd Group, and the 122nd Group, and the 2nd Rapid Bomber Wing in my 10th Air Force; And the pilots of the 77th Fighter Wing, who have just attacked the British and American fleets, thus losing a certain number of planes and pilots, need to rest and replenish immediately! ”

Kesselring paused and replied.

"Hmmm! I see, so let them rest! Now you replace all the fighter fleets in your hands with Fω-190A-6/R1 fighters, cooperate with the remaining four wings of the 3rd Air Force, JG2, JG3, JG4, and JG26, and give me a comprehensive interception of the British and American enemy forces! ”

"Although the British and American enemy forces are more numerous than ours, in air combat, the performance advantage of aircraft is much more important than the advantage of the number of aircraft! And our new Fω-190A-6/R1 fighter is definitely better than most of the British and American fighters and bombers! Except, of course, the opposing team's new fighter P-51 Mustang fighter, and B-47 Thunder fighter! ”

After thinking for a while, Chen Yanlong immediately gave an order.

"Yes! Monarch! ”

Kesselring replied respectfully.

"But you also have to inform our pilots to be more careful, because as the number of enemy planes increases, the probability of us shooting down enemy planes increases greatly; But at the same time, the probability of our pilots being shot down by enemy planes will also increase dramatically! So to be on the safe side, I'll send a reserve from our Imperial Air Force and also to you in case of a crisis! ”

After thinking for a while, Chen Yanlong warned solemnly.

"Yes! Monarch! ”

Kesselring nodded in agreement.

"That's right! How is the deployment of our anti-aircraft fire in Sicily? Can it cope with a massive attack by Anglo-American troops? ”

Chen Yanlong suddenly remembered.

"We deployed more than 110 and 170 88-mm anti-aircraft guns on both sides of the Strait of Messina, between the Apennine Peninsula and Sicily; In addition to this, we have deployed more than 150 37mm and 20mm anti-aircraft guns, as well as Italian 90mm and 75mm anti-aircraft guns! ”

"With the deployment of such a firepower air defense network, I believe that in addition to the enemy's heavy bombers; Their other combat aircraft are absolutely unsuitable for a large-scale sneak attack with us! ”

Kesselring replied confidently.

"Hmmm! Good! And what about the air defense system of Pantelleria? Is it okay? The ability of those Italians, I don't quite believe it! ”

Chen Yanlong praised.

"There is also a large number of anti-aircraft artillery deployed there, and there is an airfield on the island, and rebuilt and replenished Italian planes are stationed, so it should not be occupied by the British and American allies for a while!"

When it came to the Italian army, Kesselring did not have much confidence to answer.

"And how is the transfer of our army units from Sicily to Pantelleria going?"

After hearing this, Chen Yanlong was also silent for a while, and then no longer asked about the strength of the Italian army, but changed the topic and asked.

"The ships, flotillas and submarine forces that transported them have already arrived at them and are now being transported in batches!"

Kesselring replied briefly.

"Good! Remember to cover their transfer well, and never let the British and American troops know and attack them! ”

Chen Yanlong nodded in response.

"Yes! Monarch! ”

Kesselring agreed in the affirmative.

Then they chatted for a few more words, then hung up the phone with each other and dispatched their troops.

Not long after, the 3rd, 27th, 51st, 53rd, and 77th fighter wings, all equipped with Fω-190A-6/R1 fighters, also took off from various airports in Italy one by one.

These fighter wings were all recorded as belonging to the German Second Air Force, and at the moment of their take-off; The four fighter wings of the German 3rd Air Force, JG2, JG3, JG4, and JG26, which were also equipped with Fω-190A-6/R1 fighters, also carried out emergency takeoffs from the airfield on Sicily.

The target of these German flying teams was the Anglo-American Allied flying team.

At the same time, Chen Yanlong also dispatched JG301, JG400, and JG27 from the German Imperial Air Force to the Sicily airfield to assemble as a reserve air force to provide air combat support.