In the southwest Pacific, in the Tasman Sea, a large fleet is hovering northwest of Middleton Reef. From time to time, a few bombers would return to the fleet and land on carriers, and then more would leave the fleet and whistle towards the continent to the west. This is the second task force under the command of Hao Dongjue, and the three aircraft carriers are taking turns to release bombers to bomb the US defensive positions near Brisbane.

"How many more targets do we have not destroyed?" Hao Dongjue, who became the commander of the fleet, was still in charge of aviation operations, while his partner Wei Dongbei was mainly responsible for the fleet's navigation operations.

"Here's the list of targets, and the ones that were red line have been blown up." The aviation staff officer gave the commander a form, "There are still about 20 percent of the targets that have not been destroyed, and we have completed 80 percent of the bombing missions as required." ”

"It's not enough, it has to be destroyed." Hao Dongjue glanced at the staff officer, "Continue to arrange the bombers, who will lead the team to set off next?" ”

"Colonel Zhang Naiding, he is in the aviation operations center."

"Then I'll go over now, wait for the chief of staff to come, you report to him, if you have any news, send it directly to the aviation operations center."

When Hao Dongjue arrived at the aviation operations center, Zhang Naiding was deploying specific bombing missions to the pilots who would follow him on another departure. He looked at Hao Dongjue, and then gave up his position to Hao Dongjue.

After a few months of cooperation, Zhang Naiding and others also re-acquainted themselves with Hao Dongjue's conducting style. As early as the time of the First Task Force, Hao Dongjue was in charge of the fleet's aviation operations, and Zhang Naiding and others were still squadron leaders of the First Air Wing at that time. Although it has been several years, Zhang Naiding and a group of veteran pilots are no strangers to Hao Dongjue. After Hao Dongjue arrived at the Second Task Force, he also made some adjustments to the command method of aviation operations. For example, in the past, it was the aviation operations staff officer. Or the chief of staff of the fleet arranged a specific bombing mission, and now Hao Dongjue has delegated this power to Zhang Naiding, Yang Shihong and other captains, Hao Dongjue will issue bombing tasks to the captains, and then Zhang Naiding and them will give specific tasks to the junior pilots. This can be regarded as improving the status of pilots, and at the same time reducing Hao Dongjue's burden, allowing him to take into account fleet aviation operations while handling fleet affairs.

"We probably have more than 40 targets left undestroyed." Hao Dongjue gave the form in his hand to Zhang Naiding, "I have taken a look at it, and these targets belong to the most difficult permanent fortifications. Moreover, within the enemy's air defense network, the bombing is quite difficult. ”

The pilots' eyes were focused on Hao Dongjue's body, and they all knew that this kind of permanent fortification was not a target that had to be destroyed, and the bombing was very difficult and dangerous, so in the previous bombing, the pilots were trying to avoid hitting such targets.

"I know that too. These days, everyone is working hard and very tired. The task from above is that we only need to destroy eighty percent of the target, but we can't stop yet. Hao Dongjue paused slightly, "There are still two days left, and we will concentrate our efforts on bombing these more than 40 key targets and strive to completely destroy them." Once all the bombing missions have been completed, the fleet is ready to return to Port Vila! ”

"General, will we land in Brisbane?" One of the pilots asked a pointed question.

Hao Dongjue walked up to the man and said: "Where to land, it's not something we should care about, our task is to blow up the positions of the American army into ruins, and the landing operation is the business of the Marine Corps, so. We don't need to worry too much. If you have time, everyone goes to take a break, and the group leaves at 2 p.m.! ”

Obviously, most of the pilots were not very satisfied with Hao Dongjue's answer, but no one asked again, after all, Hao Dongjue was the commander of the fleet, and Hao Dongjue's words were orders. Zhang Naiding walked at the back of the pilot. When he got to the door, he stopped, and then walked back.

"Lao Zhang, is there anything else?" Because Zhang Naiding is two years older than Hao Dongjue, and the two are already old friends, Hao Dongjue has always respected Zhang Naiding.

"General, it stands to reason that Task Force 5 should come and replace us today. Is it necessary for us to go on another bombing mission? ”

"Fifth Task Force?" Hao Dongjue's expression immediately sank, "It's because the Fifth Task Force is coming." So we can't stop. ”

"Why?" Zhang Naiding didn't mean to contradict Hao Dongjue, but his words were too straightforward, "The brothers have flown dozens of sorties in a row, and they have to carry out two or three combat missions almost every day, from the end of last month to now, more than ten days, everyone's rest time is seriously insufficient, since the fifth task force is coming now, then we should retreat, at least let the pilots sleep well." ”

"Lao Zhang, I'll think about it." Hao Dongjue patted Zhang Naiding on the shoulder, "After this mission, let's talk about it." ”

Zhang Naiding didn't complain about anything more, as for why Hao Dongjue let the fleet continue to maintain high-intensity combat operations when the Fifth Task Force was about to arrive, he knew very well in his heart, and he didn't like the commander of the Fifth Task Force very much. But the problem is that the pilots have been spinning for more than ten consecutive days, even if most of the rookies have been trained into eagles, but the problem is that people are not made of iron sheets, and they have always maintained high-intensity combat operations, and no one can last long.

When Hao Dongjue returned to the command cabin, Wei Dongbei had already returned to his post and was arranging the navigation affairs of the fleet for the staff officers.

"Dong Jue, newly received telegram." Wei Dongbei glanced at the telegram placed on the chart table, "From the theater command, the Fifth Task Force will arrive at about five o'clock, General Yan Guozhong wants us to withdraw from the combat area according to the plan, and send him the results of the attack as soon as possible, so that he can arrange a new mission for the Fifth Task Force." ”

"You want us to retreat now?" Hao Dongjue walked over and picked up the telegram.

"Yes, we need to retreat immediately." Wei Dongbei walked over, "I have already arranged the retreat route. In addition, the 1st Task Force had already left Guangzhou last night and was rushing over. It will arrive in about 15 days. ”

Hao Dongjue also saw the content related to the First Task Force at the back of the telegram.

"I heard that there are still a number of targets that have not been destroyed?"

Hao Dongjue nodded. "Yes, I just went to Zhang Naiding, it seems that there is no need for us to arrange a second round of bombing today."

"Why?" Wei Dongbei usually doesn't care about aviation combat affairs, but as the chief of staff of the fleet, he still has to care about everything in the fleet.

"These targets are the most difficult to destroy, and the danger of bombing is very high." Hao Dongjue was a little hesitant, and after talking to Zhang Naiding, he was also conflicted.

When Hao Dongjue came to the second task force. There are only about 120 veteran pilots left in the fleet air force, such as Zhang Naiding, and according to the regular configuration, when the second task force has three aircraft carriers, it will have at least 850 pilots (including navigators). After coming to the Southwest Pacific Theater, Hao Dongjue has been working hard to train new pilots, so that the fleet can maintain high-intensity aviation operations, which is the most effective way to train pilots. From supporting the Marines in the assault on Port Vila, to New Caledonia. And then to the present. In the past few months, the quality of the pilots of the Second Task Force has improved considerably, and this is closely related to the high-intensity aviation combat operations deliberately arranged by Hao Dongjue. But in turn, it was the high-intensity aviation combat operations that caused the Second Task Force to lose a large number of pilots. From February to the present, Task Force 2 has lost more than 300 pilots, although most of them are novices, and only more than 100 have been killed. But this percentage of losses is still the highest among the fleets. In other words, only those who survive on the battlefield are the best, and those who cannot adapt to high-intensity combat operations have been eliminated.

Up to now, Hao Dongjue also feels a little powerless, and Zhang Naiding's opposition is not unreasonable. The result of a large number of losses of pilots is also unaffordable. Thinking of this, Hao Dongjue also felt that it was time to go back. According to the plan. Task Force 2 was supposed to leave the battlefield by 9 June at the latest, and Task Force 5 would continue its bombing mission. If it weren't for the fact that Task Force 5 had some trouble on the way, it would have arrived yesterday.

"Go and inform Zhang Naiding to cancel the bombing operation." Hao Dongjue did not hesitate any longer, when he was the chief of staff, he only needed to consider whether he could defeat the enemy and whether he could complete the task. And now that he is the commander of the fleet, he has to think about more problems. "In addition, the fleet is ready to return home, and after getting out of the dangerous sea area, send the results of the battle to General Yan Guozhong."

Wei Dongbei immediately called the staff officer and arranged the commander's order.

The aircraft carrier was bustling again, the bombers that had been loaded onto the flight deck were sent back, and the pilots left their planes. Half an hour later. The last group of bombers, led by Yang Shihong, returned to the fleet. Having received these returning bombers, the fleet began to turn. Head in the direction of Port Vila.

Before dark, Hao Dongjue got the bombing results counted by the aviation staff officer. In this 13-day bombing campaign, Task Force 2 lost 57 combat aircraft, 54 of which were shot down while on combat mission, 82 pilots parachuted or forced to land, 64 of whom were rescued and 18 were killed. Of the six pilots on the three bombers that crashed due to the accident, three were killed and three were disabled. And this is all the losses of the 2nd Task Force in these thirteen days.

When he went to dinner, Hao Dongjue asked the communications staff officer to send out the report on the results of the battle and the battle damage. Task Force 5 had already arrived in the operational area in the afternoon and would continue to bombard US defensive positions near Brisbane from the 11th. According to the operational arrangement, the Fifth Task Force will have no time to recuperate, and before the landing of the Marines, the Fifth Task Force will continue to bombard the US positions near Brisbane and will not move to the south until the day after the landing, and on the day of the landing at the combat site, the First Task Force and the Second Task Force will provide aviation support to the Marine Corps, while the Third Task Force will be responsible for close support, and the Theater Fleet will be the reserve of the First Task Force and the Second Task Force, which will be responsible for suppressing the enemy's positions in depth after the landing operation begins.

Hao Dongjue had already written down these arrangements, and now the First Task Force was already on its way, and if it arrived on the 15th and the weather conditions were good, the landing time would not be later than the 18th. As for whether to prepare for fire in advance before the marines go ashore, this will be decided by the actual situation.

Thinking about it, Hao Dongjue laughed. In the past few months, his biggest feeling is that being a fleet commander is much more difficult than being a fleet chief of staff. Moreover, he finally understood why Tan Renhao wanted him to be the chief of staff of the First Task Force for two years. Maybe two years is not enough, if he has a choice, Hao Dongjue is willing to go back and be the chief of staff for Tan Renhao for a few years, and what he said at the dinner table that day was not just angry.

"Dongjue, it's time for you to go to sleep!"

Hao Dongjue turned around and looked at Wei Dongbei, who was walking over. "It's okay, stand there for a while, there's nothing else in the fleet, right?"

"I have just contacted, the situation on the battleships is very good, and the officers and men are changing the guard." Wei Dongbei took out a cigarette, "What, you're not tired?" ”

"Task Force 1 is coming, and it looks like we can take it easy."

Wei Dongbei immediately laughed. "Don't think about it so much, it's not our turn to worry about the matter of the Fifth Task Force, and now that General Tan is coming, we don't need to worry about it."

Hao Dongjue took the cigarette and lit it. "That's right, we're worrying about nothing, you keep an eye on it at night, I'm going to sleep, something is coming to call me."

"There's a big, get some sleep, we'll be in Port Vila in two days!"

Hao Dongjue didn't continue to joke with Wei Dongbei, the fleet would be able to reach Port Vila within two days, and this time letting the second task force go back was actually to arrange for the second task force to cooperate with the first task force. This is in charge of Lei Shaoqing, and the specific command work must be in charge of Tan Renhao. Following his brother-in-law to talk about Ren Haogan, Hao Dongjue didn't have the slightest opinion, but he didn't know if there would be any new changes in combat operations after the arrival of the First Task Force.