When the reconnaissance planes of the Fifth Fleet took off one after another, a reconnaissance plane taking off from the First Task Force had already crossed the sky over the US supply fleet. On the sea, several supply ships that have not yet sunk are blazing, and a large number of US officers and soldiers are floating on the sea, waiting for rescue. The pilot of the reconnaissance plane glanced at the sea, and then the "waterfowl" continued to fly south.

Hao Dongjue greeted these pilots, and the maximum distance of their patrol was 100 nautical miles south of the US convoy, and at this time, the reconnaissance plane had already set off from the fleet and flew at least 350 nautical miles south, exceeding the limit flight radius of the reconnaissance plane. During this period, the fleet will sail south, so when they return home, they can fly dozens of nautical miles less, but it is still possible that they will not be able to return to the aircraft carrier and land, and can only make a forced landing near the fleet. The pilots also knew that whether they could find the Fifth Fleet would determine their final victory, and if they missed this opportunity, the First Task Force would have to go home.

The two pilots took turns resting and observing the sea ahead. The navigator also has to calculate the distance flew, as well as the location, in the interval between breaks. It's a lot of work, so most of the time the pilot is watching the sea, taking a five-minute break every ten minutes. As the minutes ticked by, the pilot was a little irritable.

"How many of us have flown up?"

"It's almost 300 nautical miles, and after one more bell, it's time for us to turn."

"Are you sure?" The pilot rubbed his eyes.

"Absolutely sure, damn it, are we going to go home empty-handed again?"

"Maybe. Let's hope luck doesn't get so bad anymore. The pilot looked up, and he first glanced at the sea ahead, the blue ocean that pierced his eyes. Then, his gaze shifted to the clouds on the right. This makes the eyes feel a little more comfortable. It was at this time that he spotted a small black dot in the distance. "Are there any of our reconnaissance planes around here?"

"No, we're more than 20 nautical miles apart, can you see it?"

"No, look. Is it a plane over there? ”

The navigator was startled and immediately looked towards the sky on the right. "yes, it must be an airplane."

"Damn, this must be a fighter or a reconnaissance plane of the Fifth Fleet." The pilot immediately began to adjust the flight direction of the reconnaissance plane, "Be prepared for parachuting or forced landing, son of a bitch, even if you can't go back this time, you have to find the Fifth Fleet!" ”

It was indeed a reconnaissance plane sent by the Fifth Fleet, and it was one of the reconnaissance planes that Spruance had arranged for the time being. The plane had just taken off from the aircraft carrier and was heading north.

The pilots and navigators on the plane are busy adjusting the aircraft and setting the course parameters. The preparations for take-off were too hasty, and they had to do these things after takeoff, and it seemed to the two American pilots. They shouldn't have noticed anything during the flight of more than an hour ahead, not to mention that they had only left the fleet for a short time, so they didn't have any vigilance at all, let alone the reconnaissance plane of the Tang Empire that came around from behind.

"Not true. They are flying north, is the Fifth Fleet in the north? The Fifth Fleet should be to the south! "After flying for five minutes, the navigator noticed a problem.

"Damn, maybe this is a reconnaissance plane sent by the Fifth Fleet, and we are following in the wrong direction!" The pilot also came to his senses.

The "Shooter" immediately turned and began to fly southward, and in less than ten minutes, the pilot and navigator spotted the huge fleet in the sea ahead almost simultaneously.

"Damn, we wasted ten minutes!" The pilot then saw the oncoming fighter jet, "Prepare to send a telegram, I'll try to delay the time, move quickly!" ”

When the two F4U rushed over, the "Shooting Bird" immediately began to dive, and if it wanted to get rid of it, or if it wanted to delay time, the "Shooting Bird" could only dive quickly, at least the dive bomber was easier to control than the fighter when diving. The navigator in the back seat also began to send a telegram, and before it was shot down, he had already sent a telegram, and for the sake of insurance, he had to send it again, and it was at this time that the "Shooting Waterfowl" was intercepted by two other F4Us, and the machine gun bullets hit directly outside the cockpit, and both pilots were killed.

On the "Franklin" aircraft carrier, Spruance also saw the downed reconnaissance plane, although the fighter intercepted it quickly, but it was too late, the pilot on the reconnaissance plane had already seen the fleet aircraft carrier in the fleet, and maybe also saw three small aircraft carriers a little further south.

"The reconnaissance plane has already sent a telegram, and it has been divided into two times, and the second time has not been completed."

Spruance nodded and said, "Let the bombers prepare to go, I hope our reconnaissance planes can detect the first task force in time, so that we still have enough time to arrange for the bombers to take off." ”

"General, we should ...... now"

"I know, we should be ready to fight now, go and prepare!"

Spruance also hesitated before giving the order, and his first thought was not to attack, but to escape. But soon, Spruance made up his mind that the patrol radius of the Tang Empire's reconnaissance planes was comparable to the strike radius of its bombers, and after Tan Renhao received the news, the First Task Force would definitely go south at full speed, and even if the Fifth Fleet fled south at full speed, it would not be able to escape the strike range of the First Task Force at all. Therefore, he decided to continue the fight, perhaps, his reconnaissance planes would be able to detect the 1st Task Force, and he would have enough time to arrange for the bombers to take off, and even if the 5th Fleet would be finished in the end, then he would have to drag the 1st Task Force into the water.

That said, Spruance chose to fight on his back. But there was one thing he didn't understand, that is, the First Task Force was about 60 nautical miles away from the Fifth Fleet at this time, and if the Fifth Fleet turned immediately, then the First Task Force would not be able to catch up, and the bombers of the First Task Force would not be able to hit the Fifth Fleet at all unless they flew one way. And Spruance did not know this. So the Fifth Fleet is still sailing east, so the distance between the two sides is approaching at a speed of about 20 knots per hour. And it takes about two and a half hours to three hours for a bomber to complete a bombing, during which time. The distance between the two sides will be reduced to less than 250 nautical miles.

Although the bombers of the Fifth Fleet can depart at this time, the question is, will the Fifth Fleet be able to hold out until that time?

Tan Renhao received a report from a reconnaissance plane at 11 o'clock, and at this time, Yang Qinkai's plane group was landing.

"It's 300 nautical miles from us. It's too far. ”

"It's not far, it's just within striking range, and as long as Spruance doesn't run south, then we can catch up." Tan Renhao paused slightly, "After all the bombers have landed, let Qiu Gengbo's group set off immediately." Tell Qiu Gengbo that Yang Qinkai's fleet will not be on the road until about an hour late, and let him strike the opponent's aircraft carrier first, and resolutely not let the opponent's bomber take off. ”

Hao Dongjue nodded and immediately went to make arrangements.

Tan Renhao glanced at the navigation clock.

It was only then that he breathed a sigh of relief.

In addition to the position of the Fifth Fleet. In addition to the course, speed, and size (with special emphasis on the fleet carrier), there is an extremely important piece of information. That is, the reconnaissance planes of the Fifth Fleet set off fifteen to twenty minutes before that.

If the First Task Force continued to move south at this time, it was very likely that it would crash into a US reconnaissance plane (Tan Renhao did not consider that Spruance would let the reconnaissance plane land on Nihua Island, so he did not know that the farthest search distance of the US reconnaissance plane was close to 350 nautical miles). According to the judgment of ordinary people, at this time, the First Task Force should turn around, at least should avoid the US reconnaissance planes, but Tan Renhao did not do this, the reason is very simple, if he wants to avoid the US reconnaissance planes, then he will not be able to let the bombers return to the fleet, Qiu Gengbo can only do one-way bombing, and Yang Qinkai's fleet can only do one-way bombing, even if the Fifth Fleet is finally killed, he will have to lose all the bombers, and even lose a large number of extremely good pilots, and this is an unbearable price.

Tan Renhao only took half a minute to think about it, and then made a decision. And he was very thoughtful. If Qiu Gengbo's fleet had departed in time, and the Imperial Navy's bombers had been cruising faster than the American bombers, then, even if they had departed a little later, Spruance's bombers would probably still be parked on the aircraft carrier by the time they arrived at the Fifth Fleet, and at most they would have taken off. Therefore, as long as the bombing was timely, then Spruance could not arrange a powerful strike force. This is also the reason why Tan Renhao emphasized attacking the aircraft carriers first, as long as the aircraft carriers of the Fifth Fleet are blown up, even if they cannot be sunk, they must ensure that the four aircraft carriers lose their combat effectiveness, then Spruance has no way to fight back, and then Yang Qinkai's aircraft group can be used to clean up the Fifth Fleet. You can even let Qiu Gengbo fly again and finally kill the Fifth Fleet!

It can be said that Tan Renhao's decision was very risky, but he had to take a risk. He's been taking risks for the past few days, and this is the only time he's had the chance to take advantage of the Fifth Fleet, and he doesn't want to miss any more.

Eleven fifteen. The last bomber in Yang Qinkai's group had just landed on the aircraft carrier and had not had time to be sent into the hangar, Qiu Gengbo was the first to leave the aircraft carrier with a fighter. Within 20 minutes, 45 "Shooting Birds", 33 "Sea Eagles", and 30 "Falcons" all left the aircraft carrier, and the aviation crew set a new speed record, releasing 108 fighters in 20 minutes! Subsequently, 12 fighters responsible for the air defense of the fleet took to the air, and Tan Renhao only left 12 escort fighters for Yang Qinkai, and if Qiu Gengbo's group attack was successful, then Yang Qinkai's group did not even need escort fighters.

"Calculate the time, when will the US military reconnaissance plane arrive on our side?"

"In an hour and a half at the earliest."

Tan Renhao thought for a moment and said, "An hour later, all the radars in the fleet will be turned on. When can Yang Qinkai's fleet depart? ”

"It also takes an hour to prepare at the earliest, and these fighters have flown twice in a row, and they must be overhauled to ensure safety......

"Then let the aviation crew do it faster." Tan Renhao interrupted the aviation staff officer, "Let them have to leave immediately after twelve o'clock." After the radar was activated, contact Qiu Gengbo's group and ask them to report the situation of the Fifth Fleet, so as to guide Yang Qinkai's group to attack. ”

The aviation staff officer didn't say anything more, but he didn't forget to ask the chief of staff.

Tan Renhao also calmed down, and he looked up at the navigation clock again. Yang Qinkai's group can only depart at about 12:20 at the earliest, and he also knows that the aviation service personnel have been busy at 4 o'clock in the morning until now, and many people don't even have a chance to catch their breath, and the officers and men are extremely tired, and it is obviously very unrealistic to let them play super at this time, and it is very good to be able to ensure that Yang Qinkai's group departs on time.

In addition, the pilots in Yang Qinkai's group had already carried out two attack missions before and after dawn, and the flight and combat time was close to six hours, and many of the pilots even flew continuously, and their mental state could be completely imagined. And when the bombers were ready to leave, they probably got a little rest.

Hao Dongjue was busy deploying tasks for Yang Qinkai's group of pilots at this time, and the cooks on the battleship also delivered cakes, milk and other foods to the aviation operations center and the hands of every pilot. The fleet is a big fighting machine, although the cooks are the most missionless personnel on the battleship, but at this time, everyone is working hard for victory, even if these cooks can't personally fly the plane to the front line, but everything they do is to serve the victory!

"The fleet will close the distance at this time, and the Fifth Fleet may evade in any direction during this period." Hao Dongjue explained the situation as clearly as possible, "Qiu Gengbo, they will be the first to find the Fifth Fleet, and your task is to destroy all the aircraft carriers as much as possible, if you can't annihilate the Fifth Fleet, then you have to prepare for the next bombing." Hurry up and take a break, it's a lot of work today! ”

When Hao Dongjue returned to the command cabin, he found Tan Renhao leaning against the porthole and thinking about something. Then, the aviation staff officer told Hao Dongjue about the task assigned by the commander of the starting fleet.

Hao Dongjue was a little hesitant at first, and then let the aviation staff officer go to work on his own. He also knew how much pressure Tan Renhao was at this time, so he didn't bother Tan Renhao.