Churchill was about to erupt, and the Royal Air Force was about to endure the thunderous wrath of the Prime Minister. But one man unexpectedly stopped Churchill's outburst, and Learvine put Churchill through with just one sentence.

"Sir, I must remind you that this is a joint bombing!"

Churchill glanced at Learvin, who of course knew that it was a joint bombing, and it was precisely because it was a joint bombing that he could not hold back his anger. If the Royal Air Force is just embarrassed at home, in line with the principle that the ugliness of the family should not be publicized, there is nothing to cover the lid. But this time he was thrown abroad in shame and made a big appearance in front of the Russians. It's unbearable.

Churchill was about to say something, but Learvine said again in an accentuated tone: "Sir, this is a large-scale bombing campaign jointly carried out by the Royal Air Force and the Red Air Force. The operation had already largely destroyed a large oil refinery in the Ploiesti region of Romania and dealt a heavy blow to the arrogance of the Axis powers. It was a successful bombing! It heralded victory that would necessarily belong to the British Empire! ”

Churchill reacted suddenly, and he finally understood what Learvin meant. He should have stressed in Parliament and to the population that this victorious bombing campaign was carried out by the Royal Air Force and the Red Air Force, and that it had achieved remarkable results. Anyway, the parliament and the common people don't know the truth about the Ploiesti bombing, and he insists on emphasizing the nature of the joint bombing, and even secretly misdirects it with a little trick, so does it need to be said about the result?

Churchill was delighted, and his face immediately turned cloudy, and he turned the saliva sprayed at the Royal Air Force into praise: "Immediately pick out some heroes among the pilots who participated in this bombing." The British Empire needs to know about their heroic deeds! ”

After sending away the commander of the Royal Air Force, Churchill's face immediately fell again, and he said to Learvines with a calm face: "You must pay attention to the guidance of public opinion, I hope that the people will think that we are the main body in this bombing." Pay attention to downplaying the image of the Soviet Union, and you must not give the Bolsheviks any more opportunities! ”

Churchill was also frightened, every conspiracy against the Soviet Union always failed, and this time he had to secretly show his position, and he could only emphasize to Learvin once again that he would not lead the work.

I have to say that Learwin is still a genius in this regard. She succeeded in misleading the British and the so-called self-sufficient. According to the public opinion of the world, the public thought that the Ploiesti bombing was a great aerial bombing operation led by the British Royal Air Force. As for the USSR, it was only a supporting role, providing only part of the venue and the opening of airspace. This speaks volumes about how only Britain can save the world.

"You're not mad at these disgusting reports?" Yakov asked.

Li Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Why should I be angry with a group of fools who deceive themselves? ”

Yakov shook his head and said, "It's not like your temper, you've always been in revenge!" ”

Li Xiaofeng continued to laugh: "I really didn't plan to take revenge on the British, or even to demolish them. ”

Yakov was surprised: "Why? ”

"Wouldn't it be nice for them to continue to live in the dreams they weaved?" Li Xiaofeng smiled evilly, "How representative is it that the Royal Air Force has carried out a victorious and strategic bombing of great significance?" Not worth writing about forever? Isn't it worth learning from the best of these successes? ”

Yakov complained: "There is no advanced experience in this, the British are a mess!" ”

Li Xiaofeng laughed and said, "Who said they were a mess." I'm going to start from . It is up to the world's public opinion to help the Royal Air Force draw lessons and lessons. Let them keep this advanced way of bombing forever and forever! ”

Yakov immediately understood what a certain immortal wanted to do, still pit the British. Didn't the British say that the bombing was successful? Then continue this "efficient" way of bombing forever? What the? The Royal Air Force wants to change? I'm sorry, but Ploiesti's success story is not acceptable!

This is to use the yang to trap people, and the British are still bitter when they are pitted, and they must pay a heavy price if they want to correct it. On the contrary, the Red Air Force is taking the initiative to sum up lessons and lessons and constantly improve its strategic bombing tactics.

For the Red Air Force, the bombing of Ploiesti was a great success. But it also exposed a lot of problems. The success of this operation was largely due to surprise. Germany and Romania did not expect a sudden bombing of Ploiesti by the USSR, and the deployment of air power in this direction was slightly insufficient. And ground air defense has also proved to be not so reliable, in the face of large-scale strategic bombing, ground air defense can really only be passively beaten, especially after radar and other detection equipment are abolished, air defense is just an empty word.

"We have to pay attention to electronic warfare. It is not excluded that in the future the enemy will use the same method against our radar, and at that time will we be able to block the enemy's bombing? Therefore, to upgrade the radar, it is necessary not only to have a fixed radar station, but also to develop more mobile radar equipment, and to do a good job after the main radar is suppressed or destroyed. Spare radars can quickly fill the gaps. ”

This is the side that focuses on defense, while the side that advocates offense is sharper: "This operation shows the importance of radio equipment such as radar for future wars. It is especially important to paralyze the enemy's radio equipment. We must focus on this direction, develop new weapons capable of destroying the enemy's radio equipment, as well as actively develop new targeted strike tactics! ”

In this army. Immediately after the special session of the Commission, the armament department of the USSR embarked on three particularly high-priority projects - one was a highly mobile air defense radar, and the latter two were new electronic reconnaissance and electromagnetic interference equipment.

Of course, these lessons are more technical in nature. For the Red Air Force, the issue of strategic bombing and new tactics of escorting strategic bombers also urgently needed to be resolved.

First of all, there are more advanced strategic bombers, whether it is Tu-3 or Pe-8, the range and bomb load are still smaller. The Red Army needed a new bomber capable of carrying four tons of bombs and flying up to 2,000 kilometers away for bombing. And this project was given to Tupolev.

This is followed by the issue of escorting strategic bombers, which has actually been mentioned several times before. By adding disposable drop tanks to the Yak-3, it seems that this problem has been solved. But in fact, the Air Force knows that this does not solve the problem. Because they found that the old escort tactics were the key to restricting the efficiency of escorts, and to modify this tactic, they first needed to challenge Arksnis!

Why challenge Alxnis? Because he really cares too much about long-range aviation. So much so that no one is allowed to disagree with long-range aviation. Especially on the issue of escort, Arksnis was not an ordinary stubborn, and he strongly ordered the air force fighter units to be constantly guarding the long-range bombers at all times, ready to drive out all invading enemies. In the words of Arksnis: "The first duty of the fighter unit is to ensure that the bomber group can return safely!" ”

As I said before, this tactic is problematic, and such a rigid tactic directly leads to the fact that the fighter unit has become a vassal of the bomber, without any initiative. Can only be passively parried. And Arksnis, after Tukhachevsky's ouster, posted this phrase as a slogan in the airfield command towers of all air forces.

At Arksness' behest, fighter groups tended to gather around bomber formations during battle, trying to prevent German fighters from taking advantageous positions from rushing into the bomber group. But the cunning Germans often diverted the tiger away from the mountains, diverted the fighters with small forces, and then threw in the main force to strike the bombers. Sometimes, they even concentrate their forces to strike at fighter formations that lack both altitude and speed advantages and lack flexibility, and then deal with bomber groups after they are completely suppressed. As a result, the Red Air Force suffered huge losses and demoralized fighter units.

This bad situation until one began to express dissatisfaction with the situation in the Air Force. That is Li Xiaofeng. As a traverser, he is well aware of the power of long-range aviation and strategic bombing, so he has been a staunch supporter of Arxnis for the previous ten years, even in the most arrogant era of Tukhachevsky's deadline, Tu Shuai, who is fond of front-line aviation, has not been able to completely suppress the development of long-range aviation.

However, this does not mean that Li Xiaofeng is satisfied with all of Arxnis's approaches, and the significance of the Air Force's existence is not only strategic bombing, but also tactical bombing, ground support, and air supremacy are equally important. Li Xiaofeng never thought about which side he wanted to unilaterally favor. And now Arksnis is depriving fighter units of all initiative for the sake of strategic bombing. Turning a fighter into a marionette is something that a certain immortal doesn't want to see.

After learning about the discontent of the fighter troops, as the general . Politics. Li Xiaofeng, director of the administrative department, personally went to the front-line troops to understand the actual situation, listened to the conversation of the front-line pilots in the battle on the radio, and sat silently on a chair. Waiting for the last of your own planes in the sky to return safely.

Many years later, when a certain immortal talked about this, he recalled: "In the early days of long-range aviation participating in battles, there were many problems. There are technical problems, but also tactical problems. The technical problems can only be solved slowly, but the tactical problems cannot be delayed...... At that time, the tasks of the fighter unit were at one time rigidly prescribed by Comrade Arksnis. Of course. This is not just his fault, in the initial days of the Strategic Air Force, everything was crossed by feeling the stones. Initially, the task of the fighter unit was to protect the bombers and never move away from them. ”

"By going to the front line to actually understand the situation, and listening to the analysis of fighter ace pilots and senior tactical experts, I think there are serious problems with this tactic. Because the original purpose of the fighter was to be used against enemy fighters. Fighter pilots are vicious dogs in the sky, they are used to bite people, and they are trained to control the sky with aggressive means. All our fighters are designed for attack purposes. ”

"I think our fighter forces should intercept and annihilate enemy fighters before they see our bombers." Don't leave the bombers' put them in a situation where they are passively beaten, how can they not complain? ”

"Having learned all this, I was determined to make a change, and when I left the command of the Second Army of the Air Force, I was very interested in Stepan. Akimovich. Lieutenant General Krasovsky said: 'Stepan. Comrade Akimovich, this slogan is no longer valid, tear it off! ’”

Lieutenant General Krasovsky at that time was obviously stunned, and was silent for a moment before asking in a puzzled tone: "Comrade Andrei, which slogan do you say you will tear off?" ”

Li Xiaofeng pointed to the "first duty of the fighter unit is to ensure that the bomber group can return safely" above his head, and said: "This is the sentence of Comrade Arksnis." From now on, this sentence is no longer valid. I authorize you to put up another slogan: 'The first duty of the fighter unit is to destroy the Luftwaffe!' ’。 ”

Krasovsky simply couldn't believe his ears. After being stunned for a moment, he cautiously asked: "Comrade Andrei, do you mean to authorize me to carry out offensive combat operations?" ”

Li Xiaofeng replied very calmly: "I order you to do this!" ”

Tears began to form in Krasovsky's eyes, and he had been arguing with Arksnis and his supporters on this point for weeks, but again and again his requests for priority strikes against German fighter units were mercilessly thrown back. Even Arksnis was dismissed from his post as commander of the Second Air Force at one time, and if it were not for the fact that the situation did not allow it and Krasovsky's impeccable ability, the highly decorated air force general would probably have to return to Moscow for retirement.

For the next period of time. Krasovsky and Li Xiaofeng carefully studied the relevant ideas for fighter units to launch offensive operations. He admired Li Xiaofeng's assertion that "the primary duty of the fighter unit is to annihilate the Luftwaffe." He was very enthusiastic and excited, even though Li Xiaofeng told him that he would still send some fighters to carry out personal escort missions. Krasovsky understood this.

"Of course, the main forces of the fighter force must be thrown into the battle for the annihilation of the Luftwaffe as soon as possible. It is necessary to hunt for enemy planes and drive the Germans out of the sky. Destroy them on the ground, hit them on the airfields of the Germans, and finally destroy them until they break into the homes of the Germans! ”

Shortly after Li Xiaofeng left, Krasovsky turned his head and saw the sign on the wall behind him, and soon the lieutenant general moved a chair. Tear the paper to shreds with your own hands. Krasovsky then summoned all the commanders of the fighter units of the Second Army of the Air Force to announce the decision. Predictable cheers, whistles and applause flooded the entire command. The morale of the fighter units rose sharply to unprecedented heights.

Of course, not everyone liked Li Xiaofeng's decision. The commanders of the bomber units sent telegrams to Arxnes or went to the office of the air marshal in person to complain, believing that this new tactic had too many risks and harms, and some even claimed that a certain immortal was a "murderer and butcher" in front of Arxness!

The bomber pilots were worried that they would have to face the wolf-like German fighter group alone after losing the cover of their "little friends", which was really difficult for them to accept.

Soon Arksnis broke into Li Xiaofeng's office in the Kremlin: "Comrade Andrei, do you want to destroy the long-range aviation that we have worked so hard to build? Alksnis asked.

Li Xiaofeng smiled. From the moment he made the change, he knew that Arxnis was going to blow up the thorns. But he and Krasovsky and Sergei . Ignatievich. After discussion, Rudenko came up with a new set of escort tactics.

Li Xiaofeng smiled and put the new tactics summarized in front of Arxnis, and said: "Don't get excited first, let's talk about it after reading it!" ”

This new set of tactics is actually quite simple: the fighter unit will be changed from accompanying the bombers to patrolling the airspace where the bomber group will pass. The short-legged Yak-2 and La-5 serve as medium- and close-range escort missions, while the Pe-2M2, with its long twin range, mainly patrols the target area. Maintain high-altitude flight, and once you detect enemy aircraft interference, immediately rush forward with altitude and speed advantages to drive out the enemy. As for the Yak-3, equipped with disposable drop fuel tanks, on the one hand, it served as a long-range escort mission, and on the other hand, it became a killer for free safaris over German airfields. The main task was to hunt down German fighters that had just taken off or were about to land.

Moreover, against the tactical characteristics of the German fighters who preferred to strike head-on from the 12 o'clock wind head-on on the Tu-3 and Pe-8. In the future in strategic bombing. The main force of escort fighters will not operate around long-range bombers, but directly in front of the bomber group, dispersing these pesky German flies in advance.

Alksnis, however, was not very impressed by this seemingly well-established set of tactics, he still thought that it was still too risky, and if there was a mistake, wouldn't it be a matter of letting the long-range aviation fill the hole?

However, Li Xiaofeng said: "I haven't tried it, how do you know that the new tactics don't work?" The previous escort tactics did not prove to be very effective, and the losses of long-range bombers were just as large. It's time to make a change, experiment for a while, and if it turns out that the new tactics don't significantly improve the efficiency of escorts, cancel it. At that time, the fighter units also had nothing to say, did they? ”

Arksnis opened his mouth to say something. But when the words came to his lips, he held back again. Because he can blow up thorns at anyone, but he just can't blow up thorns at a certain immortal, if it weren't for the support of a certain immortal, the long-range aviation would have stood aside a long time ago, and he didn't forget to dig wells when he drank water, and Arxnis couldn't cross the river and tear down the wall.

After thinking about it, he nodded reluctantly...... (To be continued.) )

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