After obtaining the whereabouts of the Allied fleet from the navy, the little Richthofen, realizing that the day of the decisive battle was today, woke up the heads of the various air armies under his command at 11 o'clock in the evening, and then arranged the mission, and about half of the airfields in western Spain and northern Portugal were prepared under the lights all night. Huge DO335 aircraft were towed out of hangars and discharged on the tarmac of the airport, with ground crews driving tanker trucks to refuel the planes, while others loaded stubby 30mm and 20mm shells into the bomb bays on the sides of the aircraft's cannons. When the morning star rose into the sky, several reconnaissance planes modified with HE177 bombers flew into the air, and the high-power radar installed in the belly of the aircraft will make up for the lack of ground radar network and search for US planes killed from the sea.

The submarine numbered U127 sent a telegram at the right time to play a very huge role, according to this telegram the Germans not only determined the direction of attack of the Allied fleet, but even sorted out the approximate departure position of the other side and the possible route to choose, although the Americans' radio silence did a really good job, but it fell short, when the American carrier-based aircraft stepped on the dawn sun to rise into the sky, the German DO335 long-range heavy fighters were already assembled in the air and stood by, The FW190 aircraft, which has a relatively short range, is also ready to go at various airports. This time, the U.S. forces went deep alone, and they had plenty of time to intercept them.

"A large number of planes were found flying from the sea at 2 o'clock." When the sun finally rose, an HE177 ocean-going patrol aircraft finally spotted the incoming group, and they flew almost in a straight line to their target. The course and speed were quickly estimated and then transmitted to the Luftwaffe Ibilis Peninsula Command in Madrid. On the sand table, a huge blue arrow flew in the direction of Lisbon. The huge formation of hundreds of planes was like a group of cavalry ready to plunder.

"Order the long-range fighters of the Fifth and Seventh Air Forces to keep them up to the opponent, not only to keep a certain distance and give the opponent a certain sense of oppression, but also not to rush into the attack. Their numbers are somewhat small and not suitable for grappling. Richthofen the Younger ordered. The speed of the DO335 is really good, and the firepower is the strongest known fighter. However, because of its own weight, its climbing and circling performance is relatively average. The number of DO335 fighters put together by the two air armies is not very large. There are only about 280 in total. It was the German FW190 and BF109F that could really deal a fatal blow to the American fleet. The latter also has good flight performance, and there are enough of them, as many as 900 of them! It's just that it takes a long time for such a huge fleet to assemble!

The Americans are not stupid, they quickly found themselves being targeted by a group of hungry wolves, at an altitude of 7000 meters, a huge figure in a neat formation unhurriedly followed behind, experienced pilots can distinguish the identity of the other party from the huge fuselage, DO335, was crowned by the Entente as the fastest flying aircraft. Bomber killer, Pterodactyl and other nicknames of long-range fighters, these nicknames undoubtedly say about the characteristics of the other side, fast! Bulky! The firepower is fierce and the protection is good. The huge fleet of American planes is like a herd of goats being targeted by hungry wolves, and a sense of crisis arises spontaneously.

"What are we going to do? Colonel Rice? Said a group leader and Colonel Rice, who was in charge of the attack.

"Damn, I don't know what to do!" Colonel Rice cursed in his heart, but at this moment he obviously couldn't say something that might shake the morale of the army, if even the Supreme Commander didn't know what to do. Then obviously the people below cannot be expected to follow the arrangement. Colonel Rice was not without encounters with German interceptions, but there were not many German planes during the first interceptions. Moreover, the interception time is relatively late, and the main group of aircraft can get out after separating some fighters to entangle them. But this time it was different, they had just flown more than half of the flight before they encountered the opponent's large group, and it is conceivable that if they continued to fly, the Germans would return more and more. Until you exceed the limits of what you can handle!

"Let the fighters of the rear team increase the altitude, 5000 meters is too low, we must at least be at the same level as the opponent's aircraft. Keep up the speed, I need them to help us stay back in the middle of the situation! Colonel Rice thought for a moment and said. In any case, it is absolutely not wrong to let the defender have a high advantage to obtain a good initial kinetic energy, as for the others, he can't help, his number of fighters is a bit small, it is impossible to divide the troops.

The American aircraft group continued to crawl slowly towards the target like a snail, and it took the Americans more than an hour from being discovered by the Germans to approaching the Lisbon area! And for more than an hour, Richthofen Jr. had already concentrated enough fighters! Fighters belonging to more than a dozen air wings began to assemble on the battlefield from all directions, and the civilians of the Portuguese region could almost see groups of planes flying from all directions almost as soon as they looked up, and the deafening roar of hundreds of engines made people feel deep fear, and the war eagles of the German Empire were like a group of hunters ready to hunt, driving each other to a corner, and then preparing to harvest!

"That's not right!" Colonel Rice finally felt the danger in receiving a telegram from a large number of German planes around him, and this was definitely a trap for the Germans, a trap that could destroy the Allied fleet with just one blow! The attack was so long that the Germans had plenty of time to mobilize their troops to encircle and suppress themselves, as evidenced by the constant presence of German aircraft around them! He didn't know how many planes the Germans would eventually be able to draw to attack him, but he knew that if he didn't go, he really couldn't go!

"All planes throw off their loads and prepare to evacuate!" As the commander-in-chief of the Allied Fleet Aviation, Colonel Rice still has some ability, at least he knows how to flash quickly when he can't do anything! Orders were quickly radioed to the squadrons, and the bombers began to drop their bombs and torpedoes, as well as the unburned fuel tanks, into the open space below. Bombs rained down from the sky in an instant. Then the huge fleet of aircraft began to turn, and the fighter units scattered to seize the attack position, covering the bombers to break out of the encirclement!

"The Americans have already discovered the trap, there is no point in waiting any longer, let's act!" Garand, who was in charge of the air command of this air battle, saw that the Americans were preparing to flash people. Decisive ordered. With the order to attack, hundreds of German fighters cruising around the US fleet finally attacked, and one group after another rushed towards the opponent like hungry wolves pounced on their prey, and the huge American aircraft group was torn apart in an instant like a huge curtain! Thousands of planes engaged in fierce air battles over Portugal. The roar of thousands of engines and the roar of thousands of cannons and machine guns came from the sky like thunder!

The first to attack was the DO335 fighter unit, which had been hanging behind the American fleet, and the Germans knew their strengths and weaknesses, so when the American fleet turned. They decisively launched an attack, and the continuous onslaught of the squadron instantly disrupted the American defenses, relying on excellent speed and ferocious firepower, these sharp arrows of the German Empire stabbed the American aircraft group to blood in the first time!

Although some squadrons were arranged to provide cover on the periphery, the DO335 with a maximum speed difference of 100 kilometers in level flight, the American F6F really had no way to face a lightning-like attack. The two sides go head-to-head, often staggered in the blink of an eye, and when the fat cats turn to catch up. Under normal circumstances, even the exhaust gas can't catch up! A barrage of shells cut the US planes out of the formation and then smashed them into pieces. The group of aircraft in the unit of the brigade instantly turned into a fragmented small formation, and before the Americans could react, the FW190 fighters rushing from other directions also joined the battle group!

The Germans' huge numerical and qualitative superiority crushed the escort aircraft group of the US Naval Air Force almost instantly, although there were about 800 US planes attacking in this wave, but only 400 real fighters, while the Luftwaffe had 700 fighters into the battle group in half an hour! And the primary goal is almost to press the US Air Force fighter unit to fight! As for the attack aircraft, which flew extremely slowly, the Germans were not in a hurry at all, they could not run anyway. It's just the difference between dying early and dying late! The sharper U.S. squadron leader immediately gathered his planes and formed a circular defensive formation to defend against the opponent's attack. But very open, these US planes that were lucky enough to come together also instantly became fragmented under the continuous impact of the German squadron level, and dense shells were fired at the US planes scurrying from all directions.

"Let's go, let's go, I hope I'll see you all again tonight." Colonel Rice finally gave the order to disband the formation and flee for their lives. By this time, the fighter unit had already lost a small half, and with the arrival of more and more German aircraft, the Hellcats were still too busy to take care of themselves, let alone the poor attack aircraft. The American fleet almost retreated on a route of flames and blood. And the German fleet was in hot pursuit like maggots on the tarsal bones. If this continues, I'm afraid there won't be too many Americans who can see the sea!

With the passage of time, the planes of the two sides fought each other in the air, and the originally organized confrontation eventually turned into a chaotic battle. Both Colonel Rice of the Entente and Garland of the Central Powers felt that they were gradually losing control of the situation. And in this way, it is obviously better for the US military, and unorganized interception means that there are more loopholes. It will allow more planes to escape from the sky.

From time to time, planes dragged flames down from the sky, and many more were smashed to pieces by flying shells before they could hit the ground. In less than an hour, hundreds of planes were destroyed, and although the chaos of the battle delayed the carnage, it was only a delay. From 800 planes when they entered the mainland, to now, Colonel Rice estimates that the number of planes still alive does not exceed 450! That is, almost half of the planes were destroyed!

Colonel Rice finally saw the sea, but it was still more than 300 kilometers away from their return journey! And this last leg of the journey will inevitably make more comrades-in-arms disappear from this world. And the goddess of fate is so changeable, when Colonel Rice is desperate and the Germans think that they have the chance to win, another group of planes flying from the sea changes the situation on the battlefield! After receiving information that his own fleet had been ambushed, Nimitz finally sent another wave of fighters to meet the group that was in a bitter battle! And the new force composed of 300 F6F fighters is obviously enough to reverse the decline of the battlefield! Because the German planes were so scattered, and after more than an hour of melee, the Germans were exhausted!

The clever German squadron leader knows to avoid the edge for the time being and is confident in his skills, or the stunned young man who is red-eyed is a little confused about the situation! Soon, however, these arrogant or unrecognizable people either repented and ran away in front of the Americans' machine guns, or they simply said goodbye to the world. The follow-up firefight did not last long, and the FW190 fighter, which was not much fuel, quickly withdrew from the battlefield due to fuel problems, and the DO335 aircraft although there was more fuel, but they stayed in the air for the longest time, and finally Garland watched the other party disappear from sight with regret.

The battle was definitely a big victory, and the Germans killed at least 400 of the opposing side with a loss of about 120 aircraft! The total exchange ratio is about 1 to 4, and with the loss of these aircraft, almost all the pilots are also completely lost, either killed in battle or put into the German prisoner camp, you know, this is a naval aviation pilot, they are undoubtedly technically stronger than the ground aviation pilots, and it is more difficult to train, but it is better to say that the former must be higher than the latter in terms of technical and tactical level, but because the take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft itself is a hurdle, Hainan Airlines pilots can easily go from sea to land, And it is not so easy for army pilots to get on the ship! In just one morning, the Entente fleet lost a quarter of its pilots and carrier-based aircraft, which was an absolutely unforgettable lesson for the Entente fleet! At least that's what the Germans thought.

"Let's get ready to go back, we've been out there for too long, we need to get back to northern France and mainland England for supplies and maintenance, and then prepare for the big war that is about to break out. The responsibility for this operation is on my own, so you need not worry. "When he saw the last returning carrier-based aircraft land safely, Nimitz immediately gave the order to return, in the dark, Nimitz could feel that the biggest crisis was coming, the Luftwaffe had hit itself hard, and the German Navy would be far away?

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