The 385th Bomb Group was the first customer of the "Reverse Cross". On February 7th, they transferred to Nellis Air Force Base and began to prepare for a series of confrontation exercises with the "Reverse Cross". Obviously, these rookies had no idea about this.

I was very excited about this kind of thing. As soon as I arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, I didn't take a good rest and started wandering around. The Germans didn't look like they were here for training, but more like they were here for a group tour.

However, the first project they learned was really like traveling. This project was to recognize an airplane.

First, these rookies were taken to the hangar to see the treasures collected in the "Reverse Cross".

"This is Japan's Zero War. It's super flexible. But you are going to Europe and you won't be able to see this anyway, so you might as well come and see this."

A docent led the group of rookies around the hangar, stopping in front of a certain aircraft from time to time to explain. It really felt like traveling in a museum. However, the content he explained was still very different from ordinary museums.

The instructor stopped in front of an aircraft with a large head and a thin tail equipped with an air-cooled engine. Obviously, this aircraft was the object of his explanation.

"This is the German fw-190. This kind of aircraft is their main force used to attack bombers. This guy is equipped with four 20mm cannons and two 13mm machine guns, which are installed on the nose and wings. The latest one

Intelligence shows that a new type of approximately 30mm aerial cannon has been installed on this thing. The power of that thing, haha, as long as it hits a few rounds, even something as strong as the B-17 will be destroyed immediately.

.”

A group of rookies immediately gathered around chattering, and some couldn't help but stretched out their hands to touch it.

"Don't move! Take a good look at its appearance, especially the frontal view! The most common tactic used by the Germans is to attack head-on. Remember its frontal features - the thick nose, and the lower wings are slightly flipped! Once

When you see this thing, you must concentrate your fire on it. For you, it is much more dangerous than the BF109!"

After saying this, the rookies became quiet. Then the commentator continued his explanation:

"The roll of this aircraft is quite good, and the acceleration is absolutely top-notch. However, its high-altitude performance is a bit poor, and its circling is also average. Because its circling is average, when they attack you, it is used to dodge the self-defense firepower of bombers.

The most common move is the barrel roll, and they complete this move very quickly, as you can see when watching the movie later."

The instructor led them past one aircraft after another, stopping from time to time to explain. Finally, he led the group of people out of the hangar. He raised his wrist, looked at his watch, and said to the rookies:

"Well, it's already lunch time. Why don't I take you to the cafeteria. Have a good rest after eating. We have classes in the afternoon."

After a while, the group of people arrived at the entrance of the cafeteria. Boynton happened to come out of it. When he saw the instructor, he said hello: "Ron, why are you so inactive in eating?"

…

The afternoon course was about watching movie shorts. This was not just for fun, but serious training. However, if the morning training was about watching airplanes, the afternoon session turned into guessing airplanes. First, we divided into groups to watch various enemy airplanes.

People flew from far to near from different angles, and then the screen suddenly went dark, followed by the instructor's questions. First the most basic ones, such as:

"How many planes were there just now?"

"What types of aircraft are there and how many are each?"

When rookies face these questions, they often look confused, and then start to answer in a daze. In fact, their answers at this time are more like guessing than seeing or recalling them. This is

It also brought them all kinds of painful memories.

Because, once the answer is wrong, the instructors will impose different punishments one after another. Some are punished by eating food shaped like stool, and some are punished by standing on their heads to read the following questions until they get the correct answer. There are many kinds of punishments.

This kind of training lasted for a whole afternoon. By the time the training was over, the rookies were all dizzy and faceless. But when they returned to the dormitory, they found that every corner of the dormitory was covered with stickers of all kinds.

Photos of various enemy aircraft at different distances and angles.

"Oh my God, there are all these things! I feel like vomiting when I see these!" a newbie complained.

"This is not a fucking human world, it's a complete hell!" another rookie agreed. But he didn't know that this was not the real hell. In fact, their journey to hell had just begun, even the journey to hell.

The beginning has just begun.

The next two days were still the same kind of training, but the intensity of the training became more and more intense. The short films became shorter and shorter, even only one or two seconds, but the number and types of airplanes that appeared on the screen were increasing.

It's getting more and more complicated. Even the problems are getting more advanced.

"Which plane in the short video will enter its flight first?"

"Which plane in the video just now poses the greatest threat to us?"

Later it became more advanced to:

"How fast are the planes in the short video compared to ours? What are the slowest planes? What are their firing distance and advance?"

After four full days of such training, the rookies finally waited for the real day. The commander of the 385th Bomb Group mobilized the excited rookies:

"Brothers, tomorrow we are going to have a real showdown with those bastards who have been treating us like monkeys these days. Those bastards are so stupid that they want to beat our shit out... Nainai, give it all tomorrow

I brace myself and let these bastards eat all the shit they spit out!"

At the same time, the "Reverse Cross" side is also setting the tone for tomorrow's drill.

"Our opponents tomorrow are all rookies. Defeating them is not a problem." Ron smiled and said, "The problem is how far we should go. You know, they are still kids. What we have given them

This blow can't be too hard. If the first blow is too hard, we might beat them all stupid. After hitting them, they will react and tremble when they see the iron cross, which is not our goal."

"But those guys are a little bit unconvinced with us at the moment. These guys really think that they are just rookies like them and can fly around. If we don't teach them a lesson, then when they get there, they will all become

Did the Germans give medals? Therefore, I advocate that those boys should be taught a lesson seriously." Bad boy MacGaea expressed his murderous attitude.

"I don't agree. Those who fly in the sky have to be a little arrogant. If we completely destroy their arrogance, they will be useless. This is not our purpose. We should leave room for them to grow,"

Ron took a look and saw that the person speaking was actually Boyington.

"It's hard to control the speed. If you hit it lightly, your butt won't hurt and you won't remember it. If you hit it hard, you'll be disabled."

To be honest, Ron also feels that this degree is difficult to control. I once said, "Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish." It means that to govern a big country, you must grasp the right amount like cooking a small fish, with a little more fire.

If it is too salty, it will be burnt, if it is too small, it will be undercooked. If you add a little more salt, it will be salty, if you give it a little less, it will be bland. Although I am talking about governing the country, Ron now feels the same way about this sentence. Fortunately,

The commander of 385 is very interesting and has already provided him with the expectations of the rookies.

"According to the information over there, those rookies want to fight us 1.5:1." Ron informed everyone about the situation he learned from there, "This is their private opinion, and they all threaten it in public.

He is going to defeat us."

"Tsk, these rookies have no idea how much they have. They want to beat us 1.5:1? What a fucking dream!"

"They also believe that at least three-quarters of their aircraft can return safely after breaking through our interception and completely destroying the intended target. According to the settings, tomorrow they will dispatch 24 bombers and we will dispatch 20 fighter jets to intercept. Let's discuss it.

, how many are left for them?”

"It's too much to not keep one, but it's not good to keep one more. I think we should leave half of them to complete the bombing, and then let them go back with a quarter? What do you think?"

"I think it's good. In this way, they can realize that they are still far behind, but at least they can attack the target effectively. They can also maintain some confidence. Ron, what do you think?"

"Okay, let's try it like this. However, everyone here, please be careful not to accidentally get killed by those rookies." Ron said with a smile.

"They? Practice again."

…

The next day - February 11, 1943, the first confrontation drill began.

The 24 bombers of the 385th Bomb Group formed two box formations (this successful tactic has been popularized in the bomber force) and are flying at an altitude of 7,000 meters. These four-engine heavy bombers are pulling long in the high altitude.

The long silvery-white track is like a stream flowing in the sky. But Seaman knows that this beautiful-looking scene is actually not a good thing. This means that fighter jets can find themselves very far away. Seaman

Mann was the top machine gunner on the B-17 of the 385th Bomb Group. He knew that although every comrade-in-arms appeared confident in this battle, in fact, everyone was confused. On the European battlefield, it is said that the bombers of the Army Aviation

The exchange ratio with German fighter jets is very favorable, but the "Reverse Cross" is composed of aces, and they are all rookies. In fact, everyone has no idea what will happen next.

Just in front of the bomber group, where Seaman can't see it yet, a group of fighter jets have already targeted them. (Bombers are much more conspicuous than fighter jets)

"Hey, Ron, their formation is quite strict."

"Haha, if you don't act calmly when you are not under attack, then you are doing nothing. Dad, I can bet you a bottle of Scotch whiskey. As soon as we launch an attack, we can make their formation fall apart in the first round."

"Polish guys, only one box will be broken up in the first round, and the remaining one will be left until they return."

"I know, sir!"

Ron smiled. He knew that his men had many problems, but after going to heaven, they actually had no problem enforcing battlefield discipline.

"Okay, get in formation and prepare to attack!"

Eight Spitfires painted white with reverse crosses and black iron crosses, and 12 F4Us with the same paint began to gather together, preparing to launch an assault.
Chapter completed!