Chapter 411 Family Tree County Chronicles, All on One Page

At 6 a.m. on April 17, 1942, the last combat briefing before departure officially ended, and there was still an hour before the scheduled departure time of the 1st and 3rd Air Divisions.

At this time, the sky was cloudless and the breeze was refreshing. This airspace environment with good visibility was simply a great assist from God.

When Fang Ziyi drove to his own apron, his crew members were already ready.

Everyone wore special flight jackets that were enough to cope with low temperatures, and helmets, goggles, gloves, self-defense weapons and parachutes were placed in designated areas.

Since this was the first time for the comrades to carry out a strategic bombing mission, they were more or less nervous.

There was no way. Even if the staff had planned the route and action details in advance, and even had several versions of the emergency plan, it was still very dangerous to bomb the devil's homeland.

Nervousness is human nature and inevitable.

Fortunately, Fang Ziyi is a mature and experienced commander. He had long anticipated this scene and had thought of a specific solution.

In order to relieve the pressure on everyone, the ace took out a wrinkled book from his pocket, and then said to the soldiers with a smile:

"Pilots from the British and Ugly countries always bring their lucky charms before each mission. But we in the Eighth Route Army are all materialists and don't engage in idealistic things."

"The book in my hand is our family tree. After the Zhongtiao Mountain air battle, the elders in my family have opened a page for me."

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of all the soldiers present suddenly became hot. Especially the two comrades from Shandong, the tension and anxiety in their hearts disappeared in an instant.

That's the family tree!

Which good man can resist the temptation of opening a page?

Although his solution has worked, Fang Ziyi still decided to add fuel to the fire, so as to completely ignite the fighting spirit and passion in the hearts of the comrades.

"Not only the family tree, but also the county annals of our county have opened a page for me. As a man and a soldier, I can say that I have reached the peak of my life now."

"By the way, I have another inside information, which Director Huang told me by telegram the day before yesterday."

"When our strategic bombing operation is successfully completed, the headquarters will build a memorial hall in Jiaodong area to record the heroic deeds of our air force."

"As long as you perform well on the battlefield, such as severely damaging a key target, the district will open a display case for you."

After speaking, the apron was completely boiling, and even the ground crews on standby were excited.

All the soldiers had only one idea in their minds, that is, to throw all the bombs and napalm bombs in the magazine on the enemy's head and burn all the evil with a raging fire.

"Team Fang, when are we going to set off? I can't wait!"

"Haha, don't worry, there's more"

Just as Fang Ziyi was about to answer the question, a burst of broadcast noise suddenly sounded over the airport.

To be a bomber pilot or crew member, everyone's eyesight is naturally excellent. Following the source of the sound, they saw a man in a black leather jacket.

Under the lighting of the scene, this man's face was firm and cold, and he exuded a powerful aura.

Facing the targets of curiosity and exploration, 103 raised the microphone in his hand and said:

"Comrades, I am LYL, I believe everyone knows me."

"Today! It is a good day! It is also the day that the people of the whole country have been waiting for many years! I am honored to be able to represent the border area and the headquarters to practice for everyone here!"

"Since the outbreak of the full-scale war of resistance, I have dreamed countless times that I led the troops to the enemy's homeland and personally let those damn Japanese beasts experience what despair is."

"I have waited for five years, and this opportunity has finally come!"

103's voice was full of inspiring power. The few short words just now were like beating a war drum, and instantly made all the officers and soldiers present excited.

He looked around, then took a deep breath and ordered loudly: "Everyone! Get on board! Go!"

"Let's burn Tokyo! Blood debts must be paid with blood!"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the airport reached its peak instantly, and the soldiers shouted in unison:

"Burn Tokyo! Blood debts must be paid with blood!"

"Burn Tokyo! Blood debts must be paid with blood!"

"Burn Tokyo! Blood debts must be paid with blood!"

······

After the mobilization meeting, the members of each crew conducted a final visual inspection, and then boarded the new four-engine heavy bomber.

That's right, the fighter plane driven by the comrades in this strategic bombing operation was the famous anti-fascist hammer: Lancaster!

Unlike the early model MK.1 currently used by the British Royal Air Force, the Lancaster provided by Awakening the Brave Tiger is the final complete version produced in small quantities after the war.

As a fine equipment produced by a military factory within the system, this four-engine heavy bomber can reach a maximum range of 4,388 kilometers as long as it is equipped with 150 magic oil, which is also produced by the system.

As for the bombs?

The Lancaster's main feature is its simplicity and brutality. It can carry a mix of 11 tons of various types of bombs in a single mission.

Such a level of bomb load was absolutely amazing in early 1942. The B17 equipped by the Ugly Country now has to hit one before leaving, and the three poor Axis bastards are drooling with envy.

As long as it is sent out, the soldiers can definitely set up a barbecue stall in Tokyo, so that the Japanese can feel the long-lost warmth. This is the confidence of 103 to say that it will turn millions of leaflets into thousands of tons of bombs.

However, the Lancaster of the Eighth Route Army Air Force also has shortcomings. Its self-defense firepower is really weak.

Compared with the hedgehog-like flying fortress, these strategic bombers are only equipped with six ancestral 7.7mm Brownings and two 12.7mm Lao Gan Ma.

The most fatal thing is that there is no shooting position at the belly of the Lancaster, not to mention any ball-shaped turrets.

Fortunately, when performing strategic bombing missions, the twin-engine heavy fighters of the Air Force Division will escort the entire process, and the weak self-defense firepower will not have any serious impact.

Want to stop the terrifying strategic bombing of the Eighth Master? You don’t have this strength at all. When can you mass-produce shockwaves and come to touch porcelain!

······

When all the members had boarded the plane, the sky was already turning pale. Fang Ziyi looked through the window at the Lancaster bombers of other formations, and then said to the co-pilot beside him:

"Prepare to check the checklist."

After that, the two checked the fuel delivery valve, intercooler, gyroscope, air intake fairing, throttle, main power switch, boost pump and fuel quantity.

At the same time, the rest of the members were not idle.

The radio operator confirmed the call sign and frequency with the tower, and the navigator, bombardier and self-defense machine gunner also completed their respective reports.

"Start engine number one!"

With Fang Ziyi's order, the piston engine on the inner side of the right wing started running first, driving the propeller to start rotating from slow to fast.

"Fuel pressure and oil pressure are normal!"

After confirming that there was no mechanical failure, the remaining three engines were started one after another, and the Lancaster bomber slowly taxied into the field.

This scene was seen clearly by 103 on the control tower. He quickly put down the telescope in his hand and ordered the soldiers on standby beside him:

"Quick! Give them the signal to go!"

"Swoosh!"

Seeing the green flare soaring into the sky, Fang Ziyi released the brakes and rushed to the end of the runway with the maximum throttle.

For a moment, the roar of the four engines was deafening.

After the lead plane successfully took off, the high-level group and the low-level group followed closely, and the entire formation completed the attack at an interval of one plane every two minutes.

In just half an hour, 28 Lancasters disappeared in the night sky.

All the fighters flew eastward, according to the predetermined course and route, to the assembly point over the Bohai Sea.

There, there would be bomber formations from several other airports waiting for them.

······

In fact, completing the assembly in the sky of the Jiaodong area is almost the most dangerous part of the entire mission. After all, there are 100 heavy bombers fully loaded with bombs and fuel. Once they collide, the planes will inevitably be destroyed and people will die.

Fortunately, the comrades had radios, which allowed real-time communication during the flight.

Coupled with the guidance of the ground radar station and the cloudless weather, everyone was able to complete the assembly without any danger.

When the entire formation began to climb, Fang Ziyi's voice reached the ears of every soldier through the communication system in the aircraft.

"The pilot calls the crew members. The current altitude is 3,000 meters. Everyone put on oxygen masks. Be careful of your saliva. Don't let it turn into ice and block the oxygen holes."

"The current temperature is minus 30 degrees. Don't hold the machine gun with your bare hands, or your hands will stick. Keep the communication in the cabin unobstructed, and report to me in time if you find anything."

"Three and a half hours later, we arrived above the target!" (End of this chapter)