Chapter 720 Atlantic Strangulation War (29)

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Sunday, November 28, 1943 - another Sunday!

At 14:00, with the issuance of Machar's order, the Axis Fleet entered the highest speed combat state. The four fleet aircraft carriers increased their speed to more than 28 knots and began to fly combat aircraft into the wind. The artillery fleet further away also began. Increase the speed to 27 knots and start sprinting at full speed.

Their goal is the same, to attack Newfoundland!

At 14:27, the fleet was less than 480 kilometers away from Newfoundland. The first attack wave had all assembled and set off. Subsequently, the 12 He-218 dive bombers, including the 12 He-218 dive bombers that had just attacked, also assembled and set off again. Ozawa only gave the fleet Forty air defense fighters were left to cover the fleet. In order to cope with the needs of the fierce battle, the ground crews tried their best to assemble the spare crews on the aircraft and prepare for the next wave of attacks.

According to the schedule, the first attack wave will launch the first round of attack around 15:35, focusing on paralyzing the island’s air defense firepower and airport and destroying US military aircraft as much as possible. The second attack wave will arrive within 30 minutes and focus on attacking For ships at the terminal, the entire fleet will return at 16:30. Due to the high latitude of Newfoundland, this is basically the rhythm of nightfall, which is greatly disadvantageous for tracking and counterattack by enemy aircraft. However, for elite German carrier-based aircraft pilots with night fighting skills, landing in the dark is commonplace.

This is also the secret of Ozawa carefully choosing to launch the attack at two o'clock in the afternoon: the sunlight during the attack is used to provide attack observation, and the night when returning is used to protect his own safety.

Seeing the huge fleet of aircraft leaving, Machar asked solemnly: "When can the artillery fleet arrive to attack?"

"We will rush to the scene for an air strike at about 1 o'clock tomorrow morning. If everything goes well, the landing operation is scheduled to be launched at 9 o'clock tomorrow. If it does not go well, the landing operation will be canceled and only air strikes and artillery bombardments will be carried out."

"Hopefully our luck will be as good as ever."

At 15:11 p.m., Lieutenant Henry, who set off from Bermuda, flew a B-29 modified reconnaissance aircraft and continued to perform its reconnaissance and search missions. According to the request of the commander, his aircraft was responsible for searching for targets within a range of 1,000 nautical miles. , for him and his companions, they had carried out a whole morning search since early morning today, and found nothing. They thought they would be asked to return to the base, but they did not expect that the order they received was to re-expand the search to the outside, even for one minute. Rest time, but he doesn't complain, it's a war, that's it.

Fortunately, the B-29's range was long enough, and only one-third of the fuel was used in the morning's search. It would be impossible for other aircraft to carry out such a difficult mission.

"Where are we now?"

The observer looked at the map and carefully recalled the overall voyage: "If I guessed correctly, we should have traveled more than 1,600 kilometers to Bermuda..."

Henry lamented: "Fortunately, the B-29 can fly at a maximum speed of more than 500 kilometers, otherwise we would not be able to return home before dark." Even if we return at the highest speed, it will take more than 3 hours to return to Bermuda. Fortunately, it is located at a low altitude Darkness in Bermuda at this latitude is more than 2 hours later than in Newfoundland.

"Yes, but you have to pay attention to the oil. I don't want to bathe in the sea in this weather."

The plane flew forward for a while, and the observer said to himself: "I've seen it almost, but I still haven't found anything. Where did the damn German devils go? Let's return."

"Okay." Henry responded readily and made a move to lower the wings and prepare to turn sideways. The observer suddenly shouted, "Look, there!"

"where?"

"Bottom right" Henry looked over and suddenly found a long series of black spots on the sea. They were blurry and unclear, but they should be signs of the fleet.

He quickly lowered the nose of the plane and dived in, but something even more shocking happened to him. The observer shouted: "Oh my god... there is a fleet of ships farther away moving rapidly toward the northeast, much faster than what he just discovered." Hurry up..."

Henry increased the throttle of the B-29 to the maximum, accelerated the dive and lowered the altitude, and asked: "Is this the German fleet?"

"I don't know...but it's definitely not ours. Admiral Cunningham's fleet hasn't arrived yet. Let's lower the altitude quickly."

"Ah, that's the German fleet..." Within 2 minutes, the observers shouted, "That's their battleship..."

At 15:22, the US military reconnaissance plane found the German landing and transport fleet. Seven minutes later, it found the galloping German battleship formation. Another four minutes later, the tank saw the aircraft carrier formation in the distance...

"God bless, I found a big fish!"

With a "boom", an anti-aircraft artillery shell exploded not far below the plane, and a batch of shells exploded around it, emitting clouds of black smoke - this was the enemy's fleet with no doubt!

"Pull it up, pull it up quickly...I'll report..."

While Henry was hurriedly pulling up, he risked his life to rush towards the aircraft carrier formation. The observer skillfully sent a telegram: "The position of the German fleet has been found, more than 1,700 kilometers northeast of Bermuda, and less than 500 kilometers from Newfoundland. The entire main force of the German army, Repeat and discover all the main German forces!”

Just when he had just finished sending it, eight Bf-219s had surrounded the B-29 and opened fire fiercely. Originally, they could not reach the high-altitude B-29, but in order to see clearly, Henry took the risk to lower the altitude to more than 4,000 meters. In the end, he was inevitably shot down by the Germans.

"Sir, an enemy reconnaissance plane was shot down, but the telegram has been sent out."

Marshall subconsciously looked at the wall clock and found that the hands were pointing to 15:35, and he laughed: "It's too late, the fleet should have already raided Newfoundland!"

It was indeed too late. Just when Henry discovered the German aviation flight and learned about the mother formation, the officers and soldiers at the Newfoundland Island radar station suddenly noticed a large number of enemy aircraft approaching on the screen. The air raid group had been flying at low altitude over the sea before approaching Newfoundland Island, relying on the curvature of the earth. Covering its traces, it did not start to climb until it was more than 60 kilometers away from Newfoundland, and it immediately appeared on the radar screen in an instant.

The radar soldier was convinced that he had read it correctly. He checked it several times with his companions and finally told the sergeant major on duty.

The sergeant major in charge responded casually: "Oh, probably the strategic transport aircraft have returned from Great Britain..."

Just as he said this, his whole body suddenly turned to stone. He remembered: Didn't the strategic transport plane come back on Friday? Routine maintenance and material transport work are being completed this afternoon. Where did the transport fleet return from Great Britain come from?

He looked like a mad tiger and roared: "Enemy plane, enemy plane... This is an enemy plane, quick, quick, sound the air defense siren!"

The shrill air defense siren rang immediately. He grabbed the phone and reported to the staff officer on duty in a breathless tone: "There is an enemy air attack..."

"Air strikes, where are they? How many are they?"

"Hurry up and let the anti-aircraft fighters take off. If it's too late, it'll be too late..."

"Okay, okay! I'll give the order right away!"

A large group of fighter pilots were playing poker in the watch room and bragging boredly - Monday would start delivering supplies to Great Britain again, and Sunday afternoon was a rare free time. When they heard the siren, their faces changed drastically and they scrambled to get there. He rushed out the door, leaving a pile of poker cards and chips behind him.

Unfortunately, it was too late... The distance of more than 60 kilometers was only a little more than 7 minutes of flight time for the He-218s known as lightning bombers.

"Attention all formations, the air strike will launch in 5 minutes! Fighters will come forward and be responsible for clearing out enemy fighter jets!" Colonel Frank, the commander-in-chief of the air strike, gave the order without hesitation.

"receive!"

At 15:40, the latest telegram was sent to the Joint Chiefs War Room, and everyone's expressions changed drastically.

"Damn it...the Germans went to Newfoundland...no, they're going to bomb Newfoundland!"

Arnold fell heavily on his chair, dumbfounded. He had also received a telegram from Spartz today, reporting that a new round of strategic airlift to Britain would be launched tomorrow. The supplies had been basically loaded, mainly fuel and medicine.

"No..." he roared desperately, "Immediately order Newfoundland and the Canadians to complete combat preparations and prepare for air defense. Newfoundland has a large number of ships and supplies, and nothing can be missed..."

The staff rushed to issue orders.

Marshall, Admiral King, and others all had solemn expressions on their faces. They seemed to be shocked by this unexpected turn of events. Admiral King stared at the map for several minutes and squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: "How many planes are there on Prince Edward Island?" ? How many planes does Maine have? Let them launch an air attack on the enemy fleet immediately..."

Prince Edward Island is now more than 800 kilometers away from the German fleet, and Maine is about 1,400 kilometers away from the German fleet. It is the closest place to launch an attack. If bombers are dispatched, it may also pose a threat to the German fleet. Everyone seems to have been given a shot in the arm. Needle, take action now.

But this was destined to be a futile struggle. At 16:42, the frustrated telegraph staff read the telegram sent by Spartz in a trembling voice: "Newfoundland has been attacked by German troops. We are in urgent need of reinforcements!"

It’s over…

At 15:36, the German air raid group ignored the scattered anti-aircraft firepower on the ground and broke into the sky above Newfoundland. The He-218s took the lead in diving down. Only then did they know what they had encountered. The aircraft were parked near the runways of the airport. The ground was filled with densely packed aircraft - not ordinary small aircraft, but huge 4-engine heavy bombers or transport aircraft.

"God..." Frank thought to himself, "How many are there? 300?"

"Sir, the intelligence says there are more than 1,000 aircraft. There are probably other airports."

"Spread out the formation, search carefully, and don't miss any target!"

"Boom!" With a sound, the first batch of attack aircraft had taken the lead in dropping bombs, and the crit battle kicked off with a stormy raid...