Li Mei has a king-size desk that is so big that it can be used as a double bed. Of course, this thing is not just to show off, but it is really useful. This desk is filled with all kinds of things.

Aircraft models, such as B-17, B-24, P-38, Spitfire, BF109, FW190, BF110, etc., were all over the table. When Li Mei had nothing to do, she would play with these things there and study tactics.

Sometimes when he was too tired after studying, Li Mei would simply take a nap on the big table, which earned him the nickname "tactical madman".

It is already midnight, but the "tactical madman" has not rested yet. He is studying a new tactic with his guests in the office: box formation.

The so-called box formation refers to a dense formation that is larger than the previous 4-plane formation and 6-plane formation. It consists of 12 or more bombers, arranged in the shape of a large box in the sky. In this way,

No matter which angle the enemy aircraft attacks from, it will be attacked by the self-defense machine guns of several bombers at the same time. When several or even dozens of such box formations are combined together, even the most skilled fighter pilots would not dare to say that they are in the attack.

When you attack them, you will be able to escape unscathed.

Historically, the box formation was created by a group of guys led by Li Mei, but now, Ron's appearance has brought the emergence of this formation several months ahead of schedule.

"Ah, this looks good. As long as the Germans haven't adopted the method of air-dropping time bombs and air-launching large-caliber rockets, this formation is basically invulnerable in front of those ordinary fighter jets. At least, let me lead a team

As for German fighter jets, I'm sure there's nothing I can do about it." The guest said, yawning profusely.

Tmd, I came all the way from North America and didn’t get much rest. It’s really hard to meet these guys whose eyes light up every time they hear new tactics.

"Lieutenant Colonel Ron, thank you so much for your help." Li Mei looked at her watch and smiled sheepishly, "Oh, it's already late, it's already half past two. I'm sorry, come to my place.

Come on, I didn’t arrange for you to have a good rest, and even kept you from sleeping. How about I take you to the dormitory?”

Ron woke up at 7 o'clock the next morning. However, he was not happy to "sleep until he wakes up naturally". He was woken up by various noisy sounds at the airport.

I got up from the bed, opened the curtains and looked outside. The airport was already busy. Bombers had left the hangar one after another. Some were doing maintenance before taking off, some were refueling, and some had already begun to fly to the main aircraft.

The runway taxied.

"Is there a mission? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Ron thought as he hurriedly put on his military uniform, wiped his face carelessly, and went out.

He got on the Willys Jeep assigned to him and quickly arrived at the track, where he saw Li Mei standing on the track gesticulating.

"Hey, Ron, are you awake too?" As soon as she saw Ron jumping out of the jeep, Li Mei shouted to him.

"Haha, you've made the earth shake here. If I don't wake up, I'm afraid I'll turn into a pig."

Ron walked over and stood together with Li Mei.

"Are there any combat missions today?"

"No, there will be a mission to bomb the Germans tomorrow. We are just training now." Li Mei suddenly asked, "Do you know what the training subjects are?"

"How do I know? I'm not a heavy bomber." Seeing the smile that couldn't be hidden in the corner of Li Mei's eyes, Ron suddenly felt something in his heart, "Isn't it a box formation?"

"Haha, you guessed it right. In fact, our original formation foundation is pretty good. We practiced today and can use this to surprise the Germans tomorrow." Li Mei looked proud.

Such a drill can be conducted at 7 o'clock in the morning, which means that before that, Li Mei and his people had already had dinner, held a tactical meeting, and assigned training tasks. Damn it, when did this guy get up?

?Could it be that he didn't sleep at all?

A B-17 parked at the starting point of the main runway, ready to take off. Li Mei waved to Ron,

"Now that you're up, come up with me and take a look."

Just when she was about to board the gangway of the B-17, Li Mei suddenly seemed to remember something.

"You haven't had breakfast yet? But it doesn't matter, there's still time."

He pretended to turn to him and shouted to the driver, "Hurry up and get two pieces of field rations, and bring an aviation jacket."

It has to be said that Li Mei was indeed very efficient. Within two minutes, before the plane's fourth engine started, the jeep drove back and brought the two things Li Mei mentioned.

The so-called field dry food, to put it more clearly, is compressed biscuits and canned luncheon meat. However, the aviation team has preferential treatment, and there are two more pieces of chocolate. And the aviation jacket, it is a real good thing. This kind of leather jacket is good for use

Made of sheepskin with long and dense wool. The warmth retention effect when worn on the body is absolutely first-class. You must know that the average flight altitude of the B-17 is above 7,000 meters. In many cases, especially after dropping bombs and returning

Sometimes, in order to avoid enemy planes, the flying altitude must be as high as 8,000 meters or more. In Europe, at such an altitude, whether it is summer or winter, the temperature is always below zero and can even be as cold as 20 or 30 degrees below zero. And

Passenger planes are different. The cabin of the B-17 is not sealed. The temperature inside the cabin is the same as the temperature outside. Without this thing, all ten people on the plane would have turned into popsicles after the last flight.

The plane began to taxi on the runway, and then flew lightly and smoothly.

Before the plane climbed too high, Ron quickly ate a portion of field rations with water from the kettle. It would not be easy to eat until he reached high altitude, and everything would be frozen like ice.

piece.

Because the pilots of the 305th Bomb Group actually have a pretty good foundation. It is actually really difficult to arrange a new formation. But is Li Mei's training just like this?

The fleet gradually climbed higher and higher, and soon reached an altitude of 7,000 meters. It was already very cold in the cabin. Ron wrapped his pilot jacket tightly while chatting with Li Mei in a way that was almost yelling at each other (the noise was very loud

):

"It's not that cold in the Pacific. It's the tropics after all. I'm afraid it won't be this cold until 30,000 feet."

"It's pretty good here. In fact, the coldest part is the machine gunner's position. Why don't you give it a try."

I came here to learn about strategic bombing in Europe, and of course I wanted to experience the machine gunner position. Ron stood up, stamped his feet hard, and then walked towards the top machine gun tower closest to him.

"Hey, brother," Ron climbed two steps up the ladder, and then patted the machine gunner's leg (because the cabin was not sealed, the noise inside was very loud, and the machine gun tower was separated from the outside by a layer of glass, so the noise was even greater.

Big. The low roar of the engine was mixed with the noise caused by the high-speed friction of the machine body in the air. No one could hear normal speech. Under normal circumstances, calls were made through headphones and microphones. But Ron was a non-staff member, so he didn’t give it.

He was equipped with this thing) shouted, "Come down and I'll hold you up for a while."

The top machine gunner was very happy to have someone take over, even just for a moment. After understanding what Ron meant, he immediately climbed down from the top machine gun tower and gave up his position to Ron.

Ron sat down in the machine gunner's position, fastened his seat belt, put on the machine gunner's large headphones and goggles and began to perform the machine gunner's duties.

It is indeed colder here than in the cabin. The cold wind leaks through various seams and blows on the face like a knife. If you don't wear goggles, you may not even be able to open your eyes. But there are things here that can't be compared with the cabin.

This place has a wide view. Looking around from here, you can see many B-17s far and near. They are flying in a strict box formation in the sky. Behind them, they are dragging a long

, a snow-white track. This track was shone silvery by the bright morning sunshine in England. It was like a silver ribbon. If you look at it from a distance, the trails of these bombers must be together.

Like a river rushing forward in the sky, moving forward inexorably.

The responsibilities of a machine gunner are one for self-defense and another for vigilance. Especially the machine gunner located on the top machine gun tower. After all, his position has the best view. Just when Ron was busy admiring the beautiful scenery, he suddenly discovered that

Some small black spots appeared directly ahead.

"Fighters spotted ahead!" Ron immediately sent out a warning, staring at these things with his eyes wide open, while pointing the machine gun forward.

At this time, Li Mei's voice came from the earphones: "Ron, don't be nervous, that's our P-40, here to imitate the enemy."

"Damn, they're already simulating enemy forces here. Didn't General Arnold's idea come from LeMay?" Ron thought silently.

This conjecture is indeed true, but Li Mei initially carried out this kind of training mainly to make pilots accustomed to not dodging. The second is to take the opportunity to train machine gunners.

But by the time Li Mei told Ron the truth, Ron was no longer nervous because he had already recognized that those planes were all P-40s. This kind of plane is almost one of the planes Ron is most familiar with.

.His flying career began on this kind of aircraft. Ron recognized that kind of flying from afar.

These aircraft passed through the box formation of B-17s, then rushed from other angles, and passed through the formation again. The captain's voice came from the earphones:

"Record the number of times you shoot!"

After several rounds of simulated attacks, when they arrived at the simulated target area, following Li Mei's order, the B-17s began to change formation. The bombers at the bottom of the box formation began to accelerate, flew a little ahead of the bombers at the top, and then started

Simulate bombing, and then the bombers on the upper level also start to simulate bombing. (This is to avoid the bombs dropped by the bombers on the upper level threatening the bombers on the lower level)

At the moment when the box was opened, the group of P-40s rushed over again. However, the process of opening the box was very short. It took only two minutes for the B-17s to return to the box formation again.

"This drill was good. Let's go back and summarize it, and give the Germans a surprise tomorrow. Everyone returns!" Li Mei's order came from the headset.

The b-17s still returned in box formation, while the P-40s gathered together to form a large formation and flew with the b-17s. Ron, who was frozen, quickly ran down from the machine gun tower. Although it was cold in the cabin,

Compared to the machine gun tower, it was much better. Li Mei smiled and handed Ron a large piece of chocolate.

"Eating some of this will keep you warm."

Ron smiled and took it...

After the plane landed, Ron reported the number of times he fired to the captain, and then went to the cafeteria for lunch. After lunch, as soon as he walked out of the cafeteria, he saw Li Mei walking towards us.

As soon as Li Mei saw Ron, she rushed over and punched him affectionately on the chest.

"Ron, do you know how much the defense effect of our new formation has been improved?" Before Ron could react, he gave the answer directly, "The machine gunner's chance of firing at the enemy has nearly doubled! This
Chapter completed!