On March 31st, at two in the afternoon, the 41st Fighter Squadron of the 4th Air Fleet was engaged in escorting the 42nd Bomber Squadron on a mission when they suddenly spotted a large number of aircraft approaching from the southern sky.
These aircraft moved with a sluggish grace, appearing cumbersome and markedly different from the sleek German single-seaters.
"The enemy aircraft belong to the Anglo-French forces; I can't discern whether they're the French Farman F.20 or the British F.E.2b," remarked the squadron leader of the 41st Fighter Squadron. The resemblance between these two models was strikingly similar. Faced with the formidable pressure from the German air force, both nations had made their choice.
Without delay, he drew his signal pistol and fired a flare, signaling the bombers to immediately release their payload and withdraw.
Though the German aircraft were technologically superior to those of the Anglo-French forces, the bombers themselves were undeniably unwieldy. Engaging enemy fighters with bombers was clearly a fool's errand.
Upon receiving the command, the bombers of the 42nd Squadron promptly dropped their bombs and retreated from the battlefield. At this juncture, accuracy was of secondary importance; the primary concern was to vacate the airspace for the fighters.
As the bomber squadron began its withdrawal, the leader of the 41st Fighter Squadron launched another signal flare, instructing all pilots to prepare for combat.
In the absence of successful miniaturization of radio technology, air combat coordination still relied on such antiquated methods. While rudimentary, they were effective enough.
The forty German F2 fighters surged toward the incoming enemy aircraft. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the Anglo-French formation—amounting to over a hundred planes, more than double that of the 41st Fighter Squadron—the German pilots exhibited no fear; rather, they were filled with fierce determination.
In aerial combat, victory is not merely a matter of numbers. The flying skill of the pilots and the performance of their aircraft play a pivotal role. Before the seasoned German pilots, the Anglo-French planes were destined to become easy targets.
On the ground, the soldiers of the Anglo-French forces breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of their aircraft, with some even beginning to cheer. After all, the previous German bombardments had exacted a heavy toll on them.
"Down with the German planes! Bring them all down!"
"Charge forth, warriors of the British Empire! Bring down the German aircraft with precision!"
The soldiers on the ground fervently rallied behind their airmen, hoping for victory over the German forces. At least in terms of numbers, the Anglo-French fleet held a clear advantage.
Given that the fighting was taking place over the skies above the Marne River, the Germans could clearly observe the unfolding scene.
"Come on, lads of the German Empire! Shoot down those French and British planes!"
"Take them out, brave German pilots!"
Even senior German officers, including Qin Tian, were glued to their binoculars, intently watching the impending aerial clash.
For the pilots on both sides, the cheers from the ground were invisible and inaudible. Their singular mission was to shoot down enemy aircraft and claim victory in the skies.
The German F2 fighters boasted impressive speed, with a maximum cruising velocity exceeding two hundred kilometers per hour, a significant advantage over the Anglo-French fighters. This superiority often translated into decisive advantages in combat.
As the distances between the two forces narrowed, the German F2 fighters began their ascent. Although not a soldier, Qin Tian was a military enthusiast well-versed in common tactics. In the absence of precision-guided munitions, the prevalent air combat strategy involved climbing to gain altitude, followed by a dive attack, then rising again to repeat the cycle—a tactic particularly effective against less maneuverable enemy aircraft. This very strategy had even been the undoing of the formidable Japanese Zero in another timeline.
The French air force, engaging the German fighters, operated the Farman F.20, which paled in comparison to the performance of the German F2. However, upon witnessing the ascent of the German aircraft, they too attempted to climb, but their inferior rate of ascent left them lagging far behind.
"Climbing against us is sheer folly; our aircraft are the most advanced in the world," scoffed a German pilot, glancing disdainfully at the French planes below.
As anticipated, with altitude gained, the French aircraft struggled increasingly, with some even suffering engine failures at high elevations and plummeting toward the ground.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Several French aircraft crashed to the earth, exploding in a dramatic display that left both sides' soldiers dumbfounded.
"Oh my God! What is happening? Why are our planes falling from the sky?"
"Ha! The French planes are utterly inferior! They can't possibly contend with us!" cheered the German soldiers.
A smile crept onto Qin Tian's lips, filled with a sense of accomplishment. Thanks to his efforts, the Germans were equipped with the world's most advanced aircraft. Now, these cutting-edge machines were granting Germany an edge on the battlefield, steadily turning the tide of war in their favor.
Faced with the relentless ascent of the German aircraft, the French air force was rendered powerless, compelled to cease climbing. Continuing to do so would mean losing all their planes.
Yet, the German pilots would not let this opportunity slip away; they launched their attack immediately.
Dozens of aircraft descended from above, unleashing a barrage of fire from their aircraft-mounted machine guns.
"Rat-tat-tat!"
The rain of bullets swept towards the French planes below, easily penetrating their wooden frames and leaving gaping holes in their structures.
Some French aircraft were utterly dismantled, crashing to the ground.
In this era, aside from the German pilots, none from other nations were equipped with parachutes. This meant that once downed, the only fate awaiting them was a grim demise upon impact.
Under the onslaught of German aircraft, more than a dozen French planes were brought down.