"General, our airstrike operations today have been disastrous. All four waves of aircraft we deployed were ambushed by the Royal Air Force. As of now, we have lost 28 fighter planes, and a staggering 37 bombers have been shot down," reported the major general to General Zeckter. The sudden counterattack by the Royal Air Force had caught the German Army Air Corps completely off guard.
General Zeckter furrowed his brow. The British response had taken him completely by surprise. After all, the British had remained silent up until now, showing no signs of retaliation. Now, in the span of just half a day, they had already inflicted more than a half of an entire air wing's worth of losses. Such a setback was utterly intolerable for the German Army Air Corps.
"What is the British trying to accomplish? Do they think they can challenge us for air superiority?" Zeckter remarked, his voice tinged with disbelief. The British had certainly caught him off guard with their sudden aggression.
"General, perhaps it is the devastating losses we inflicted on the British Army that have finally pushed their Air Force into action," another officer suggested.
Zeckter nodded thoughtfully. It was indeed a possibility. However, regardless of whether the British Air Force had joined the fray or not, their mission objectives remained unchanged.
"Gentlemen, if the British are intent on contesting air superiority with us, then let us meet them in a battle for the skies! The Army's assault on Canterbury will soon commence, and we must secure control of the airspace before we strike!" Zeckter declared with resolve.
Though the Army Air Corps was soon to become an independent branch, for now, they were still under the Army's command. The Army's requests must be fully supported, or the consequences would be disastrous. Zeckter himself, soon to be appointed as the new commander of the Air Force, was well aware that his own future hung in the balance, and thus, everyone was deeply invested in this battle.
"Yes, General!" everyone responded in unison. They understood well that this battle would determine their fate. If the Army Air Corps performed admirably, promotion within the newly formed Air Force would be assured. If they failed, however, no one could predict the consequences.
"General, according to reports from our pilots, the British have deployed a new type of fighter. Its performance is exceptional, though slightly inferior to our F2 fighters. Nonetheless, it is still a formidable aircraft. In our dogfights, we have lost numerous fighters to these British planes!" reported the commanding officer of the 3rd Fighter Wing.
"A new fighter? No wonder the British have decided to stop hiding in their shells. They must think they can challenge us now that they have this new plane," Zeckter scoffed.
Thanks to Qin Tian's strong support, Germany's aviation industry had long been at the forefront of the world. This enabled the Luftwaffe's pilots to fly the most advanced aircraft, dominating their adversaries. Though other nations were striving to catch up, they still lagged far behind Germany in terms of technological advancements.
"General, even with their new fighters, the British cannot hope to match our strength. Our F2 fighters still have significant advantages, and our pilots are far more skilled than theirs. The heavy losses we've suffered are largely due to the surprise ambush. Our pilots were caught off guard. If it weren't for that, the British would never have gained such an advantage!" said the commanding officer of the 4th Bomber Wing.
Zeckter nodded, confident in the combat prowess of the Army Air Corps.
"I know. This defeat is nothing more than an unfortunate anomaly. However, it does highlight several issues. Why were our pilots so careless? This should never have happened on the battlefield," Zeckter said, his tone stern.
The other officers of the Army Air Corps shifted uncomfortably. With Germany's continual victories in the war, the Air Corps' pilots had grown increasingly arrogant, their confidence bordering on hubris.
"General, we will ensure that our men do not repeat this mistake," one of the officers responded.
Zeckter decided not to dwell on the matter further and moved on.
"As we all know, His Majesty the Emperor places great importance on the Air Corps. I am certain he has already learned of our failure. If we cannot quickly reverse the situation and secure a victory, it will leave a negative impression on His Majesty. I am sure everyone here understands the potential consequences," Zeckter continued, his voice grave.
A tense silence fell over the room. Although the Emperor had only recently ascended to the throne, his influence both at home and in the military was immense, and no one dared oppose him. If His Majesty were to form a poor opinion of the Air Corps, the repercussions would be severe. The officers knew that their futures could be at stake.
Seeing the gravity of their expressions, Zeckter knew he had made his point. His reassignment from the Army to the Army Air Corps had caused some friction among the officers, and while they had not actively sabotaged him, there was no denying the underlying tension. This was an opportunity for him to assert his authority, and he was making full use of it.
"Gentlemen, how do you propose we secure air superiority on the battlefield? Do you have any suggestions?" Zeckter asked.
"General, the only way for us to secure air superiority is to eliminate the British Air Force—particularly their advanced fighters. Once we've destroyed them, the British will no longer pose a threat to our dominance of the skies. The airspace over the British Isles will be ours!" said the commanding officer of the 3rd Fighter Wing.
Zeckter nodded, agreeing with the assessment. However, the specifics of how to achieve this goal still needed further discussion.