"Fifteen minutes until we reach the target area! Fighter squadrons, prepare yourselves!" The squadron leader of the 1st Fighter Wing commanded. To ensure the success of the operation, several squadron leaders had personally donned their gear and joined the mission.
"Understood, Squadron Leader!" responded the three commanding officers of the fighter battalions.
"The 1st Fighter Battalion will remain at high altitude to protect the bomber squadron. The 2nd Fighter Wing, you will neutralize the enemy's ground-based anti-aircraft fire. The 3rd Fighter Battalion, prepare to engage the British fighters! This time, we will have our revenge and eliminate them all!"
"Yes, Sir!" came the unified reply from all the pilots.
After accounting for losses, the 1st Fighter Wing deployed a total of 94 aircraft. As long as they didn't face the full force of the Royal Air Force, they were confident of success. Moreover, three other fighter wings were operating alongside them, and if necessary, they could call for reinforcements. This gave the German Army Air Force great confidence, as they believed that with such overwhelming strength, defeating the British Air Force was all but certain.
Shaun, a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, had been part of the previous day's battle, during which he shot down one of the German H1 bombers and an F2 fighter. Today, when the air raid alarm sounded, he was the first to take off. These pilots were putting everything on the line to protect their country.
However, as Shaun and his comrades ascended into the sky, the sight of the approaching German aircraft made their faces turn pale.
"My God! Did the Germans send this many planes? How can we possibly hold them off?" Shaun exclaimed. They had only managed to scramble 12 'Camel' fighters so far, with the rest still preparing for takeoff. They were about to face over a hundred German F2 fighters. The disparity in numbers and strength was overwhelming; victory seemed almost impossible.
Despite the formidable odds, Shaun was undaunted. He signaled his wingmen with a wingtip dip and led them into a head-on assault against the German formation. Without radio communication, coordinating with his comrades was difficult, placing the RAF at a severe disadvantage in battle.
Other British pilots, too, bravely charged toward the enemy.
"Hah! I can't decide if these British are brave or foolish. With so few planes, they dare to attack us. Squadron 1, Squadron 2, engage them head-on! Squadron 3, continue to climb and eliminate those British fools!" commanded the leader of the 13th Fighter Squadron.
Thirty-two F2 fighters immediately hurtled toward Shaun and his wingmen.
"Ratatatat!" The deafening sound of machine guns filled the air. Though it was still early morning, tracer rounds streaked through the sky like fiery arcs.
The aerial combat erupted violently, but this time, the Royal Air Force could gain no advantage. They were outclassed in terms of aircraft performance, pilot skills, and, most critically, numbers. With such overwhelming superiority, victory over the German Army Air Force seemed entirely beyond reach.
"Damn it, he's on my tail, cover me!" a German pilot shouted.
His aircraft was weaving desperately, trying to escape, but the British pilot pursuing him was relentless, skillfully staying on his tail. Forced to call for backup, the German pilot was trapped.
The pilot on his tail was Shaun. With remarkable skill, Shaun had already shot down one German fighter. However, the ensuing battle put him in a perilous position. His wingman had been shot down, leaving him to fight alone.
"Ratatatat!"
A burst of bullets tore past Shaun's plane, narrowly missing him. Had they hit, his fragile aircraft would have been torn apart.
Though narrowly escaping death, Shaun retaliated, firing at the German plane that had been tailing him. With a swift maneuver, he shot it down.
Yet, his luck would soon run out.
A German F2 fighter seized the opportunity and hit Shaun's 'Camel' fighter. A bullet struck the rear stabilizer, tearing it off, and the aircraft began trailing thick smoke as it plummeted toward the earth. Shaun attempted to bail out, but it was too late.
Despite the bravery of the RAF pilots, the overwhelming strength of the German Army Air Force proved too much. The British pilots, though valiant, could not stem the tide of destruction.
The fighters that had taken off first were quickly shot down, and the remaining aircraft were destroyed before they could even leave the ground.
"Ratatatat! Boom boom boom!" The anti-aircraft defenses around the airfields erupted in fury. British gunners fired wildly at the German planes, trying to bring them down with flak guns and machine guns.
But they were soon suppressed by the German fighters. Dozens of German planes strafed the anti-aircraft positions. Whether bombing them with small bombs or firing on them with aircraft guns, the RAF gunners suffered massive casualties.
"Ratatatat!" A heavy flak gun roared in fury, its spent shells clattering to the ground. The incessant barrage of bullets tore through the air, but the German planes were too fast to be hit. They streaked past before the defenders could react.
"Whoosh!"
A bomb fell and exploded near the flak gun. The blast shredded the gun into pieces and killed several British anti-aircraft gunners.
"Ratatatat!" An F2 fighter opened fire on a British anti-aircraft position, its machine gun spraying a torrent of bullets. Sparks flew as bullets hit the anti-aircraft gun, followed by the sickening sound of bodies being struck and the screams of the British gunners.
Under the relentless assault of the German fighters, the airfield's defenses were quickly overwhelmed. With the airspace cleared, the bombers that had been waiting in the high sky were given the order to attack.
One by one, the H1 bombers descended, their bellies opening as they prepared to release their payload.
Bomb after bomb plummeted to the earth, falling toward the RAF airfields below.