In the air, on top of the "Wasp" that had just turned and flew away.

"Tong Squadron!"

"Ah...... Why? ”

When the navigator in the back seat greeted him, Tong Shaoling was squinting and dozing off.

"We just received a telegram from the flagship, let's turn around, fly back over the enemy fleet, and make a visual observation around the enemy fleet."

"What!?"

Tong Shaoling was so excited that he almost hit the cockpit canopy above his head.

This also has to do with the fact that he is not very familiar with the "Wasp", he flew torpedo planes before.

The partner repeated it again, and stuffed the copied message over.

It was indeed a telegram from the flagship that ordered the No. 03 reconnaissance plane, that is, the "Wasp" piloted by Tong Shaoling, to fly back to re-observe the enemy fleet.

Isn't that redundant?

Tong Shaoling was very depressed, in fact, the main reason was that he was woken up just after falling asleep, but it was just an order from the flagship, and he didn't dare to be the slightest slack.

That's Commander Bai Zhizhan, not the captain of Shenpu who is used to jokes.

Besides, if you insist on flying to the Third Air Task Force, what is there to complain about?

Early in the morning, when he received the order, Tong Shaoling could actually stay in the Lotus Military Port, because the liquefier of his "Flying Fish" engine was broken and had not been repaired. As a result, he did not want to miss the next battle and replaced the pilot of this "Wasp".

Although being able to fly the "Wasp" to take off and land on an aircraft carrier and to be able to fly several carrier-based aircraft is the basic requirement of a squadron commander, Tong Shaoling is not quite familiar with the flight performance of the "Wasp" and has not mastered the skills of diving and dropping bombs.

You can't fly the "Wasp" on a bombing mission, so you can only carry out reconnaissance missions.

In addition to the fact that one less crew member will increase the burden on the pilot and navigator during the search, the "Wasp" is actually more suitable for reconnaissance missions than the "Exocet". Faster cruise speed, longer range, better high-altitude performance, and more agile flight characteristics all contribute to the efficiency of reconnaissance missions and the probability of survival in the event of interception by enemy fighters.

Although Tong Shaoling volunteered when Shenpu arranged the task, he was already tired.

Last night, I was busy repairing the engine of the "Exocet" and did not sleep at all, and then early in the morning I drove the "Wasp" from the Lotus military port. After coming to the "Imperial Capital", he received the task just after breakfast, and then drove the "Wasp" from the aircraft carrier into the air.

It wasn't until he found out that the second main team, after sending a telegram to turn back, Tong Shaoling relaxed a little.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dozed off.

It's good now, I'm going to fly back.

Even if you don't have to worry about being intercepted by enemy planes, this time and again, at least you have to delay for more than half an hour.

Thinking that it would take more than an hour to fly back, Tong Shaoling had a headache.

You should know that you should go and load a pot of black coffee when you go.

"Captain Tong, look!"

"See, ready to send a report."

"Roger."

Tong Shaoling has already seen it.

On the sea ahead, a "Gao Xiong" class and a "Fusang" class were docked side by side, and the officers and men of the battleship were moving to the heavy cruiser.

On the other side of the battleship, the officers and men also lowered several lifeboats, and even some sailors jumped directly into the sea.

The scene was a bit chaotic, but it could be seen that the officers and men on the battleship were fleeing for their lives.

Ready to abandon the ship?

"There's still one ahead!"

When Tong Shaoling paid attention to the "Fusang" class, the navigator reminded him again.

Ahead, a "Yi Room" class is already in a semi-sinking state, looking at the damage, like the "Rixiang". The heavy cruisers that had gone to meet them were speeding away, as if they did not want to be burdened by the sunken battleships. In the nearby sea, there are still many officers and soldiers who have not been rescued.

There is no doubt that the enemy is abandoning four battleships that have suffered heavy losses.

A few kilometers away, a destroyer was approaching this direction, and it seemed that it was going to send the "Hisato" on its last leg with a torpedo.

Before the lap was finished, Tong Shaoling affirmed this discovery.

The other two battleships were likewise abandoned, the officers and men went to the cruisers, and the aftermath of the destroyers was also arranged.

While the navigator was sending a telegram, an earth-shattering explosion occurred in the distance.

Judging from the direction, it was the "Imuro".

A destroyer fired two torpedoes at the somewhat stubborn battleship, as a result of which one of the torpedoes hit the ammunition depot of the main gun in the tail section and detonated it. Judging by the intensity of the explosion, it is also possible that the ammunition depot was detonated with a time bomb.

After the explosion, the "Imuro" sank quickly.

Just because they were discovered by reconnaissance aircraft, they abandoned four battleships that would have been possible to return to the homeland?

This question is not only Tong Shaoling, but also Bai Zhizhan and others on the "Imperial Capital".

After the reconnaissance plane re-sent the report, confirming that the previous report was correct, the four battleships of the second main force had sunk by themselves, and the communication staff officer was spared in vain.

Feelings, a reconnaissance plane scared the enemy to the core.

Now it's all right.

Bai Zhizhan has a feeling of irony.

If he ordered to sink himself because he was afraid of being bombed, that guy named Takaji was too cowardly!

With such a group of subordinates, even if Gao Ye is really an unborn god of war, he can't win the battle!

Don't forget, not only Gaoji, but also another general of the Sakuyi Navy on the "Imperial Capital", Rear Admiral Zezo of the Fifth Air Force.

Thinking of these, Bai Zhizhan couldn't help but be very emotional.

Perhaps, the problem is not with these clan commanders, but with Takano, and even to the upper echelons of the Sagai Imperial Kingdom.

"And four heavy cruisers......"

As soon as Zhou Yongtao spoke, Li Yunxiang glared at him and told him to shut up.

The first task, which must be completed, was to sink the four battleships of the second main squadron, and it was not required that the fourth cruiser squadron be annihilated.

Now, four battleships have sunk on their own, which is equivalent to completing the first task.

Need to attack in order to complete a secondary mission?

Obviously, this is an issue that needs serious consideration.

It was almost four o'clock, and even if the carrier-based aircraft set off immediately, they would not return until after dark, and then they would have to risk recovering at night.

The point is that the anti-aircraft fire of the four heavy cruisers of the "High Bear" class is not weak.

Whether to fight or not to fight has to be decided by Bai Zhizhan, and everyone else has to obey orders.

After staring at the chart and pondering for a while, Bai Zhizhan let out a long breath.

"Send a telegram to the 'Longxing', we will return to the sea through the Watchman Strait according to the established plan, and request that a fast battleship be arranged to meet us." Bai Zhizhan paused slightly, and then said: "If possible, I hope to carry out the replenishment of oil, water and ammunition tomorrow, so as to more effectively carry out the landing operations of the ground forces in the north and south of the Sadou Islands, especially in the direction of Naqiu Harbor." ”

"That's all?" Li Mingbo asked deliberately.

"That's all, remember to report on our fuel situation and let the home fleet make relevant arrangements. Immediately after the telegram was sent, radio control was restored. ”

Li Mingbo nodded, beckoned to call the communications staff officer over.

The order has been given and is unambiguous, and the Third Air Force will turn back.

At this point, the "Battle of the Sea of Flames-Guia Ocean," which lasted for four days and three nights, officially came to an end. d