Zhang Chi's first order to Michelle's P38 squadron was: "Sleep, rest!" Then take the team members to take a walk around the vicinity of Kuah Island, whether they are in the sky or on the ground! ”

Halsey was also a little puzzled by this: "We still have two days, and you're not going to let them do some simulation exercises?" ”

"If they're as good as you say, do they still need drills?" Zhang Chi replied: "I think what they need is to be familiar with the environment of the sea and airspace of Xiagua Island, or to understand and communicate with each other among the pilots, and I think ...... To achieve this goal, it may be better to give them a relaxed environment! ”

This is also the reason why Zhang Chi did not tell Michelle the goal of the operation, of course, the content of the operation was not told to them partly out of secrecy.

"You're right!" Halsey nodded.

Due to the ultra-long range of the P38...... It is 3,600 kilometers when fully loaded, which is more than the range of Japan's Zero War, so Zhang Chi can choose many locations to intercept Yamamoto 56, and even Rabaul is among them.

But Zhang Chi still chose the target on Balaire Island, and it was in the air where Yamamoto Fifty-six set off from Rabaul to Balel Island.

"Why Balaire?" Halsey frowned and asked, "And it's still in the middle of the first leg of the flight?" You know, it's very likely that the Japanese are heavily guarded on this road, and their pilots are well prepared! ”

"That's why I chose this route!" Zhang Chi replied.

"Tell me why." Halsey's face was puzzled.

Whenever you fight, you will only choose to attack when the enemy is not well guarded, and from this point of view, it is better to choose the time when Yamamoto Isoroku takes the plane from Balel to Bouin, or from Bouin to Rabaul...... Because at this time, Yamamoto Fifty-six was about to end or had already finished his inspection, and their precautions would be relaxed accordingly.

However, Zhang Chi did the opposite. Choose to strike when the enemy may be most heavily guarded.

Halsey then added: "Know that we may only have one chance, and if the interception is not successful, Yamamoto will know that his travel plans have been known to us, and he will cancel the entire inspection trip." ”

"Of course!" Zhang Chi nodded: "There are several reasons why I chose this way. The first is that Balair Island is the closest to Kuah Island, at 520 kilometers and at a speed of 38 kilometers per hour at P667. It's about an hour to fly...... The shorter the trip, the less likely it is to be detected by the enemy, and at the same time, it ensures that the pilot has enough physical strength and energy to devote himself to the battle. ”

"Hmm!" Halsey nodded: "But this can't be a reason for this attack, Yamamoto Fifty-six has at least one more take-off from Balel Island." ”

"Secondly, we need to know the location of Yamamoto's 56 fighter." Zhang Chi continued: "Otherwise, if you want to let eighteen P38s search in the enemy's airspace, they will soon be discovered and intercepted by Japanese fighters!" ”

Halsey nodded when he heard this.

This was evident that the P38 had to intercept Yamamoto's group accurately and quickly, which was not easy for a fighter flying at high speed in the air.

"So. We need radar! Zhang Chi said: "And our most advanced radar, as far as I know, its farthest detection range is only 147 kilometers, which means that we must have warships sneak into the target 147 kilometers away, and only Balair Island can do this!" ”

Halsey nodded again.

Balair Island is 520 kilometers from Kuah Island, and the combat radius of Wildcat fighters is about 400 kilometers, which means that destroyers may be covered by Wildcat fighters when entering the 147-kilometer range of Balair Island.

"The most important point." Zhang Chi continued: "As the general said before, this section of the road may be the time when the Japanese are most vigilant. But it may also be when they are at their least vigilant! ”

"I don't understand!" Halsey asked, puzzled, "How can it be the time when vigilance is the highest and at the same time the least vigilance?" ”

"The cruising speed of the Zero fighter is more than 300 kilometers per hour." "This means that it will take them more than two hours to fly from Rabaul to Balaire Island, as the general said," Zhang said. They were on high alert for more than two hours, and then they were about to reach Balair, and there were Japanese naval and air forces on Balair Island, and then they ......"

"Oh!" Hearing this, Halsey couldn't help but suddenly realize: "Yes, at this time, they will relax and feel that their worries are unnecessary. Or maybe you think the voyage is finally complete. ”

"Especially when they slow down because they're about to land!" Zhang Chi added.

"Yes!" Halsey agreed: "And we quickly cut into the attack at this time, and at the speed of the P38, no Japanese fighter can stop it!" ”

Zhang Chi nodded, this is exactly what Zhang Chi thought.

So, the operation was not so much a battle. It's not so much a psychological warfare.

"One more question!" After thinking about it, Halsey said with some concern: "We don't know how many fighters the Japanese escorted for Yamamoto Fifty-six, they didn't say it in the telegram. If they had enough fighters, it would have been difficult for us to find and destroy Yamamoto Isoroku's plane in such a short period of time! ”

Halsey's concern is also justified, this is not to say that the P38 can't beat the Japanese Zero fighter, in fact...... P38 is a heavy fighter, its performance in all aspects is far superior to the Japanese zero fighter, plus the US pilots who fly the P38 are all ace pilots, and the Japanese army has declined because of the large number of casualties among the pilots in the battle, so it is foreseeable that the P38 will win this air battle.

But the problem is that it is impossible for Yamamoto 56's landline plane to have the words "I am Yamamoto's landline" written on the outside, and how to find and destroy it among the many fighters, especially if it must be destroyed in a short time, is a difficult problem.

Zhang Chi did not answer and asked: "What if the Japanese suddenly find that there are US fighters after relaxing their vigilance...... What will happen to them? ”

"If you're frightened, fight right away!" Halsey replied.

"Hmm!" Zhang Chi continued: "The combat characteristics of US pilots are that they often withdraw from the battle immediately after an attack, and do not get too entangled with the Japanese fighters in zero battles...... They will fear that these fighters will return to attack again and will be in hot pursuit. ”

"And then?" Halsey asked.

And then ...... Our second batch of fighters appeared in front of Yamamoto Fifty-six's plane! Zhang Chi said: "In the words of us Chinese, this is 'turning the tiger away from the mountain'!" ”

(To be continued.) )