Doolittle was right. Originally, they were flying B-25B models, which were early models, but now the ones assigned to them by the Liantai Flying Corps were H models.
The difference between the H type and the B type is that it has improved carburetors, cabin heaters, larger disposable fuel tanks, under-wing bomb racks, and changed the original 0.3-inch caliber machine gun on the nose into a 75 mm light
There are also machine guns on both sides of the nose.
After such improvements, the B-25 became more ferocious and stronger.
Although the B-25 has undergone quite a few changes, it is only a small change for this master who can rub the plane with his own hands. After playing with it for half an hour and checking the manual, Doolittle understood the performance of the aircraft.
It's almost done.
He picked up the microphone and said, "Hey... guys, have you figured out the various functions of the aircraft?"
Richard's lazy voice came from the headset: "I'm almost done here. I'm still reading the instructions for the rest, but it's not a big problem. Just give me another half an hour and it'll be almost done."
"It's the same here. In fact, this model is roughly the same as the one we flew before, but there are some differences in details."
"Boss, we are all the people you selected. If we can't even figure out this thing, do we still deserve to be called elites?"
"That's good!"
Doolittle smiled slightly.
"I just received an order from the Joint Command here, asking us to bomb the Japanese position 180 kilometers away in half an hour. You all, cheer up, don't disgrace the Air Force of the United States of America!
"
As soon as Doolittle said this, he immediately received a burst of curses.
"Damn it, I knew this salary wasn't that easy to get."
"I hate capitalists!"
"God, can't he just give me a day off?"
Listening to the complaints coming from the headset, Doolittle just smiled and began to check the status of the plane.
He knew very well that even if Richard and the others complained, they would definitely get the preparations done on time because they were all elites hand-picked by him.
In fact, this is indeed the case. For a familiar model like the B-25, even an improved model is just more time for these elites.
While the pilots were busy familiarizing themselves with the aircraft, teams of ground crews were already pushing ammunition trucks and starting to load bombs into the B-25.
Following the signal from the tower, twenty-four B-25 bombers began to taxi on the runway. When the taxiing speed increased to one hundred knots, Doolittle gently pulled the control stick, and the B-25 bombers began to slide.
As soon as I raised my head, bombers of more than ten tons rushed into the sky lightly, followed closely by the second and third one...
Huang Huaimin stood on the tower, silently watching the fleet of aircraft quickly completing their formation in the air. He raised his hand and looked at his watch.
It only took eight minutes for the entire fleet to assemble from takeoff to completion, while the same thing would have taken at least twenty minutes if the bomber pilots of the Air Corps were to do the same thing.
Although the difference here is only about ten minutes, Huang Huaimin knew that in war, let alone more than ten minutes, sometimes just one or two minutes can be the difference between heaven and hell.
"It seems it's time to give those guys a fresh start and let them see the difference between themselves and the world's top pilots, so that these guys don't always look like their nostrils are in the sky."
When the fleet completed its formation and started flying towards the target, Doolittle heard Richard's slightly proud voice, "Head... the speed of our assembly this time must have shocked those people, right?"
Doolittle snorted softly: "I don't know if the earthquake affected others, but I checked the time just now. Our assembly this time was three minutes slower than usual. If this was not China, you would all have to pay attention when we go back."
I ran around the airport ten times!”
Richard said a little aggrievedly: "But this is the first time we drive this improved model, isn't it normal to be slower?"
"You should keep telling the Japanese about this." Doolittle snorted, "Maybe the Japanese fighters will be willing to show mercy for this."
Richard immediately fell silent. In fact, the Pearl Harbor incident was caused by an invisible hand, but the laxity of the Americans was not the main reason.
If the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor had been a little more vigilant, the American losses would not have been so heavy.
"Sir... our escort squadron is here." Henry's voice sounded on the public channel.
Everyone turned to look, and saw more than twenty dark green fighter planes approaching quickly from the left, and then divided into two teams to protect the entire fleet firmly in the middle. Then an English with an exotic accent sounded on the public channel.
"Lynx Brigade, we are the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Second Battalion of the Liantai Flying Corps, codenamed Woodpecker. I am the squadron leader, Captain Lu Dayou, and I am now ordered to escort you."
"Mr. Captain, thank you for coming. With your protection, we feel relieved." Doolittle immediately welcomed the arrival of a group of people from the mainland.
"You're welcome. It's my duty to protect you from being harassed by Japanese fighter planes. I only hope that you can be more accurate when you drop bombs later, and it's best to throw the bomb on their butts."
"Hahaha……"
There was a burst of chuckles on the channel, and a voice that clearly did not belong to Dolittle also rang out.
"Woodpecker, you can rest assured about the accuracy of the bombing. I guarantee that from now on, the little Japanese will be scared and crawl into the dog hole whenever they hear the sound of the plane."
"Hahaha……"
A burst of laughter rang out on the public channel.
For the B-25 bomber with a maximum speed of more than 400 kilometers per hour, the distance of more than 100 kilometers really just passed by in the blink of an eye. Just as everyone was talking, the fleet of aircraft had already reached the target.
Doolittle tuned to a specific frequency and started calling: "This is the Bobcat Brigade. We have arrived over the target and are requesting next instructions."
As soon as he finished speaking, an urgent voice rang out: "Lynx Lynx... This is the New 1st Brigade. We are being attacked by the Japanese superior force... Requesting air support, requesting air support!"
Although he heard that the voice of the person on the channel was very urgent, the experienced Doolittle still said calmly: "Bobcat received it, please report the target location, otherwise we will not be able to support."
"Target... target location 3541 4571, requesting coverage bombing of the area!"
Doolittle repeated it, and just as he was about to order the second squadron led by Richard to carry out the order, a rapid voice from Clinker rang out, "Lynx... stop the bombing, stop the bombing!"