As soon as Lieutenant General Charles made this statement, it immediately triggered a murmur of discussion. Some people supported it, while more people opposed it.
"Okay! I think this Chinese Air Force chief instructor is quite suitable. He is young, promising, energetic, and daring to fight."
"I don't think it's appropriate for him to be the captain of the Allied Legion at such a young age. Apart from anything else, just speaking of experience, a young man is not suitable."
"Look, I said yes just now. The British have already decided to let a Chinese be the commander of the Allied Legion. The general deliberately gave him two more achievements, making him the first to shoot down 6.5 enemy planes in one day. The ace pilot, and then the lieutenant general will step up and recommend the Chinese at the right time, and it will fall into place."
"From this point of view, the proposal just now for us to recommend suitable candidates and compete equally for the chief officer of the Allied Legion is just a formality."
"When you say this, I think the Chinese's record of 6.5 aircraft is flawed, and even 4.5 aircraft shot down may not be true."
"Oh! Forget it, don't talk anymore. Who allowed our country to be occupied by the Germans? When it comes to other people's territory, they have the final say..."
"Actually, we can just develop the photos taken by the fighter plane flown by the Chinese. However, I am sure they will say that the camera is malfunctioning..."
"Needless to say, they will definitely not publish the photos. Even if they ask, it will be in vain. They will just say that the on-board camera is broken or blurry..."
In the face of interests, people's changes are indeed huge. In the morning, when personal or collective interests were not involved, when they heard Zhou Zhihan's 4.5 victory, most of the people present applauded warmly to express their congratulations. A few minutes ago, when After Lieutenant General Charles recommended Zhou Zhihan to be the commander-in-chief of the Allied Legion, many people's attitude towards Zhou Zhihan took a turn for the worse.
A French air force major general took a sip from the water glass on the table and closed it loudly: "Colonel Zhou! Excuse me, the statistics this morning said that you shot down 4.5 sorties? You didn't say anything? Now I've added 2 more for you. , turning you into a flying ace with a record of 6.5? Is there anything you want to tell us?"
Everyone looked at Zhou Zhihan.
"Two more planes? Two planes... Haha... This is less than a fraction of the number of enemy aircraft I shot down? What's there to say?" Zhou Zhihan said calmly.
Is this human language?
The major general's mouth twitched a few times, but he hesitated to say anything.
At this time? The Royal Air Force second lieutenant who just handed over the documents to General Hugh Dowding came in again: "General! This is a photo taken by the camera gun when the S703 Spitfire shot down an enemy plane. It is very clear."
Admiral Hugh Dowding took out a stack of photos from his portfolio, looked at them repeatedly, nodded, and then sent the photos to the people around him for circulation: "Look, this is Colonel Zhou shooting down a German fighter plane." When? Photos taken with a camera gun."
Circulated among everyone, each photo clearly shows the moment when the tracer bullet fired by the S703 Spitfire hit the Messerschmitt fuselage.
One of the photos even included the moment when the S705 Spitfire opened fire.
How many more photos were taken by sailors on the warship returning from Dunkirk, clearly recording the wonderful moment when the S703 spitfire, almost close to the water, shooting down a Messerschmitt? Sitting in the pilot of the plane The profile of Zhou Zhihan in the cabin was also clearly photographed.
At this moment, Zhou Zhihan's competitors were speechless. Facts speak louder than words. In the middle age of the war, performance means everything.
Major General Pike said: "I believe that Colonel Zhou has the ability to lead the Allied Corps to great success."
Major General Saul held the photo in his hand and kept nodding: "Colonel Zhou has a brilliant record. I agree to let him be the commander of the Allied Legion!"
Major General Brand also nodded and said: "More importantly, Colonel Zhou is a chief instructor of the Air Force and has rich teaching experience. He can enable new pilots from various countries to quickly develop combat effectiveness. This is very important for our Dunkirk event." Retreat is very beneficial.”
"Well!" Major General Mallory said, "As Instructor Zhou, as the commander of the Allied Legion, he can not only lead the pilots to fly into the sky, but also train the rookies to grow quickly. I think this position belongs to him!"
These four generals received Zhou Zhihan's explanation of the four-finger formation yesterday. They admired him very much and agreed that he was suitable for this position.
Lieutenant General Charles, Major General Mallory, Major General Brand, Major General Saul, and Major General Pike were all powerful figures in the Royal Air Force. Once they agreed that Zhou Zhihan should be appointed as the commander of the Allied Corps, no one else had objections, so they just waited. Admiral Daoding made the decision, and Zhou Zhihan could take office.
General Hugh Dowding stood up and said: "If you all have no objections, it is settled that Colonel Zhou Zhihan, the chief instructor of the Air Force from China, will serve as the commander of the Allied Corps.
Colonel Zhou has accumulated a lot of practical experience on the battlefield in China, and he is a chief instructor with rich coaching experience. He can quickly combine the new pilots into a new force. This is our most urgent need at the moment. of. "
General Hugh Dowding knew that many of Zhou Zhihan's tactics were learned after being tested in actual combat, especially the four-finger formation he explained yesterday, which made Major General Pike and others suddenly realize that they appointed him as the commander of the Allied Legion. The wisest decision ever.
After Zhou Zhihan left yesterday, Major General Parker and others believed that the four-finger formation tactics explained by Zhou Zhihan could improve the Royal Air Force's combat effectiveness by at least one level.
General Hugh Dowding continued: "Gentlemen, the war has just begun, and the time to test the Allied air force is coming. In the future, we will need a large number of excellent pilots. If the time is right, new pilots who have just graduated from various flight schools will also You can enter the Allied Legion to study, use the old to lead the new, and train troops through battles, so that some outstanding pilots can stand out, grow rapidly, and take on major responsibilities.
Everyone! Our frontline air forces are rewarded based on their performance, as they were before, now, and in the future. Colonel Zhou Zhihan shot down 6.5 enemy planes in his first battle. His ability is fully worthy of this position, so I now announce that Colonel Zhou Zhihan, chief instructor of the Chinese Air Force, will serve as the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces immediately.
From now on, pilots from various countries who join the Allied Forces will temporarily join the Allied Legion first.
From today on, two Polish fighter squadrons are also temporarily under the management of the Allied Corps to participate in this retreat. "
Admiral Hugh Dowding, 58, was a veteran of the Royal Air Force on the Western Front in World War I. He spared no effort in enthusiastically promoting the modernization of the Royal Air Force. Over the years, he has been providing the Royal Air Force with the most advanced fighter aircraft. And struggle won the trust of the royal family and the cabinet. This time, facing Germany's aggressive offensive, the war cabinet invited him to come out again, hoping that he could fight against Kuanglan!
So Admiral Hugh Dowding made the decision, and no one else had any objections.
Admiral Hugh Dowding's words are straightforward, simple and very convincing. I will not let an ace pilot who shot down 6.5 enemy planes for the first time in the sky be the commander-in-chief. I will let most of you shoot down two enemy planes. A person who has never even shot down a plane should be the commander-in-chief?
An ace commander can bring out more ace pilots, which is what is urgently needed at the moment.
You must know that this is wartime, and everything depends on strength. The Air Force needs talents who can control the air, not people who can manage the army in peacetime.
"Thank you generals for your cultivation!"
Zhou Zhihan stood up, gave a military salute to everyone present, and accepted the position of commander-in-chief of the Allied Legion without humility.
modesty?
Why should I be humble?
This is a moment to promote China’s determination to the world, and an opportunity to prove to the world that China will never surrender in the face of the Axis powers. I have no reason not to seize it.
After the meeting ended in the afternoon, Zhou Zhihan had to go back to the manor where he lived when he arrived, pack his luggage, and go to the Allied Army to take up the post of commander-in-chief tomorrow.
This is a brand new opportunity and challenge.
Returning to the manor, he got off the car and walked to the small building where he had lived for a few days, only to find that the door was ajar.
