Chapter 0784: The Imperial Air Force

"Airplanes! We need aircraft to counter the overwhelming air power of the Germans. Otherwise, we have no hope of holding our ground here. The daily air raids by the Germans are inflicting unimaginable losses upon us!" General Hamilton bellowed in fury.

Although Churchill had promised him full support from the Royal Air Force for the army's battle at Canterbury, three days had passed since the fighting began, and not a single aircraft had been seen. Meanwhile, the British Army was suffering heavy casualties from the relentless German airstrikes. If this continued, it wouldn't be long before morale completely collapsed. How could they possibly continue fighting the Germans under such conditions?

"Commander, do you think the air force has grown fearful? They took heavy losses during the air battles over France against the Germans. The German planes are terrifyingly powerful," said General Haig, his voice tinged with concern.

"Regardless, the air force must rise and engage the Germans in combat. If we continue to be relentlessly strafed and bombed by them, we won't stand a chance in this battle!" Hamilton's face was grim as he spoke.

The heavy artillery of the German Navy had already placed immense pressure on them. Meanwhile, the planes of the German Army Air Corps made several sorties daily, relentlessly dropping bombs on the British Army's positions and cities, further exacerbating the losses. This incessant bombardment had pushed Hamilton to the brink of fury.

The other British commanders, seeing no better course, fell silent. The Germans may not be advancing rapidly, but their naval artillery and aircraft were continuously inflicting damage. It was as if a wound had been dealt to the veins of the British forces, and now they were slowly bleeding out. If this continued, the Germans wouldn't even need to engage in direct combat—the British would bleed to death on their own. This battle, it seemed, was slipping further and further beyond their grasp.

In London, at the Royal Air Force Command. Due to the evolving nature of the war, the Royal Air Force had been established slightly earlier than in another timeline. The Chief of Air Staff now held full responsibility for all matters concerning the Royal Air Force, answering only to the Prime Minister.

The strength of the Royal Air Force had grown considerably, bolstered by the rapid advancements in science and technology driven by the fierce conflict. However, the German Army Air Corps and Navy Air Corps had also become significantly more formidable, posing an unprecedented challenge.

"Sir, the Prime Minister has just called, demanding that we immediately dispatch aircraft to reinforce the battle at Canterbury! Our forces are on the brink of collapse under the relentless German air assaults," a brigadier general reported to Marshal Trenchard.

"The army's incompetence is beyond belief. They've equipped themselves with so many anti-aircraft weapons, yet none of them seem to be of any use!" Marshal Trenchard remarked, his frustration evident.

The continuous advancements in air power had also accelerated the development of anti-aircraft weapons. In order to counter the formidable German air forces, the British Army had equipped itself with numerous anti-aircraft guns and machine guns. However, even the most advanced ground-based defenses were powerless against aerial targets without precise guidance systems.

"Who knows?" The brigadier general shrugged helplessly.

"It seems we have no choice. This is the third time the Prime Minister has demanded action. If we don't respond now, my tenure as Chief of Air Staff will be over," Trenchard muttered, resignation creeping into his voice.

When Britain's home soil came under attack, it was not that he wished to be a coward, but rather that, compared to the might of the German air forces, the Royal Navy was simply too weak. The fighters they had been using had proven to be no match for the German Luftwaffe. The newly-equipped 'Camel' fighters, which had only recently gone into mass production, were a slight improvement. These fighters could reach a maximum speed of 187 km/h, just slightly slower than the German F2 fighters. While the Camel's overall performance was still inferior, it was at least capable of putting up a fight without being immediately shot down.

Unfortunately, the number of these advanced 'Camel' fighters was extremely limited, with only around two hundred in total. The production rate was modest, with barely a hundred new planes produced each month. Trenchard treated these aircraft like precious treasures.

Under the German Navy's blockade, Britain's domestic resources could no longer sustain its military-industrial development. Though many merchant and transport ships had been organized to carry supplies from North America, these ships had little hope of reaching Britain's shores, as most were either sunk or captured by the German Navy. In essence, it was as though Britain were delivering resources directly to the Germans.

Yet the British government was unwilling to abandon these supply lines. Even though it was a perilous endeavor, it still provided them with some hope of receiving much-needed supplies. If they abandoned the routes, they would receive nothing at all.

The only option left for the British government seemed to be waiting for their ships to be completely wiped out—at which point they would have no choice but to accept their fate.

"Sir, we are far too weak. If we risk sending planes into combat with the Germans, our aircraft will likely be destroyed in short order. Soon, the skies above Britain will be entirely under German control, and the Royal Air Force will cease to exist," the brigadier general sighed.

"It cannot be helped," Trenchard said with grim determination. "If we don't act now, the army will not be able to hold on much longer. If that happens, they will blame us for the failure. We will be the scapegoats, unable to defend ourselves."

"Sir, our 'Camel' fighters may not be as good as the Germans', but they are certainly capable. The only issue is their limited numbers. If we wait a few months and increase our production by several hundred more planes, we will have the strength to confront the Germans. Perhaps then, we can even defeat them in the skies over Britain," the brigadier general suggested.

Trenchard shook his head. "The Germans will not give us that much time. In a few months, the army may already have been defeated. By then, the entire British Isles may be under German control, and there will be no Royal Air Force left to fight. That, I fear, is inevitable."

Trenchard's outlook on the coming battles was decidedly bleak.