The Breaking Storm by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RO:KRIEG
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2019-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

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The Breaking Storm

They fled Compiegne a day later, this time to a field to the south east by some sixty miles.

“Protected by the Maginot Line, Stark. The advance through the Ardennes has turned west, is certainly headed for the Channel coast and south of the bulk of the BEF, the British Expeditionary Force in Belgium. Consequently, you will in effect be behind the advance.”

Group Captain Peters’ voice was tired but not dispirited. Thomas gained the impression that he believed there was a strong chance of turning back the spearhead of panzers, of bringing a halt to the mobile war and trapping the German army in a salient, vulnerable on both of its long sides.

“If we can stop them, we can destroy them in three months of solid grind, Stark. The Luftwaffe is taking losses far in excess of German daily production of aircraft. They have lost five hundred aircraft at least – certain kills. Provided we can keep up the attack in the air, we can drive them out of France. We are manufacturing planes faster than the Hun.”

It occurred to Thomas that the Germans must take greater losses in the air, flying so many more bombers and transports than fighters. He had heard, however, that the RAF had lost many planes on the ground.

“Have we the pilots, sir? My lads are getting tired, flying never less than six hours a day. I could say goodbye to half of the squadron in a single patrol, easily – it would need the least of bad luck – running into a couple of squadrons of Messerschmitts would be a disaster. I need another six pilots to give my boys a rest one day in three.”

Peters suddenly sounded far less buoyant.

“Haven’t got them, Stark. Three new men came out yesterday and I expect four today. Not sufficient to make up the losses let alone give a cushion. I’ll send a pair of new pilots up to you now. They should be with you in time to fly tonight. The remaining Battle pilots have been sent back to England and are retraining there, but they won’t be back for a month – and that will be too soon for them. There are more Poles in England, some going to existing squadrons, others forming their own pair. They won’t be ready before August. One or two groups are coming to England from the Empire, but too few. The Indian Air Force has offered a large contingent but that fool Churchill has refused them – he says that it’s a political move to push for Indian independence, which he insists is never going to happen.”

“Bloody old fool! Someone needs to tell him Queen Victoria is dead. How did they let him off the leash long enough to make that decision?”

“From what I am told, he has managed to get some independence – he’s not listening to his advisers and they can’t risk dumping him – there’s no alternative if they want to keep fighting. The House of Commons is behind him and the Lords are quiet, at the moment.

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