Should England Fall

by M L Maki

  BRIEFING ROOM, NAS PENSECOLA, FLORIDA

  1148, 25 September, 1942 (1648 GMT)

  LCDR Truman ‘Johnny’ Walker stands in front of a chalk board, his cane leaning against the podium, his starched khaki uniform looking like it could stand by itself. “Pokryshkin, you chose to reverse in front of your adversary. Why?”

  “I knew his timing would have to be perfect to hit me and by starting a yoyo in that direction, I could maintain my energy and pull onto his six.”

  “Did it work?”

  “No. As I rolled over, he went vertical. It resulted in vertical scissors.”

  “Ensign Nix, why did you choose to go vertical.”

  “I needed more energy to stay with him. I knew he could yoyo, so I engaged afterburner and pull vertical, rolling to keep him in sight. When he spotted my move, he reciprocated, but now our energy was more closely matched, so I pulled back on the throttle a bit to get on him.”

  Walker, “Pokryshkin?”

  “As he said, we were matched. I pulled so we could cross and elected to disengage, looking for distance to set up another attack. Equal is not good odds. He saw my maneuver and attempted to follow.”

  “Nix?”

  “I did, but I wasn’t on top of my airspeed. I needed a less violent maneuver. Instead, I tumbled. By the time I recovered, he had me.”

  Walker smiles, “Lessons learned? Pokryshkin?”

  “At the beginning, I guessed his maneuver, rather than observed it. It could have cost me the fight. My decision to disengage was a good one.”

  “Nix?”

  “I was right to deny him the fight, but I was too aggressive afterward and not attentive to my energy.”

  “Good. Popova and Boyington, your next.”

 

  CHAPTER 10

  CAMP GRIFFITH, BUSHY PARK, LONDON

  1715, 25 September, 1942

  Spike, still in her flight suit and gear, including her pistol, walks into Eisenhower’s headquarters. She hasn’t taken three steps before Brigadier General Walter Smith sees her and clears his throat, “In a flight suit, Commodore? You couldn’t be bothered with a uniform change?”

  “I just landed a few minutes ago, Brigadier. My apologies, but the Germans seem to be impatient. Where is the meeting?”

  “In the future, it would be good of you to dress appropriately.”

  “In the future, I shall keep that in mind. The meeting, sir?”

  Smith frowns, “If you wish to see Eisenhower, you go through me. Do not be flippant with me.”

  “Jesus Christ! Are you even paying attention to what’s going on? There isn’t fucking time! I have a war to fight. Show me where the meeting is and go fix a fucking memo. Do not presume to deny me access to Eisenhower, the war may turn on this meeting.”

  He stares at her, silent, then, “It’s the second door on the left.”

  Eisenhower opens the door and looks out, “There you are. We’re just getting started.”

  Spike joins him in the room with Air Chief Marshal Dowding, Major General George Patton, Major General Ira Eaker of the US 8th Bomber Command, and Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson in command of the British I Corps. Eisenhower says, “I apologize for not inviting you. I recognize how busy you are.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Eisenhower asks, “Can we beat the Germans in the air?”

  “They’re making an all-out effort, sir. We’ve shot down at least forty German jets in the last two days, and they keep sending more. Sir, we just received two brand new Tomcats. Tomorrow, we get two more. In two more days, we’ll be at full strength for aircraft, but we only have eight air crew, and they have to sleep sometime. Right now, I can keep two to four aircraft in the air indefinitely. That leaves us outnumbered five to one in most engagements.

  “We are holding, but we’re going to lose aircraft and crews. More are coming, but they’ll only have basic flying skills. Right now, we seem to have managed a degree of parity. If we can keep our aircrews alive long enough to exceed their aircraft production rate, we have a chance. I’m sorry if this doesn’t answer your question.”

  Eisenhower turns to Dowding, “Air Marshal?”

  “She’s right. While we defend, we have few assets available to attack France or Germany. They grow stronger as we grow weaker.”

  Hunt asks, “Speaking of that, why was there an air raid on Bremerhaven?”

  Eaker answers, “Commodore, we cannot win the war with defense alone. We take the war to the enemy.”

  Spike looks him in the eyes, “By supporting the raid with jet fighters, you pulled the air cover off our A-10’s. We desperately need the A-10. They’re the only weapon we have that can destroy a tank, besides artillery, and the artillery has not been able to get into a good position yet.”

  “Were they attacked?”

  “Yes, General. By changing the assignments of those fighters without notifying me, we had a gap in coverage that the Germans exploited.”

  Eisenhower says, “General Eaker will keep you informed of his operations.”

  Eaker turns to Eisenhower, “Sir, I cannot be kow-towing to an upstart navy split tail.”

  Eisenhower’s face hardens, “General, you will do what you are told. The defense of this nation comes before all other considerations. Instead of bombing Bremerhaven, why didn’t you bomb the invading fleet or the German airfields in France or the Lowlands?

  “You will not disrespect the Commodore. I have zero tolerance for such inappropriate behavior.” He takes a breath, “Let’s get back on topic.”

  Dowding says, “The exchange rate is about thirty to one. How long can the Germans keep coming?”

  Eisenhower asks, “How can the Germans build aircraft so fast?”

  Spike replies, “Sir, a Brit named Whittle invented the jet engine. It’s the Germans, though, who saw the potential. Even if we had not come back in time, the Germans would have fielded jets during the war. What slowed them down was Hitler’s indecisiveness and access to materials. They’re managing their materials better this time, and Hitler must have been briefed on the value of jet technology.

  “The reason the exchange rate is so good is because their training is too short. Most of the pilots we face barely know how to fly their jets. The survivors get better. In time, pilot training will approach something like parity.”

  Anderson asks, “What do you need in order to beat them?”

  “Sir, we need to keep our supplies coming in, especially fuel and missiles. We also need to figure out how to beat them on the ground. All the aerial victories in the world are irrelevant if the island is lost.”

  Patton says, “Exactly. We need a hammer and anvil. It’s what I’ve been saying, General.”

  Spike lays out the math on how many tanks per sortie the A-10s can kill, best case. “As I recall, the German tanks were pretty good. Are the British and American tanks doing okay against them?”

  Anderson shakes his head, “In truth, no. We’re facing two types of tanks. One is the Panzer 4. We fought them in north Africa and struggled to beat them there. Effective tactics, artillery, and numerical superiority can beat them. This new tank, though, has twice to three times our range and its shells can penetrate anything we have. The gun must be bigger than 100mm. Also, even if we hit them, our shells just bounce off.”

  Eisenhower, “Have we hit them with artillery?”

  Anderson, “We’ve placed artillery behind the lines at the Tees. We should know soon.”

  Patton, “Commodore, how big were the tank guns in 1990?”

  “I’ve a guy, Frank Jackson, who’s an encyclopedia of military information. The state-of-the-art tank in 1990 was the M-1 Abram and it used a German 120mm main gun. I think even the British tanks used it.”

  Patton, “And armor to match?”

  “Yes, the Abrams used what was called composite armor. The info on how the armor was made and its thickness was top secret. I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

  Eisenhower, “We have w
hat we have. Can you’re A-10s penetrate the new tanks armor?”

  “I’ll find out, sir.”

  Anderson, “But the A-10 only has a 30mm gun. How could it punch through if our 37mm guns can’t?”

  Spike, “They can hit in the top and the back. I think most tanks have thinner armor there. Also, velocity has a power of its own. The A-10 gun is extremely fast. It’s why they go through ammo so fast.”

  Anderson, “Very true. Dowding, is there any chance you could bang together an anti-tank plane?”

  Dowding, “We’ve started building Hurricane fighters with two Vickers 40mm cannon. They were for the African campaign, but I’m tasking them here. I’m also modifying Mosquitos to carry four cannon, as we speak. It’s hoped they may be a stop gap until sufficient A-10 production is developed.”

  Spike, “I understand the need, but those aircrews are taking a huge risk. The Germans have SAM’s and effective anti-aircraft guns. The wooden fuselage on either aircraft would be cut to swiss cheese.”

  Dowding looks at Eisenhower, then back to Spike, “You don’t understand. The first Battle of Britain was a prelude. We are now fighting for our very existence.”

  Spike nods, “You’re right. I’m sorry…” She stops, lost in thought.

  Eisenhower, “Commodore?”

  “Sir, we have Goony Birds, um, C-47 Dakotas. We have C-130 Hercules. In Vietnam the Air Force mounted six Gatlin guns out the left side and a sight on the pilots left window in the C-47. It was used for light-skinned vehicles and troop concentrations. One circle would put a bullet in every square inch of a football field. Later, C-130s were built with two 20mm Gatlin guns, two 40mm cannon, and a 105mm howitzer. The bigger calibers allowed accurate fire from higher altitudes. The 105 could practically lay accurate fire from outer space. A pylon turn makes accurate fire possible. It doesn’t solve the anti-aircraft problem, but it puts a hell of a lot of firepower in the air.”

  Eisenhower looks at Dowding, then at Eaker, “How long would it take?”

  “I can have a few airborne in a day or two. Learning how to use them will take longer.”

  Eisenhower, “Anderson, how long can you hold them at the Tees?”

  “We want to stop them dead right there, but we’ve only about a division right now and the Germans are moving fast. That bloody blitzkrieg thing. The Hun seemed focused on the south rather than the north and the bulk of our army is in the south.”

  “Where’s the next line?”

  Patton, “Sir, we need to punch through their lines and mess up their rear.”

  Eisenhower, “Gentlemen, London must not fall. At the right time, we counter attack. Right now, we bleed them and fall back. Marshall and King are mobilizing everything we have. We’re loading transports in Ireland. Canada is sending us everything available. What we need, and don’t have, is time. We must blunt this attack. Slow them. Bleed them. Then we counterattack and destroy them. Where is the next line?”

  Anderson, “We could draw a line north of York where the highlands act as a funnel. It’s still a huge front, but it’s something.” He points to the wall map, “I can get one division there today and prepare defenses.”

  Spike studies the wall map, thinking.

  Eisenhower, “General Patton, that is your line. Move the 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions into the highlands on each side. Put the 2nd armored Division with the Brits in the center. Move them up as fast as you can.”

  Spike, “I’ll have the A-10s take out the first vehicle in line and force them off the roads. It’s the rainy season. If they get bogged down in the wet fields, they should be easier to kill.”

  Eisenhower looks at her, “Sound tactics. It focuses on the most important thing. Slowing their advance.”

  Anderson, “I’m told we have irregular forces removing and modifying traffic signs, blowing bridges, and blowing dikes. Hopefully, that will slow them as well.”

  Spike, “I need to create a class for forward air observers. I have downed pilots doing it right now, but it’s not enough.”

  Eaker, “Why haven’t you picked them up? You need the aircrew.”

  Spike, “They were injured badly enough they can’t fly. They’re more effective where they are.”

  Patton smiles, “Good idea, Hunt. I will send you students.”

  Anderson, “Is it open to my soldiers?”

  Spike, “Absolutely. In fact, General Eakers, we could use a few of your men for the job. They’re pilots, they would know what information was needed.” She smiles at Eakers, “Each group large enough to work independently should have a forward air observer. Would that be a brigade or a battalion?”

  Eisenhower, “Battalion. But it will take several classes to cycle enough students.” He looks at Eakers, “General, can we count on you?”

  Eakers gives a sour look, “Yes, General, but, it’s a waste of my people and planes.”

  Eisenhower, “General, I understand, but that isn’t the point right now. England must survive. Do you understand?”

  Eakers glowers, “Yes, sir.”

  Spike, “Our A-10 units will support the training.”

  Eisenhower, “Okay, then, the next line; from the Humber to the Mersey.”

  Patton, “When the 1st Armored Division arrives from North Ireland, where do you want them?”

  “Plymouth, I suppose.”

  Patton, “It’s a shorter trip to drop the 1st AD at Lancaster or Black Pool.”

  Anderson, “The next line should be the Severn to the Wash. General Patton, Lancaster lacks the port facilities to land armor.”

  Patton, “They’ll be landing by landing craft direct to the beach.”

  Eisenhower, “LCACs. Good idea, George. Do it. Later we may need to circle them around. Our final line is a refused line around London. Hopefully, by then, we’ll have sufficient reserves to push back. The Navy is scrambling some amphibious units from the east coast to give us Marines. If they arrive in time, I want them to land behind German lines. As their lines adjust, we counter attack. We now have plan. Adjust your individual plans to align.”

  He receives a chorus of, “Yes, sir.”

  Patton, “Are we getting the royal family out?”

  Eisenhower, “If you were the King, would your run and leave your subjects behind?”

  Anderson, “The King and his family will stay. London must not fall.”

  Spike, “Our focus with the Black Knights will continue to protect the A-10s, port areas, air fields, then everything else. Functionally, we tend to engage the Germans before we know what they are attacking. I will orient the A-10s to the Tees line and start hitting the Germans on the move. Once you have gunships, Air Marshal, we’ll train aircrews and coordinate their use. I’ll also request that some be built stateside.”

  Dowding, “Yes, indeed.”

  Patton stands, “With your leave, sir, I will get my forces reoriented. They’re already moving.”

  Eisenhower says, “Go, George.”

  Anderson, “It’s a good plan. In fact, it’s close to the one I came in here with. Commodore, I’ll have my first batch of students to you first thing tomorrow.”

  Spike smiles, “We’ll be ready for them.”

  Eisenhower, “It’s logical. How do you think the Germans will react?”

  Anderson, “With maneuver. They’ll seek the weak points to strike and blow through. My boys at the Tees will need to be ready to fall back.”

  Eisenhower, “We save who we can. If they stay ahead of the Germans, have them head to the coast and we’ll pick them up. Thank you, gentlemen. Commodore, may I have a word?”

  The others leave, but Eakers and Spike stay seated.

  Eisenhower, “General, was there something else?”

  “General, we’re here to bomb German targets, not play, what was it? Forward Air Observer? We need to stop their re-supply and that means bombing into France and Germany.”

  Eisenhower, “The only bombing you will be doing will be on enemy ships in the channel, and airfields
in France and Lowlands. That is the priority. And, General, send pilots and navigators to be trained. We need them right now.”

  Eakers stands, “General, Commodore.” He walks, back stiff, from the room.

  Eisenhower turns back to Spike, shaking his head, “I heard you having words with my chief of staff. What was it about?”

  “He wanted me in dress uniform at headquarters, sir, and I agree, formal attire is appropriate in most circumstances, but today, there just wasn’t time. I only found out about the meeting with twenty-five minutes to get here.”

  “Understood. Another matter,” and he slides a paper across the table.

  From: Commander in Chief

  To: Commander, Naval Forces United Kingdom, Task Force Yankee

  Regarding: Rosebud

  Prime Minister’s office has determined cause of erroneous order and will brief you soon. At soonest convenience brief SACEUR, General Eisenhower, on the events of 23 September, 1942 regarding Rosebud. Brief General Eisenhower on the general capabilities of the device. Operational control procedures have not changed.

  President Franklin D. Roosevelt

  Spike looks at the time and date stamp, it arrived while she was on the road. “May I borrow a phone?”

  He points, “Of course.”

  She calls the operations center at Kenley, “This is Commodore Hunt. Is Commanders Jackson or Swedenborg in?”

  In a moment, she hears, “Swedenborg.”

  “Swede, Spike. Did we receive a message numbered…?” and reads off the number code.

  “Affirmative. We received it after you left.”

  “Thank you.” She hangs up and turns back to Eisenhower, “I’m sorry, General. On the 23rd, we nearly destroyed Berlin with an atomic bomb. At Kenley, we have a weapon that can destroy a city with one bomb. It uses atomic fusion to release an enormous amount of energy. The only person authorized to order its use is the president, because these weapons are more political than military.”

  “These? There is more than one?”