I Became a Tycoon During World War I - Chapter 215

Chapter 215: The Eight Rules of Aerial Combat

The most nervous one was clearly Carter.

While Gallieni was busy trying to track down the location of the aircraft, Carter, pale-faced, asked Charles, “Major, if the plane falls into enemy hands, will they quickly learn this technology?”

Charles nodded lightly. “The 'machine gun synchronization device' isn’t exactly high-tech. The Germans will be able to figure out its principles just by seeing it. Reproducing it wouldn’t be hard.”

Carter sighed, blaming himself. “This is a disaster. If the enemy equips their planes with machine guns, it will threaten the entire sky and the lives of the pilots...”

Carter felt responsible.

“This is not your fault, Captain!” Charles reassured him. “This day was bound to come. It’s part of the mission. Such things will happen.”

“I know, Major!” Carter replied uneasily. “The problem is that we’re far from ready. When you had us conduct aerial combat drills last time, many didn’t take it seriously. Even those who did didn’t know how to train for it. And then, with all the subsequent missions, we...”

Charles nodded in understanding.

The pilots didn’t take the drills seriously due to a “death by complacency” mentality:

The First Fighter Squadron had absolute air superiority. They had machine guns, while the enemy didn’t. In this completely safe environment, they felt no pressure, and a mere verbal order wasn’t enough to grab their attention.

Some pilots were willing to practice, but it was just practice—they couldn’t truly enter the life-or-death mindset of a war.

It was normal not to find a clear direction for training.

After a moment of thought, Charles slowly spoke. “First rule: Observe the position of the sun and try to keep your back to it!”

Carter, who had been dejected and with his head down, was stunned by these words. He raised his head in disbelief, looking at Charles.

He had years of flying experience and had been studying aerial combat during this time, so of course he understood what Charles meant.

The sun's position was crucial. Facing the sun would blind the pilot, making it hard to see the enemy except for their faint silhouette. But the enemy would be able to see the plane clearly in the sunlight.

Was this... an aerial combat principle?

“Wait a second, Major!” Realizing this, Carter sprang up and ran to the desk, grabbing a notebook and pencil before rushing back. He wrote the word “sunshine” on the paper.

Charles continued at a leisurely pace, “Second rule: Once engaged in combat, commit to attacking. Do not entertain any thoughts of retreat or evasion!”

Carter firmly agreed.

Aerial combat was different from other battles. Retreating or avoiding the fight often meant being pursued by the enemy, which would only place oneself in greater danger!

Therefore, there was no turning back; one had to fight to the end.

“Third rule!” Charles continued, “Only shoot when the distance is very close!”

Carter quickly wrote down the word “distance.”

This one was undeniable—closer distances meant higher hit rates.

Aerial ammunition was precious. The two machine guns had a total of only five hundred rounds. In principle, they could use up all their bullets in thirty seconds. If they fired recklessly without considering accuracy, it would almost certainly mean giving the opportunity and one’s own life to the enemy.

“Fourth rule: Always keep your eyes on the enemy plane and predict their feints!”

Carter hesitated for a moment. It wasn’t that he disagreed with this rule, but rather that it was difficult.

However, he immediately realized that this was the focus of training. It required extensive practice or experience gained in actual combat to master.

Then came the fifth, sixth, and seventh rules...

Charles delivered all eight rules in one breath, while Carter wrote them down in his notebook, astonished as he looked at Charles. He couldn’t believe that these invaluable insights were coming from someone who couldn’t fly and had never participated in aerial combat.

Each of these rules was a piece of wisdom, something that must not be violated. Otherwise, one might not have another chance to fight.

Finally, Charles instructed, “You can have the soldiers train according to these eight rules!”

“Yes, Major!” Carter nodded emphatically. “I’ll make sure they memorize these rules...”

“Not just memorize them,” Charles interrupted. “Make them a habit.”

Carter immediately understood and stood upright, responding, “Yes, Major! Not just memorize, but make them a habit!”

It was like swimming. Simply memorizing the strokes wouldn’t help; one would still make mistakes in the water. Only by practicing repeatedly in the water, gradually correcting mistakes, and making the motions habitual could one truly learn.

The same applied to aerial combat. When an enemy plane dived down on you and sprayed bullets, panic could cause one to forget everything. By the time one realized the mistake, it might already be too late.

Only by repeated training could one turn these rules into reflexive habits, reacting correctly during actual combat.

Carter cherished the notebook in his hand, then curiously looked at Charles. “Major, did you come up with all this... purely through imagination?”

“Most of it,” Charles replied cryptically. “Some I deduced from seeing aerial combat, and some I thought of while sitting in an aircraft.”

Charles was referring to the aerial combat he had witnessed in Antwerp, where he had also commanded planes in battle and later flown away himself. These experiences became perfect excuses.

Carter didn’t doubt him and exclaimed, “Clearly, you have a gift for this, Major!”

In reality, this was not a gift, but rather the “Eight Rules of Aerial Combat” summed up by the German ace pilot, Volck.

Volck had shot down 40 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and had compiled these tactics during the fighting, with some rules still holding great value today.

Charles couldn’t help but think: Using the Germans' tactics to fight the Germans—doesn’t that seem like a bit of irony?
What would Volck think if he ever saw the “Eight Rules of Aerial Combat” that Charles had summarized?

He would be shocked: This is so strange! These ideas are exactly the same as mine, and Charles managed to summarize them—more than a year ago!

Gallieni had probably heard some of what Charles said. He took a break from his duties and teased, “I remember someone once said he had no experience commanding aerial combat and used that as an excuse to refuse being the squadron leader.”

“At that time, I never thought about any of this, General!” Charles replied.

That was the truth. Charles couldn’t even fly a plane. How could he have ever imagined commanding a fighter squadron?

Looking at it now, it seemed like he was up to the task, and no one else could do it better.

Gallieni smiled and nodded. “You mean to say that this is your gift? Well, I admit it!”

Charles had no words to respond. If it wasn’t “talent,” what else could explain it?

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>