"General, the Germans are targeting our transport ships and merchant vessels! Our transport ships and merchant vessels simply can't withstand their attacks!" Rear Admiral Iwapachi Gōyū, Chief of Staff of the Island Nation's Army 28th Army, looked deeply worried.
Although the 2nd Division's four main infantry regiments had already boarded landing craft and launched their assault, its field artillery regiment, Combat Engineer Regiment, Logistics Regiment, and other units were still aboard the transport ships and merchant vessels. Furthermore, the entire 54th Division was still at sea. If the German Air Force fighter planes were allowed to continue attacking like this, they might suffer crippling losses before the troops could even gain a foothold on shore.
Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō's face had darkened like the bottom of a pot. The German Air Force's aerial strikes were simply too ferocious. Not only had the troops assaulting in landing craft suffered grievous losses, but the units still aboard the ships were also under tremendous threat. If this continued, their offensive would become nothing more than a joke.
"Where is the Army Air Force? When will they arrive? Contact Area Army Headquarters—we need air cover! Otherwise, the Germans will bomb all our transport ships and merchant vessels to the bottom!" Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō ordered.
"Yes, General." Rear Admiral Iwapachi Gōyū hurriedly went to contact Area Army Headquarters.
In fact, the 9th Air Group dispatched by the Island Nation's Army 3rd Air Force and 4th Air Force was already on its way and not far from the battlefield. A few minutes later, a massive formation of 120 Type 1 fighter planes and Type 97 fighter planes appeared over the battlefield.
Upon discovering that the Island Nation's Army Air Force's fighter units had arrived, the German Air Force's Dive Bombers and ground-attack aircraft immediately withdrew