"General, today's air raid operations went extremely poorly. All four waves of aircraft were ambushed by the Royal Air Force. So far, we have lost twenty-eight fighter planes and as many as thirty-seven bombers." A major general reported to Lieutenant General Seeckt. The Royal Air Force's sudden counterattack had caught the German Army Air Corps somewhat off guard.
Lieutenant General Seeckt's brow furrowed tightly. The British counterattack at such a time had completely exceeded his expectations. In their previous operations, the British had remained silent all along, showing no intention of fighting back. Yet in barely half a day, they had caused them to lose more than half an Air Corps wing. Such losses were undoubtedly unbearable for the German Army Air Corps.
"What are the British trying to do? Do they think they can contend with us? Are they trying to fight us for control of the skies?" Lieutenant General Seeckt said. Indeed, the British' strange actions left him thoroughly astonished.
"General, perhaps our previous bombing of the British Army inflicted such heavy losses on them that the Royal Air Force could no longer sit still," another general said.
Lieutenant General Seeckt nodded. That possibility could not be ruled out. However, whether the Royal Air Force joined the battle or not, their planned operational objectives would not change in the slightest.
"Gentlemen, since the British wish to contend with us for air superiority, then let us fight them for control of the skies! The Army's attack on Canterbury will begin shortly. Before the offensive begins, we must ensure that we hold air superiority over this region!" Lieutenant General Seeckt said.
Although the Army Air Corps would soon become an independent branch of the military, at least for the present, it still belonged to the Army. The Army Air Corps