"Very well, Louis, we ended up doing a side dive bombing."

The flight instructor's instructions came from behind. After Louis determined his current altitude and speed, he adjusted the joystick and brought the plane side. After the wings were at a ninety-degree angle to the ground, he stepped on the pedal to adjust the direction, and gradually changed from a flat flight to a nearly vertical rushing towards the ground.

"Pay attention to speed and altitude."

The reminder sound behind him came at the right time. Louis looked at the sight from time to time to ensure that he was always locking in the attack target. During this range, he could only slightly adjust the direction to ensure that the target did not escape his 'lock'. He also had to pay attention to the instructor's prompt sound coming from time to time behind him: "Three thousand feet!"

When the prompt "1,800 feet (about 548 meters)" came from behind him, Louis immediately dropped the bomb and pulled the plane from dive to horizontal flight.

"Very good!" The instructor looked back at the position where the training bullet fell: "Congratulations on successfully hitting the target and being able to return."

"As for orders, instructor!"

Louis pulled up from a low altitude, operated the biplane dive bomber, drew an arc in the air and flew towards the landing point.

By this time, the entire assessment had basically ended, and the instructor behind him was even in the mood to talk to Louis about trivial things: "Do you know? Louis, after teaching students like you, I'm afraid I can no longer stand those idiots."

"Instructor, I just spent more time studying."

"You are right. You spend more time studying than them... However, those who are far inferior to you are using those time to drink and play cards." The instructor behind him seemed very depressed: "If they were willing to spend more time, how could it be difficult for them to graduate?"

Amid the instructor's complaints, Louis steadily parked the plane and climbed out of the cockpit with the instructor one after another. He returned to the instructor on the ground and kept writing something on the board with his pen.

"You have completed all the training and passed the assessment. You will be leaving here soon." The instructor patted Louis on the shoulder. It is actually rare for students who are worry-free and performing well. Maybe there is no one in several groups of students: "Congratulations, although you didn't catch up with the course adjustment, you will soon become an active second-level pilot."

In October 1939, Congress and the Navy adjusted the training courses: the courses were streamlined, and the accumulated flight time was reduced from 300 hours to 200 hours.

If Louis came here later and was just in the simplified version of the flight course when he completed the theory course, he would not need to go through the training of five squadrons: the new course was reduced to three squadrons, and in the end it was not necessary to train an all-around pilot who could fly three types of aircraft (fighters, torpedoes, dive bombers) like the old course, but instead choose one of them to study.

Unfortunately, Louis had already started to learn flight courses when the adjustment was made. The base did not think that temporary change of courses was a good thing, so Louis was the last group of graduates who completed flight courses according to the old course schedule.

"I have had a great time here." Louis did not feel unlucky. On the contrary, he felt that this was his luck. Adequate training time would allow him to accumulate more flight knowledge, be familiar with various types of aircraft, and provide a foundation for him to board the aircraft carrier and fly other models of aircraft.

The biggest benefit of this adjustment for Louis is that all flight cadets currently graduated from Pensacola will be awarded the status of active Navy lieutenant.

This identity is why Louis signed up and received nearly two and a half years of training, and there is also a hidden benefit.

Before the adjustment of this streamlined course, the pilots trained by Pensacola were all "all-round pilots", which means that these pilots can fly all types of aircraft currently owned by the Navy. Their positions are not decided by themselves, but are assigned by the Navy's Personnel Bureau after graduation.

This is full of great uncertainty and may even be assigned to a certain island base to fly a land-based aircraft.

After the course is adjusted, because the students choose the type of aircraft to learn independently, the Navy Personnel Bureau must consider the flight skills mastered by these pilots when allocating them to ensure that the pilots will not be sent to a base to fly bombers.

It is precisely because of this situation that although Louis cannot ensure which unit he will go to serve, he can ensure that he will not be assigned to fly torpedoes.

It’s not that he looked down on the torpedo plane, but that the torpedo plane driver is really hard to do, especially the American torpedo plane driver in the early stages of war. It’s not about going to war, it’s just about going to die!

The casualties of the American torpedo aircraft at the beginning of the war were very tragic, and almost as many people flew out, they could only return successfully.

However, the result of this tragic casualties is zero record: no results were achieved.

Even though Louis didn't know much about military affairs, he had heard about how powerful American torpedoes were during World War II: even if they were head-on, they refused to explode.

In addition to the famous iron stick, it is related to the fighting style of the torpedo aircraft itself. Even if he does not understand the problem of torpedo, he still will not choose torpedo aircraft.

The torpedo aircraft must rush straight towards the target at a low altitude and at a low speed close to the stall. During this period, it cannot dodge and adjust its course. The gunner on the opposite side even has time to sniff a cigarette to take a breath, and then aim at these live targets to shoot them down.

In comparison, dive bombers that rush down from high altitudes are much safer, because the attack angle chosen by dive bombers is the blind spot of many air defense weapons, unlike torpedoes that can be almost attacked by various protective firepower.

And he remembered that Japanese warships during World War II had always been criticized for their air defense capabilities? Perhaps it was these factors that made dive bombers on the Pacific battlefield achieve so many amazing results.

In short, Louis could ensure that he would become a dive bomber pilot. After completing all the training, he would be able to graduate successfully. He would stay at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, waiting for the Naval Personnel Bureau to be assigned, and then know which unit he would serve.

Because of their excellent grades and many instructors here appreciate Louis, they all know that Louis' first choice is to board the aircraft carrier.

The first choice is Enterprise, followed by York City and Bumblebee. These things are learned from Louis himself during his usual chat. Some people are curious about why they chose these aircraft carriers? Louis used "I want to serve these 'advanced' aircraft carriers." to deal with these questions.

Perhaps it was because Louis had a good relationship with the instructors that really played a role; or maybe it was because the Seal of the Brave that used mysterious power? In short, Louis was successfully assigned to the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and joined the Sixth Bomber Squadron as he wished and became a dive bomber pilot.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant Hunter! You are now a glorious United States Navy pilot!"

The brand new military uniform, documents and transfer orders were sent to Louis' hands. Next, he could not continue to stay in Pensacola. He had to go to the San Diego Naval Base on the west coast, and then take a boat to Pearl Harbor, and board the Enterprise at Pearl Harbor that he wanted to serve.

Of course, the Navy will not let Louis spend money across North America out of his own pocket. He said he was going on his own, but the military would provide Louis with various conveniences, such as he could take any military transportation to the San Diego Naval Base without spending a cent during this period.

Even so, this journey was not comfortable. In this era, whether it was a train or a plane, it was painful torture. After he arrived at the San Diego Military Port, the person in charge did not give Louis any rest time. He immediately arranged him on a destroyer about to head to Pearl Harbor and "carried" him over there.

This rush is much more troubled than when he and Elena traveled around the world. If he hadn't had his strong physical fitness, it would be difficult for ordinary people to recover in two or three days.

When he arrived at Pearl Harbor, Louis knew why the San Diego Naval Base was anxious to send him over, because the Enterprise would soon enter Pearl Harbor for rest. As long as he arrived at Pearl Harbor as scheduled, he would not need to stand by at the Pearl Harbor base, and he would be able to board the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and officially start service.

After arriving at Pearl Harbor, he soon met his boss, deputy captain of the Sixth Bomber Squadron of the Flight Formation of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier: Richard Halsey Best.

"My name is Dick Best, and I am the deputy captain of the Sixth Bombing Squadron, that is, your direct commander. Welcome to the Enterprise Number, a rookie."

Dick Best gives people a feeling of being arrogant, even if he says welcome, he gives people a feeling of looking down on you. Simply put, this person has a bad first impression on Louis.

"I'm glad to be on the Enterprise, sir."

Dick Bass nodded, and the words he said were still not very happy: "For the next period of time, you will serve as my wingman, let me see if you are qualified to join the Sixth Bombing Squadron."

"I promise not to let you down, sir."

Under the leadership of Dick Best, Louis officially boarded the Enterprise and joined the Sixth Bomber Squadron. It happened to be August 1940. The Enterprise had just returned to Pearl Harbor to rest, and most of the officers and soldiers on the ship were on holiday.

At the same time, some personnel transfers will be carried out on the Enterprise, which is why the deputy squadron leader Dick Best is responsible for greeting Louis, and the commander of the Sixth Flight Formation will change.

However, those transfers and adjustments have nothing to do with Dick Best. He has confirmed that he will not be promoted to the squadron leader. Louis thinks this is the reason why Vice Captain Dick is in a bad mood.

And the day after completing various procedures, Vice Captain Dick suddenly found Louis who was resting in the base: "Rookie, are you interested in flying a fearless style? You probably haven't touched this new model yet!"
Chapter completed!