Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen Free Like the Wind (1)

Before and after the Battle of Wuhan, the air battle between China and Japan was always going on fiercely. Due to the great loss of excellent pilots and fighter planes in the early stage, the reorganized Chinese Air Force is still no match for the Japanese Air Force. "Great Wuhan" has been bombed again and again. If things go on like this, the morale of the soldiers and civilians on the ground will be destroyed. Therefore, the Chinese Command has repeatedly urged the Air Force to fight a turnaround. The head coach behind the scenes, Mr. Chennault, has to come and teach everyone a new lesson. .

As early as during the Songhu air battle, the Japanese suspected that foreign masters were hidden behind the Chinese Air Force due to unexpected heavy casualties.Therefore, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong note, demanding that all American pilots serving in China, even those working in civil airlines, must leave. The Chinese Air Force machine gunner who is shooting The U.S. government follows the principle that more is worse than less, and it does so.Under pressure, some U.S. Air Force advisers and pilots had to return to the United States, but a considerable number of brave people chose to stay, including Chennault.

From the beginning to the end, Chennault's public identity was Song Meiling's aviation consultant, and his passport was still registered as a "farmer". But just like this, the US Consulate still refused to let him go, and repeatedly issued written warnings, claiming that if Chennault did not leave, he would be killed. Immediately arrested, then deported, and even faced a military court after returning home, and thus lost the eligibility for American citizenship. Scary enough, but Chennault didn't take it seriously, writing in his diary: Imagine I'm a Chinese! As long as Chennault himself stands firm, no one will arrest him. The Chinese government has sent layers of guards to protect him, because this foreign instructor is so important to the Chinese Air Force.

air games Since the Type 96 appeared on the Chinese battlefield, Chennault has been attached to this Japanese fighter.No matter where you are, as long as you hear the news that the Type 96 has been shot down, you must find a way to go to the scene to see it with your own eyes. Not to watch the excitement, but hoping to find its weakness. At first glance, the Type 96 appears to be invulnerable.Its most powerful feature is its incredible flexibility, and it can perform very beautiful U-turns, roundabouts and other difficult moves during melee. Flexible, flexible, Chennault muttered, while subconsciously trying to tear the aluminum skin of the plane with his hands, at this moment, something unexpected happened.

Like wallpaper, the aluminum skin was torn apart, which surprised the Americans, and at the same time, they were overjoyed. It turns out that the advantages of Type 96 are also its disadvantages.Due to the need to take care of the flexibility, it has to be slimmed down again and again, so the shell material is both light and thin. Chennault immediately gave a lesson to Chinese pilots, and the name of the first lesson was: You have to be brave. The Type 96 looks powerful, but it is actually very fragile. Our fighter is much stronger than it, so don't be afraid. If the two sides fire at each other, the first one to fall will definitely not be you, but the opponent.

Immediately, a young man interjected: Type 96 is more flexible than us, if it points its gun at me first, but I haven't had time to point it at it, wouldn't it be over? Everyone laughed, and Teacher Chen also laughed: Then I will teach you another technique of self-defense. If you encounter this kind of unlucky thing, remember, don't rush to escape. On the contrary, you can try to get close enough, until you can hook the Type 96 wing with your wing, and then Hit it up and leave. You'll think it's a fun game, and yes, it's fun - and when you look back, you'll find that your opponent has no wings!

The smiles of the young pilots all froze. Chinese air force pilots study tactics before the war What a strange tactic, I have never seen it, never heard of it, let alone tried it. Chennault wasn't talking casually to Chinese students.When he was a pilot, he tried it himself. He once used a fixed landing gear to knock off the opponent's wing and even the tail. After class, the pilots still refused to leave, and surrounded Chennault to ask this and that, because they still couldn't believe the actual effect of this tactic. The opportunity to try it is coming soon.The Chinese and Japanese planes met in the sky outside Wuhan. In the past, maybe the Chinese pilots could only flee, but didn’t Mr. Chen say that?The Japanese aircraft is "crunchy". If you don't hit it, beat it.

A hook trigger, broken, the machine gun jammed, unable to shoot out. At a critical juncture, the pilot remembered the "Chen's self-defense technique". Instead of running, he rushed straight over, using his own wings to catch the opponent's wings as taught by Chennault. At the end of a round, it was not the Japanese plane whose wing was torn, but the Chinese plane, which spun and landed.Fortunately, the forced landing was finally successful, and the Chinese pilot only suffered minor eye injuries. The next day, the pilot came to Chennault angrily and asked: I did exactly what you said, but how could there be such a result?

Chennault was also very strange, and he couldn't laugh or cry after asking. It turned out that it was not a Type 96 fighter that was facing it that day, but a bomber of the Japanese Naval Air Force, which has the strongest fuselage. Boss, I asked you to hit the Type 96, but you went to touch the bomber. It seems that your eyes are really not working well, no wonder you were injured. Of course, there are only a few people with such poor eyesight. Most of the pilots have succeeded in using the collision tactics. They even pulled out the wings of the Japanese fighter jets with very slight losses.

With victory comes courage, but also confidence.When the Japanese bomber group, under the escort of fighter jets, once again collectively flew over Wuhan, the Chinese Air Force immediately stepped forward to block it. On February 18, 1938, the first Wuhan Air Battle broke out.After the First World War, thirteen Japanese planes were shot down, and Li Guidan, the new captain of the Fourth Brigade alone, shot down three. But for Chennault, in addition to the joy of victory, there are more sorrows and regrets.Because of this battle, the Chinese Air Force sacrificed another five outstanding pilots, including Li Guidan himself. So far, none of the "Four Kings" of the Air Force who are being elected has survived.

lead snake out of hole After the "2.18" air battle, the Soviet Air Force became the main force defending the airspace over Wuhan. Therefore, for a full two months, the Japanese air force did not dare to make trouble in the airspace over Wuhan. They could only engage in sneak attacks at night. Obviously, these guys will not let it go so easily, and they will definitely find some time to have fun.But what day will it be? With the arrival of military aid from the Soviet Union, the Chinese Air Force began to fully replace its equipment. The number of aircraft available for combat reached 217, of which 159 were fighter jets, which was close to the number before the July 7th Incident. Quantity, at least in terms of hardware, has regained the level to compete with Japanese machines. One day, during the test flight, the Chinese pilot suddenly found a Japanese plane passing below, so he immediately swooped down and hit it with one hit. This unbeaten plane turned out to be a reconnaissance plane. After checking the wreckage, it was found that a dead ghost inside was wearing a gold collar badge. What kind of person wears this thing?Of course not ordinary people, but senior officials of the Japanese Air Force. The searched diary shows that this high-ranking official came to inspect the front line, but unexpectedly, he just became a sacrificial offering for the test flight of a new Chinese Air Force aircraft.The diary also revealed that April 29th is the Tianchang Festival, and the air force will use the bombing of Wuhan as a gift to Emperor Hirohito. From this Chennault gained an important message, but it was only information.After the crash of the reconnaissance plane, whether the Japanese Air Force will implement this plan still has to be marked with a huge question mark. After communicating with the Soviet Air Force, Chennault soon had a plan. On April 28th, the Chinese High Command transferred all the Chinese and Soviet air forces to Wuhan, but it didn't take long for them to set off for Nanchang collectively.What is different from the past is that this time the plane did not leave immediately, but flew low over Wuhan first, and then circled the city again. Such a high-profile, of course, is to let people on the ground see clearly, including those lurking Japanese spies and traitors, who passed on the information in the first place. Just an hour after leaving Wuhan, the Sino-Soviet Air Force began to turn back. It was dusk, and the light itself was very dim. The pilots also adopted the method of ultra-low-altitude flight, and even the usual procedure of circling and landing was omitted. All this was for the sake of confidentiality. During this process, Chennault personally climbed the tallest building in Hankou to observe the effect.However, even he did not hear or see when the plane arrived at the airport, so the Americans were convinced that the trap he set was perfect and that the "snake" would definitely come out of the "hole". Not bad at all.If before this, the Japanese air force still hesitated to bomb Wuhan, then after discovering a "defense vacuum" over Wuhan, if they didn't take the opportunity to bomb Wuhan to flatter them, they would be called fools possible. On April 29, Chennault learned from the alarm network that Japanese planes were dispatched. Compared with the first big air battle, the Japanese came prepared this time, with a murderous look, and even used the main lineup of the Kisarazu Air Force. There are many first-class bombers and fighters gathered in this air force. They attacked Zhoujiakou a few months ago, not only destroying most of the Soviet planes that first aided China, but also causing the death of the "air force god" Gao Zhihang. If the hard bone is entrusted to you, you must have a way to chew it. Chennault observed that since the refueling base of the Kisarazu Air Force is far away in Wuhu, the Japanese fighter planes can continue to fight over Wuhan for a short time. When the fuel is almost exhausted, these planes will have to return to Wuhu. So he divided the Chinese and Soviet air forces into two, and handed over the first round of combat missions to the Chinese air force. The purpose was not to annihilate each other, but to delay as much as possible and consume their fuel. As the main force, the Soviet Air Force was hidden by Chennault. When the Kisarazu Air Force approached Wuhan, the Chinese Air Force had already been waiting here, and the two sides immediately fought into a melee. These guys came to take the opportunity to bomb, and they never thought about air combat.Of course, it is not impossible to temporarily engage in air combat, but there is not enough fuel to go back and forth, so they are very anxious and desperately want to get rid of the entanglement and go to Wuhan to do "business".But the more you want to get rid of it, the more you can't get rid of it. In order to fight this battle well, Chennault organized the last batch of outstanding pilots, who formed an impenetrable defense line in the air. The Kisarazu Air Force struggled and tossed and tossed, not only failed to achieve what they wanted, but also had several planes destroyed. Seeing that the fuel was almost exhausted, they knew that today's "gift" would not be able to be offered, so they had to reorganize their formation and returned to Wuhu angrily. In this round, the losses of the Japanese planes were not particularly large, until they encountered ambushes on the road. Like vultures waiting for their prey, the Soviet fighter jets rushed out suddenly, causing the Kisarazu Air Force to suffer a catastrophe. The movements of the Soviets' aerial siege are both proficient and sophisticated. They first used sharp piercings to separate the opponent's bombers and fighters, and then strangled them in groups. If the gasoline of the Type 96 is still sufficient at this time, they may not be at a disadvantage, but they have insufficient fuel, and there is no way to stop the fight. If they want to save their lives, they can only bury their heads and flee to Wuhu. The more you want to escape, the harder it is to escape. The Soviet fighters don't need to use any clever tricks, just chase after their buttocks and fire and everything will be done.The hit Japanese planes dragged wisps of black smoke and fell towards the ravines and fields one after another. In this battle, the Sino-Soviet Air Forces won a complete victory, losing only eleven planes, but the total number of Japanese planes shot down reached 21, and all the Type 96 fighter jets of the Kisarazu Air Force came and went. What's even more funny is that the news of the "imperial army's great victory" came from the Japanese broadcast that day, saying that fifty-two Chinese planes were shot down that night—it's not so many if you add up all the planes shot down by both sides , It can be seen how far these guys have lied in order to please their emperor. Every time he wins, others are cheering and jumping for joy, but Chennault has a special feeling in his heart. Without the life-threatening blocking and delaying of the Chinese Air Force, there would be no perfect success of the ambush, but its price was unbearable: four Chinese fighter pilots were killed on the spot, and after rounds of hard fighting, Chennault's already The few good pilots left have been lost. epitaph Among the Chinese pilots who participated in the "4.29" air battle, the most outstanding performance was Chen Huaimin. Chen Huaimin, a native of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, graduated from the Central Aviation School.After the death of the "Four Heavenly Kings", he was one of the remaining excellent pilots at that time. Chen Huaimin, the eternal chasing boy Among the air favorites, Chen Huaimin leaves people with the impression that he is young, healthy and energetic. The young Chen Huaimin studied at school during the day and practiced martial arts with his father at night, and either he didn't make a move, or he was shocked when he made a move. He once won the championship of the National Youth Wushu Competition.At this time, Chen Huaimin, if there is no time limit, looks very much like the kung fu boy Jet Li in the 1980s. After the young Chen Huaimin was admitted to the Central Aviation School, in addition to his outstanding academic performance, he was also the absolute main force of the school basketball team, a bicycle enthusiast and a leader.At this time, Chen Huaimin, if there is no distance, is almost the spokesperson of "Slam Dunk". In the years of cycling on campus, the flowers of youth are blooming everywhere. Chen Huaimin represented the basketball team of the Central Aviation School to compete at Zhejiang University, where he met his love. Chen Huaimin is the backbone of the famous "Zhihang Brigade", that is, the backbone of the Fourth Brigade. He once fought bloody battles on the front line of Songhu with the team leader Gao Zhihang.In the meantime, he also narrowly escaped death. The most serious one was when the plane was injured and crashed into a big tree. Chen Huaimin was knocked unconscious on the spot. When he woke up, he found that his eyeballs were no longer in their sockets, and quickly pushed them back in with his hands. After he returned from injury, the four teams moved to Wuhan, and the familiar eagle style was replaced by the "swallow", but the battle did not become easier, but more severe and difficult. In the "2?18" air battle, Chen Huaimin not only lost the new captain Li Guidan, but also lost the captain Lu Jichun, who was nicknamed "Night Cat".Chen Huaimin himself escaped by parachuting twice, which is equivalent to escaping from death twice. If he could not die, the pilot in his prime would certainly not want to throw his life lightly, especially when he saw or thought of his lover. The girl in love traveled thousands of miles alone, allowing the two to meet each other for the last time in Wuhan, and they embraced and wept when they parted. In the middle of the night, the young man tried his best to describe such words on the paper: madness, madness, lovesickness... Originally, on the day of the "4.29" air battle, Chen Huaimin was not in the class. Just because a pilot was about to get married, he asked Chen Huaimin if he could take off duty. Although he knew that the air battle was very dangerous, Chen Huaimin agreed without hesitation. . Just the night before the air battle, Chen Huaimin seemed to have a bad premonition. He mentioned in his diary: "Death" - if that kind of thing really happens, don't be sad, don't be sad, I died for the country, and death is worthwhile. On April 29, the Kisarazu Air Force rushed fiercely because they were eager to go to Wuhan for bombing. The battle was much more intense and brutal than when they were later ambushed by the Soviet Air Force. Chen Huaimin's "Swallow" was shot and caught fire very quickly. He could have escaped by parachuting, but he chose to slam into his opponent, and both planes died. A youth diary has just begun, and then it is over. I went to Nanjing and visited the Aviation Martyrs Cemetery accompanied by a friend. Even the locals in Nanjing, there are very few people who know that place, so although it is in the Zijin Mountain Scenic Area, it is almost a deserted place. There are many tombs neatly arranged in the cemetery. It seems that these lost flying heroes are still preparing to set off in a team. We bent down and searched for those familiar names, as if we were visiting old teachers and friends: Gao Zhihang, Liu Cuigang... Finally saw him, Chen Huaimin, that sunny boy chasing the wind, that brave sunny boy, that sunny boy who was always nostalgic for youth and love. A sad and beautiful tune suddenly sounded in my ears—— I had two lives, one was born and one was when I met you. I love this world because, I love you. The name of this tune is: Epitaph.