Chapter 144 "Almost overnight, China became a major air power"

"Wang Hai Brigade" is the famous "Ace Flying Team" in the history of the world's air force.Wang Hai personally shot down and damaged 9 U.S. aircraft, which is the highest personal record of the Volunteer Air Force so far. In 1985, General Gabriel, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force visited China. He said to Chinese Air Force Commander Wang Haihai with lingering fears: "I was shot down by you." Wang Hai smiled: "If you come to beat us again, I will beat you down!" Davis, recognized as "the greatest jet ace pilot" by the U.S. military, received countless honors during his lifetime.His death was one of the most shocking news to Americans during the Korean War.His death caused an uproar in the U.S. Air Force, and fear quickly infected every pilot of the U.S. Far East Air Force.

At 5 o'clock on February 10, 1952, the air was cold and the sun was covered by thin clouds. The Volunteer Air Force radar detected 34 US planes flying towards the Tieshan Peninsula.Thirty-four MiG-15s of the 4th Air Division took off to face off. The experienced U.S. plane stuck to the surface of the sea, drilled through the clouds, and approached my fleet secretly. Pilot Zhang Jihui and wingman Shan Ziyu yanked the joystick at the same time to seize the altitude advantage and prepare to attack.At this time, the U.S. plane suddenly made a big change, passing straight down from the gap in the clouds behind the right side, and the two leading U.S. planes had swooped behind the tail of Zhang Jihui's plane.

The American plane is getting closer and closer.The calm Zhang Jihui reminded his wingman Shan Ziyu while continuing to fly forward pretending not to know. At this time, the pilot of the U.S. plane decided that he had succeeded, and stepped up the accelerator to rush forward.Zhang Jihui took Shan Ziyu up suddenly to the right, and the two U.S. planes flew into the air, but Zhang Jihui tightly bit him. After some aerial combat, the US plane escaped.Zhang Jihui chased up under the close cover of the wingman, aimed and fired at a distance of 600 meters, fired three shots, and the US plane crashed.

After the air battle, the flight bag, aircraft number and a badge were recovered from the wreckage of the enemy plane.Badge engraved: George A. Davis, Squadron Commander, 334th Squadron, 4th Wing, U.S. Air Force.George Davis was the fifth ace in the Korean War with a total of 14 downed aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has never admitted that it was shot down by volunteers. They think it must have been done by the Soviets.Even the Soviet Air Force put the laurels on their heads for killing Davis. In fact, the Soviet Air Force knew at the time that it was the volunteer pilot Zhang Jihui who shot down Davis.Because Davis's body and the remains of the landline are only 500 meters away from where Zhang Jihui parachuted.

In 2001, the former Soviet Air Force general wrote an article confirming that it was Zhang Jihui who killed it. After Davis was killed, Lieutenant General Willan, the commander of the US Far East Air Force, admitted in a special statement that the killing of Davis "was a major blow to the Far East Air Force." against the enemy". The U.S. Congress was shocked by this.Senator and Republican leader Bridge said in a congressional meeting: "The Korean War, which is being carried out in the current way, is the most desperate war in the history of the United States." Soon, American double ace Harold Edward was shot down by volunteer pilot Han Decai and captured alive.

After being captured alive, Edward offered to meet the opponent who shot him down.When Han Decai appeared in front of him, he couldn't believe that he, an American air hero with 3,000 hours of flying experience and shot down 10 enemy planes, was actually a 19-year-old boy with less than 100 hours of flying time. The lad shot down. Edward shouted: "No! No! Don't be kidding!" Han Decai recounted the process of shooting him down.Edward's eyes were straightened, he hugged his head in frustration, and muttered to himself: "Unbelievable." Edward was shot down, which also shocked the United States."America's premier jet-air hero, double ace Harold Edward Fisher, went missing in action April 7," the Associated Press reported.

The Volunteer Air Force's attack greatly affected the morale of the U.S. Air Force. The Americans themselves admitted that the Far East Air Force was "fearful about the future, anxious, timid, imminent, and at a loss."Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Vandenberg lamented: "Communist China has become one of the world's major air powers almost overnight." Of course, in addition to the Air Force, the antiaircraft artillery unit is the greatest threat to American aircraft. In the air defense operations to resist US aggression and aid Korea, the anti-aircraft artillery unit shot down 2335 US aircraft and damaged 7512 aircraft.

That is to say, the vast majority of American aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery units.