Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Ground-Air Coordination

Throughout the dynasties, Hengyang has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.Because she occupies a very important and very important geographical location, and is a transportation hub between southeast and northwest.However, the beautiful and rich Hengyang is not a good battlefield by nature, especially as a defender.Therefore, the battle around Hengyang in history is often a tug-of-war, going from south to north, talking here and there, and the difficulty of attacking and defending is often between ten days. The Japanese army didn't care much about Hengyang's terrain.As far as the cities and towns conquered by the Japanese army were concerned in the past, Hengyang can be said to be defenseless.Hengyang is located at the intersection of the middle seams of this large horseshoe-shaped area in Hunan. Although the Hengyang Basin has a criss-cross river network and dense paddy fields and fish ponds, it is not conducive to the large-scale and rapid advancement of mechanized troops.But once the soldiers approached the city, Hengyang had no danger to defend, and it was difficult to resist the opponent's attack.Although the Xiangjiang River in the east and the steamed water in the north are natural barriers to defend Hengyang.But once the encirclement is formed, the steaming water of Hunan is no different from a noose that tightens the defenders to a desperate situation.The Japanese army paid little attention to the hilly hills in the south and southwest. These important highlands, known as Wuguiling, Tiger-shaped Nest, Fengshu Mountain, and Zhangjiashan, are actually just some mounds with an elevation of less than 40 to 50 meters. .It is said that the 10th Army hastily built some fortifications here temporarily.But in a hurry, in half a month, there may be any permanent fortifications, and they are not all general field fortifications that can be destroyed by artillery fire, which is far worse than Changsha's defense fortifications.For the 10th Army, the old opponent of the Japanese attack, the defense in the third Changsha battle was very successful. Heavy weapons were not shipped to Changsha.This time the Japanese army had transported enough heavy artillery and other equipment, but the 10th Army had no danger to defend, and the second had just broken the siege of Changde.

But once fighting started, the Japanese army gradually discovered that the fortification design of the Hengyang defenders was incomparably exquisite, and almost every pit, ditch, and every paddy field and fish pond played its defensive value.The spatial awareness of its defensive three-dimensional geometry has been brought to the extreme.The Japanese army suffered a lot in front of these seemingly inconspicuous hills, ditches, ditches, and field-based ponds.The Japanese army who attacked first did not expect that the grand plan and ambition of the No. 1 operation would almost be planted under these humble hills.

The Japanese army followed the strict principles of general offensive drills and field training courses, and conducted multiple rounds of bombardment and shelling, and bravely charged and assaulted. shock.However, at this time, the defenders came out of the shelter and entered the position calmly. When the Japanese army was about to rush into the position, rifles, light and heavy machine guns suddenly fired a salvo, and the side fires intersected and intertwined.Use the cross firepower on both sides to seal the gap and cut off the follow-up enemies, and the frontal firepower will burst like a storm when the enemy is only a short distance away.Such orderly launches caused great casualties to the Japanese army.Some of the Japanese soldiers who were hit staggered and almost fell in front of the shooters of the 10th Army, grinning, their eyes bursting out, and they fell down.As for the enemies who were about to break into the defensive positions, the warriors of the 10th Army used frontal grenades and bayonets in close combat to wipe out all the advancing enemies within the position.This is extremely difficult to grasp when the battle situation is extremely chaotic and tragic. If it is not done well, the position is easily broken by the enemy.And the first-level officers of the company and platoon of the 10th Army's reserve division are extremely proficient in using this method of warfare, and they have reached the limit.

Not only did the middle and lower rank officers of the Japanese army not expect these situations, but even senior generals such as Lieutenant General Sakuma, the commander of the 68th Division, and even Commander Isamu Yokoyama, the supreme frontline commander of the Japanese army, did not expect this.Those Japanese soldiers who foolishly acted as ghosts in foreign countries were even more unexpected. At the beginning of the war, although the Hengyang Airport was occupied by the Japanese army, it was severely damaged when the national army withdrew.Therefore, air supremacy should be in the hands of the national army.The Sino-US joint air force sent planes from Zhijiang Airport in Xiangxi and Guilin Airport in Guangxi to help the battle from time to time, which greatly boosted the morale of the defenders.

On the morning of June 28, the sky above Hengyang was as clear as a cloud, and there were no clouds in the sky.A six-plane formation of P-40 fighter-bombers of the Sino-US joint air force taking off from Guilin Airport is entering the sky over Hengyang.This is a group of heroes—a unit of Zhihang Brigade.The captain was Gao Zhihang, a famous combat hero of the young air force of the national army, who once shot down eleven Japanese planes.Captain Chen Xiangrong, the captain of the air force unit who performed the mission this time, is the 11th batch of talented students in the aviation school and the proud pilot of Captain Gao.The silver eagle spread its wings and volleyed in the sky. Captain Chen flew at the front of the formation. Vice-captain Liu Baolin and two teams led by Chen Luyuan and Dong Qiheng followed closely, fighting against the oncoming rain clouds.The main task of their trip is to fly to the lowest level in order to scout the specific location and action status of the enemy and ourselves.Then bomb and straf the enemy to support the ground forces in operations.The fleet passed through the mountains or wide or narrow river valleys in southwestern Hunan, and arrived at the edge of the Hengyang Basin at a height of only 1,000 meters from the ground.With the excitement before the battle, Chen Xiangrong first observed from the sky:

Looking down on the land of Hengyang, you can see the criss-crossing veins and the endless green waves of rice rolling; the Xiangjiang River, the Zhengshui River, and the Leishui River converge to flow northward peacefully around the city and the countryside; each fish pond is like a piece of glass Like a mirror, reflecting the charming light.Towns and villages are interspersed among green mountains and green waters.What a beautiful hometown!Now she has to bear the flames of war, and the iron hooves of the enemy are already trampling on her beautiful body.The enemy even fantasized about occupying her!Don't think about it!Gradually, the formation flew over the war zone. On the ground, fierce battles were in full swing, especially in the south and southwest of Hengyang City.I saw the flames flickering and the smoke bursting out.Soon, a signal from the ground requesting air support was received.

Chen Xiangrong came back to his senses, and hurriedly reported: "Report to Lieutenant Colonel Berg, our formation has flown over Hengyang. The airspace is in good condition and the line of sight is excellent. According to the telegram from the ground observation station, the two armies on the ground are fighting fiercely. Air support is requested!" Report Finished, please give instructions!" "OK, order your squadron to launch an attack according to the original plan to support ground operations!" "Yes! Launch an attack according to the original plan!" Captain Chen Xiangrong replied to the order of Lieutenant Colonel Berg of the command post, and pressed Get off the nose and prepare for battle, "Attention all planes, please pay attention to all planes, maintain formation, and launch an attack on the ground according to the original plan! It's over."

As a result, the formation changed, and it was divided into two groups, and a group of three aircraft.One group flew to the south of the city, and the other group flew to the west of the city. They dived and bombed for a while, and strafed back and forth for a while.The enemy's headquarters, artillery positions, tank car teams, cavalry, and infantry stormtroopers have all become the targets of our air force.All of a sudden, the Japanese soldiers turned on their backs, threw away their helmets and armor, and fled in a hurry. The first-line troops of the Hengyang garrison had high fighting spirit, bravely repelled the enemy in front of the formation, and launched a counter-charge, taking advantage of the victory to restore some of the lost positions.The officers and soldiers of the second-line troops serving as the reserve team couldn't help cheering when they saw our air force coming to help in the battle, and happily appreciated the wonderful combat skills of the eagles in the sky.

After a long time, the Japanese army came back to their senses. While blocking our air force with anti-aircraft artillery fire, they called for help from the enemy air force at Changsha Airport.The Japanese anti-aircraft artillery fire was dense and rapid, weaving into a deadly fire net.The air heroes of the national army have long been accustomed to such "courteous treatment" and treated them indifferently.They lowered the altitude repeatedly in order to obtain more accurate information and the best effect of killing the enemy.According to the original plan, the fleet flew over Hengyang from the west of the city, entered the east bank of the Hengyang River, and then turned to Zhangmusi Temple to return.

Seeing that the mission had been completed, Chen Xiangrong ordered: "All planes pay attention, all planes pay attention, the mission is completed, and the return flight is allowed!" Just as he gave the order and prepared to pull up the nose and return to the flight, he felt that the plane was suddenly shocked. Black smoke came out from the tail of the plane, and the fuselage wobbled.He knew his landline had been shot.Could have skydived.But the result of parachuting is nothing more than two: one is killed by the enemy's anti-aircraft machine gun; the other is that the enemy may be captured alive.Both of these are unacceptable.Because the flying is very low, maybe even the skydiving height is not enough!It is best to try to control the plane and try to fly back; even if you can't go back, try to make an emergency landing on your own position and try to return to your own people. "Calm down, calm down, don't panic, you must go back safely!" Chen Xiangrong secretly encouraged himself in his heart, while pulling the plane as high as possible, and then pulling it up again. "It's not like this situation has never been encountered before, hasn't it turned out to be auspicious again and again!" Find a flat place as soon as possible, preferably in front of the national army's position.

At this time, the plane swayed sharply, and it seemed difficult to fly back.At first I thought it was because the oil in the fuel tank was used up, so I changed the fuel tank immediately, but there was still no power; when I looked at the dashboard again, all the pointers were pointing to zero.Captain Chen knew that the plane was dying.He changed his mind, since he couldn't fly back to Guilin, he should try his best to land in our army's position.The revolution has not yet succeeded, and we still have to work hard; even if we die, we will never be captured! "Vice-Captain Liu, my landline has been damaged. Of course I can make an emergency landing on the east bank of the river, but that is the territory of the Japanese army, which is tantamount to a sheep entering a tiger's mouth. I would rather fall to my death on our army's position and decide to float to Gaoling. Let's go! Goodbye! Goodbye!" Liu Baolin and other brothers on the five planes heard his words, and everyone was heartbroken, but no one could stop the plane in the air or change another plane for Captain Chen. Hurry up and call to him: "Captain Chen, don't worry, we will cover you!" "No! Obey the order, you all retreat quickly, this place is dangerous! I have my own way." With a certain mind, the reaction became more agile.Chen Xiangrong is worthy of being an excellent pilot of the national army. He tried his best to control the plane to glide in the air, and calmly pulled off the fuel tank first to avoid fire when it made an emergency landing; Afraid of coming out when the plane falls over or catches fire after landing.After finishing these things deftly, the ground is under your feet.There are hills on both sides and a rice field in the middle.I can no longer choose, this is my destined life and death!He covered his forehead with his left hand to protect his head; he pulled back the control stick with his right hand, and the plane quickly touched the ground.Hearing a loud noise, he finally risked his life to make an emergency landing in the rice field between Gaoling and Zhanbing Mountain.The paddy field was too soft, and the plane slammed backwards. Chen Xiangrong felt his body slam forward involuntarily. His hand saved his forehead and eyes, but the steering column cracked his jaw and shattered four teeth. Blood flow profusely.But he didn't feel any pain at all. In the dimness, he knew that the first thing to do now was to jump out of the plane quickly, find out the direction of the enemy's position, and return to his own people as soon as possible. At this time, the Tingbingshan position has not yet fallen, and is still under the control of the national army.Seeing this, Captain Zhang Tiantao of the 7th Company of the 30th Regiment shouted: "Second Platoon Commander, Second Platoon Commander!" "Company Commander, Second Platoon Commander Wang Sanlu is here!" road. "Quickly, I order you to take a squad to rescue my Air Force pilot immediately. Remember, you must grab it. You must see the person alive and the dead body. You must not let the Japanese invaders snatch it!" "Yes! Squad 1 Come with me!" As he said, he led the remaining six soldiers down the mountain.Almost at the same time, the Japanese army also sent a small group of troops to rush towards the landing place of the plane.