Chapter 14 2. The Flying Tigers strike first

After Chennault participated in the military conference held by He Yingqin in Zhijiang, following the orders of Commander-in-Chief Chiang, he did not stay in Zhijiang for a moment, but returned to Wujiaba Airport in Yunnan to organize an air transport of forces, and in the shortest possible time, Liao Yaoxiang's The 30,000 troops of the New Army were transported to Zhijiang in western Hunan. Liao Yaoxiang was a hero on the Sino-Burmese battlefield. In March 1942, he led the 22nd Division and Du Yuming, the commander of the 5th Army, into Burma to fight against Japan. He participated in countless wars in Burma, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese army. In May, due to Stilwell's command error, it caused heavy losses to the Chinese army, and the entire Allied forces were defeated across the board.Under the command of Du Yuming, Liao Yaoxiang's 33rd Division covered the units of the Expeditionary Army Headquarters and moved to Bhamo and Myitkyina.When crossing Savage Mountain, Liao Yaoxiang's troops overcame thorns and thorns, dug the mountain to open a road, and went through untold hardships. It took more than 3 months and traveled more than 2,000 miles through dense forests, and finally arrived in India.The whole division trained a set of skills in fighting in the wild in the forest. Later, in the counterattack to northern Myanmar, Liao Yaoxiang served as the commander of the New Army. The three divisions of the whole army suffered more than 7,000 casualties and achieved a major victory in annihilating more than 12,000 enemies. He made great achievements in opening up the China-India Highway, and was praised by the US and British governments as an army of heroes.

The New Army, which returned home victorious, was trained in Kunming and was incorporated into the 207th Division of the Youth Army. It was all equipped with beautiful weapons and equipment. It can be said that the soldiers are strong and strong.The New Army was well-disciplined and well-dressed, with American carbine submachine guns on their chests and shiny helmets on their heads. They strode neatly and boarded the plane at the Wujiaba Airport in Yunnan. . The Sixth Army was originally an elite force used by Chiang Kai-shek to counterattack Japan. Now, in order to defend Zhijiang Airport, he has pulled up all the troops who guard the house.On this point, Chennault is clear.Therefore, Chennault was very moved.The Air Force flies 24 hours a day, and even if it is exhausted, it has to transport this ace to the front line.

Chennault kept yelling and directing at the airport.The whole Wujiaba Airport was busy. Cranes hoisted mountain cannons, field cannons and howitzers, turning around in the sky, and electric winches muffled, stretching steel cables one by one.The diesel generator set has been running continuously for several nights, and its scorching air waves can be felt every ten meters away. One after another C-64 transport planes on the airport loosened their large cabins, and tanks, chariots, and cannons were swallowed like hungry wolves that couldn't eat enough.The remaining space in the cabin was filled by soldiers, and each plane was filled to the brim. This was Chennault's order, and it was also the most efficient way.

The aircraft of the Chennault Air Force, like an invisible bridge, was erected at an altitude of 5,000 meters, tightly connecting the front and the rear.This is the first time in the Chinese battlefield to transport a large army by air. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, in order to compete with the Communist Party for the Northeast, Chiang Kai-shek was inspired by this time and asked the United States for help to transport hundreds of thousands of troops to the Northeast battlefield. Coincidentally, Liao Yaoxiang's troops were also included in the transport. In order to stabilize the southwestern half of the country and curb the fierce Japanese offensive, Chiang Kai-shek made up his mind this time and must keep Zhijiang.This also sounded the alarm to the officers and generals of Tang Enbo's Third Front Army. If the defeat in Henan happened again last year, it might not be General Zhang Deneng who lost his head.Therefore, after Tang Enbo sent his 94th Army out, he hung up the phone to Commander Wang Yaowu and took the initiative to solicit his requirements and opinions on the third front army's coordinated operations. This was the first time Tang Enbo had since the War of Resistance.Wang Yaowu is a straightforward Shandong native. He is open-minded and loyal to others. He put forward two points: First, he hopes that the 94th Army will quickly enter the designated position in Wuyang. What is worthwhile is that even if our heads are cut off, the situation of failure cannot be saved; the second is to hope that the 94th Army will fight hard, obey the command, and try its best to knock down the left side of the Japanese army, so that there will be no accidents in Hongjiang County and stability in Anjiang County. And make the entire Xuefeng Mountain stable.

Tang Enbo thought this was the reason. He followed Wang Yaowu's suggestion and moved his command post several hundred miles forward, stationed in the Tianzhu area of ​​eastern Guizhou.He also ordered Li Yutang's 27th Army and Mou Tingfang's 94th Army to advance in the rain. He Yingqin was happy that Tang Enbo had this attitude, and Chiang Kai-shek was also very satisfied. When the third front army and the fourth front army entered the designated positions, they all changed into American equipment. From planes, cannons, guns, to all military supplies, the Chinese army surpassed the Japanese army.This is the first major battle in which it is in an advantageous position in terms of weapons and equipment.

80,000 against 200,000, what's so scary?On the Songhu battlefield, we used to deal with 600,000 to 700,000 Kuomintang troops with 50,000 troops.The Battle of Nanjing was 30,000 against 300,000. Wasn't it conquered by our Imperial Japanese Army?Lieutenant General Sakanishi Ichiro yelled like this when he spoke to the 2nd Division of the Chinese Peace Army.The 2nd Division of the Peace Army is the main division of Wang Jingwei's puppet government army. After completing the task of transporting the New Army, Chennault flew from Kunming to Zhijiang, where he would sit at Zhijiang Airport to command the air force operations.He was impatient, and before the Japanese army had finished gathering, he made a move and made a pre-emptive strike.First, the 14th Air Force was dispatched to attack the Shanghai Airport behind the Japanese army, destroying 92 fighter planes of the Japanese Air Force and damaging 16 of them.

According to the information obtained by aerial reconnaissance, Chennault sent a mixed air force group of China and the United States to bomb the Hunan-Guangdong and Hunan-Guangxi railways and highways day and night, destroying the assembly and supply of the Japanese army, and blowing up the bridges in the triangular area of ​​Hengyang, Shaoyang, and Xiangtan. The Japanese troops on this line were forced to move slowly to reduce the pressure on the frontal positions of Xuefeng Mountain. In order to encourage the Chinese and American Air Forces to take the initiative to attack, Chiang Kai-shek sent a telegram of condolences to Chennault.Chennault was very happy, and with the pride in the American bones, he began to promote his "air force victory theory" theory. The US combat commander McClure never believed in Chennault's victory theory.Not to mention the power of the air force he proposed. In the past few years, the US air force has dispatched more than 14,000 combat aircraft. Hasn't it failed to defeat Japan in the past few years?McClure just didn't talk about him.

This theory of Chennault reached the ears of General Marshall. Marshall once said sarcastically that it was pure nonsense, not even a bad strategy! But the people around Chennault got used to it, so they took it for granted, let him promote his own theory, anyway, no one will follow his way, his winning theory is just a kind of courage, don’t be too care about.However, in any case, Chennault's Flying Tigers made great achievements for the Chinese people's war of resistance, and his achievements will always remain in the hearts of the Chinese people. Chennault wanted to contribute to the defense of Zhijiang Airport, and he wanted to show Stilwell in the United States with his own actions.Although Stilwell left China and could no longer restrain Chennault, he had a dispute with him about whether he could defend the airport.

When Chennault suggested to Chiang Kai-shek to build strategic air bases and military airports, Stilwell firmly opposed it. He thought that they were built, and what would be used to defend the air bases and military airports? Could your air force be able to keep the airports?Chennault is a stubborn person, he doesn't believe that he can't protect Zhijiang Airport, so he wants to go to Zhijiang personally to take part in the air force's battle to defend Zhijiang Airport. Chennault's actions aroused the interest of the Central News Agency. This is a valuable news thread, and the report will inspire the fighting spirit of the people of the whole country.Chen Xiangmei, who had just graduated from university and was assigned to the Central News Agency, rushed from Kunming to Zhijiang with the sensitivity of a reporter. She wanted to interview this American in the Chinese theater.

Before leaving for Zhijiang, Chen Xiangmei consulted the materials of Chennault's deeds in China's anti-Japanese battlefield. She was moved to tears by Chennault's heroic deeds.Even if the anti-Japanese front line is in great danger, Chen Xiangmei will go there no matter what, she will see this American hero with her own eyes, and write him down with the pen in her hand. Chen Xiangmei, a naive and simple Chinese girl, has the beautiful qualities of Chinese fine traditions.Envying heroes is a traditional virtue of Chinese people, and praising heroes is the responsibility and obligation of reporter Chen Xiangmei.

Chen Xiangmei went to Zhijiang, Hunan because of her reputation.On the day she arrived in Zhijiang, the Japanese Air Force was carrying out retaliatory bombing of Zhijiang.However, the Japanese Air Force's retaliation failed. The dense anti-aircraft artillery group prevented the Japanese planes from approaching Zhijiang Airport. They only bombed the town above Zhijiang City and fled in embarrassment. There are hundreds of fighter planes parked at Zhijiang Airport, and they are shining brightly in the sun.There are a few white clouds floating over the airport, and the surrounding hills are winding and winding, extending to the blue sky.The clear and transparent Wushui River reflects the dazzling sunlight.Chen Xiangmei smoothed her beautiful hair with her hands. In the depths of the woods not far away, there were several farmhouses with smoke rising from the roofs.Is this the Zhijiang anti-Japanese front line?Chen Xiangmei really couldn't believe that there is still such a peaceful and warm place in China, which is full of wars. Chen Xiangmei was in a very good mood. She met Chennault when she was in a good mood.In front of a house, Chennault was sitting on a rattan chair, flipping through a stack of materials in his hand, bathed in warm sunshine.Chen Xiangmei didn't know Chennault, but she knew that she was an American in front of her, wearing an American-style jacket, with blue eyes, a high nose, and a resolute face.It goes without saying that the American must have been a handsome guy when he was young. Chen Xiangmei generously asked him in English.Chennault looked up at her, and there was a Chinese-style beauty standing in front of him, like an angel falling from the sky.Chennault's heart skipped a beat, and he said three beautiful words in English.Chen Xiangmei was very excited, the person she wanted to interview was right in front of her eyes, what a coincidence, she asked him in English, was this arranged by God? He replied in English, yes. In front of Chennault, Chen Xiangmei was like a child. She pestered Chennault and insisted that he tell the story of his Flying Tigers fighting with himself.Chennault shrugged his broad shoulders, spread his hands and said, "I don't have a story, I only have an airplane, or I'll take you to the sky." Chen Xiangmei clapped her hands and jumped up and down: "Okay, let's go for a ride in the blue sky and white clouds." Wind, this is indeed very romantic." Chennault's P-40 fighter jet drew an arc in the sky, and he swooped towards the Japanese bomber group at the fastest dive speed.Before the Japanese bombers had time to drop their bombs, they turned around and fled.The fighter planes of the American Volunteer Corps would not spare these bandits lightly. They bit them tightly and chased them fiercely. Another fireball.The other three were so frightened that they crashed into a mountain while fleeing for their lives.Only one panicked and fled without a trace.Chennault's aviation team achieved a brilliant result of 0:9 in the first battle. Chen Xiangmei quickly recorded in the small notebook, and kept asking: "Then what happened after that?" Chennault pretended to be embarrassed and said: "Later a beautiful female reporter interviewed me, and I told her, I love you, marry me." The pen in Chen Xiangmei's hand suddenly stopped. Is this true?Why is it like a dream, my God.Chen Xiangmei closed her eyes tightly, she was asking God for an answer.A tangy fragrance made Chen Xiangmei open her beautiful eyes, and a gorgeous red rose bloomed in front of her. Chennault and Chen Xiangmei composed a touching battlefield romance on the banks of the Zhijiang Wushui River.Later, Chen Xiangmei said that Chennault, Americans are a bit straightforward.Chennault laughed happily, and said: "No, no. This is the strategy of the Flying Tigers, which is called pre-emptive strike." Chen Xiangmei covered her mouth, blushed, and lightly patted Chennault's shoulder with her hand, "It's so bad, I'm being treated as a Japanese plane." Chennault, a hero who loves beautiful women, said mischievously: "Same results but different songs." The two of them smiled and walked among the tree-lined paths.