Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 25, High-Altitude Precision Bombing Plan, Operational Training
Inside Fang Wen's dormitory, two officers sat on stools, Fang Wen sat on his bed, while Howard and Pan Jiafeng temporarily left the room to wait outside.

The inquiry begins.

The officer on the left took out paper and pen to take notes, while the officer on the right asked, "Please state your identity."

"Fang Wen, appointed by the Ministry of Transportation as a special flight commissioner for China Airlines, graduated from Nanyuan Aviation School."

"Did you commit the night flight incident last night?"

"Yes."

The officer confirmed again: "I'm referring to the plane that dropped leaflets over SH City around midnight last night. Were you the pilot? If so, please explain the situation."

“Last night, I piloted a China Airlines Detroit-type plane, codenamed Baiyun No. 3, departing at 10 p.m. with mechanic Howard and patriotic student Pan Jiafeng on board, heading to Shanghai. During the journey, we traveled along the Huangpu River to the Wusongkou, and then sailed out to sea to draw a map of the positions of Japanese warships in Shanghai. Afterwards, we scattered leaflets over the city of Shanghai and returned at 2 a.m..”

Fang Wen explained the situation in detail.

The two officers looked at each other, both puzzled.

Then he asked, "Are you really capable of driving at night? How did you do that?"

"The main reason is that I am familiar with the terrain of Shanghai. I flew over Shanghai many times during the last year, plus star positioning and some personal talent."

“Yes, that’s definitely a talent,” the officer replied enviously. “Give me the map of the warships’ positions. Your matter needs to be verified. Don’t worry, your patriotic act will be fine.”

The two officers then got up and left.

Howard and Pan Jiafeng rushed into the room and asked with concern what had happened.

Fang Wen didn't know what to say about this.

But the matter did not end there.

Only half a day later, the two officers came to the hangar again and asked Fang Wen to talk to them once more.

"Fang Wen, we need to talk again."

Fang Wen, who was inspecting the fighter jet, climbed out and followed the two men to the rest room.

"That's what happened last night, what else is there to discuss?"

"The warship's location map is very important to us. To verify its authenticity, we contacted the 10th Route Army in Shanghai and partially confirmed the map's accuracy. At the same time, we also learned from other sources that you flew a long-haul transport plane to Northeast China last October, and that it was also a night flight."

“Yes, but because we were unfamiliar with the terrain that time, we made preparations in advance and even had a night navigator on board,” Fang Wen replied.

"We also learned that on your return flight, you directed the dropping of a 100-liter aviation fuel barrel, which caused three Japanese military vehicles stationed in Shenyang to explode, resulting in more than 30 deaths and injuries."

"Yes, at the time I noticed that the Japanese convoy was preparing to outflank us, and without thinking much about it, I gave it a try," Fang Wen replied.

"In a similar situation, but the ground target is replaced by a ship at sea, are you confident you can hit it?"

"Maybe it will hit, but I can't guarantee it."

Fang Wen's words invigorated the two officers.

"We believe you have a special talent for aerial bombing. If this operation goes ahead, we'll need a pilot like you. Would you be willing?"

"What operation?" Fang Wen was overjoyed, feeling that what he had done last night had paid off.

"It's not decided yet, but we can discuss targeted bombing now."

As the officer spoke, he took out paper and pen and hastily drew some lines and dots.

"This is the map of the warships' positions that you brought back last night. Assuming we want to put pressure on the Japanese, the only way is to sink their warships. But judging from your map, the enemy's main ship is heavily protected in the rear, and a large number of aircraft have gained air superiority. We can't bomb them at all, so we can only choose to attack the warships in the area from the Huangpu River to the Wusongkou."

Another officer added: "There's another problem. We don't have bombs that can damage large warships. The two 50kg airborne bombs on our aircraft are for ground forces and can't penetrate the armor of warships. So we collected some shells and grenades and made cluster bombs. But we only have one chance. The plan is simple: seven fighters from our Guangdong Air Force will attract the enemy aircraft, while you, piloting a Rheinland NYP-2, will drop cluster bombs with delayed fuses onto the warship at an altitude of 5000 meters."

How bold!
They actually came up with this method without large aerial bombs or bombers. It truly proves the saying: there are no rules in war; any means that can defeat the enemy is the rule.

Fang Wen looked at the two men. Theoretically speaking, they were fearless, using seven planes to attract several times the number of enemies, all for a single possibility of success.

If they can do it, why can't I?

"I'll join."

Fang Wen extended his hand to shake hands with the two officers.

The current Republic of China government is in internal chaos. The north is still fighting for territory in the Central Plains, the northeast has been lost, and Guangdong in the south is not part of the central army.

The Guangdong Air Force sent seven planes in succession, claiming to be there to protect Shanghai.

Although their proposed plan was somewhat strange, it was approved out of consideration for their patriotism.

February 1st.

The Rheinland NYP-2 flew in from Guangzhou.

The mission to deliver the ammunition is scheduled to take place in two days.

On one hand, the Jinling Military Factory was working intensively on developing cluster bombs with delayed fuses.

Meanwhile, Fang Wen was also making the most of his time to practice high-altitude bomb dropping.

He pondered how to complete the training within two days and achieve the desired effect.

They needed a substitute for the bomb, so the airport garrison specially brought in several large rocks of similar weight.

Having a simulated bomb is not enough; at least three people are needed to carry out the on-site throwing task in order to detonate the bomb and push it out of the hatch in time.

Howard was one of them, and even Pan Jiafeng, who was still at the airport, strongly requested it, and it was actually approved.

The last one was a machine gunner from the Guangdong Air Force.

Subsequently, Fang Wen piloted the Rhein NYP-2, carrying the bomb and three crew members, to an altitude of 5,000 meters.

“Pay attention below, that abandoned ship on the river is a simulated warship target,” he said to the three members behind him.

Pan Jiafeng boldly opened the window and stuck his head out to look down.

"It's so small. How can you aim and hit it?"

Not only him, but the other two also shared the same idea.

Looking down from 5,000 meters above the river, the large ships simulating warships on the riverbank appear to be only the size of a finger.

To hit the target, factors such as wind speed, wind resistance, and flight path vector must be considered.

In reality, the hit rate is not high.

But if one could actually do that, they would be among the best bomber pilots of that era.

Fang Wen recalled the scene of dropping bombs from the air in Shenyang last time.

The height was only half of what it is now, but the data in all aspects were about the same.

The biggest difference is the wind; the wind here is very strong.

Most importantly, the wind factor must be taken into account.

(End of this chapter)