Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 298-297: Advance Aerial Reconnaissance, Air Battle at Nanyuan, Great Victory
Fang Wen took off alone, venturing into danger to the North China War Zone.

Only someone with exceptional skill and daring would dare to do something so extremely risky.

Fang Wen, maintaining his mechanical awareness, merged with the Shrike and flew away at high speed.

The plane soon flew over the hometown of Fang Shouxin and his son, and further ahead was the territory of Tianjin.

The radar detection system has been issuing continuous warnings, indicating that there is a suspected aircraft ahead.

In his mechanical perception state, he also gained a clearer understanding of the situation of Japanese warplanes flying in the air.

The Japanese army parked a large number of military aircraft at Tianjin Dongjuzi Airport, numbering more than one hundred.

Planes take off and land from time to time.

More than 30 aircraft were seen flying over Tianjin, some returning and some just taking off, indicating that their missions were very frequent.

So many planes were carrying out air strikes against our North China region, but they never expected that an uninvited guest would intrude into their own base.

Fang Wen, who learned the enemy aircraft's location through radar, did not leave. Instead, he took an even bolder action.

These enemy aircraft were all flying at an altitude of 3000 meters, which is their normal combat altitude.

In other words, from a higher position, the Japanese army would not have been able to detect Fang Wen without radar.

Even before radar developed the ability to identify friend or foe, they couldn't determine whether the extra aircraft was friend or foe.

Thinking of this, Fang Wen immediately climbed to a higher altitude before the Japanese soldiers discovered him.

The high-performance Shrike will raise its altitude to 6000 meters.

This is the limit for biplanes; it's practically impossible for a biplane to reach this height.

This altitude is also the region where cirrus clouds appear.

(Cirrocumulus cloud)

These cotton-ball-like clouds provided Fang Wen with the best cover.

From his vantage point high above Tianjin, he lingered over the city, testing the accuracy of the radar detection equipment and gaining a better understanding of the Japanese aircraft.

After observing the situation, he returned to Jinan Airport and recorded the details.

After three days of observation, Fang Wen obtained firsthand intelligence on Japanese air force aircraft in Tianjin through his personal reconnaissance.

Among the data he collected were nearly 200 Japanese warplanes of various models.

The most numerous of them were the Type 95 fighter jets.

There are also two bomber models.

Type 93 biplane light bomber.

And a small number of Type 97 dive bombers.

Among them, the Type 97 dive bomber was the first Japanese monoplane that Fang Wen saw, which clearly indicated that the North China battlefield was the place where they tested their new fighter plane.

Fang Wen felt that targeting this latest type of aircraft would produce better results.

Therefore, he paid special attention to the flight of the Type 97 dive bomber. Because of its better performance than the Type 93 bomber, this dive bomber was sent to bombing operations at a greater distance. Therefore, its main area of ​​operation was the battlefield near Beiping.

On July 28, at Jinan Airport, the Taishan Airlines flight crew was ready to depart.

Ground crew are inspecting the aircraft to ensure it is in optimal condition before takeoff.

In the temporary command room, Fang Wen was also giving instructions before the operation.

"This operation was carried out independently by our Taishan Volunteer Army. Because there were no friendly forces, we required speed, accuracy and ruthlessness when we took action. Speed ​​meant launching a rapid attack, accuracy meant arriving at the designated combat area smoothly and on time, and ruthlessness meant that once the attack was launched, it had to be completed in a short time and then withdraw immediately."

The pilots listened attentively to Fang Wen's words and made these requirements firmly in their minds.

Fang Wen then explained the battle plan.

"At dawn today, the Japanese army launched an attack on the Nanyuan and Beiyuan areas of Beiping. At the same time, another group of Japanese troops attacked a part of the 38th Division and the security force in Tianjin. In order to coordinate the battle, the Japanese army took off in multiple batches of warplanes from Tianjin Dongjuzi Airport to bomb and harass different areas. Our target is a Japanese bombing squadron that is bombing the 29th Army's garrison camp in Nanyuan."

At this point, Fang Wen glanced at his watch: "Right time, it's 1:12 PM now. We'll depart at 2:00 PM sharp. No one is allowed to go out during this time. Don't drink too much water. Everyone stay put and wait."

The pilots checked the time on their watches and then waited in the makeshift control room.

Time passed slowly, and the wait of several tens of minutes came to an end.

Fang Wen was the first to stand up. "Let's go."

Under his leadership, the seven elite pilots walked out of the room together and boarded their respective fighter jets.

The Shrike was the first to take off, followed by seven modified Il-16s.

They formed a goose-shaped formation with the Shrike at the center and flew at high altitude.

The flight altitude was 5000 meters, and the speed was reduced due to the altitude.

However, this altitude could avoid a direct confrontation with the Japanese army and allow Fang Wen to detect targets in advance using radar detection devices.

After nearly an hour of flight, the fighter jet formation arrived over Beiping (Beijing).

Fang Wen activated his mechanical sensing and observed the situation below.

The Nanyuan area south of Beiping City was also the location of the headquarters of the 29th Army. It was the core area of ​​the entire anti-Japanese war in North China. Just this morning, the Japanese army bombed this area.

With the war intensifying today, the Japanese army will certainly continue to send planes to bomb the 29th Army in order to disrupt its command and decision-making capabilities.

All Fang Wen has to do now is wait for the enemy to come to him.

Soon, as he expected, a new squadron of Japanese bombers arrived.

This bomber formation consisted of two Type 97 bombers, three Type 93 light bombers, and 15 Type 95 fighters as escorts.

In terms of numbers, 20 to 8, more than double that of the Taishan Air Force.

However, the enemy has not yet discovered the Taishan Air Force. A sudden attack from a high vantage point would be something the enemy would never have anticipated.

Fang Wen immediately activated the coded telegram command device to instruct his subordinates to take action.

Eight fighter jets suddenly emerged from the clouds, swooping down like eagles towards a group of 20 enemy aircraft at an altitude of 3000 meters below.

The fighter jets, swooping down from high altitude, initiated the battle in a combat posture that the biplanes had never anticipated.

After the eight fighter jets reached firing range, the cannons at the nose of the aircraft spewed out flames.

The machine gun shells poured out, firing at a downward angle at the enemy aircraft.

In an instant, two Type 2 biplanes were hit. The first point of impact was their double-layered wings. The gunfire tore the wings apart, directly causing both planes to crash without any doubt.

At this point, the Japanese bomber formation finally realized what was happening.

Faced with this situation, the remaining 13 Type 95 fighters were divided into two groups: five escorted the bombers to evacuate, while the other eight engaged the attackers.

This temporary tactical change was clearly a pre-planned emergency response measure.

However, biplanes face a huge disadvantage when facing Fang Wen's high-to-low attack strategy.

Biplanes cannot gain altitude in time to retaliate; any rash attempt to climb would undoubtedly send them to the enemy's guns.

Another Type 95 fighter jet was shot down due to this reckless behavior.

Another plane, damaged and emitting black smoke, made an emergency landing outside Beiping City, but crashed into the city wall due to loss of control, resulting in the death of the pilot and crew.

In this way, the Japanese fighter planes that were supposed to deal with Fang Wen and his men were left with only 6. With 6 biplanes against 8 monoplanes, they had no chance of winning.

With Fang Wen deliberately keeping a low profile, the seven elite pilots were able to reap the rewards of shooting down Japanese fighter planes. Each kill gave them more confidence and experience in future air battles.

Meanwhile, Fang Wen was also observing the bomber formation on the other side.

The bomber squadron, now only escorted by five fighter planes, chose to abandon its bombing mission and withdraw towards Tianjin. Fang Wen pondered this situation.

The distance between Beiping and Tianjin is only over 200 kilometers, and there were other Japanese air formations along the way.

The area around Nanyuan is considered safe. If they were allowed to escape back, even halfway through the journey, the Taishan Air Force could be put in danger by the appearance of other Japanese warplanes.

Therefore, this swift and decisive battle must end immediately, and any gains made will only go so far.

Immediately, he issued a secret telegram instructing Deng Zhongyu, Zhai Xiaojun, Fan Bosheng, and Du Jiahuai to stay behind and continue engaging the Japanese warplanes. He reasoned that with four against six, they should have no difficulty dealing with the situation.

Meanwhile, the other pilots, Qi Baoqian, Shao Deqing, and Rao Minghe, charged with him towards the fleeing bomber formation.

Four fighter planes from the Taishan Air Force broke away from the battle and flew eastward, relentlessly pursuing the bomber formation that was preparing to withdraw.

Due to the emergency evacuation, the different performance characteristics of the various aircraft models immediately disrupted the original formation.

The Type 93 biplane light bomber, with its slow flight speed, was still at the level of the 1932 Shanghai air battle. Its speed of just over 200 kilometers per hour was simply not enough to escape Fang Wen and his men's pursuit.

Faced with this situation, their teammates clearly gave up.

Immediately, three Type 93 biplane light bombers were left behind by the formation and became decoys, while the other two Type 97 bombers continued to retreat under the protection of five Type 95 fighters.

Faced with this situation.

Fang Wen then issued another secret telegram.

He assigned the task of shooting down the two old bombers to Shao Deqing and Rao Minghe.

He then led Qi Baoqian to continue the pursuit.

This puts the score at 2 against 7.

Those five Type 95 fighters clearly believed they had a chance of defeating the two monoplanes, so they immediately turned and attacked.

Faced with the counterattack of five biplanes, Fang Wen and Qi Baoqian used the same old tactics they had used before.

The two monoplanes separated to the left and right, arcing around the enemy aircraft to engage in an aerial dogfight.

The excellent aircraft performance allowed the Shrike and Il-16 to bypass enemy aircraft, while the opponent could not so easily make a directional change.

This time, Fang Wen held back. He became one with the Shrike and operated the specially modified 7.92mm machine gun on the side of the Shrike's fuselage, aiming at the belly of a Type 95 aircraft and firing.

The two planes passed each other, but the other plane was shot through the side with a long bullet hole.

This time, the Type 95 pilot didn't have the same luck as the senior pilot from the Condor Legion. After the bullet pierced the thin skin of the aircraft, the 7.92mm bullet hit the pilot in the cockpit.

The Japanese pilot, struck by several bullets, died. His plane lost control and crashed into the ground, the flames from the impact even igniting wheat stalks in farmland in the Fengtai area.

Having dealt with this opponent, Fang Wen adjusted his aircraft and moved behind the enemy plane.

At this moment, the Type 95 fighter jets began to circle and turn.

Fang Wen wouldn't miss such an easy target. A series of machine gun shells caused the tail of a Type 95 helicopter to explode, resulting in an instant demise.

Of the remaining three Japanese warplanes, one was locked onto by Qi Baoqian, while the other two abandoned their comrades and fled towards Tianjin.

Clearly, these two were terrified, having abandoned their escort mission and only thinking about escaping.

Fang Wen did not chase after the two stray dogs, but instead went alone to hunt down the fundamental target of this operation: the Type 97 fighter jet.

This new type of bomber has a flight speed of 420 kilometers per hour, and it is not easy to catch up when it is running at full speed.

Adding the time spent fighting the Type 95 bombers, it is estimated that it will take the Shrike ten minutes to catch up with the two bombers.

Fang Wen did not choose to give up.

He sent a secret telegram to the rest of the Taishan Air Force, ordering them to retreat immediately after the battle.

With no other pilots around, he actually had more courage and confidence to take the plunge.

Immediately, the Shrike accelerated again and gave chase.

Faced with this situation, the Type 97 dive bomber, having lost its fighter escort, would be like fish on a chopping board if caught up, easily slaughtered.

Therefore, the two Type 97 dive bombers chose to go their separate ways, so that no matter which one they caught, the other could escape unscathed.

Fang Wen didn't hesitate and chose the one on the right.

As they drew closer, Fang Wen's hand reached for the machine gun firing lever.

A barrage of 20mm cannon shells fired, piercing the thin metal skin of the Japanese warplane as always, instantly blasting a large hole in its belly.

The firing did not stop there. The Shrike continued to fire as it pursued the stalled enemy aircraft until the Type 97 dive bomber exploded into a giant firework in the air.

Thus, Fang Wen completed his operational plan and destroyed a new Japanese bomber.

At this moment, the airborne radar detection system also detected a large number of enemy aircraft approaching from the front.

Clearly, there were Japanese fighter groups nearby carrying out other missions, so the operation should be terminated.

He immediately turned around and left the war zone.

An hour later, Fang Wen returned to Jinan Airport.

The first thing to do after getting off the plane is to check the number of Taishan Airlines pilots returning to base.

All seven pilots have returned.

Fang Wen held a post-battle debriefing meeting to understand everyone's situation.

The pilots, who had all performed well, reported on their experiences.

In this battle, facing fifteen Type 95 fighters, two Type 97 dive bombers, and three Type 93 light bombers, the Taishan Air Force achieved the following results.

Fang Wen shot down two Type 95 fighters and one Type 97 dive bomber.

Deng Zhongyu shot down two Type 95 fighter jets, one by himself and the other in cooperation with Fan Bosheng.

Zhai Xiaojun shot down a Type 95 fighter jet.

Fan Bosheng and his team shot down two Type 95 fighter jets.

Du Jiahuai shot down two aircraft, one by himself and the other in cooperation with Fan Bosheng.

Shao Deqing shot down one Type 95 and one Type 93 light bomber.

Rao Minghe shot down two Type 93 light bombers.

Qi Baoqian shot down a Type 95 fighter jet.

In total, a total of 9 Type 95 fighters, 3 Type 93 light bombers, and 1 Type 97 dive bomber were shot down.

In this battle, they managed to shoot down 13 Japanese warplanes in one go, an astonishing result.

Fang Wen summarized the reasons for the success of this operation.

"Our victory was mainly due to the surprise attack, which was well-prepared. In addition, the overall strength and aircraft performance of our Taishan Air Force were better than theirs. Unless the numbers were overwhelmingly disparate, victory was certain. However, we cannot be complacent. The Japanese will definitely investigate this operation and take countermeasures. It will probably be more difficult to launch a surprise attack with the same tactics in the future."

He rationally explained the reasons for the success of the operation and also anticipated future changes.

But the impact and changes brought about by this air battle were far more complex than he had imagined.

This caused a major shock not only to the Japanese Air Force.

The National Air Force was also surprised by this sudden and unexpected aerial victory.

Both sides conducted investigations into this matter.

(End of this chapter)