Devil's Army

In order to reduce the casualties of the First Army pilots, Instructor Yin decisively decided to stop the bombing and return.

Instructor Yin led Aviation Squadron 1 back to Xiaoguanzhuang Airport.

After inspection, it was found that many of the fourteen aircraft that went out to perform the mission had varying degrees of damage, and three Voltir bombers were shot down.

This was the heaviest loss suffered by the First Army Air Force in many air battles with the Japanese.

Instructor Yin was filled with guilt and asked for punishment when reporting the battle situation to Wu Lang.

Wu Lang was also very sad to hear that three pilots had died, but he still comforted them: There is no need for punishment, and in the future, people must be the priority in executing missions. If it is not a must-complete mission, if it is too dangerous, it is better to give up and ensure the safety of the pilots.

Gray Wolf heard from Wu Wolf that radar and anti-aircraft gun positions were installed at Beiping Nanyuan Airport, and that three of their pilots had died on duty. He instructed:

"The Japanese radar at that time could not identify enemy and friendly aircraft, so we could attack Beiping Nanyuan Airport again without encountering their aircraft."

Wulang immediately relayed Huilang's opinion to Instructor Yin and made two suggestions to him:

1. Arrange golden eagles to patrol in four directions to avoid encountering the returning Japanese aircraft.

2. If the Japanese anti-aircraft artillery discovers the situation, Instructor Yin can decide whether to cancel the mission to ensure the safety of the pilots.

Upon hearing this, Instructor Yin immediately asked the ground crew to refuel and load ammunition for the fighters and bombers of his First Aviation Squadron.

Since this operation required impersonating Japanese aircraft, Instructor Yin decided to let the eight repaired Type 98 heavy bombers and his two Voltaire bombers participate in the operation together.

After doing these things, Instructor Yin called Wu Lang:

"Commander-in-chief, we are already making preparations. Can we have the Army Aviation soldiers arrange for the Golden Eagle to cooperate with us near Beiping Nanyuan Airport?"

"Okay, we may not be able to make it in time today. I want them to leave at six o'clock tomorrow morning, and you can act in the afternoon."

At that time, Brigade Commander Wang of the 364th Brigade of the Sichuan Army was reporting to Wu Lang on the training of new recruits in the operations room. When he heard that there was a combat mission, he immediately volunteered.

Wu Lang patted Brigade Commander Wang on the shoulder and said with a smile:

"We bombed the Japanese's Tianjin Dongjuzi Airport and Beiping Nanyuan Airport. The Japanese will definitely fight us to the death. Don't worry, there is still a fight to be had. This mission requires us to sneak into Beiping. Captain Li and his men will say a few lies to make it easier for them to go. Go and call Captain Li over for me."

Captain Li of the Third Squadron of the Special Operations Team stayed in Jixian to help train new recruits after completing the reconnaissance missions at Tianjin Dongjuzi Airport and Beiping Nanyuan Airport. When he heard Brigade Commander Wang say that Wu Lang was waiting for him in the operations room with a new mission, he immediately handed over the matter at hand to the captain of the Third Squadron next to him and trotted back to the operations room.

In the operations room, Wu Lang told Captain Li:

"Captain Yin's air raid on Beijing Nanyuan Airport failed today, and three bombers were lost. Three pilots were killed. The main reason was that when they arrived at Nanyuan Airport, they encountered the returning Japanese planes, and a fierce battle ensued, which alarmed the Japanese anti-aircraft artillery unit at Nanyuan Airport. You will take four Golden Eagle No. 4s to scout the surrounding areas of Nanyuan Airport at six o'clock tomorrow morning to scout the situation of the returning Japanese planes."

"Yes!"

"Take your radios with you and send me a telegram as soon as you are in position. I will then inform Captain Yin that they will raid Nanyuan Airport again tomorrow. Your main task is to arrange for the golden eagles to watch the four directions of Nanyuan Airport to prevent the returning Japanese planes from encountering Captain Yin's plane."

"Yes! How do we get there?"

"Go to the military camp and drive a truck. Time is tight."

"Yes!" Captain Li turned and left the operations room.

Just as the First Anti-Japanese Army was preparing for the second attack and bombing of Beijing Nanyuan Airport, the Japanese at Nanyuan Airport were cleaning up the mess.

In fact, the First Anti-Japanese Army's air raid on Nanyuan Airport could not be said to be a failure. Five of their aircraft were destroyed in the bombing, and several anti-aircraft artillery positions were damaged to varying degrees. In particular, the bombing of the ammunition depot at Nanyuan Airport caused them heavy losses.

The Tianjin Dongjuzi Airport was directly paralyzed by the bomb and could no longer be used.

The Japanese Army's North China Front had three airports, one lost, one destroyed, and one damaged, which greatly weakened their air force in the North China battlefield.

Commander-in-Chief Terauchi Juichi once again set his sights on the not-so-famous Xiaoguanzhuang Airport. If they didn't take Xiaoguanzhuang Airport, their battlefield in North China, and even his North China Front Army Command in Beiping, would have a hard time staying safe.

For this purpose, Terauchi Hisaichi specially summoned Lieutenant General Tokugawa Yoshitoshi, commander of the Japanese Army's North China Temporary Air Force, to discuss countermeasures.

Lieutenant General Tokugawa told Commander-in-Chief Terauchi Hisaichi:

"According to the intelligence we have so far, the speed of the Devil Force's pointed aircraft is over 1000 kilometers per hour, more than twice the speed of their Type 20 aircraft. Moreover, the pointed aircraft is equipped with three 7.7mm machine guns, which is much more powerful than the two mm machine guns on our Type aircraft."

"Is there nothing we can do about the pointy-nosed aircraft of the Devil's Army?"

"We certainly won't be able to surpass their flying speed in a short period of time, but we can add 20mm or even larger caliber machine guns to our weapons."

"Okay, I'll apply to the Army Department and ask them to produce a batch of large-caliber gun-carrying aircraft."

Lieutenant Colonel Tokugawa remained silent, as he was planning a plan in his mind. If successful, the flying speed of their fighter planes would also be greatly improved.