Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 271, 270: The Madrid Aerial Sniper Battle – The Battlefield Changes in an Instant, the Shrike's Meritorious Service
A signal came from the ground radio: "Asian Flight Team, please fly around Madrid to cooperate with our wartime propaganda."

Upon receiving the ground instructions, Fang Wen was to relay the order to the flight squadron so that the pilots could act accordingly.

There was no perfect voice communication method between aircraft in this era, so special means of air communication were required.

In response, many countries have adopted a lead aircraft communication system, in which the lead aircraft is equipped with a transceiver and then sends out light signals/signals to guide the wingmen to initiate aerial operations.

Fang Wen, however, did not do that.

He knew that radio equipment would inevitably develop significantly after the outbreak of World War II, and that adapting to it early would make his flight squadron more advanced and mature.

For this purpose, he used the method of secret aerial communication.

Each fighter jet of the Taishan Flying Team is equipped with a radio transceiver device with 12 buttons, each corresponding to one of the 12 coded communication methods.

The lead aircraft has 12 authorized communications to transmit secret messages, while the other wingmen only have 4.

Thus, the lead aircraft can use 12 coded communication combinations to command wingmen to launch different air operations, and the wingmen can also exchange concise and effective information with the lead aircraft.

This was the first practical application of the secret telegram communication method. Fang Wen pressed different secret telegram command buttons and issued commands.

Immediately, the three wingmen and one fuel tanker that received the order began to adjust their formation, standing behind the Shrike and flying in a triangular formation over Madrid.

Meanwhile, ten planes also took off from a secret airport near Madrid.

These aircraft were all Soviet fighter models: Il-15 and Il-16.

These aircraft formed a loose formation near the Asian flight group and flew together around Madrid.

This was the wartime propaganda effect the Popular Front wanted: to demonstrate to the revolutionary army in Madrid the aid from the Soviet Union and the International Brigades.

As the planes appeared in the sky, cheers erupted throughout Madrid, boosting morale.

Two hours later, the Madrid cruise ended.

The Asian flight team returned to Albacete base.

Fang Wen had just gotten off the plane when he received an invitation from the base officer to attend an air operations coordination meeting.

The meeting was held at another secret flight base, and Fang Wen flew there alone in the Shrike.

After landing at the secret airport, he looked around and saw many Soviet-made aircraft parked there.

These are the same aircraft that recently patrolled over Madrid with the Asian air force.

The main force consisted of Il-15 biplane fighters, along with two Il-16s.

The pilots all looked like Slavs, so they were probably Soviet pilots.

At this moment, the ground crew pushed the boarding ladder over, and Fang Wen got out of the cockpit.

A Soviet officer greeted him and extended his hand.

"Mr. Fang, welcome."

Fang Wen shook hands with him. "Hello."

The other party glanced at Fang Wen's plane and showed a surprised expression: "You modified the P-26 like this? No wonder those three Il-16s are so different from our counterparts."

“I own an aircraft manufacturing plant, and I’ve been exploring aircraft modification techniques,” Fang Wen replied with a smile.

The officer nodded: "These three Il-16s were originally aid to the Spanish Republic. Now that they're in your hands, it's even better. Let's go to the conference room."

The two fell silent and walked toward the barracks on one side of the airport.

In the makeshift meeting room in the barracks, officers from the People's Front, Soviet air force officers, and Fang Wenqi gathered together.

The People's Front officer presided over the meeting: "Good morning, everyone. I am the air combat coordinator. I will be relaying military orders to you as requested by the command. I hope you will cooperate in future operations. In addition, today's meeting will explain the situation of the rebel air force and our air force. I will make a comparison."

At this point, the black cloth covering the wall behind him was torn off, revealing some photos.

"Currently, we have 8 Il-15s, 2 Il-16s, and 4 modified fighters from the Asian Air Force. Franco's rebels originally had no aircraft, so they sought assistance from Germany. The Nazis needed a battlefield to increase their air force's combat experience, so they sent pilots to participate in the war. They called themselves the Condor Legion, and the aircraft they flew was the Heinkel 51."

Immediately, everyone's attention shifted to the German-made Heinkel 51 fighter jet.

At this time, the Nazis, after coming to power, vigorously promoted the development of the first generation of fighter jets.

Like the Il-15, it is a biplane fighter.

However, like the Il-15, it was born at the wrong time, appearing in an era when biplanes were about to be phased out.

After explaining the situation of both sides, the officer made his request.

"German fighter jets have put a lot of pressure on us over the past two months, and I want you to join forces to snipe them."

Fang Wen asked, "How many of them are there?"

This time, it was the Soviet officer who spoke up: "There are six in total, but the pilots are different each time. The Germans are using Madrid as a training ground for actual combat. We have an overwhelming numerical advantage and can carry out a joint encirclement."

According to them, using 14 fighter jets to deal with six He 51s should be a sure thing, not to mention that the enemy consists of biplanes, while they also have six high-speed monoplane fighters.

Fang Wen agreed to the plan and piloted the plane back.

(Il-15)

Having learned of the battle plan in advance, Fang Wen returned to the Albacete base and organized his pilots to discuss formation combat.

After explaining the situation of both sides, he solemnly said:

"Although we have the advantage at present, the battlefield is always changing. To avoid those problems, I require all members of the air force to remain vigilant and not to act alone."

The seven pilots agreed without hesitation.

Next, Fang Wen began to arrange their flight missions. There were 7 pilots but only 3 wingmen, so they had to be divided into 2 teams to take turns, with the extra pilot rotating on alternate days.

After arranging these things, he began to organize the flight team members for daily training, mainly patrolling the Madrid area to help his pilots become more familiar with the environment.

Time passed just like that, and it was November.

Franco's army launched an attack on Madrid.

To support Franco's ground offensive, the German-supplied Condor Legion also launched its operations.

At the same time, 10 Soviet fighter jets, as well as the Asian flight team led by Fang Wen, also took off to meet the enemy.

An alarm sounded at the Albacete base.

Fang Wen and three pilots on standby quickly ran out of the camp.

On the runway outside, ground crew had already set up the boarding stairs, and the four people quickly climbed into the cockpit.

"Don't panic, follow my instructions in the air," Fang Wen shouted.

"Yes, sir!" the three pilots responded in unison. The sealed bays of the four high-speed fighter jets closed, and the Shrike took off first, followed by the other three.

Four high-speed fighter jets quickly arrived over Madrid at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour. Through the radio device that Fang Wen had turned on, the order from the ground command was transmitted: "The Condor Legion is in the northeast. They have 19 aircraft. The Asian Flight Team is to immediately go and support our friendly forces."

Sure enough, things changed; the number of German aircraft increased from 6 to 19.

Now the numerical gap between the two sides was gone, and the Germans even had more fighter jets. Fang Wen immediately gave instructions to his wingman to follow him and fly northeast.

Four high-speed aircraft turned and flew over Madrid. Over the northeast of the city, they were intercepted by a formation of enemy aircraft.

Three He 51s approached head-on, attempting to block the Asian flight team's path.

而在他们的身后，16架He 51正在与8架伊尔15和2架伊尔16缠斗。

Clearly, the other side has reorganized its preparations for today's air battle.

Fang Wen sneered. The elite flight team he had painstakingly built had advantages not only in its pilots, but also in real-time communication and flexible aerial tactical responses.

He pressed the telegram command button and issued a new combination of instructions.

"112 formation tactics".

The so-called 112 formation tactic is a special tactical coordination against the four high-speed fighter jets currently in the air. The lead aircraft and one wingman will weave in from the left and right, while the other two wingmen will keep watch.

Immediately, Fang Wen's Shrike veered to the left, while his wingman veered to the right, the two aircraft cutting in from left to right behind the enemy aircraft.

This change caught the formation of three He 51s off guard, and they attempted to disperse and fight independently.

This behavior, however, brings them closer to death.

The He 51 closest to Fang Wen was immediately locked onto by Fang Wen using his mechanical senses. He adjusted the aircraft and aimed the machine gun at it.

In his mechanical perception state, he didn't need the cannon aiming device at all, and started firing the moment the cannon muzzle intersected with the enemy aircraft.

A 20mm cannon shell pierced the sky and accurately struck the fuselage of the He 51. An explosion occurred inside the aircraft, and the biplane instantly burst into a fireball.

Such powerful firepower instilled fear in the other two He 51s and boosted the morale of the pilots of the Asiatic Air Force.

High-speed fighter jets weaving in from the right kept a close watch on the fleeing aircraft, firing their cannons continuously. Moments later, black smoke billowed from the enemy aircraft's wings as it skimmed away at low altitude.

The last He 51 was caught by two faster fighters and seemed unable to shake them off.

It made a very dangerous stall and descent maneuver, diving at a high angle towards the ground to avoid the oncoming high-speed machine gun fire.

They actually escaped.

This skill was definitely not that of an ordinary German pilot. Fang Wen issued a secret telegram ordering his men to stop the pursuit. In the current situation, a highly skilled enemy pilot was not as important as rescuing the Soviet air regiment from its predicament.

Immediately afterwards, the Asian flight team regrouped and flew towards the distant aerial battlefield.

There, it's 16 against 10.

8架伊尔15已经被击落三架，2架伊尔16依靠速度优势也击落了一架He 51。

However, in general, the Soviet air regiments were in greater danger than the German Condors, as they were outnumbered and attacked piecemeal by the enemy using a 2-to-1 tactic.

The original sniping plan turned into a counter-sniping operation by the German Air Force.

Unfortunately, this reverse attack plan underestimated the threat posed by the Asian air force.

The Asian air force, having swiftly defeated the interceptors, quickly entered the battlefield, and Fang Wen issued tactical instructions via coded telegram.

"Crossfire".

At this time, Fang Wen's training flight formation discovered the most effective way of aerial firing: coordinated firing by two or more fighter jets at the same target was far more effective than one-on-one firing.

Randomly, the Asian air force locked onto the same target, and 20mm cannons fired at the target from three directions.

This time, the He 51 biplane pilot was unable to perform the difficult evasive maneuvers and was torn into a fireball by the powerful machine guns.

At the same time, Fang Wen locked onto another He 51 fighter jet, his cannons spitting fire, instantly blasting the opponent in half.

In an instant, two He 51s were lost, but the Soviet side gained four powerful fighters, and the battle situation changed instantly, with the advantage shifting to the Soviet air regiment.

The Soviet pilots, as irritable as polar bears, launched a counterattack and surprisingly shot down three enemy planes.

With the victory secured, the remaining German aircraft immediately began their retreat.

The Soviet air regiment, unwilling to miss the opportunity to expand its gains, gave chase.

This is not a good sign. Once they enter deep behind enemy lines, they will face not only enemy aircraft but also ground-based air defense fire.

Fang Wen didn't want to take such a risk, so he turned on his radio to contact ground command.

"Calling ground command, there is a problem with the aerial sniping. The Condor Legion has dispatched 19 fighter jets to ambush us. Although we have repelled the enemy, continuing the pursuit may be dangerous. The Asian Air Force requests to abandon the pursuit and join the city defense."

A moment later, ground command replied: "Agreed to abandon the pursuit; the Asian Air Force may conduct free defense."

After obtaining permission from the ground command, Fang Wen observed the ground battle situation.

Currently, Franco's army is mainly concentrated in the north, building fortifications outside the city. Clearly, they know they cannot take Madrid in one fell swoop and are preparing for a protracted war.

After observing for a while, Fang Wen discovered that Franco's army did not have anti-aircraft firepower. This was the best opportunity for a dive-bombing attack. Once anti-aircraft weapons were acquired, such dangerous attacks would no longer be possible.

He issued instructions to the three wingmen.

"Attack ground targets freely, empty the ammunition bay, and then return to base."

This free-attack order excited the three wingmen, who circled in the air, searching for suitable targets, before swooping down and unleashing a torrent of 20mm cannon fire.

Fang Wen was doing the same thing. He chose an artillery position that was under construction, then controlled the Shrike to dive down. As the 20mm cannon fired, the ammunition boxes on the position were detonated. A large number of explosions occurred after the plane flew over, and the entire artillery position was engulfed in flames.

The Asian flight team, having emptied its bomb bay, returned to Albacete base.

They achieved good results in their first aerial battle.

In this air battle, the Asian Squadron shot down 3 He 51 fighters and damaged 1.

The Soviet air regiment shot down five He 51 fighters and destroyed four of them, one of which crashed during a pursuit.

Overall, this aerial battle resulted in heavy losses for the German Condor Legion.

This also made the Asian Airlines team famous.

This battle finally fulfilled one of Fang Wen's regrets, giving the Shrike a battle record.

The Shrike, which had accompanied Fang Wen for a long time, finally became a heroic fighter jet.

Therefore, Fang Wen found paint and prepared to paint its own unique honorary emblem on the Shrike fighter jet.

(End of this chapter)