Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 299-298 Japanese Agents in Action, Jinan Airport Security, Tianjin Battle

The air battle that suddenly broke out over Nanyuan on July 29 had an impact on all aspects.

This is a rare and encouraging piece of good news in this devastated battlefield of North China.

Many people in Beiping witnessed the battle in the sky.

The Japanese bomber formation that had come so aggressively was attacked by suddenly appearing fighter planes, resulting in heavy casualties.

Throughout Nanyuan, and further south in the FT area, there are the wreckages of several Japanese aircraft.

The most eye-catching thing was the Type 95 fighter jet that crashed into the city wall and disintegrated and exploded.

The men and women of all ages in Beijing were curious and, even under such dangerous circumstances, managed to get out of the city to witness the wreckage of Japanese warplanes near the city walls.

Even military attachés from various countries in Dongjiaomin Lane went out of the city with cameras to take pictures, while Japanese diplomats stayed indoors. For a time, a sense of elation filled the city.

The wreckage of the plane further away was also searched and counted by soldiers of the 29th Army.

Among these were crash wreckage and fragments from mid-air explosions. Based on the eyewitness accounts and evidence collected by the soldiers, the officers in charge of the investigation in the 29th Army were surprised to find that at least 10 Japanese warplanes had been shot down.

Such a result is very encouraging, and given the current deteriorating war situation, it deserves to be widely publicized.

But which air force took action?
Because there was no prior notification, the 29th Army headquarters believed it was a secret operation by the National Air Force and therefore called the Aviation Management Committee for inquiry.

However, the other side stated that no aircraft were sent to attack, because due to issues with the preparation of military supplies, the two air detachments supporting North China would not take action until at least August.

This response left the 29th Army feeling incredulous.

Besides the Central Army's air force, were there any other air forces supporting them?
Could it be the Jin-Sui Air Force, which hasn't been merged into the Central Air Force yet?

They then called the Shanxi branch, but the other party said it wasn't them who did it either.

After such questioning, the 29th Army was surprised to find that there seemed to be only one possibility.

That is the Taishan Aviation Escort Team.

Although this escort team performed well at the beginning of the war, it is truly unbelievable that they have achieved what they have today.

Immediately afterwards, the 29th Army called Jinan to inquire and received an affirmative reply.

Thus, the Chinese offensive side in the July 29th Nanyuan air battle was determined.

As soon as the telegram reached Nanjing, the Nationalist government immediately made a big fuss about it and launched a special propaganda campaign.

At the same time, a competitive spirit was also stirred up within the National Air Force.

If a civilian escort squadron performs so well in war, how can the mighty Central Air Force of China show weakness?
In response, the Nanyuan Detachment and the Tianjin Detachment, which were still preparing, both requested permission from their superiors to join the battle.

Meanwhile, the Japanese side was also furious about this.

Tianjin, Haiguang Temple in the Japanese Concession, North China Garrison Headquarters.

The fighter jets that escaped back to Tianjin brought bad news, enraging the entire command.

The entire bomber formation consisted of 20 aircraft, of which 13 were shot down, and less than half returned.

This outcome can be considered the greatest loss in the war in North China.

In response, the garrison command instructed the intelligence agency and the air force to investigate the matter together.

The independent investigators immediately set to work, preparing to leave the Tianjin area where fighting was taking place and head to the Nanyuan and Fengtai areas in Beiping to conduct their investigation.

But unexpectedly, an urgent telegram arrived from the undercover agents in Nanjing, saying that the Nationalist government had issued a special commendation ceremony to publicly praise the Taishan Air Escort Team for its outstanding performance in the defense of Beiping. The situation described was the air battle that had occurred earlier in the Nanyuan and Fengtai areas.

These agents had some knowledge of Taishan Airlines, so they immediately changed their course of action and all went to Shandong in plain clothes.

July 30th.

Jinan Airport suddenly became bustling with activity.

Local gentry and prominent military and political figures gathered at the airport, beating drums and gongs and setting off firecrackers in a festive atmosphere.

Fang Wen was surprised by the lively scene.

Taishan Airlines had never received such treatment before; all the prominent figures in Jinan came.

For security reasons, he did not appear in public, but instead socialized with high-ranking military and political officials inside the airport.

After some conversation, I finally understood.

This was yesterday's response to the air combat incident involving the 29th Army.

As a result, the 29th Army reported this to Nanjing and was immediately used as a model of resistance against Japan.

It can be said that, given the current state of the war in North China, this is a rare victory that can be publicized.

Fang Wen felt relieved, but Wu Yingzong, who also knew the reason for the matter, was extremely worried.

He approached Fang Wen and said, "General Manager, I have something important to report."

Fang Wen feigned apology and took his leave, then spoke with Wu Yingzong in a quiet place.

"what's up?"

"General Manager, this matter is probably troublesome. Now that you've been used as an example, and the Japanese have lost thirteen planes, they must hate you to the core. Now that the war is in full swing, they have no more scruples and will definitely take action against you."

Fang Wen nodded. "I understand. It is precisely because a full-scale war has broken out that I must be prepared to face danger if I join the war."

Yes, this is no longer the time of stable development. In times of war, danger is everywhere, so how can we be afraid and not move forward?

Wu Yingzong was thrilled by this. His lord could have avoided all of this, but he bravely participated for the sake of the country. There are very few people who can do this.

He became determined to protect Fang Wen's safety and revealed his plan.

"General Manager, I'm worried that the Japanese army might send spies to Jinan to carry out assassinations and sabotage operations. Airport security needs to be further enhanced, and we also need to set up sentries outside."

Wu Yingzong had been considering this security plan for a long time, and now that the time was right, he revealed it all.

Airport security naturally needs to be even tighter, and it's being taken over entirely by mercenary groups.

Meanwhile, in order to counter the Japanese spies who were secretly spying and sabotaging, the airport's field operations needed to be staffed.

These people include former airport security personnel and mercenaries. They will lie in wait in the shops around the airport, keeping a close eye on any changes in the surrounding situation.

Fang Wen agreed with this.

Unlike other companies, Fang Wen has always paid attention to the development of the business district around his own airport.

Meanwhile, in order to provide employment for the families of airport employees, most of the shops outside the airport were taken over by Taishan Airlines and rented back to the employees' families to open shops, so that they could have more ways to earn a living.

This arrangement made it easier for Taishan Airlines to have its own people operating many of the business districts around its several airports, and to arrange the undercover agents Wu Yingzong mentioned.

Immediately, Wu Yingzong began making arrangements. The mercenary groups at Xiangxi Airport began to be dispatched to Jinan one after another, while at the same time, many of his men appeared around the airport, disguised as shop assistants and clerks in various shops.

On the surface, Jinan Airport appears unchanged, but in reality, its defenses have become much tighter.

So far, nothing seems amiss, and it will likely take some time for the Japanese intelligence team to arrive.

The local gentry, dignitaries, and high-ranking military and political officials in Jinan who came to congratulate the Nationalist government for setting an example also left after a day of festivities.

The impact of the Nanyuan air battle is still unfolding.

This aerial victory demonstrated to all parties that even when facing a formidable enemy, we have the strength to fight.

Among them, the most affected were the Nationalist Air Force pilots.

They volunteered for the mission, but were not allowed to.

The higher-ups were pleased with this fighting spirit, but worried that these pampered soldiers with no real combat experience might cause problems in actual battles.

Therefore, pilots from the Nanyuan and Tianjin wartime detachments were instructed to seek advice from Fang Wen.

The team leader was Captain Gao from the Fourth Brigade.

Fang Wen agreed to this, and three military transport planes subsequently arrived at Jinan Airport.

After the three military transport planes landed, Fang Wen led the pilots of the Taishan Air Force to greet them.

Team leader Captain Gao introduced the team to Fang Wen with a big smile.

"General Manager Fang, we've come here to learn from you. These are pilots from the Nanyuan and Tianjin detachments. They are about to engage in combat with the Japanese Air Force, and we hope you will be generous in giving us your guidance."

Fang Wen glanced at the pilots behind Captain Gao.

Some looked at them with admiration, some were unruly, and some were indifferent.

These emotions reflect their mental state upon arriving here; spoiled brats are not easy to manage.

Fang Wen smiled slightly and said to Captain Gao, "It's not about becoming an apprentice; we're just exchanging experiences, hoping that you can all use them in future battles."

These words changed the attitude of some of the Nationalist pilots who came to learn, and the overall atmosphere improved considerably.

Then, Fang Wen led them to the hangar that was temporarily used for the lecture.

There, Fang Wen explained the situation of the air battle at Nanyuan.

Listening to Fang Wen's account, Captain Gao exclaimed, "A high-altitude ambush, a stroke of genius, caught the enemy completely off guard. This is also the advantage of monoplanes over biplanes, allowing for more flexible tactics in combat."

Fang Wen responded, "Yes, most of the tactical arrangements for biplanes are in the horizontal direction. Apart from dives, their other flight maneuvers are much worse than those of monoplanes. I designed this ambush to address this situation, and it has yielded very good results."

A pilot stood up and asked a question.

"My father learned some good news from a high-ranking friend: the Nationalist government is about to sign a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. They are willing to support us in resisting Japan's aggression and will also provide a batch of Il-15 and Il-16 fighter jets. I see that you are also using Il-16 fighter jets. Could you teach us some techniques for flying this type of fighter jet?"

In response, Fang Wen said, "Our Il-16 has been modified, with more powerful internal engines, allowing it to perform more high-performance flight maneuvers that the original Il-16 could not achieve. But overall, the feeling of flying the Il-16 is about the same. If you are interested, I can organize pilots from the Taishan Aviation Team to exchange ideas with you."

The pilots were very interested in this, so Fang Wen arranged for the pilots from the Taishan Aviation Team to communicate with them.

He then spoke privately with Captain Gao.

"Captain Gao, things in Tianjin are already at their breaking point, are you aware of that?"

"What happened? Please tell me, General Manager Fang."

"In Tianjin, there were only a little over 1,000 men in the 38th Division's pistol regiment, 3,000 men in six security battalions, about 1,500 men in the 228th Regiment of the 114th Brigade, and about 3,000 men in two regiments of the Independent 26th Brigade. There were also about 2,000 men in the 223rd Regiment stationed in Xiaozhan, Tianjin, and the 3rd Battalion of the 224th Regiment stationed in Xianshuigu. The total strength was only 13,000 men. The forces gathered in the Japanese concession were constantly increasing. If they didn't make a move soon, they would have no chance at all. Therefore, starting on the 28th, the Tianjin garrison took the initiative to launch an attack on the Japanese army."

Fang Wen recounted the battle in Tianjin, which also took place at the same time as the Nanyuan air battle.

He learned all of this through his intelligence channels, many of which were real-time telegrams sent to Shanghai by military attachés in the French and British concessions of Tianjin, and then sold to various intelligence brokers.

In terms of war strategy,
The 228th Regiment of the 114th Brigade and the 6th Battalion of the Security Force attacked the East Railway Station (today's Tianjin Station);
The pistol regiment, the 2nd battalion of the 678th Regiment of the Independent 26th Brigade, and the 1st battalion of the security force joined forces to attack the garrison barracks of the North China Garrison Command at Haiguang Temple;
The 26th Independent Brigade and the 2nd Battalion of the Security Force attacked the Tianjin Main Station (now Jinbei Station) and the Japanese airfield at Dongjuzi.
The Third Security Brigade maintained traffic safety near the West Railway Station to prevent enemy entry;
The 4th and 5th Security Battalions, attached to two battalions of the 224th Regiment of the 112th Brigade, are responsible for defending the Dagu coastal area.
Armed police are responsible for traffic guidance between different battlefields.

This battle was destined to be lost, but they fought very bravely.

Just yesterday, the battle of Tianjin ended in defeat, and these troops have begun to withdraw from Tianjin.

Upon hearing Fang Wen recount the situation in Tianjin, Captain Gao couldn't help but sigh.

"We established the Tianjin detachment, but before we even set off, Tianjin had already fallen. It's truly shameful."

Fang Wen wanted to offer comfort, but couldn't bring himself to say it.

Based on what he learned at Zhoujiakou Airport, although supplies were somewhat lacking, it was not impossible to go into battle. The key issue was that the higher-ups forbade any action.

Just then, a telegraph operator came running.

He approached Fang Wen, and seeing that there were outsiders present, he did not explain the contents of the telegram, but simply gave a report.

"General Manager, the 38th Division called us using the communication frequency agreed upon with the 29th Army. The message is here."

Fang Wen took the telegram and told the telegraph operator to leave.

After reading it, he spoke up and informed Captain Gao.

"The troops from Tianjin are heading south, preparing to go to Cangxian County in Hebei and Dexian County in Shandong. A group of Japanese troops are pursuing them, and there are also air reconnaissance and harassment attacks. They have requested our support to intercept the Japanese aircraft. Are you interested in coming together?"

The Cangxian and Dexian mentioned in the telegram are the future Cangzhou and Dezhou.

Upon hearing this, Captain Gao was tempted.

"You mean we should work together to intercept Japanese warplanes from reconnaissance and harassment of the 38th Division, allowing them to advance south smoothly?"

Fang Wen nodded: "Yes. This kind of operation is not difficult. The Japanese will not send too many military aircraft south. It is the best opportunity for actual combat training."

Captain Gao was somewhat embarrassed: "But we came here to learn, and our plane is still at Zhoujiakou Airport."

"As long as you're willing to fight, it's just a matter of an hour's round trip. So tell me if you dare or not," Fang Wen deliberately provoked.

Upon hearing this, the other party became aggressive.

"Why wouldn't I dare? I'll borrow your radio so I can volunteer to fight in Nanjing."

His telegram received a response.

The higher-ups approved the joint operation and conveyed the Nationalist government's invitation to Fang Wen's commendation ceremony.

It was said that after this joint operation, the two commendations would be combined into one and held together.

Fang Wen did want to go to Nanjing, not for fame or fortune, but to give the Taishan Volunteer Army a legitimate status. With a legitimate status, the Taishan Volunteer Army could participate in the War of Resistance against Japan in a justifiable manner.

Moreover, those two 'Taishan Pine' medium tanks will then be able to travel to the north.

(End of this chapter)