Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 306-305 High-Difficulty Formation Combat: Fang Wen's Personal Aerial Unrestricted Combat
Japanese bombing squadrons attacked from Hangzhou Bay, passing through Jiaxing, Haining and other places.

Alarms sounded in cities along the route, and people quickly took cover. Some hid in holes they had dug in their own homes, while others, caught off guard, could only wait at home for their fate.

A wave of panic swept through the area, and the illusion of peace and prosperity vanished once the Japanese army's aggressive ambitions were fully exposed.

Meanwhile, the situation in Hangzhou was even more tense.

The air raid sirens blared throughout the city, and the few air raid shelters were packed with people. Most people had no choice but to take refuge in some seemingly sturdy buildings.

Only soldiers remained on the streets, while outside the city, anti-aircraft machine guns were set up, ready for battle.

Meanwhile, four fighter jets took off from Jianqiao Airport in the city center.

In the eyes of soldiers and civilians, the number of fighter jets this time was much smaller than last time.

They couldn't tell the difference between biplanes and monoplanes; they simply assumed that the enemy outnumbered them.

Is this interception going to fail?

A sense of loss welled up in people's hearts; no one wanted a bomb to fall on their home. In the face of war, wealth and life became so fragile.

Meanwhile, in the sky, Fang Wen, piloting the Shrike and leading his men into battle, had no time to think about all that.

In his state of mechanical perception, he gained a comprehensive understanding of the enemy aircraft formation.

This bombing formation consisted of 15 Type 96 fighters and 5 Type 97 bombers.

It was a normal air raid formation of the Japanese army, but the fact that they chose to come here this time was such a coincidence that Fang Wen couldn't help but suspect that there might be Japanese spies lurking near Jianqiao Airport, reporting the recent air force movements to the Japanese Navy.

This wasn't just wild speculation on his part. Five years earlier, during the January 28 Incident in Shanghai, Japanese spies had been hiding outside the airport, observing planes take off and land to gather intelligence.

Five years have passed, and there are probably more Japanese spies than before, and there are even some who have secretly defected to the enemy and are sending intelligence to the Japanese.

Therefore, after suffering a setback in Nanjing, the Japanese naval air force chose to come to Hangzhou to get revenge.

Fang Wen felt a sense of solemnity. Even though he only had 4 fighter jets on his side and the other side had 20, a one-to-five disadvantage, he could not back down.

From the Spanish Civil War to the air battles in northern China, Fang Wen developed a clearer tactical plan.

In a situation where we are outnumbered, we absolutely cannot engage in a head-on confrontation; instead, we must employ a different tactic.

Spatial teleportation.

Leveraging the performance advantages of the Shrike and the modified Il-16, they launched a unique harassment tactic.

As he requested, each of the four aircraft was to become a highly skilled hunter, using its speed and firepower to perform difficult maneuvers, penetrate behind enemy formations, disrupt their formation, and threaten enemy bomber groups.

This is very demanding, dangerous, and difficult, posing a great challenge to Du Jiahuai, Shao Deqing, and Zhai Xiaojun.

East of Hangzhou, above the ancient city of Yanguan on the banks of the Qiantang River.

A formation of 20 bombers was about to arrive in Hangzhou. At an altitude of 5000 meters ahead of them, Fang Wen led the formation to fly in.

Fang Wen issued orders to his team members using a secret communication device.

Instantly, the engines of all four aircraft were under maximum load, and their speed increased to the maximum.

The four fighter jets suddenly accelerated and swooped down.

The Japanese formation was on high alert and did not send out fighter planes as it had done before, but instead waited for the enemy to come over and engage in a firefight.

This approach, however, is the best response for the opposing team, which clearly indicates that they have also conducted a battle analysis.

But they underestimated the complexity of air combat. Or rather, Fang Wen, from the future, had a far deeper understanding of tactics than these Japanese airmen.

Instead of charging head-on, the four fighter planes dove and changed course, bypassing the Japanese formation.

This behavior was seen as cowardice by the Japanese army, and countless Japanese air force pilots were laughing at Fang Wen and his men at that moment.

But a few seconds later, the situation changed abruptly.

Led by Fang Wen, the combat squad suddenly dived and changed direction. When they reached the enemy's right side and below, the lead ship, the Shrike, pulled up and maneuvered.

This is a special flight maneuver trained by Fang Wen's team.

It is also a variation of the dive bombing flight maneuver. By diving downwards at a 15-degree angle, it gets out of the enemy's sight, and then quickly pulls up and uses a looping maneuver to get behind the enemy.

This tactic can achieve spatial deception, allowing the attacker to outmaneuver the enemy's formation and thus bypass them from behind.

Such a difficult flight maneuver.

Generally, only aerobatic pilots would perform this operation.

They are not often used in actual combat.

However, the elite pilots that Fang Wen specially recruited were selected from among thousands to achieve this kind of flight effect.

These elite pilots, selected from the best of the best, have undergone rigorous training and combat experience, and have already mastered some of Professor Fang Wen's techniques.

They have at least mastered the difficult maneuver of diving into a pull-up loop and turning.

Now is the time to showcase their superb flying skills and teamwork.

Four fighter jets completed the entire flight maneuver under the high load of their high-powered aircraft engines.

The aircraft performed a loop in the air, maintaining a complete formation, and circled around to the enemy's rear.

In just two or three minutes, they completed a spatial teleportation, successfully circumventing the Japanese bombing formation right under their noses.

The 15 Type 96 carrier-based fighter jets were piloted by a single pilot. They didn't have eyes in the back of their heads, so they didn't know that Fang Wen and his team had completed spatial teleportation and arrived behind them.

However, the bombardiers in the back seats of the five Type 5 bombers, which were three-seaters, discovered this situation.

In this bombing formation, the fighters mainly protect the front and flanks, while there are no fighters protecting the rear.

Therefore, it is equivalent to putting five bombers at the mercy of four Chinese fighter jets.

Bomber pilots, who were still unable to communicate in the air, panicked.

Compared to the opponent, the Type 97 was clumsy and couldn't escape at all.

Therefore, the five Type 97 bombers chose to escape on their own, hoping to escape as many as possible.

The sudden departure of their own bombers from formation left the fighter group puzzled, but they soon understood.

Fang Wen's combat squad focused their fire on one of the bombers.

Under intense machine gun fire, the rear half of the Type 97 bomber was riddled with holes.

The bombs carried by the aircraft were detonated by an internal explosion, causing the entire aircraft to disintegrate instantly in mid-air.

The enemy had managed to sneak up behind their own bombers, a mistake that enraged the Japanese fighter squadron. They immediately turned around, attempting to engage Fang Wen and his men in a desperate battle.

But while they were locking onto the enemy, Fang Wen's combat squad had already left the combat zone.

Fang Wen defined the operation as a "successful strike followed by an immediate retreat."

After all, with 4 against 20, the disparity between the enemy and ourselves is too great. Once the enemy turns around and surrounds us, our combat squad will be in danger.

Therefore, after destroying a Type 97 bomber, he immediately instructed his men to relocate via coded telegram.

Immediately, the four aircraft gained altitude and disappeared into the clouds.

In this way, with the advantage of altitude and the cover of clouds, the enemy is in the open while we are in the dark, thus strategically ensuring our own advantage.

Just as they were transferring, the enemy fighter formation also turned around and passed each other by. As Fang Wen and his men disappeared into the sky, the Japanese fighter group was helpless.

For Japanese fighter planes, the primary responsibility was to protect the safety of bombers.

If we abandon protecting the bombers and go looking for trouble with Fang Wen and his men, we'll be putting the cart before the horse.

However, they lacked the capability to send out a small number of fighter jets to deal with Fang Wen and his group.

Moreover, once the fighter group climbs to a higher altitude to search for Fang Wen and his group, it will cause chaos in the entire formation.

Once the formation becomes disordered, the original protection for the bombers becomes meaningless and completely ineffective.

But if they do nothing, Fang Wen and his men, who are watching from high above, can launch an attack on the bombers at any time.

At that moment, the Japanese naval air force felt a deep sense of helplessness.

As expected of China's ace pilots, their unorthodox tactics and superb flying skills were simply overwhelming for them.

They initially thought Hangzhou's air defenses were weak and that they could find a good opportunity, but unexpectedly, the other side had four aircraft firmly tracking them. Now, the bomber formation is in a difficult situation.

This was an outcome that the bombing squadron had not anticipated at all.

Should we continue bombing, or return to base immediately?

Without any prior tactical discussion, this decision could only be made by the lead pilot of the bombing formation.

Ultimately, the lead pilot of the bombing formation made the decision.

That is, no matter how great the losses, the bombing mission must still be completed.

Immediately, the bombing squadron dispatched three aircraft to provide rear protection and continued flying towards Hangzhou.

This approach, however, proved to be tricky for Fang Wen.

With 4 against 19, it would be difficult for us to succeed as long as the enemy doesn't panic. If we charged again, the Japanese troops, who were already on guard, would inevitably launch a counterattack, which would be extremely dangerous.

I fear that during the next attack, three of my pilots will be lost here.

His mind raced as he pondered.

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards the distant city of Hangzhou.

Since I have decided to stay at Jianqiao Airport, I must fulfill my responsibility to defend this territory.

A formation of bombers flew over and dropped bombs on Hangzhou, causing countless families to be destroyed and lives lost.

Wouldn't that mean my original intention to stay here would be wasted?

It's time to use that thing.

With this in mind, Fang Wen made a decision.

He retrieved the ancient Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze cauldron, which he had brought back from an American Indian site, from a hidden compartment on the right side of the cockpit.

With the amber cross losing its effectiveness, this ancient cauldron became his last source of replenishing his mystical energy.

Fang Wen guessed that the mysterious energy was the power of faith from various ancient religions, yet it could be absorbed by his own abilities.

Absorbing this energy can enhance one's abilities.

However, there is another use for it.

That is to forcibly amplify one's own energy when this energy arrives, in order to achieve a stronger performance.

Now is the time to use this mysterious energy to strengthen ourselves.

He took a deep breath and hung the bronze cauldron around his neck.

At this moment, the long-lost mysterious energy was once again drawn into his body.

At the same time, he fully activated his mechanical perception, and with the support of a continuous stream of mysterious energy, Fang Wen's mechanical perception suddenly broke through to a new level.

This was a state he had never experienced before.

His original mechanical perception was simply to become one with the machine, allowing him to better pilot the flight.

But now, he has a higher and more precise perception, and he has control over every detail of the entire aircraft.

Moreover, an even more amazing ability has emerged.

Mind control.

This extraordinary ability actually appeared in Fang Wen.

Under his mental control, the bronze cauldron and the objects in the cockpit all floated up and moved in mid-air as he controlled them.

With business at hand, he abandoned his attempt at mind control, and the bronze tripod and other objects fell to the ground.

Fang Wen, whose status had been upgraded, issued a secret telegram instructing the three Il-16s to wait, as he intended to launch an attack alone.

This order was completely unexpected by the three pilots. No matter how strong the general manager was, the opponent was 15 fighter jets.

But they had no way to persuade them and could only watch helplessly as the Shrike soared out of the sky.

Japanese bombing squadrons raided Hangzhou.

The whole city was in chaos, with only a few brave souls observing the situation in the air.

They saw a Japanese plane being shot down and immediately clapped and cheered.

With only four fighter jets to defend Hangzhou, they were outnumbered and unable to stop the enemy's actions.

As the bombing formation continued to fly towards Hangzhou, the sparse air defense firepower was simply unable to stop their bombing.

Those watching the aerial situation prepared to return to their shelters in preparation for the upcoming bombing.

At this time.

High in the sky.

A fighter jet, not very large, flew out of the clouds and headed towards the enemy formation.

Just like its name suggests, the shrike, or butcher bird, dares to attack even birds larger than itself.

The small Shrike, propelled by a powerful engine, sped into the enemy ranks.

This scene caused those who were about to leave to stop in their tracks.

That tiny fighter jet unleashed astonishing power.

He single-handedly penetrated the enemy formation, weaving through the gaps between enemy planes while simultaneously launching an attack.

It is like a martial arts master in folk tales, able to fight ten enemies at once without being at a disadvantage, charging into the enemy ranks and out again and again.

The people in Hangzhou were stunned.

It's incredible that China has such skilled pilots.

Fang Wen piloted the Shrike solo.

With the temporary boost from a large amount of mysterious energy, he performed exceptionally well.

What was previously overlooked by mechanical perception and observation is now clearly revealed, in greater detail.

The unity of mind and body is even stronger than before, allowing the Shrew to reach its full potential.

This fighter jet, which he modified, was no longer the P-26 of the past. Its speed was close to 480 kilometers per hour, and its various agile maneuvers had reached the limit of its capabilities.

Fang Wen himself could feel his excitement; absorbing too much mysterious energy at once had an amazing effect.

He maneuvered the Shrike into the enemy ranks, selected the first target, and opened fire immediately.

As the aircraft flew through at high speed, 20mm cannon shells were fired mercilessly, destroying a Type 96 fighter jet directly in front of it.

The explosion left the bombing squadron somewhat bewildered.

too suddenly.

They didn't even know where the enemy would appear from.

However, it was only after the second fighter jet was attacked that they were able to locate their target.

It was the lead fighter jet, and I heard it was piloted by one of China's top ace pilots, who had performed exceptionally well in numerous air battles.

But he was too daring, actually charging into the bombing formation all by himself.

Feeling slighted, the Japanese air force pilots became enraged and attempted to attack the Shrike.

But they couldn't track the Shrike's flight path at all.

This ghostly fighter easily broke through the bombing formation, only to soon intrude from another direction, causing great chaos to the enemy with each incursion.

After several incursions and retractions, the entire bombing formation was thrown into complete chaos. They were no longer able to organize a complete flight formation, as Fang Wen's superb piloting disrupted the entire operation.

This is also the effect Fang Wen wanted to achieve.

He issued a secret telegram order, and three Il-16s that had been waiting rushed out to coordinate with his operation, attacking the four bombers amidst the already chaotic flight formation.

(End of this chapter)