Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 484 Landing at Yau Ma Tei Wharf, British and Japanese Seaplanes, Fang Wen's Air Attack
As the plane flew at an altitude of over 3000 meters, Fang Wen piloted the aircraft while using mechanical sensors to observe the situation inside the cabin.

If there were Japanese traitors or spies among the passengers who suddenly started causing trouble, he could stop them in time.

There shouldn't be any, at least the bronze tripod didn't give any warning, but it's better to be cautious and pay attention.

The wealthy family members in the cabin sat huddled on the floor, clutching their luggage or each other's arms tightly.

In the current situation, they are just as sad and helpless as ordinary refugees.

A pale-faced woman in a brocade cheongsam was constantly turning sandalwood beads with her fingers while muttering Buddhist mantras.

Her daughter, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, stared wide-eyed at the dark night sky outside the window, both frightened and curious.

The cabin lights were dim, yet they reflected the tense expressions on everyone's faces.

"Mother, can we really get to Hong Kong?" the girl asked in a low voice.

"Don't talk nonsense!" the lady scolded, but couldn't help adding, "Since Mr. Fang has agreed, he can naturally take us there..." But there was also uncertainty in her voice.

Not far away, several men who looked like businessmen were talking in hushed tones, their voices a mixture of relief and worry.

"Fortunately, we had the help of Chairman Zhao, otherwise we probably wouldn't have been able to escape Yangjiang."

"But is this plane... really safe? I've heard that Japanese planes are bombing everywhere..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" One of them glanced nervously toward the cockpit. "Don't let Mr. Fang's men hear us!"

"Yes, yes, we're already on the plane, we must trust Mr. Fang. His achievements over the years are no joke. If we can't even trust Mr. Fang's flying skills, who can we trust?"

There was some movement in the sleeper compartment, so Fang Wen immediately shifted his observation point.

Over there, several children were sobbing because they were uncomfortable. Their mothers were busy comforting them, but they dared not make too much noise for fear of upsetting the crew.

Meanwhile, an older woman on the side watched the spectacle with amusement: "Look at them, they're used to living a life of luxury at home, never lifting a finger, they don't even know how to take care of a child, and now that they're not being served, they can't do anything."

Two other middle-aged women also spoke up:

“My husband has already arrived in Hong Kong, but we don’t own any property there, so we don’t have much money to begin with. We’ll just have to be frugal.”

"My family is in the same situation. Do you think the National Army can fight back?"

"I don't trust them. They ran away before the battle even started. If they hadn't run away so fast, we wouldn't be in this situation now."

This is probably a common concern among many people who fled from Guangzhou to Hong Kong.

They longed to return to their homeland, but were unwilling to become slaves of a conquered nation, and could only be angry at the National Army's inaction.

Hope is becoming increasingly insignificant for them.

At this moment, Gong Xiuneng, who was standing at the connection between the sleeper cabin and the economy cabin, couldn't help but speak up:
"I think the Communist Party can defeat the Japanese. In the north, I saw them fighting. They were very brave. They were all heroes."

His words silenced everyone.

It had only been a few years since the Southern Encirclement and Suppression of the Communists began. Many people learned about the Red Army's image from newspapers and media controlled by the Kuomintang, and it was mostly negative. They could not accept Gong Xiuneng's words.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Gong Xiu realized that he shouldn't have said it in this situation, since his duty was to maintain order and safety on the plane, not to join in.

He pulled a few pieces of candy from his pocket and gave them to the crying children, coaxing them softly, "Here's some candy, it's very sweet, don't cry. There will be lots of delicious food and fun things to do in Hong Kong..."

The children, holding the candy, actually stopped crying.

Unexpectedly, Gong Xiuneng, who practiced virginity training, was even more skilled at coaxing children than those young mistresses.

With the child's crying gone, the plane gradually quieted down.

Everyone fell silent and waited.

Fifty minutes later, the plane arrived in Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong on time without any incidents.

It was already 4 o'clock, but because it was November, the sky was still dark.

Fang Wen observed the situation below.

The dock below is filled with many boats, including passenger ships, boatmen from the Tanka people, and even cruise ships and cargo ships.

The large number of ships gathered here is due to the Japanese invasion of Guangdong.

There are many, many ships that sail from Guangzhou to Yau Ma Tei Pier.

These ships arrived without intending to return, and instead docked at the pier, causing such congestion.

Given the chaotic state of the water, even Fang Wen couldn't guarantee a safe landing.

Ground-based guidance and coordination are required.

His gaze was fixed on the dock.

A bonfire was lit at the cargo yard of the Yau Ma Tei pier, which was still in darkness.

A group of men in trench coats and suits stood around the campfire.

They were all there to pick up their loved ones, and had spontaneously organized themselves to wait at the airport.

Beside the campfire, a telegraph machine was placed. A man squatted next to the telegraph machine to receive signals, while another man vigorously cranked a hand-cranked generator to charge it.

Fang Wen said, "Junping, send a telegram down below to tell them the plane has arrived. Tell them to clear the ships on the water immediately. If they can't do it within twenty minutes, I'll have to land in the open sea."

Zhao Junping immediately sent a telegram.

Upon receiving the telegram, those below immediately began making arrangements.

A speedboat departed from the dock.

We drove directly to the Tanka people's area.

The Tanka people live on boats, and since they are all on boats, it is easier for them to move around.

The plane circled in the air as Fang Wen awaited the result. If a suitable landing surface could not be found within 20 minutes, he would have to land in the open sea and have a boat from the dock come to pick him up, so that he would have time to catch his next flight of the day.

As time passed, the following discussions yielded results.

The Tanka people left in long lines in their boats, clearing a large area of ​​water.

Seeing this, Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "Gong Xiuneng, drop the flares down."

Illumination flares are an upgrade from incendiary smoke flares. Their effect is not to produce smoke, but to provide illumination through continuous burning with high brightness.

It was an auxiliary military item for nighttime operations, and can now also be used as temporary lighting during landings.

Gong Xiuneng quickly walked to the rear cabin, opened the rear cabin window cover, extended the prepared flare launcher out of the cover, and launched it downwards.

A dozen or so points of light fell, gradually burning and expanding, illuminating the waters below.

Using the light, Fang Wen immediately adjusted the aircraft, lowered the altitude, and landed on the water.

The plane landed on the water and began to taxi. Due to its high load capacity, it experienced relatively severe turbulence, causing a stir in the cabin.

This turbulence lasted only 2 minutes and disappeared completely as the plane slowed down.

After the plane came to a smooth stop, Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "We have arrived in Hong Kong. Everyone can get up, line up, and prepare to disembark."

A suppressed cheer and sobbing erupted in the cabin.

Following Fang Wen's instructions, they lined up to disembark from the plane and step onto this safe and peaceful land.

The cabin door opened, and Gong Xiuneng stood outside the door, helping passengers disembark with the help of armed staff.

One by one, they disembarked from the plane, boarded the Tanka people's fishing boats, and were taken to Yau Ma Tei Wharf.

After all the passengers disembarked, Fang Wen piloted the seaplane to take off again.

He still has another batch of passengers to transport tonight, so he can't rest yet.

We took off from Yau Ma Tei Ferry Pier in Kowloon, Hong Kong at 4:30. Because we were flying empty, the speed was a bit fast, and we arrived in Yangjiang at 5:10.

The second batch of 100 passengers had been queuing up for a while and boarded the plane immediately after it landed.

After everyone boarded, Fang Wen immediately took off.

By then, it was 5:30.

In November, in southern China, especially around Hong Kong, the sunrise is usually around 6:30 am.

Therefore, arriving in Hong Kong before sunrise is still possible.

Fang Wen did not let his guard down. He activated the radar detection system temporarily installed on the Xuanming-type aircraft. The radar showed that two aircraft were detected at the 300-kilometer detection limit.

Judging from its location and distance, it should be Daya Bay.

The Japanese army landed there to attack Guangzhou, so it must have been Japanese warplanes.

So early, before it was even fully light, why was the Japanese Navy's carrier air wing already in action?
Fang Wen, who frequently dealt with the Japanese air force, judged that this was probably not a Japanese air raid, but rather a reconnaissance plane conducting aerial military reconnaissance.

If it is a reconnaissance aircraft, its flight range is relatively large, making it difficult to determine its flight path.

On the bright side, according to Fang Wen's understanding, the Japanese reconnaissance planes were of mediocre performance and lacked firepower, so they posed little threat.

Half an hour later, the Xuanming-type seaplane arrived over Taishan.

It's 6 o'clock.

Although the sun had not yet risen, the sky was already slightly bright.

Fang Wen activated the radar target acquisition device again.

To his surprise, the two aircraft turned around and flew towards Hong Kong.

In that case, when the Xuanming arrives in Hong Kong, it will meet them in the air.

This is where things get interesting.

The Japanese army will not attack Hong Kong at present. At most, they will make a military threat and then leave. How will the British army in Hong Kong react to this?

He kept a close watch on the situation, keeping the plane on the same flight path, and continued flying towards Hong Kong.

Twenty minutes passed quickly, and the plane arrived over the Kowloon Peninsula.

Because the radar detection device had anticipated the appearance of Japanese aircraft, Fang Wen did not immediately land but instead increased the flight altitude to 6000 meters.

The Xuanming model, equipped with pressurized cabin technology, did not cause discomfort to passengers due to its altitude.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone.

"Attention passengers, Japanese aircraft have been spotted. We are temporarily unable to land. Please remain calm and wait for 10-20 minutes."

The passengers on the plane immediately panicked.

They were just ordinary people, helpless in the sky, encountering Japanese planes, how could they not be afraid?

Some bolder young people even stood up and peered out the window to watch.

"Look to the left, the Japanese planes will be flying over in two minutes," Fang Wen said.

Two minutes passed quickly, and the Japanese plane really did fly over.

It's a Type 95 amphibious reconnaissance aircraft, a biplane, which poses no threat on the battlefield today. However, it can still swagger around in Hong Kong, since the British don't dare to attack them.

Although the British dared not shoot it down, it did not mean they would not send out planes to drive it away as a warning.

Fang Wen noticed that two seaplanes had also taken off below.

This is a British seaplane reconnaissance aircraft, which Fang Wen remembers as called the Walrus, and it is also a biplane.

Two biplane seaplanes converged and circled in the air.

Despite the British pilots' orders to drive them away, the two Type 95 fighter jets showed no intention of leaving.

It continued to circle over Hong Kong.

Then they spotted the Xuanming-type seaplane overhead.

The two Type 95 pilots actually tried to climb to harass the large civilian amphibious aircraft loitering overhead.

The passengers panicked as they watched the biplane approaching below.

Fang Wen gave a cold laugh.

This piece of junk plane dares to cause trouble. Even without air combat weapons, he has ways to kill these two reckless fools.

He picked up the microphone: "Don't panic, everyone. These old-fashioned planes are not as fast as us, and their climb rate is also lower. They can't catch up with us."

Hearing his words, a passenger chimed in with encouragement: "That's right, we have ace pilots, and our planes are better than the Japanese's, what are we afraid of?"

As a result, some people calmed down.

Some people even dared to continue watching from the window.

Faced with the provocation of two outdated biplane seaplanes, Fang Wen responded.

However, the Xuanming type that is currently being piloted is a civilian aircraft, which, apart from flares and individual weapons, does not carry any air combat equipment.

How should we deal with them?

Fang Wen had his own method, which was airflow.

In a state of mechanical perception, once he becomes one with the aircraft, he can sense the airflow, thus enabling him to better pilot the aircraft.

Air currents at high altitudes can be unpredictable, sometimes providing assistance and sometimes causing disaster.

He piloted the plane to continue climbing, sensing the air currents and looking for an opportunity to lay a trap for the enemy.

At an altitude of 6000 meters, there is a rapid current with a central wind speed of 70 meters per second.

He adjusted the fuselage to better adapt to the rapids, and the plane's speed increased again, leaving the enemy planes behind him far behind.

But the two Type 95 seaplanes did not give up and continued their relentless pursuit.

Fang Wen sneered and continued to climb.

At 7000 meters, the aircraft began to shake, and Fang Wen immediately made adjustments to adapt to the peculiar airflow.

It was a rare wind shear.

Wind shear refers to the phenomenon of a significant change in wind direction and speed over a short distance.

Its formation is complex, including the convergence of cold and warm air masses, topographic effects, and convective activity.

It has a significant impact on aircraft flight, potentially causing the aircraft to suddenly lose lift or generate large lateral forces, making it difficult for pilots to control the aircraft's attitude and increasing the risk of flight accidents.

For biplanes, it is even more fatal.

Because biplanes are more susceptible to the effects of such complex airflow, which can cause them to change.

Fang Wen piloted the aircraft, striving to adapt to the complex airflow changes.

Despite the aircraft tilting, there was no significant turbulence.

His smooth piloting gave the two Type 95 seaplanes behind him the illusion that it was safe.

Five minutes later, two Type 95 seaplanes caught up with them.

They had entered this airspace and were immediately affected by the complex airflow caused by wind shear.

The Type 95 seaplane on the left suddenly turned to the side, landing upside down.

In this state, the pilot has no control over the aircraft and may even fall halfway out of the cockpit due to gravity.

The other two machine gunners in the plane were thrown out.

The other Type 95 seaplane fared even worse, tumbling and stalling in the wind shear before crashing directly into the sea.

Two Japanese reconnaissance planes crashed inexplicably.

There was no fighting, no weapon attack, and the accident happened suddenly.

Fang Wenze landed at Yau Ma Tei Pier at the same time the two planes crashed.

Meanwhile, two other British seaplanes were circling overhead, as if they had won a battle and shot down two Japanese reconnaissance planes.

Fang Wen didn't care about this at all; he had shot down far too many planes and had no interest in the record of shooting down such an old-fashioned aircraft.

He has now completed the transfer of 200 people, and there are 400 people left. It will only take two nights to finish.

But this was not the end of the matter. Fang Wen was more concerned about whether the underground party in southern Guangdong had found the missing scientists so that they could be transferred to Hong Kong in time.

Therefore, during his daytime rest time in Hong Kong, Fang Wen attempted to contact the underground Communist Party in southern Guangdong.

(End of this chapter)