Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 552 Modification of Ultra-Long-Range Strategic Bombers, Jiangmen Air Support Operation

3 month 20 day.

Taishan Aviation Telegraph Office.

Fang Wen waited by the telegraph machine. Only Wu Yingzong and he knew about the Tokyo line, and he was the only one who had access to the telegraph communication method.

At that moment, the clerk outside received a telegram in advance. Because of the urgent word in the cipher, he immediately knocked on the door to report.

"Come in," Fang Wen said, putting down his headphones.

"General Manager, it was sent from Guangdong. Take a look."

Fang Wen took the telegram; its contents had already been translated.

Today, the Japanese army in Guangzhou launched a strong attack on Heshan, with the support of ships and aircraft.

The Nationalist Army's river defense fleet attempted to reinforce the battle, but one of its warships was sunk.

As of now, Japanese troops have crossed the Xijiang River and entered Heshan territory.

Upon seeing this, Fang Wen quickly took out an atlas from his pocket and unfolded the page for the Guangdong region.

The West River and the North River were originally defensive barriers for the National Army.

However, the defenses of Heshan, Xinhui, and Jiangmen in the lower reaches of the Xijiang River were not strong due to their proximity to the coast.

After more than a month of recuperation, the Japanese army chose to launch an attack from this vulnerable area.

It seems that the Independent Regiment will soon begin preparations for combat again.

Fang Wen immediately drafted a telegram, ordering the independent regiments stationed in Yangjiang and Zhaoqing to prepare.

Then he picked up the earpiece and listened.

The anticipated electrical sound appeared. Fang Wen listened while writing on paper. After recording the coded message, he began the translation process.

After a while, the translated content was completed.

Currently, there are two production plants for assault ingots, one in Japan and one in North Korea. The factory in Japan has a smaller production capacity, and its main demand is supplied by the Incheon Army Arsenal in North Korea. According to the intelligence gathered, the factory should be located at the No. 1 Manufacturing Plant of the Incheon Army Arsenal.

The telegram that followed was Yoshida's brief introduction of the target.

[Affected by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 23, the Japanese Army Ministry adjusted its arms production system, transferring some production capacity to Korea. The Incheon Army Arsenal's First Manufacturing Plant, located in Bupyeong, was the earliest established arsenal, primarily producing light weapons such as rifles, machine guns, grenades, and bayonets.]

After reading the telegram, Fang Wen pondered.

The distance from the base in northern Myanmar to Incheon is 3000 kilometers.

This is a distance that current strategic bombers from other countries cannot reach.

Even with the addition of auxiliary fuel tanks, Hengshan-1 cannot achieve a round-trip flight of 6000 kilometers.

If you want to bomb that place, you have to take off from Yan'an.

But there are other ways.

If the modification project of Taishan-1 (F.220) is completed, it is possible to achieve such a long voyage.

Fang Wen was tempted. If he had a strategic bomber with an ultra-long range, he could carry out many strategic bombing operations that would threaten the Japanese military's deployments. This was the kind of flight combat that suited him.

The Incheon Army Arsenal No. 1 Manufacturing Plant was the first attempt at ultra-long-range strategic bombing.

However, some preparations are still needed to complete such a long-range bombing mission.

That was to survey the local terrain and collect landmark features of the Incheon Army Arsenal No. 1 Manufacturing Plant.

This is necessary; otherwise, Fang Wen would fly over there but wouldn't know where to bomb.

However, this matter is beyond Fang Wen's capabilities and requires the help of other forces to complete.

He then sent a telegram to his contact, Bai Yunfei.

The two communicated via radio waves.

[The matter of the drug has been investigated. It's a drug called "Assault Pill," which can make soldiers euphoric, tireless, and even frenzied. Because of its obvious effects, the Japanese army began distributing it in large quantities to its rank-and-file units. I learned through special channels that this drug is being mass-produced at the Incheon Army Arsenal's First Manufacturing Plant in Incheon, North Korea. If its production continues, it will be a disadvantage in the war effort. I suggest using bombers to destroy it.]

[Bombing? How?]

I'm currently modifying an ultra-long-range strategic bomber. Once completed, it will be able to conduct 6000-kilometer round-trip strategic bombing missions from its base in northern Myanmar, or it can take off via Yan'an using the Hengshan-1 type. The problem is that the bombing process requires collecting data on the terrain and building features of the target area to ensure accurate targeting. I'd like to ask you for your help in finding a solution.

I will report this to my superiors.

The telegram exchange ended there.

Fang Wen left the telegraph room.

The battle in southern Guangzhou was sudden, and the Japanese army broke through the Xijiang barrier and entered the Heshan area.

Subsequently, the Japanese army targeted the urban area of ​​Jiangmen.

The National Army garrison held firm in the city and sent a telegram requesting reinforcements.

After receiving the telegram requesting assistance, the headquarters of the 12th Army Group stated that it would send troops to provide rescue while simultaneously sending a telegram to the Independent Regiment requesting air support.

Aircraft Manufacturing Plant No. 2 in Northern Myanmar.

The massive Taishan No. 1 is currently undergoing renovations.

Fang Wen was in charge of the renovation work, which involved 30 engineering teams.

Everyone was very interested in modifying this big guy.

According to Fang Wen's requirements, the aircraft should be more aerodynamic, with the streamlined fuselage design of the DC-3 as the standard.

Therefore, the changes are very significant.

The nose needs to be modified to be streamlined to reduce air resistance.

Similarly, the wings and two propellers are integrated, which reduces drag during flight.

This also means that the F.220 will require a complete overhaul, and the amount of work involved will be no less than building a new aircraft.

But everyone participated with great enthusiasm for the first large strategic bomber in Taishan.

The first step in the project was the rectangular machine head. The engineers set up scaffolding and dismantled the external structure of the machine head little by little.

As Fang Wen watched the material of the nose cone being removed, he couldn't help but sigh.

He flew the plane to the Great Wall defense line and bombed a divisional camp.

He also went to Northeast China and razed the Japanese poison gas research institute to the ground.

It participated in many subsequent battlefield operations, making it a highly decorated aircraft, comparable to the Shrike.

But now, the Shrike has been retired and is quietly sitting in the warehouse, while the Taishan No. 1 is about to be reborn and take the field again.

"General Manager, there's an urgent telegram."

The sound in his ear pulled Fang Wen out of his thoughts.

He took the telegram paper from the confidential clerk.

The above content was already within his prediction.

Currently, only the Taishan Air Force is capable of supporting the Guangzhou Military Region; the others are tied up in the fighting in Central China.

However, providing air support to the Jiangmen garrison is not easy.

That area is closer to the coast, so there must have been a large number of Japanese warplanes coordinating with the air raids.

At present, the Independent Regiment only has gunboats in Zhaoqing. Using those low-speed aircraft for support has an advantage over the ground forces, but it cannot withstand the siege of Japanese Type 97 fighters taking off from Guangzhou Airport and aircraft carriers at sea.

Therefore, he did not want to send gunboat squadrons to participate in such a dangerous air support operation for the defense of the city.

Instead, he planned to fly there alone to provide support.

Is it useful for one person to go and provide support?

If it's an older type of weapon or equipment, the effect won't be significant.

But now, with air-to-ground rockets, Fang Wen felt they could achieve even better results. He then instructed the modification project to proceed step by step, and went to another hangar at Aircraft Manufacturing Plant No. 2.

There, a high-speed fighter jet from Taishan was also undergoing modifications.

Its modification mainly involved installing three rocket launchers under each of the two wings.

This device is equipped with a camera aiming lens and can also adjust the firing direction via a mechanical linkage.

It was the first air-launched rocket to use camera-guided fire control.

This attack is a perfect opportunity to test its power.

Fang Wen boarded the plane, activated the mechanical sensors, and conducted a comprehensive inspection of the aircraft.

Because the modifications were mainly carried out on the sides and some control linkages, the internal structure of the aircraft was not significantly altered.

He gripped the control lever for the air-to-ground rocket, controlling its trajectory by pushing, pulling, and moving it left and right.

As the firing direction was adjusted, the CRT fire control aiming screen in front of him also changed the firing angle simultaneously.

It can be said that the transformation was very successful.

However, the actual effectiveness of rocket launches will depend on their performance in wartime.

Immediately afterward, Fang Wen disembarked and directed the mechanics and ground crew to fully load the aircraft with ammunition and fill the auxiliary and main fuel tanks with fuel.

After doing all this, Fang Wen instructed his clerk to send a telegram to the Guangxi army.

Three gunboats have been completed and shipped to Nanning today. Additionally, Taishan Airlines intends to provide air support to Jiangmen, using Nanning Yongning Airport as a transit point.

After the telegram was sent, the Guangxi army replied with a quick agreement.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen piloted the modified Taishan Expressway first-generation aircraft, leading three gunship aircraft towards Guangxi.

Four hours later, the four planes arrived over Nanning.

The agreed landing airport, Yongning Airport, is located in Yongning County, southwest of Nanning. It had just been repaired due to Japanese bombing.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "This is Taishan Airlines, requesting to land."

The ground control immediately responded: "You may land."

Subsequently, four planes landed on the runway in Yongning County.

After the plane landed, Fang Wen got out of the cockpit, slid down the fuselage, and landed steadily.

A group of military officers approached and chatted warmly with Fang Wen.

"You must be General Manager Fang from Taishan Airlines. Welcome, welcome."

"So it turns out that gunship aircraft can be used on both land and water. We thought they could only land on water."

"Having airplanes is not enough without pilots. When will our flight cadets be able to go to Yangon for training?"

Faced with the simultaneous questions from several people, Fang Wen smiled and replied, "Regarding the gunboat aircraft, we will proceed according to the terms of the contract. Your flight trainees will be transported to Yangon by our transit transport aircraft, where they will begin their three-month flight training."

The officers nodded, then turned to look at the high-speed fighter jet piloted by Fang Wen.

"So, Mr. Fang, are you going to provide support in Jiangmen?"

"Yes, I'll go after I refuel." Fang Wen said, waving to the Taishan Airlines pilot who was getting off the gunboat next to him. The pilot unloaded the fuel cans from the plane and pushed them over on a trolley. In high-intensity combat, it is essential to ensure sufficient fuel, so refueling in Nanning is necessary.

The officers looked on with admiration.

One of them said, "Mr. Fang, with your wealth, is still willing to risk your life. We admire you greatly. We wish you a safe return."

The other officers echoed his sentiments.

While talking to them, Fang Wenze also directed his men to hurry up and cheer them on.

Taishan Airlines pilots and crew members inserted the fuel line into the spare fuel tank's fuel inlet and used a manual pump to pressurize the fuel from the fuel drum into the fuel tank.

After a while, the gas was refueled, and Fang Wen clasped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, time is of the essence, so we won't delay any longer. If we have a way back, we will definitely meet again."

After saying that, he climbed the boarding stairs that had been set up for refueling and entered the cabin.

Then, the boarding stairs and oil drums were moved aside, and officers saw them off at the runway. Fang Wen started the plane and accelerated to take off.

The distance from Nanning to Jiangmen is 480 kilometers.

The high-speed fighter jets arrived in less than an hour.

However, Fang Wen is currently acting alone, so he naturally wouldn't rashly barge in.

He activated his radar detection system more than 200 kilometers away from Jiangmen to probe the area in the direction of Jiangmen.

Sure enough, there was a lot of feedback from aircraft over there.

Under the current circumstances, it is impossible for Nationalist Army aircraft to be present, so they are all Japanese air raid aircraft.

Judging from the flight paths, some came from Guangzhou military airport, while others flew in from the sea.

There were more than a dozen aircraft flying from the direction of Guangzhou military airport, and even more from the sea. There were three waves of airstrikes, totaling forty aircraft.

The sinking of the Hosho did not significantly weaken the Japanese naval air power; they still had five aircraft carriers.

Can Fang Wen escape unscathed while supporting Jiangmen amidst so many air raids?
Half an hour later, the plane arrived in Kaiping, only a 10-minute flight from Jiangmen.

Faced with a large number of enemy warplanes, Fang Wen activated his extraordinary state once again.

As the energy of faith was largely depleted, that feeling of being in control of everything returned.

Fang Wen felt like a god, a god who controlled machinery.

In his heightened state of awareness, his brain operates at high speed like a biological computer, quickly drawing a spatial coordinate map of the enemy's location in the air.

His location was clearly visible in the three-dimensional coordinate map that appeared in his mind.

In this way, he quickly analyzed how to enter the battlefield and launch an attack.

The Japanese army launched multiple waves of air raids in an attempt to saturate the Nationalist army's defenses and break their will, thus creating an opportunity for the siege.

This arrangement was quite normal, but it gave Fang Wen an opportunity.

He quickly calculated the gap in the flight path, decisively increased the altitude to 10000 meters, and flew towards Jiangmen.

At an unconventional altitude of 10000 meters, frost formed on the exterior of the fuselage.

Fortunately, the new supercharging system kept the engine running normally, and the aircraft's performance was not significantly affected.

According to Fang Wen's mechanical perception, the situation below was extremely dire.

Jiangmen city was filled with ruined buildings; the indiscriminate bombing by the Japanese army caused enormous damage to the city.

Fang Wen felt a chill in his heart.

Shanghai, Nanjing, Shijiazhuang, Xuzhou, Changsha, Wuhan—one city after another was bombed by Japanese aircraft, and this place was no exception.

Countless families were torn apart by the bombing, and countless civilians suffered injuries.

He shifted his gaze, activated his X-ray vision, and peered through the Japanese warplanes below to see the pilots among them.

Among these pilots, some showed obvious adverse reactions to the medication.

Saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth, his expression was ferocious, and he was extremely excited.

These bastards, taking the so-called 'Air Strike Pills,' are recklessly harming the Chinese people.

It's time to teach them a lesson.

Fang Wen controlled the aircraft to quickly descend.

(f.220 prototype)

(Schematic diagram of the modified Taishan No. 1)

(End of this chapter)