Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 594 One-Man Kill Four: Historical Achievements of Airborne Rockets, Available for Sale
The next day, just as dawn broke, Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng went to the field airfield to await the start of the operation.

It was early summer on the grassland, and a humid, hot wind blew across the airport, covering the I-16 fighter jets on the tarmac with a thin layer of morning dew.

Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng, dressed in Taishan flight suits, became a unique sight at the airport.

He and Gong Xiuneng waited by the Taishan first-generation machine.

He has no control over his environment here and is always passive in everything he does.

After a while, Major Sergei arrived in a military vehicle and stopped in front of Fang Wen: "Comrade Fang, we received a call from the border. Ten minutes ago, the Japanese launched an attack, and their air force is also cooperating. Our mission is to intercept them. You will be going with Vasily's squadron. They are already on their way."

Fang Wen nodded and watched the major leave.

A few minutes later, four pilots from Vasily's squadron arrived.

Squadron Leader Vasily said with a serious expression, "Our orders are to fight alongside you, and the tactics will follow the plan we discussed last night. We hope your air-to-air rockets will perform well on the battlefield."

Fang Wen calmly replied, "I'm confident. When do we set off?"

"We need to wait for instructions from the control tower."

"Another issue is that we need a way to communicate in the air, such as voice communication."

"You mean a wireless voice device?! I'm sorry, our squadron's fighter jets are not equipped with one. Even if they did, we wouldn't be able to establish communication with you."

As war drew near, the Soviet Union was also developing radio voice equipment, which would soon be available. However, at present, the Soviet Air Force's fighter jets did not have the advanced equipment that would allow aircraft to communicate with each other via voice.

To better accomplish this mission, Fang Wen asked Gong Xiuneng to bring four spare Taishan walkie-talkies, which were also used for military technical exchanges.

"Perhaps we can use our Taishan equipment, which has an effective communication range of 3 kilometers and a standby time of 2 hours, which should meet the requirements for air communication."

The Soviet pilots stared in amazement at the four walkie-talkies.

The squadron leader couldn't help but confirm, "It can be placed inside the aircraft for remote voice communication?"

"Yes. It's very easy to operate. You see, pressing this button turns it on. The frequency doesn't need to be changed; it's fixed. Take it to the cockpit of your own aircraft, and I'll demonstrate."

Four pilots, each with a switched-on walkie-talkie, entered their respective cockpits.

Fang Wen also climbed onto his plane, adjusted the radio frequency, and then picked up the microphone.

"Hello, hello, this is a voice call test. Please respond if you hear this."

"Hear the word." "Me." "It really is possible!"

Different sounds were coming from the radio device.

Fang Wen continued: "Remember, this device can only communicate within a 3-kilometer range. Beyond that range, it will become ineffective. Now please turn off the device. It uses dry cell batteries, so do not turn it on in peacetime to waste power."

After a simple test of the radio equipment, Fang Wen got off the plane.

Four pilots from Vasily's squadron also came down.

He was very excited to talk with Fang Wen.

“This device is excellent. I think it’s the most useful of all the military technology devices you’ve brought.”

"Yes. In air combat, unexpected changes often occur, and we need real-time tactical communication. Although this device has a short range, it is very useful to us."

Fang Wen smiled and said, "As far as I know, wireless voice communication equipment is being researched by various countries. I believe that it won't be long before your wireless voice communication equipment is put into service."

Just then, a messenger jogged over.

"Vasily Squadron, prepare to depart at 8:10."

Everyone quickly checked their watches.

It's 7:50 now, and it'll start in just 20 minutes.

Immediately afterwards, the five pilots, including Fang Wen, returned to the plane and flew it from the parking area to the runway takeoff point to queue up.

On the runway ahead, four aircraft were already taking off. There was an Il-16 on each of the two runways. As the ground personnel waved the flag, the aircraft accelerated and took off after several hundred meters. After the first two aircraft took off, the ground personnel waved the flag to signal them, and the next two aircraft entered the runway and continued to take off.

They had completed their takeoff, with 10 minutes remaining before Vasily's squadron took off.

The short time passed quickly.

Ground personnel waved flags again, and the four aircraft took off one after another from the runway.

After they took off, it was Fang Wen's first-generation Taishan aircraft.

Ground personnel curiously examined the unfamiliar aircraft and waved flags.

Fang Wen steered the aircraft onto the runway, straightened the fuselage, and aligned it with the runway ahead.

In the lower left corner of the track, staff members are waving flags.

With the engines roaring and the propellers spinning faster, the plane gradually accelerated on the runway, and at 600 meters, the fuselage lifted up and took off into the sky.

Fang Wen piloted the plane into the air and flew tacitly towards Vasily's squadron, forming a combat formation with four Soviet Il-16 fighters.

He was behind, with four fighter jets acting as escorts.

Fly to the Nomonhan region.

"Comrade Fang, can you hear me?" Vasily's voice came through the walkie-talkie, accompanied by a slight static and the roar of the engine in the cockpit.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "I can hear you, Squadron Leader Vasily. Does the formation course need to be adjusted?"

“As planned, maintain a heading of 135 degrees. We need to reach the border airspace within 20 minutes.” Vasily paused, then added, “Your aircraft is faster than the I-16. Please maintain the same speed to avoid losing contact due to the speed difference.”

Fang Wen responded with "Understood," maintained the same speed as the Il-16, and followed the four fighter jets towards Nomonhan.

The grassland below is a vibrant green, with occasional glimpses of silver sunlight reflecting off the puddles.

The 20-minute flight passed quickly.

Chaos erupted in the area ahead.

Soviet and Japanese troops clashed on both banks of the Khalkhin Gol River.

Both sides deployed mechanized forces, with tanks providing cover for infantry positions on the riverbank, while artillery positions fired across the river at the opposite bank.

Both the Soviet Union and Japan had fighter planes in the air, chasing and fighting each other, and some even rushed to each other's positions to carry out air raids.

Anti-aircraft machine gun bullets flew into the sky, and explosions followed one after another.

Meanwhile, more and more fighter jets arrived from behind, forming a large-scale aerial combat engagement.

Just then, a Soviet pilot on the left side of the formation suddenly shouted into the walkie-talkie: "Squadron Leader! There's a black dot about 8 kilometers to the left front! It looks like a formation of fighter jets!"

On the distant horizon, a dozen small black dots were moving rapidly, flying toward Vasily's squadron.

They must have discovered that the air defenses here were weak and wanted to break through from here to launch an air raid on Soviet positions.

Vasily's voice also came through the walkie-talkie into the radio: "Fang, now it's your turn."

"it is good."

Fang Wen quickly used the supernatural radar target acquisition device to estimate that there were 12 enemy aircraft in a wedge formation.

Based on the signal strength and Fang Wen's experience, he judged that the aircraft included escort fighters and attack fighters, forming a full-strength air strike unit.

In such a situation, generally speaking, an equal number of fighter jets are needed to intercept it.

However, launching 20 air-to-ground rockets along its flight path would create an explosive coverage area that could also serve as an interceptor.

The goal is to ensure the accuracy of rocket launches. Before the advent of guidance systems, Fang Wen was the only pilot confident of hitting the target precisely.

He focused intently, using his special abilities to adjust the firing direction.

The fire control screen in front of me showed the crosshairs moving, but there was no sign of enemy aircraft on the screen.

Three minutes later, the enemy aircraft entered the 2000-meter range.

Only when the television fire control system aimed at the target screen did dark shadows appear.

Fang Wen decisively pressed the launch button, instantly clearing the rocket launch pods on both sides of the aircraft's wings.

Twenty aerial rockets were launched rapidly and flew toward their designated targets.

Moments later, the rockets encountered the Japanese troops flying in the opposite direction.

At a distance of exactly 1000 meters, the delayed fuse of the rocket was activated instantly, resulting in a series of explosions.

Black smoke, mixed with shrapnel, continuously billowed across the sky.

It instantly dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese air raiding squadron.

A Japanese Type 96 fighter plane was overturned by the blast wave and immediately stalled, flipping and crashing to the ground.

Another Type 96 aircraft had its tail rudder chipped off by a shower of flying debris, lost its balance, and struggled in the air with a skewed trajectory.

However, these two aircraft were not in the most damaging central blast zone.

The central explosion zone was located right in the middle of this air strike formation.

Two Ki-30 light bombers were torn to pieces.

To increase payload, this bomber used a thin aluminum alloy skin, making its defensive capabilities even worse than the Type 96 fighter jet. It was actually destroyed by a salvo of rockets.

"Well done, Comrade Fang!" Vasily shouted excitedly over the walkie-talkie. "Their formation has broken down! Let's go!"

"Okay," Fang Wen replied. Having already emptied his air-to-air rockets, he still had two 20mm cannons available for combat.

Immediately, five fighter jets rushed toward the chaotic air strike formation.

This formation originally consisted of 6 Type 96 fighters, 4 Type 97 light bombers, and 2 Type 98 dive bombers.

Now that four planes are gone and the other planes are in disarray, this is a rare opportunity.

Five fighter jets quickly approached the target, and their 20mm cannons strafed the enemy aircraft.

In one encounter, three more were shot down, including one Type 3 bomber shot down by Fang Wen and two Type 2 light bombers shot down by Vasily's squadron.

Suddenly, only 5 enemy planes remained.

The remaining enemy planes had no will to continue the air raids and fighting, and turned to flee in desperation.

Vasily's voice came through the radio again.

"Do not pursue. There is a lot of anti-aircraft fire on the other side, and our mission is to intercept."

"Received," Fang Wen replied.

"Then let's turn back. I'm very eager to write up a report on the battle."

Under Vasily's orders, the squadron ended the very quick and decisive battle and flew toward Tamtsagbulage field airfield.

Twenty minutes later, the plane landed on the airport runway and then pulled into the parking area.

The four pilots eagerly disembarked and came over to Fang Wen, discussing the battle all at once.

Squadron Leader Vasily was extremely excited: "Comrade Fang, your 20 rockets were incredibly accurate. I simply can't believe that a salvo of rockets launched from one aircraft could take out four aircraft at once. Believe me, there is absolutely no one else in the world who can do what you did."

The Soviet pilot Petrov, who was standing nearby, also came over, pulled off his flight gloves, took out a notebook and pen, and said with amazement, "I sincerely apologize to you. Before you launched, I was wondering if you could hit the target. The result was fantastic. No wonder the instructor said in class that you are the best pilot in Asia. Can I get your autograph?"

Fang Wen proved himself with his abilities and accepted the situation with equanimity. He smiled as he took the notebook and pen and wrote down his name.

He then said, "This victory is everyone's achievement. Rockets are just a tactical strike method. Without your follow-up attacks, the interception mission could not have been completed."

"That's just Eastern modesty. But in fact, you were instrumental in this interception."

A voice appeared beside me.

The pilots turned around, saw the speaker, and immediately stood at attention.

He was an officer with the rank of colonel.

He walked up to Fang Wen and introduced himself: "Colonel Yevgeny Fedorovich Loginov, Commander of the 5th Aviation Brigade of the Eastern Special Group Army, it's a pleasure to meet you, Comrade Fang Wen, China's ace pilot."

Fang Wen shook hands with him, saying, "Thank you for the compliment."

"I would like to ask you to come to the brigade headquarters to discuss this interception operation."

"it is good."

"Vasily, you go too."

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen got into Brigade Commander Yevgeny's military vehicle and arrived at the aviation brigade headquarters next to the field airfield with Squadron Leader Vasily.

There were also Sergei and some officers that Fang Wen had never seen before.

Yevgeny first had Vasily recount the results of the battle.

The other officers were very surprised when they heard about this victory.

However, a squadron of 5 aircraft managed to intercept a Japanese air raid formation consisting of 12 aircraft.

There were six Type 96 fighter planes, and the other six bombers also had a certain air combat capability.

As a result, Fang Wen launched a salvo of rockets, causing massive damage.

To learn more, Yevgeny asked Fang Wen to recount the entire process.

Fang Wen then recounted the battle that had just taken place.

From his perspective, it was more professional.

"When our formation arrived in the border airspace, the Japanese air raid units were advancing in a wedge formation—a formation often used for bomber escort. Six Type 6 fighters provided flank cover, while four Type 4 light bombers and two Type 2 dive bombers were in the center. The intention was to use the fighters' maneuverability to protect the bombing core and directly penetrate to the rear artillery positions for air raids. The rocket launches were very effective, hitting the central area of ​​the enemy air raid formation and causing significant damage."

After listening to Fang Wen's description, Yevgeny did not speak, but instead asked Vasily to continue.

From Vasily's perspective, the key to this battle became the two military technologies brought by Fang Wen.

Walkie-talkie and air-to-ground rocket launcher.

The brigade officers were also very interested in this and asked Fang Wen more questions about the two technologies.

Fang Wen would answer some questions, but he refused to answer others on the grounds of technical confidentiality.

Yevgeny then dismissed everyone and spoke with Fang Wen alone.

"This battle against the Japanese army is also a test of the Soviet Red Army's equipment and combat effectiveness. The two technologies you brought are very useful to us. But I am only a combat unit and cannot make any decisions. Please rest assured, I will definitely report the actual situation of the battle. Please stay here for a while longer; I estimate that we will have results soon."

Fang Wen smiled and nodded. It seemed that his trip to the North had achieved the desired effect.

Next, I will shift from a passive to an active position and wait for the right price to go.

(End of this chapter)