Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 607 Isabella's New Choice, Weizhou Island Airborne Operation
Across the Qiongzhou Strait, Fang Wen piloted the Taishan high-speed fighter jet.

Below, in the strait, lies the sunken aircraft carrier Fengxiang, which was sunk by Fang Wen, yet the area remains under Japanese control.

Pushing his thoughts aside, Fang Wen searched for traces of ships on the sea in the radar feedback.

He quickly spotted his target.

As the plane flew by, Isabella quickly picked up her binoculars to observe.

“One warship and two cargo ships,” she said, describing her observations.

This was clearly not a regular patrol, but rather an escort of a cargo ship.

Where are they going?
Driven by curiosity, Fang Wen surveyed the Beibu Gulf region from the air while keeping a close eye on the three ships.

An hour later, while no other Japanese warships were seen, these three ships arrived at their destination.

It is an island located 50 kilometers south of Beihai Port.

Weizhou Island.

The island was occupied by the Japanese army last August. Later, the Japanese forced the island's residents to expand the makeshift airfield that the National Army had originally built on the island and to build defensive fortifications, turning it into a stronghold to control Beihai Port.

That's why Beihai Port is so desolate, with no ships daring to go out to sea.

Fang Wen's original plan was to eliminate the Japanese troops on the island to create conditions for the maritime transport plan.

So what were these three ships doing on Weizhou Island?

He continued his investigation.

After the three ships below docked at Weizhou Port, they began unloading their supplies. At the same time, a group of Japanese soldiers also disembarked from the warships and landed on Weizhou Island.

Clearly, the Japanese army was preparing to strengthen the defenses here in preparation for a future attack on Beihai Port.

This concludes the aerial reconnaissance mission, and Fang Wen pilots the aircraft back to base.

In the following period, he continued aerial reconnaissance, and after many rounds of reconnaissance, he finally gained some understanding of the situation of the Japanese army in the Beibu Gulf.

Three days later, the final aerial reconnaissance mission concluded.

The plane returned and landed at its base airport in northern Myanmar.

After the aircraft was parked in the hangar, the ground crew quickly pushed the boarding ladder over, and the mechanic was also waiting nearby for maintenance.

Fang Wen and Isabella got off the plane and walked outside the hangar.

Fang Wen held two cans of food in his hand and handed one to Isabella: "How have you been feeling these past three days?"

“I’m so happy, I still love the feeling of flying in the air,” Isabella said with a smile.

She held up the unlabeled can in her hand and asked, "What's this?"

"Our company has just released a new canned meat product, which can be used as a meal replacement. Why don't you try it?"

As Fang Wen spoke, he taught Isabella how to open the can.

He designed the can lid to resemble an easy-open can; simply hold the pull tab with your finger and apply force along the opening to open the can.

Isabella opened the can, then took the chopsticks Fang Wen handed her and picked up some luncheon meat to taste.

"Hmm, I think it's good."

The two ate their canned food in silence for the time being.

After a while, Fang Wen spoke up: "Let's stay here."

Isabella froze. "But I have something very important to do."

The important thing she mentioned was the last effort of the Spanish government-in-exile.

But that kind of thing is simply impossible.

Therefore, Fang Wen tried to persuade him.

“I know you’re working for a republican government. But that’s no longer realistic.”

"Why is it unrealistic? We have many supporters in the country, and farmers and workers are our friends."

As she spoke, Isabella looked intently at Fang Wen. "I know you also support people who share the same ideals as us. You have confidence in yourself, but not in me?"

Fang Wen was at a loss for words when faced with Isabella's question.

Looking back from his future memories, Fang Wen knows he was right.

Although China's path was arduous, it ultimately led to its prosperity.

The Republican government of Spain eventually disappeared into history.

The reasons for this are complex, but the most crucial factor is people.

He gathered his thoughts, met Isabella's gaze, and spoke:
"I'll tell you a story. A group of people with ideals came together and decided to change this old world."

The two strolled through the airport.

Isabella listened as Fang Wen recounted the story of the Chinese Communist Party.

Every accident carries the risk of death, yet each time they fall, they miraculously rise again.

She couldn't believe that a political party could endure such hardship and still persevere.

She couldn't help but sigh at this.

"They really walked more than 10,000 kilometers?! That's incredible, it's beyond human limits."

Fang Wen stopped and nodded. "It's true. Not only did they travel more than 10,000 kilometers, but they also got back on their feet in the north. Do you think there's any difference between them and your republican government?"

“Willpower, spirit.” A strange light appeared in Isabella’s eyes. “I’m very interested in everything you’ve said. If possible, could I go and take a look at the base you mentioned?”

Fang Wen pondered Isabella's request.

Europe is on the verge of chaos.

The Republican government's so-called recovery plan has absolutely no chance of success.

He didn't want Isabella to risk something that was destined to fail.

It would be better to send Isabella back to China; perhaps that would change her.

But where should we send her?

Yan'an, Taihang Mountains, or Junshan Lake.

Out of personal reasons, Fang Wen did not want Isabella to go to the battlefield.

Thinking of this, Fang Wen nodded in agreement: "No problem, I can take you there. Your role will be a staff member of Taishan Airlines' office in Yan'an, responsible for liaising on local air cargo transportation. How about that?"

“Okay,” Isabella agreed.

Isabella left, departing on a Taishan Airlines flight bound for Yanchuan Water Airport.

After she arrives in Yan'an, everything will be arranged. All she will have to do is arrange for the air transport of transistor radios every month.

She could arrange her own time at other times, which was exactly what Fang Wen had promised her—to let her see it with her own eyes.

Fang Wen did not personally see her off, mainly because he was too busy with his own affairs.

In order to transport heavy weapons such as tanks and rocket launchers, he had to deal with the Japanese troops on Weizhou Island, so he had to go to the Yangjiang base to make preparations.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Wen piloted the plane from the base in northern Myanmar to Guangdong.

8 month 27 day.

The plane arrived at the airport where the Yangjiang Independent Regiment was stationed.

After the plane landed and came to a stop, Fang Wen got off the plane and went to the regimental headquarters conference room with Wu Yingzong and his group.

The participants in this meeting included high-ranking officers of the Independent Regiment.

Fang Wen personally presided over the event.

He hung a map on the wall and said aloud:
“Last time I came here, I mentioned that I would give our regiment a batch of new equipment, but since tanks and rocket launchers are difficult to transport, we plan to take them by sea, starting from Yangon, passing through the Strait of Malacca, and then sailing into the Gulf of Tonkin, where we will dock and unload at Beihai Port.” Everyone looked at the map.

Wu Yingzong asked, "Taking the sea route is indeed more convenient, but now the Japanese army has controlled the entire coastline. How can transport ships avoid Japanese warships?"

This is a question that everyone is concerned about.

Fang Wen replied, "That's why I'm here. The main danger along the entire shipping route is in the Beibu Gulf region. I conducted aerial reconnaissance and discovered that the Japanese patrols there are regular. They only patrol once every two days, mainly to guard Beihai Port. They've also established a stronghold on Weizhou Island to monitor the surrounding waters and prevent ships from docking at Beihai Port. My plan is to destroy the Japanese stronghold on Weizhou Island and attack the Japanese warships stationed there before the cargo ships arrive at Beihai Port."

This plan is very challenging.

The goal was to avoid the period when the main Japanese warships were patrolling and appearing in the Gulf of Tonkin.

They also needed to quickly and accurately eliminate the Japanese troops on Weizhou Island and attack several small Japanese warships at sea.

Therefore, a very rigorous and meticulous command plan, as well as multiple response measures for emergencies, are necessary to ensure the completion of the mission.

This is extremely difficult for any military commander.

If someone else had raised this issue, the people in the meeting room would definitely have questioned it.

But when Fang Wen said it, it was different; surprisingly, no one objected.

This is also evidenced by Fang Wenyong's numerous achievements in commanding operations from the air.

The meeting then moved on to explaining the specific operational plan.

Fang Wen took out another topographic map of Weizhou Island and the surrounding waters and hung it on the wall, then continued speaking.

"The Japanese army expanded a field airfield on the site of the original temporary airfield of the National Army in the center of Weizhou Island. This was a springboard for future air raids in preparation for an offensive against Guangxi. I plan to destroy it in this operation. The Japanese army converted Nanwan Port on Weizhou Island into a naval port, where three warships were moored, including two Masu-class destroyers and one Wakatake-class destroyer. This is also our target. In addition, there are Japanese strongholds on the island. In order to control Weizhou Island, the Japanese army established strongholds in many places on the island, where nearly 100 Japanese soldiers and puppet troops were stationed. After destroying the airfield in the center of the island, these will be the operational targets of the airborne troops."

The officers listened attentively to Fang Wen's words and took notes in their notebooks.

According to Fang Wen's operational plan, the Independent Regiment needs to dispatch a large number of combat troops.

This includes the Independent Regiment's current 10 gunboats and 200 airborne combat personnel.

These troops are enough to deal with the Japanese forces on the island, but they will have a tough time dealing with three Japanese warships, even if they are small ones.

In response, Fang Wen further refined the plan.

The first step involved gunboats carrying 200 airborne personnel from Guangdong to Beihai to conduct an airborne operation on Weizhou Island.

After the airdrop is completed, the second step is to proceed.

Half of the gunships and aircraft, in coordination with ground forces, took the airfield and then deployed to the surrounding strongholds.

The other half of the gunboats will join Fang Wen in attacking the three warships.

After listening to Fang Wen's proposal, Pan Jiafeng asked a question.

"Commander, why don't we get the troops stationed in Beihai to cooperate with our operation?"

Fang Wen has his own opinion on this.

“The Beihai garrison has never cooperated with us before, and their speed of action and coordination cannot keep up with our pace. If a war breaks out, they may become a hindrance. Rather than that, it would be better for us to act alone.”

Battalion Commander William commented: "I think the regimental commander is right. Over the years, I have seen many National Army troops. Although they are commendable for their courage in combat, they have obvious shortcomings in terms of efficiency."

At this point, Fang Wen's battle plan had been communicated to his subordinates, and the Independent Regiment began intensive preparations.

9 month 1 day.

At 4:45 a.m., Nazi Germany's full-scale invasion of Poland officially began as the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish military stronghold on the Westerplatte peninsula in the Gulf of Danzig.

Germany deployed 150 million troops, more than 2000 tanks, and over 1900 aircraft along the border, advancing in three columns from East Prussia, Silesia, and Slovakia into the heart of Poland.

It uses intensive air bombing to destroy enemy transportation hubs, airfields and command centers, then armored forces quickly break through the defenses, and infantry follow up to expand the results, achieving a crushing blow by speed.

It was later known in military history as Blitzkrieg.

At the same time, 11 gunboats were anchored on the water at the Yangjiang base's seaplane airport.

Among them are 10 active-duty gunboats of the Taishan Independent Regiment, and one improved gunboat piloted by Fang Wen, equipped with an air-to-ground rocket launcher.

The paratroopers of the Third Battalion, carrying parachutes, grenades at their waists, and submachine guns, boarded the plane in neat formation.

Half an hour later, Fang Wen picked up the microphone and asked through the internal channel: "Attention all machines, report the situation."

A response came through the radio: "Aircraft One, boarding complete." "Aircraft Two, boarding complete."
After confirming the status of each aircraft, Fang Wen took off first, waiting in the air for the other gunship aircraft to take off.

One by one, the planes took off and formed a flight formation in the air, with Fang Wen as the lead plane.

The formation of 11 gunboats flew westward in a grand procession.

The distance from Yangjiang to Beihai is only 300 kilometers, and the flight formation arrived in less than an hour.

At this moment, the radar early warning system did not detect any other warships or aircraft in the vicinity, making it the optimal time for combat.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone and gave instructions.

"Attention all aircraft, maintain flight formation, and proceed in unison after I give the order to airdrop."

He then piloted the plane toward Weizhou Island.

The flight formation flew into the airspace above the island, and in the central area, Fang Wen gave the order: "Begin the airdrop."

All aircraft, including the gunboat he was piloting, were immediately put into action.

One by one, the cabin doors opened, and paratroopers lined up and jumped out of the plane.

Suddenly, white flowers bloomed in the sky above Weizhou Island.

The airstrike was carried out so swiftly.

From the moment the plane arrived at Weizhou Island to the time it took to launch the airborne operation, only 3 minutes had passed.

By the time the Japanese troops on the ground reacted, some of the paratroopers had already landed.

The first thing the paratroopers did upon landing was to use their daggers to cut the parachute straps, and then they quickly regrouped.

The assembled combat teams were not formed in their original organizational units, but rather on the spot.

After assembling, they quickly determined their location and launched an attack towards the airport.

Meanwhile, gunships in the air launched a fierce air strike on the airport.

It was so sudden, so fierce, and it was an attack from multiple directions, both in the air and on the ground.

This made it impossible for the Japanese troops at the airport to put up any effective resistance.

The Japanese troops inside the airport were quickly annihilated, and the six Japanese warplanes parked on the airport were also destroyed by the paratroopers.

While the airborne operation was underway at the airport, Fang Wen led another five gunboats to the southern port.

The port there can only accommodate smaller warships, which is why it houses two 850-ton Masu-class destroyers and one 500-ton Wakatake-class destroyer.

In contrast to the airport, the warships here actually reacted.

One of the Seki-class destroyers is heading out of the harbor, trying to escape the narrow area of ​​the port and better avoid air attacks.

The other two warships are also turning around.

In response, Fang Wen picked up the microphone.

"Attention all aircraft, do not launch an attack yet. Maintain an altitude of 3000 meters and await further orders."

This is a targeted deployment to counter the air defense firepower of the warship below.

The twin-mounted Type 96 25mm anti-aircraft guns on the warships have an effective range of only 1500 meters, but their accuracy is even lower, at only 800 meters.

At an altitude of 3000 meters, the aircraft is virtually untouchable by the warships below.

Moreover, Fang Wen did not intend to have the gunboats lower their altitude to engage the warships in a circling firing manner.

He prepared something good for the warships below: Taishan napalm incendiary bombs.

(Fir-class destroyer)

(End of this chapter)