Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 622 Zhijiang Airport Military Intelligence Meeting, Xiangbei Air Raid

The roar of the Qinyuan's engines gradually subsided as it landed at Zhijiang Airport.

Subsequently, under the guidance of airport staff, Fang Wen parked the plane in the parking area.

Fang Wen opened the hatch and stepped off the plane down the set-up boarding ladder, a smile he could hardly hide on his lips.

The swift and decisive attack over Nanchang just now unleashed his pent-up fighting spirit.

Gong Xiuneng couldn't help but ask, "Commander, what good thing happened to you?"

Fang Wen didn't say anything, but the Taishan mechanic standing to the side already understood.

He tugged at Gong Xiuneng's clothes: "Look at the Qinyuan's payload, all the air-to-ground rockets have been fired. With our general manager's flying skills, I reckon the Japanese planes are in trouble again."

Gong Xiuneng was pleasantly surprised and wanted to continue asking questions.

At that moment, the Soviets from the airport arrived.

The leader was Captain Ivanov, and Ivan was also among them.

The captain said directly, "Comrade Fang, now that you're back, come with us to the command post. We need to discuss some tactical coordination issues."

"Okay. Let me change my clothes."

Three minutes later, Fang Wen changed out of his flight suit and followed the Soviets to the airport's flight command center.

There was also a major in the National Army there.

Upon seeing the Soviets bringing Fang Wen over, the major immediately stopped his work and went to greet them.

"Hello Mr. Fang, I am Wu Youdong, the airport affairs officer and currently the liaison officer connecting the Soviet volunteer flight team's operations. I am responsible for communication between the flight team and the operations in Changsha."

Fang Wen shook hands with him: "Nice to meet you."

"I'll explain the current situation in Changsha in a bit. Do you understand Russian?"

"can understand."

"That's good."

The group then entered the command center's conference room for a discussion.

On the long wooden table in the center of the conference room, a huge military map of the Hunan-Jiangxi region was spread out. Red pins were densely marked with Japanese strongholds on the outskirts of Changsha, while blue arrows clearly outlined the current deployment of the Chinese and Soviet air forces.

Major Wu Youdong stepped forward first and explained the current battle situation to the military map.

"Currently, the main force of the Japanese 3rd and 4th Divisions has departed from Yueyang, Hubei, and is heading south along the Yuehan Railway, preparing to force a crossing of the Xinqiang River and directly attack Changsha. The Japanese 6th Division and Nara Detachment have departed from Tongcheng, Hubei, and are attacking Pingjiang, Hunan, attempting to outflank the Chinese army in northern Hunan."

"Our army's strategy was to 'not engage in a direct confrontation with the Japanese army, but to trade space for time.' Relying on the defense lines deployed along the Xinqiang River and Miluo River, we used the river and hilly terrain to resist step by step, depleting the Japanese army's strength and supplies. At the same time, we deliberately showed weakness and gradually withdrew, luring the Japanese army deep into the heart of northern Hunan."

The Soviet officer did not understand: "By doing this, you will only gradually lose control of the territory, or rather, your frontline troops will collapse again?"

In response, Wu Youdong immediately retorted: "This is a strategy of retreating to advance! Our goal is to let the Japanese army penetrate deep into enemy territory, and then attack them from both sides."

In response, Captain Ivanov turned to Fang Wen and asked, "Comrade Fang, you have extensive combat experience. What's your opinion on this?"

They actually asked Fang Wen.

Fang Wen really didn't know how to answer that.

Fang Wen had seen this kind of strategy and tactic before. The generals of the National Army especially liked to use this tactic. During the defense of Guangzhou, they also designed an ambush formation to let the Japanese vanguard enter the ambush formation before launching a combined attack.

However, the Guangzhou campaign failed to achieve any combat results due to the army's withdrawal.

This time, he felt that it wouldn't be like Guangzhou, after all, Changsha was a place of many battles, which had held off the Japanese army for several years.

Organize the language, and the dialect will produce the vocal tract.

"In China, this strategy is called 'flanking encirclement.' Once the Japanese army penetrates deep into enemy territory, the battle lines will inevitably be stretched. Encircling them from both sides can achieve a strategic effect. I think it's feasible. After all, our army's equipment is much inferior to that of the Japanese army, and it's unrealistic to expect to stop the Japanese army with the defense of the front-line positions. This strategy and tactic can weaken the Japanese army during its offensive and gain the initiative during the encirclement."

After hearing Fang Wen's explanation, the Soviets said nothing more.

Wu Youdong looked at Fang Wen gratefully, traced an arc along a tributary of the Xiang River with his finger, and said solemnly, “Gentlemen, the main force of the Japanese army has now broken through the Miluo River, mistakenly believing that we have ‘retreated,’ and continues to advance southward. Commander Xue has ordered the 15th Army Group, which was retreating in the central route, to set up an ambush in the Fulipu and Jinjing area north of Changsha, while simultaneously dispatching reinforcements from western Jiangxi and southern Hubei to penetrate the Japanese army’s flanks and rear. As for the air force, we will have to rely on you and the volunteer air force teams in Chengdu and Chongqing for support.”

He pointed to the Japanese army's marching line drawn in red pen, placing the dot behind him.

"Your mission is to bomb the Japanese airfield in Yueyang and the Japanese supply lines, and to intercept Japanese warplanes from attacking our forces. According to the latest intelligence from the Changsha front, the Japanese 3rd Air Regiment has reinforced Yueyang and Xianning with 12 bombers and 24 fighters, for a total of more than 40 aircraft. They are your adversaries."

The combat mission has been clearly explained.

The specific timing for the operation has not yet been determined.

Now it was time for the Soviet air force to discuss the operational plan.

Captain Ivanov stood up, leaning over the map: "The straight-line distance from Zhijiang to Changsha is about 300 kilometers. With our fighter jets fully loaded with ammunition, it takes 50 minutes to fly one way, allowing for an hour of air combat. However, we have conducted preliminary reconnaissance flights over there and have a grasp of the situation, so we can launch an operation at any time. The problem now is that Comrade Fang has only recently joined the air force and doesn't have good coordination with us yet. I'm worried that this might have an impact on our operations."

Fang Wen nodded. This was a very real problem. The Il-16s flown by the Soviet volunteer air force were not equipped with the advanced radio voice communication devices like those used by Taishan. They relied on the tacit understanding formed through long-term training.

This tacit understanding is most vulnerable to the addition of an outsider, which could easily lead to chaos in the original flight formation.

He said, "I can go into battle with the team, but I won't join your flight formation, so as not to affect your tactical coordination."

This was the only suitable arrangement, and Captain Ivanov agreed.

At this moment, Wu Youdong suddenly went out.

After a while, he returned and said very solemnly, "Gentlemen, we have received orders that we will launch an air raid against the Japanese army at 7:00 AM tomorrow, in coordination with ground forces. Please begin preparations immediately."

The meeting then ended, and everyone left the conference room and headed to the hangar next to the runway to begin pre-battle preparations.

Fang Wen also returned to the Qinyuan ship.

Together with Gong Xiuneng and the mechanics, they inspected the aircraft, added air-to-ground rockets, and replenished other ammunition.

9 month 25 day.

At 6:00 a.m., the fighter jets lined up and prepared for takeoff.

First, Captain Ivanov's plane took off, followed by the other fighter jets.

After all 21 Soviet military aircraft had taken off, Fang Wencai piloted the Qinyuan onto the runway and accelerated into the air.

21 Il-16s were arranged in echelon formation, including 7 three-aircraft echelons.

Fang Wen's Qinyuan was outside the formation.

This is actually more suitable for Fang Wen. The Qinyuan is faster than the Il-16 and has more firepower, enabling it to engage in aerial dogfights and fire clusters of air-to-ground rockets at a range of 1000 meters.

If you're in a group, you won't be able to perform as effectively as you would in a group.

After organizing the itinerary, the air force flew towards Changsha.

Fifty minutes later, the group of aircraft arrived over Changsha.

Fang Wen, in his mechanical sensing state, scanned the city below.

The ancient city of Changsha, located on the banks of the Xiang River, is filled with city towers and walls, and various types of houses.

The scars of the fire that had ravaged the city had not yet faded, pedestrians hurried along the roads, and troops were constantly being dispatched to the north of the city to carry out defense and fortification.

Moments later, the aircraft flew over Changsha and headed towards the target area.

Soon, the aircraft entered the combat zone.

Below, Japanese troops are fighting against the National Army.

The Japanese army, having stretched its battle lines, was caught in a pincer attack from both flanks by the National Army.

Large numbers of Nationalist troops used the rice paddies, river networks, and hills of northern Hunan to launch attacks against the Japanese army.

It was September, the rainy season, and the roads were muddy. The Japanese tanks and vehicles had difficulty moving on the muddy roads, which gave the National Army an opportunity.

According to the pre-arranged plan, the first and second echelons of the Soviet air force would provide cover, while the third to seventh echelons would carry out bombing missions.

Immediately, the seven three-plane formations quickly changed formation—two Il-16s climbed up to the side and rear, forming a "V"-shaped warning circle, while the remaining fighters lowered their altitude and swooped down towards the Japanese positions below.

Fang Wen piloted the Qinyuan at an altitude of 5000 meters, its mechanical sensors acting like an invisible net, clearly capturing every detail of the ground battlefield:

The Japanese tanks were stuck in the mud, their tracks spinning and splashing up muddy water; the infantrymen were huddled behind makeshift earthen mounds, firing machine guns at the direction of the Nationalist army's charge.
On the distant highway, three Japanese trucks were parked by the roadside, and the soldiers were busy unloading ammunition boxes, unaware of the threat from the air.

Fifteen Il-16s carrying aerial bombs swooped in and dropped their bombs.

A series of explosions occurred on the Japanese positions, engulfing them in flames and smoke.

This also intensified the National Army's offensive.

Subsequently, the other two escort squadrons also joined the air attack, swooping down one after another.

The only one who didn't move was Fang Wen, who was using radar to observe the movements of Japanese warplanes.

Clearly, this air raid was completely unexpected by the Japanese military, as the Japanese air force in Yueyang had not yet taken off to fight.

In that case, Fang Wen also joined the ground attack.

He locked onto a Type 97 medium tank that wasn't stuck in the mud and swooped down from high altitude.

1500米、1200米、1000米——当距离降至 800米时，方文按下机头20毫米机炮发射按钮，

A barrage of machine gun fire struck the top of the tank.

This type of Japanese medium tank focused its defense on the turret and horizontal hull, with very thin armor on top.

The armor-piercing 20mm cannon shell easily penetrated the 10mm top steel plate, creating pitted holes.

The tank immediately stalled and remained motionless.

The inside of the tanks, which appeared intact to those on the battlefield, was actually filled with dead people.

Fang Wen then began searching for his next target and continued the airstrikes.

This time, they used air-to-ground rockets.

Two aerial rockets, trailing orange-red flames, roared out and accurately struck the Japanese tanks.

The explosion resounded on the ground, sending mud and steel fragments flying more than ten meters high.

The tank tracks were severed by the rockets, and the tank body lay crooked on the ground due to the shockwave.

Seeing this, the two tanks behind attempted to reverse and retreat, but were spotted by Soviet warplanes that were following closely behind.

The third echelon of three Il-16s swooped down, their bombs landing around the tanks and igniting a raging fire.

The Japanese army was completely unprepared for this attack, and did not even have anti-aircraft firepower, so it suffered heavy losses as a result.

The Japanese troops, realizing what was happening, hastily ordered the anti-aircraft guns in the rear convoy to be moved to the front line immediately.

This action did not escape Fang Wen's mechanical perspective.

He saw the convoy disperse, giving way to the two cars behind them on the muddy road.

The two vehicles, towing 20mm anti-aircraft guns, charged toward the front lines.

If the anti-aircraft guns were allowed to come within range and engage in anti-aircraft fire, the Soviet air force would likely suffer some damage.

Therefore, Fang Wen immediately abandoned the air raid on the tank and adjusted his position to fly towards the two cars.

The Qinyuan's engines suddenly accelerated, and the fuselage drew a sharp arc in the sky as it swooped down toward the two Japanese vehicles towing anti-aircraft guns.

Fang Wen's fingers gripped the control lever tightly. The mechanical sensor clearly captured the car's trajectory, the frequency of the bumps on the muddy road, and even the Japanese soldiers' grip on the gun mounts. At this moment, the two cars were rolling over the dirt road at the edge of the rice paddy, the wheels undulating in the mud, and the speed was less than 20 kilometers per hour. It would not be difficult to hit them.

He adjusted the nose of his aircraft, locking the crosshairs of his sight firmly onto the car in front. At this point, the altitude had dropped to 1000 meters, then 700 meters.
As the plane descended, the airflow it created created a gust of wind, causing leaves to flutter and rice stalks to flatten along the way.

600 meters, 400 meters—when the distance closed to 300 meters, Fang Wen pressed the burst fire button on the 20mm autocannon.

A barrage of machine gun shells rained down like a storm. The shells pierced the cockpit, killing the driver instantly. The out-of-control car crashed into the roadside embankment, and the anti-aircraft gun trailing behind it broke free of its tow rope, overturned in the rice paddy, and plunged its barrel deep into the mud.

Upon seeing this, the Japanese soldiers in the car behind jumped out and tried to operate the anti-aircraft guns to fight back.

But Fang Wen gave them no chance. The Qinyuan quickly climbed up and then dived again. The rocket launchers under the wings had already been preheated.

This time, instead of firing single shots, he fired four rockets directly—two hit the car, and the other two landed in the area where the soldiers were gathered.

The explosion instantly echoed across the fields. The car's fuel tank was detonated by the rocket, and the engulfing fire consumed the vehicle, sending scorching metal fragments flying into the surrounding rice paddies.

Japanese soldiers attempting to set up anti-aircraft guns were either hit by shrapnel or thrown away by the shockwave, and the gun barrels were twisted and deformed in the explosion.

Fang Wen circled once in his plane to confirm that the two anti-aircraft gun trucks were completely destroyed before he regained altitude and returned to the battlefield.

At this moment, the radar detection system had already detected that a large number of aircraft were flying in from the direction of Yueyang.

(End of this chapter)