The lanterns are on.
At the military restaurant at Chengdu Taipingsi Airport, Zhou Zhirou, Chennault, and Zhou Zhihan were sitting in a VIP private room, with Zhou Zhirou's guards on duty at the door.
"Zhihan!" Chennault drank two glasses of red wine, his face was reddish, and he had a cigar in his mouth. He stretched out his hand to loosen his shirt and tie as he spoke. "How are you going to fight the Japanese Zero fighter tomorrow?"
After the Bishan tragedy, Chennault studied the Zero fighter day and night and gained a little understanding of its performance.
Zhou Zhirou drank two glasses of red wine with Chennault, her face was slightly red, she held a cigarette in her hand, and looked at Zhou Zhihan. Chennault asked what he wanted to know. He wasn't used to cigars.
"I flew a Messerschmitt and had a fight with a Zero fighter in the sky above Yun'an County. This fighter gave me the impression that it is the best fighter in the world in terms of hovering ability and endurance, especially in close combat. It is like a dagger that is extremely sharp, dexterous and unpredictable, and has a surprisingly small turning radius. It can easily cut into the internal testing of any current fighter jet."
At this moment, the guard outside the door knocked lightly, and then a cook came in with a plate of braised pork, put it gently on the table and left.
Chennault's childlike innocence grew. He reached out and patted the edge of the plate with braised pork, and said happily: "This plate of braised pork is absolutely authentic. Pat it once and shake it three times..."
Zhou Zhirou put the plate of braised pork in front of Chennault: "Colonel, you are a real China expert now!" (1)
The three of them laughed.
"Taste it!"
Zhou Zhirou picked up the wine glass and said to Chennault and Zhou Zhihan.
The three of them clinked glasses and each picked up a piece of braised pork.
Chennault extended his thumb and said, "It's delicious! Chinese food is one of the reasons why I like China." He picked up another piece and put it in his mouth with a very magical expression.
Chennault has been in China for a few years. He speaks Chinese very well and has learned how to use chopsticks.
Zhou Zhihan put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands and mouth with a napkin, moved his chair back, and used his hands to replace the two fighter jets. He kept changing his posture, sometimes with his palms facing his head, sometimes side by side and forward, sometimes circling up and down, like It's two fighter jets fighting in the air:
"When fighting a Zero, unless you have to, try not to fight with it. Just dive and climb with it. Climb to a high position and dive quickly. Fight it. Regardless of whether you hit it or not, never fight. Then pull up again immediately, or slide down quickly. Go to a low altitude, then find another place to climb up, and then dive to strike. Remember that even when diving, you cannot make a curve with the Zero. In short, dealing with the Zero fighter is to climb, dive, and hit and run."
Chennault was stunned and admired Zhou Zhihan's explanation.
Zhou Zhihan's two palms are like two fighting planes chasing each other in the air. Every turn, every maneuver, even climbs and dives are done vividly, giving the viewer an immersive feeling.
Chennault is a theoretical expert and a flight instructor. When he was serving in the Air Force, he only practiced with his own side at most, but never with live ammunition. Since coming to China, he has witnessed many aerial battles between the Chinese Air Force and the Japanese Army.
Every time there was an air battle between China and Japan, as long as he was on the battlefield, he never entered the air raid shelter. He had to use a telescope to observe the battle situation, and had someone put the telescope in front of the camera to make a video. He then took it back to study the sun and the moon, and gradually developed many insights into how to deal with the Japanese. The methods of various fighter jets are of great help to the Chinese Air Force, which is one of the reasons why Principal Jiang and his wife believe in him.
Zhou Zhihan continued: "The firepower of this Zero fighter is very fierce. It uses a 20mm cannon and a 7.7mm machine gun. It has a long range and high accuracy. The destructive power of the cannon is very powerful. Usually Japanese pilots choose to shoot. The distance will not be less than 300 meters. Our fighters should avoid head-on attacks and use dual-plane coordinated operations to support each other to break up the Zero's close combat.
I have found a way to crack the Zero fighter. Messerschmitt's climbing ability and dive ability are better than those of the Zero, but his hovering ability and turning speed are not as good. So I will use my strengths and avoid weaknesses, and I will fight him in a fast dive tomorrow. Beat it. "
This was what Zhou Zhirou was waiting for, and she immediately became elated, picked up the wine glass, and stood up: "With your words, we can all rest assured. I will personally fly into the sky to fight for you tomorrow. The principal and his wife may go to watch the battle. , reporters from all over the world have already heard the news and gathered in Yun'an Town to seize the vantage point to watch the battle, waiting for you to defeat the Japanese Zero fighter jets, strengthen our country's prestige, and show off to the world! Now I wish you victory and triumph!"
"Zhihan!" Chennault also picked up the wine glass and stood up, "Tomorrow I will go with the commander-in-chief to help you. You are the best instructor and pilot I have ever seen. Your explanation method needs to be promoted to instructors. I respect you! I wish you a triumphant victory!"
"Dang!"
The three of them clinked glasses.
"Commander-in-Chief!" Chennault said to Zhou Zhirou after the three of them sat down, "I suggest that you go to the United States with me after the New Year.
To be honest, those air force pilots in the United States are a little arrogant, and they need to be beaten hard by Zhihan to let them know what it means to be outside the world and there are people outside the world. "
Zhou Zhirou didn't say anything after hearing this. She picked up the cup and drank water, avoiding Chennault's words. Although he knows that some American officials and pilots are arrogant and look down on the Chinese, which is one of the reasons why they are unwilling to sell fighter jets to China. But no matter what, Chennault is still an American. If he himself says that Americans are bad, others may say so and it may arouse his resentment.
Zhou Zhirou understands this truth, and Zhou Zhihan also understands it. He smiled modestly and said: "It's too harsh to say too much. It's just a joke to ask me to hammer it out. I studied in the United States. How can any disciple beat his master? There are indeed arrogance in the U.S. Air Force. There are only some arrogant people in every country."
Zhou Zhihan's words made Chennault very happy, and the three toasted again.
During this period, the waiters brought the dishes one after another, and the three of them drank red wine and chatted with a good appetite.
When the dishes were served, Chennault stood up, closed the door of the private room, and after returning to his seat, he whispered: "The commander-in-chief knows that, just when the Japanese army was at its craziest bombing of Chongqing, Principal Chiang personally summoned me and proposed We want to purchase America’s most advanced fighter jets and hope to hire American pilots to fight in China.”
Zhou Zhirou nodded. He knew about this. Ever since the Soviet Union felt the pressure from Germany, it had gradually withdrawn all its pilots and military advisors from China. Then the Nomonkan Incident broke out when the Japanese army challenged the Soviet Union. The confrontation between the two sides was prone to misfires at any time. It is possible that the Soviet Union felt a little powerless when dealing with Germany and Japan at the same time. In order to deal with the threat of Japanese fighter planes, the Soviet Union deployed a large number of fighter planes in the Soviet-Japanese confrontation areas, so it gradually cut off its fighter aircraft assistance to China.
Due to the withdrawal of Soviet instructors, the training for the Chinese Air Force was terminated. Helplessly, the principal and his wife summoned Chennault to seek help from the United States.
At that time, considering that there were still trade relations between the United States and Japan, and the United States was unwilling to offend Japan, the principal used mercenaries to seek help from American pilots.
When the Soviet Union withdrew its aid personnel from China, Zhou Zhihan was assisting the British in fighting, but he knew about it before crossing over. Shortly after the Soviet Air Force withdrew from China, the United States began to assist the Chinese Air Force. The following year, Chennault The Flying Tigers fought as mercenaries in China against Japan.
