"Fortunately, you came back smoothly. Now you are different. You are far ahead in the number of Japanese planes shot down. Your superiors want you to shoot down more planes, but they are also afraid that something will happen to you." Zheng Shaoyu expressed the complicated feelings of his superiors.
Li Hang understood what it meant when he heard it. It's human nature.
"You did some reconnaissance today. Do you think the kid will really come for revenge?"
"When I was making trouble before, the Japanese army went crazy and retaliated. It will probably be the same this time. It all depends on when the Japanese army comes."
Li Hang was actually a little unsure whether Zheng Shaoyu contacted him just because he was in the same brigade, or because he wanted to introduce him to the party.
The other party has not shown any political leanings, nor has he revealed some different thoughts intentionally or unintentionally.
In fact, this is also related to the special situation of the Air Force.
Most of the pilots in this group come from wealthy families, and the death rate is too high. It seems inappropriate to develop comrades. Don't just develop one today and die in a dogfight tomorrow.
That's just a waste of energy.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t clearly seen the darkness of the Fruit Party.
In fact, Li Hang felt that it would be soon if he wanted to see this.
Even if he can design a new aircraft that is capable of defeating the existing aircraft of the Japanese army, he may not necessarily receive much funding for construction.
Why are all the Air Force's aircraft outsourced now? It's not because they can get rebates.
Minister Kong of the Ministry of Finance is famous for taking deductions.
A man who can become the richest man by collecting kickbacks is truly unique.
Among the four major families, strictly speaking, the Chen family is fine and does not involve people's livelihood. However, Kong and Song are really messing around in the field of people's livelihood. The key is that these two families take turns to hold important positions such as the Minister of Finance and the President of the Executive Council, but they are both comprador.
Comprador, comprador, how can you make money without buying?
Of course, even if it is difficult to build an airplane by then, he is still unwilling to give up. If he can produce one, it counts as one.
. . . . . .
February 14, 1938, is Valentine’s Day in the West, but it is the Lantern Festival in China this year.
Early in the morning, the canteen chefs at Laoyingchang Airport made glutinous rice balls and Yuanxiao for all the pilots, taking good care of people from the north and south.
Considering that many pilots may not be accustomed to eating, various delicacies such as bread, milk, and steak were prepared.
Even the breakfast is better than what the ground crew eats all day.
Although the ground staff were envious, they didn't make a fuss.
Compared with pilots, although their food is average, the advantage is that their work is not dangerous, unlike pilots who are always risking their lives.
"Li Hang, you like eating glutinous rice balls so much? I see you've already eaten your second bowl." Lu Jichun, who was eating northern Lantern Festival, saw Li Hang making another bowl of glutinous rice balls and couldn't help laughing and joking.
"I just love this one." Li Hang replied with a smile, "There is no glutinous rice dumplings, otherwise glutinous rice balls with brown sugar glutinous rice balls are my favorite. When I was abroad, I rarely ate them, so I was very greedy."
Seeing the sweet dumplings in the bowl, Lu Jichun shook his head. He couldn't eat them.
"Considering that Tiancheng's team does not have a wingman during this period, the two people from the fifth team will act as Tiancheng's wingmen and temporarily change the style of play." Lu Jichun was eating his favorite Yuanxiao while giving instructions on business.
Even though they were eating breakfast leisurely, they were always ready for battle. They were wearing flight suits, hats, and pistols on their waists.
Before leaving Nanchang, Li Guidan asked everyone to maintain this battle-ready posture, especially in the morning and afternoon.
It's not necessary in the evening and night, after all, the little devils won't come during this time.
"Squadron leader, I just follow Li Hang. I think it would be good to be a wingman pilot with him." Liang Tiancheng smiled and didn't want to agree.
"This is not a discussion, but an order." Lu Jichun waited for the other party and said, "Tiancheng, your strength is not bad, and you should play a greater role. This means that our squadron mainly has three forces during the war. I will lead the first With the fourth detachment, Li Hang leads the third detachment, and you lead the fifth detachment.
According to the current style of play, our Yi-16 fighters are very fast. They break up the Japanese formation at high speed from the beginning, and then start a melee.
Once there is a melee, you cannot be left alone, otherwise. . . "
Just as Lu Jichun was talking enthusiastically, the airport alarm sounded.
Lu Jichun's expression changed drastically, and he stood up immediately, "Hurry, get on the plane quickly, just do what I just said."
"yes!"
Everyone stood up quickly. They were not full yet, so they grabbed a piece of steak or a cup of coffee and stuffed it into their mouths, regardless of whether they could digest it or not.
Not only them, but the pilots of the 24 fighter planes of the Fourth Group in the canteen that are still capable of combat are rushing towards the planes on the tarmac.
The first to take off were the 7 I-15 fighter jets of the 22nd Squadron, followed by the 9 I-16 fighter jets of the 23rd Squadron. These two squadrons were responsible for the main attack.
As for the 8 I-16s of the 21st Squadron, they served as cover.
When the airport here at Laoyingchang took off, we could also see that the China Aid Air Force at Qingyunpu Airport also took off many fighter planes, but the specific number is unknown.
At least for this battle, all members of the fourth brigade were dispatched.
Although the 23rd Squadron took off slowly, it quickly arrived in front of the 22nd Squadron. After all, their combat effectiveness was stronger and it was impossible to hide behind the 22nd Squadron.
Since it was not yet known from which direction the Japanese troops were coming, the two squadrons began to search eastward.
The 23rd Squadron has already set up a battle formation, with the core being the 4 fighter planes commanded by Lu Jichun personally, the 2 fighter planes commanded by Li Hang are located in the north, and the 3 fighter planes commanded by Liang Tiancheng are located in the south.
The entire nine fighter planes maintained a combat formation and searched toward the east.
The 22nd Squadron searched northeast of Poyang Lake.
The slower 21st Squadron is still behind and is still taking off.
"Enemy plane found!"
"Enemy plane found!"
When the 23 Squadron's plane flew over Poyang Lake, someone suddenly shouted.
Everyone else who got the signal prompt also looked over and saw a large number of enemy planes coming due east.
This is a huge fleet put together by the Japanese 12th, 13th, Kisarazu, and Kanoya air groups, with a total of 36 Type 96 carrier-based fighter jets and 12 Type 96 land attack aircraft.
Two days ago, the naval aviation force of the Japanese fleet's Chinese fleet just received a batch of new aircraft, including 6 96 Land Attackers and 9 96 Type 96 carrier-based fighter jets. This is equivalent to a total of 21 96 Land Attackers and 45 96 Type 96 Carrier-based Fighters at this time. Type 6 carrier-based fighter.
This time, the Japanese navy dispatched three-quarters of its air combat aircraft in East China, which was considered a risk.
However, the Japanese aircraft group was divided into two formations, with the bombers located at high altitude behind and protected by some fighter jets.
The Japanese army also discovered the 23rd Squadron, and 12 of the Type 96 carrier-based fighter jets rushed over.
