Chapter Ten: The Enemy Arrives (Minor Revision)

  Standing by the open cabin door was He Junci himself.

  "Welcome to the floating base, everyone. This is also the Fourth Route Command of the Air Force and will be where you all work and live for the next five years." He Juncai smiled as he spoke to Zheng Shaoyu and other command personnel who were coming up.

  "I'm sure you're all surprised. From now on, everything you see is the country's top secret, and it's never allowed to be discussed with anyone else, including your family members. Some of you will live on the floating base for 5 years, I hope everyone can have a pleasant time." He Juncai liked seeing people's surprised expressions, which gave him a sense of wicked pride.

  "Everyone, get a good rest tonight, tomorrow will be an exciting and intense day!" He Juncai told the administrators of the floating base who had entered earlier to record their personal information and permissions. As for himself, he still had to arrange those logistical materials, personnel, and more importantly, equip the 32 DK-2s with bird-repellent machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, which were now very difficult to come by. He was busy until midnight before finishing the transportation. Then He Juncai returned to the control room and operated the floating base to return to high altitude again.

  This night, many people will inevitably lie awake.

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  "Good morning, looks like some people didn't sleep well?" After having breakfast, He Jun summoned all his subordinates to the air traffic control room and gazed at the dark circles under a few of their eyes.

  "Reporting, sir, it's too high and I'm not used to it," said one of the junior female officers. Yesterday, He Juncun took a look at the materials, this female officer was named He Xin, graduated from Yanjing University, responsible for communication between the floating base and the ground.

  "It's just a habit, who knows, maybe one day you'll miss the days on the floating base." He Juncai smiled slightly evilly, because he suddenly thought of a book from the future called "The Days I Co-habited with an Air Stewardess".

  "Now that the idle talk is over, according to intelligence analysis, enemy planes will bomb Chongqing today, so everyone must be prepared. The equipment here was manufactured abroad and some of it is different from what you used before, while some of it you have never used before. I'll teach you first, but most of it still depends on your own efforts to figure out, through practice and learning. The Japanese won't give us that much time."

  "Zheng Zhongxiao, you are familiar with the 4th squadron. You will be in charge of specific tactical commands." He Juncai knew that Zheng Shaoyu's physical condition was not good and he was not suitable for long-term flight. Historically, Zheng Shaoyu would sacrifice himself due to a plane crash in 1942. Therefore, He Juncai hoped that such an experienced pilot would gradually transition into a flying commander on the ground.

  "We have a total of 4 long-range reconnaissance drones on our plane, note that these reconnaissance drones are unmanned and use the latest technology. According to combat readiness levels, currently two need to be deployed in rotation outside the base's surveillance range for patrol during the day. Now I'm going to control the launch." He Juncai skillfully controlled the referee drone, which was originally responsible for judging and taking photos, to eject from the floating base. This small unmanned aerial vehicle carried tactical radar, communication equipment, and photography equipment, and could be used for reconnaissance and patrol. What's important is that it's very small, flying at an altitude of 20,000 meters, with a protective light blue color on the bottom and solar panels on top, allowing for long-distance and long-duration flight. He Juncai controlled two reconnaissance drones separately along the routes from Yuncheng to Wuhan and Chongqing, as advance warning and collecting weather information."

  "Report, the Intelligence Division of the General Staff has sent a telegram: More than 70 Type 96 land-based attack aircraft have taken off from Wuhan Airport and are heading west, please make preparations for air defense!" The beautiful military officer He Xin translated the telegram and hastily reported to He Junci.

  "Hiss~" Several officers in the air command center took a cold breath. "More than 70, coming together, our air force may not be able to defeat them. Colonel He, ask the ground-to-air defense positions in Chongqing to prepare as well." Zheng Shaoyu said hastily.

  "Alright, Zheng Zhongxiao, please have the 4th squadron of Liangshan Airport get ready for combat. Enemy planes are expected to enter reconnaissance range in about an hour. Also, have the ground crew at Liangshan Airport prepare fuel and ammunition. I think there may be more waves of attacks later on, the enemy is trying to force us to surrender through this terrorist tactic of continuous bombing." He Juncai suddenly realized that today's operation seemed to also involve land-based aviation.

  "Report, received a telegram from the Intelligence Department: 36 Type 97 heavy bombers have taken off from Shanxi Yun Cheng Airport and are flying southwest!" As if to prove He Juncai's words correct, He Xin immediately reported the telegram he had just received.

  "Alright, the Japanese have mobilized both their navy and army, what a grand move, it seems like today will be a big battle." He Junci discovered that his arrival so far has not affected the course of history. He instructed several officers to operate another reconnaissance plane flying towards Yun Cheng's air route. Then he reported the situation of the Japanese attack to Air Force Commander Zhou Zhi Rou and Combat Command Department Mao Bang Chu, asking Mao Bang Chu to command the ground anti-aircraft troops to prepare for battle.

  "Drip, drip, drip..." The reconnaissance plane heading towards Wuhan first transmitted back to the Japanese naval aviation that a large group of planes was approaching. According to the radar information transmitted back, there were 75 aircraft, forming two large formations flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters, with a speed of 300 kilometers per hour, and had already reached the airspace above Yichang.

  "Commander Zheng Zhong, order all aircraft of the 4th squadron to take off!"

  "Yes!" Zheng Shao-yu immediately went to issue the command. As the three squadrons of the 4th Large Formation took off one after another, the radar waves returned by the IFF devices installed on these planes were displayed on the large screen at the base, and the blue bright spots gradually increased. The 3 squadrons consisted of a total of 28 aircraft, which formed 3 groups.

  "Commander Zheng, it's your turn to command your three squadrons to engage the enemy. Make full use of the information advantage and follow our predetermined tactics, hiding in the high-altitude cloud layer." He Juncai handed over the command to Zheng Shaoxuan, hoping that he would quickly become familiar with this new way of commanding, while on the other hand, he himself had no experience in commanding large-scale aerial battles.

  "21 Squadron, climb to 5,000 meters and head east at full speed." Then he switched to the frequencies of Squadrons 22 and 23, letting these two I-152 squadrons slowly climb to the 5,000-meter cloud layer. The I-16s in Squadron 21 were very fast, and Zheng Shaoyu was preparing to have them attack the enemy planes from above and behind, trying to disrupt their formation. The other two I-152 squadrons were slower due to being biplanes, but this type of plane had high agility and was suitable for ambushes.

  Time passed for another dozen minutes, and the three squadrons had already opened up a distance. The reconnaissance plane continued to follow above the formation of Japanese 96 land-based attack aircraft, transmitting information back to the command room.

  "Attention 21st Squadron, adjust course to 180, prepare to engage the enemy!" Zheng Shaoyu saw from the image in the command room that a large group of red dots had already appeared below the I-16 squadron.

  "Alright, 21st squadron, enemy planes are below you at an altitude of 3000 meters, maintaining a formation of three aircraft. Immediately dive-attack the rear of the enemy formation at an angle of 60 degrees and try to disperse them." Commander Zheng Shao-yu ordered.

  The captain of the 21st squadron, Wang Yuan-bo, had never experienced such tactics before. From start to finish, they had always followed the commander's instructions while flying, and due to the intermittent obstruction of the clouds, it was difficult to distinguish where exactly they were. After receiving the commander's attack order, Wang Yuan-bo still habitually flapped his wings twice, preparing to lead the three smaller teams through the clouds to attack.

  "Squad leader, you can command us through the radio, haha." Zheng Songting said while following the dive.

  "Right! Everyone heard the captain's order, get ready to attack!" Deputy Captain Wang Yuanbo quickly drew on his experience and used the newly installed wireless equipment.

  When the plane flew through the cloud layer, it shook a bit. Wang Yuanbo tightly grasped the control stick and controlled the plane. At relative speed, the cloud layer quickly passed over the cockpit cover. Suddenly, the cloud layer disappeared, and the ground appeared in front of them. The Japanese bombing formation below also appeared in front of them at the same time, and the distance was already very close. However, since the I-16 approached the enemy aircraft from the angle of sunlight, and it was unlikely to encounter Chinese air interceptors here, the tail gunner and dorsal gunner of the Japanese bombers did not notice the approaching Chinese fighter plane.

  It wasn't until they were only 400 meters away that the rear gunner saw nine I-16 fighters diving down at a 60-degree angle.

  "Enemy plane! Enemy plane!!" The machine gun on the back of the plane warned and prepared to fire, but it was too late. The I-16's speed was very fast, already within 200 meters firing distance. Wang Yuanbo, Zheng Songting and others formed three groups of three planes each, aiming at the left, middle and right sides of the enemy bomber group, pulling the machine gun trigger. The two SkKAS 7.62mm machine guns on the I-16's wings fiercely shot out flames. The 96th land-based attack aircraft squadron in the rear was stunned by this sudden attack, with the planes in the back speeding up, those in the middle trying to turn and avoid, but the ones in the front did not notice the situation and maintained their original speed, causing the entire rear squadron's formation to become disordered.

  "Pull up, continue the attack!" Wang Yuanbo commanded the 21st squadron over the radio while pulling back on the control stick to reduce the angle of dive and continuing to attack the bombers in front. Lt. Commander Ogawa Isao was the air commander of the rear bomber group, seeing this situation he couldn't help but feel anxious, "Damn it, where did these Chinese Air Force planes come from? Attack! Maintain formation!"

  In the first wave of attack, 4 No.96 land-based attack aircraft were hit in the engine and smoked out of combat, more than 10 others were damaged, but since all bombers had thick skin, only a few gunners were killed, and the No.96 attack aircraft continued to fly towards Chongqing with their original heading.

  "21st Squadron, report everyone's status!" Zheng Shaoyu inquired from the Air Force Fourth Route Command Center high above Chongqing.

  "I've hit one!"

  "I also hit one!"

  "My plane has been shot with several holes, but it's no big deal." Zheng Songting replied awkwardly over the radio.

  "Very well, continue the attack on the enemy bomber formation and drive them towards the ambush point of the 22nd and 23rd Squadrons." Zheng Shaoxuan gave his second order.

  "Three small teams split into three directions to continue attacking the enemy's rear formation, paying attention to maintaining a three-aircraft formation and mutual cover." Wang Yuanbo led the 22nd squadron around in a circle and returned to the upper rear of the 96th land-based attack aircraft formation, continuing to entangle. To mutually cover each other, Lieutenant Commander Kojiro Otani ordered the rear aircraft group to accelerate towards the front 40-bomber aircraft group, and the two bomber groups changed to a stepped formation. The 21st squadron found it difficult to approach in front of this 70-aircraft formation, with the upper and lower layers of 96th bombers' dorsal guns, ventral guns, and some new-style 96th land-based attack aircraft Type 22 (G3M2) side-mounted machine guns forming a crossfire cover. In particular, the new-style attack aircraft had a 20mm cannon on its back, fortunately, there were fewer of these new-style attack aircraft. One I-16 that attempted to approach was hit by intense crossfire and its engine caught fire, emitting a plume of black smoke.

  "I've been hit, the engine has stalled." Zheng Songting said anxiously.

  "Pull away from the battlefield and make an emergency landing or parachute, suspend attack for the rest of the planes!" Wang Yuanbo saw that active offense was ineffective, so he decided to fall back and follow.

  At this time, the radar screen showed that the 96th land-based attack aircraft group had arrived at the location of Squadrons 22 and 23. Zheng Shaoyu then ordered Squadron 22's Zhang Huaiwei and Squadron 23's Wang Yukun to lead their 19 aircraft in preparation for a surprise attack on the enemy aircraft group from above.

  "Prepare for dive!" The two squadron leaders gave the attack order in their respective channels.

  19 planes were divided into 6 small teams and dived down from an altitude of 5,000 meters. Just now, Lieutenant Commander Ogawa no longer ordered his own squadron to climb high, flying above the front squadron, and is now feeling complacent about the decision just made, "The Chinese planes are still too few, even if they launch a surprise attack, it will be difficult to succeed."

  "Well, what is that?" Just as Kotani had spoken, several small black dots flew out of the clouds. Since two groups of planes were flying towards each other, their relative speed was extremely fast, and they quickly closed in to a distance of 400-500 meters. It wasn't until the Chinese air force opened fire that Kotani realized those were also Chinese air force planes.

  "How did they know so accurately?" This was the last thought in Kojiro Ohguri's mind. 19 planes shot out 38 fire whips that wrapped around the 31 formations of 96 land-based attack aircraft above, and many planes caught fire instantly. Among them, the attack aircraft piloted by Kojiro Ohguri at the forefront was penetrated through the cockpit glass, and the pilot and co-pilot were killed on the spot. The out-of-control plane spun straight down towards the mountains below. This wave of attacks completely disrupted the formation of Japanese bombers, some injured planes hastily dropped their bombs and turned back, while others lowered their altitude in an attempt to avoid attack.

  Suddenly, a loud "boom" sound was heard. A 96-type land-based attack aircraft was hit on the left engine and lost control of its flight direction, colliding with another plane beside it and catching fire. The wings of the two planes were broken off, spinning and trailing black smoke as they fell to the ground.

  Wang Yuanpo led 8 I-16 fighters to take advantage of the chaos among the Japanese bomber formation, which was unable to provide mutual cover for each other, and attacked from behind, injuring two more enemy planes, forcing them to drop their bombs and turn around to escape.

  Over a hundred planes clashed in the air, with the large Japanese 96 land-based attack aircraft attempting to break through the defense, while the fourth squadron's fighter jets desperately dispersed them.

  "21st Squadron, report your fuel situation." Zheng Shaoyu saw that the 36 small red dots flying from Shanxi's Yuncheng direction had already entered Sichuan province on the radar screen, and hurriedly asked Wang Yuanbo about their situation.

  "There is not much fuel left."

  "21 Squadron withdrew from the battle and returned to Liangshan Airport for refueling and rearming. The 22nd and 23rd Squadrons continued to engage in dogfighting, striving to inflict heavy damage on enemy planes and force them to retreat. As for the enemy bombers, the 7.62mm machine guns on the I-16 and I-152 were currently ineffective unless they hit the fuel tank, engine or cockpit. The current mission was to thwart the Japanese military's 'fatigue bombing' tactics."