Chapter 35: Hughes' "Battle" (Recommended, Collected)

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  The Battle of Guadalajara lasted until the 22nd before it ended.

  The Republican troops finally repelled the Nationalist offensive after a stubborn resistance by 3 ground divisions, ending the 14-day war in the Guadalajara region with a Republican victory.

  During this time, Sun Xiang engaged in 26 large and small battles, shooting down a total of 19 enemy planes. In addition to the previous 39, Sun Xiang shot down a total of 58 enemy planes in more than half a year of fighting!!! At this time, Sun Xiang was not only a star in the skies above Spain! Americans and Chinese were also thrilled.

  In the United States, the Air Force has even listed Sun Xiang as a role model, especially at the Washington Bolling Air Force Base, where photos of Sun Xiang's awards are hung in the most prominent position on the honor wall.

  Sun Xiang's combat achievements are reported on the radio every day! The Americans' innate admiration for heroes is infinitely inflated! At the same time, the US side also showed great interest in the new type of aircraft flown by Sun Xiang, and changed its original uncooperative attitude to actively seek cooperation with Hughes Research Institute.

  At the same time as Sun Xiang's battle of wits with the Republican Air Force, Howard Hughes also brought good news! In addition to winning Catherine Hepburn's favor in love, H.S. Company was formally reorganized and Hughes fully controlled Global Airlines!

  H·S Company, based on Hughes Aircraft Institute and Global Airlines, is on the right track! Ambitious Hughes is ready to control the entire American route. On the basis of the original engine, Otis and Pato, two big-name designers, have designed a new high-power engine. This new type of engine has a large volume and strong power, making it perfect for civil aviation transportation.

  Howard Hughes and Lockheed Aircraft Corporation had been at odds over a fighter plane contract, and the XP-38's performance was far inferior to Hughes' H-1 Racer, which only added to his frustration.

  After Hughes completed his acquisition of Trans World Airlines, the first thing he did was bring Sun's battle plans to the White House.

  The man who greeted Hughes was Harry Lloyd Hopkins, a senior aide to President Roosevelt, this high-ranking staffer had an astonishing wisdom and abundant experience, even being called the Shadow President in history.

  In the White House reception room, a secretary poured coffee for the two of them and then turned to close the door behind him.

  The sofa in the living room was very soft, and Hughes threw himself onto it, pulling out a cigar from his pocket and lighting it up. Hopkins picked up his coffee and took a sip.

  "Mr. Howard, if I may be so bold, the President is busy with new policies, you can leave your matters to me to handle." Hopkins' voice was soft, and after finishing speaking, his eyes narrowed and swept a glance at Hughes.

  "Hughes seemed not to notice Hopkins' scrutiny. 'Mr. Harry, I think this is a private meeting, so put away that official attitude of yours and tell the President that Steve's partner has some questions to ask.'" He then fell silent, savoring the tobacco in his hand.

  Hopkins' eyebrows jumped up: "Wait a minute" The expressionless aide turned around and walked towards the President's office, closing the door to the reception room behind him.

  Roosevelt sat in his wheelchair, the March weather still chilly, a thin blanket over his legs. He was going through some bills that had been put forward by members of Congress when the sound of Hopkins closing the door made him stop what he was doing.

  “

  "Heh heh, Harry, how's that? Has this billionaire gotten under your skin?" Roosevelt chuckled as he asked Hopkins.

  "There's one thing, this wealthy playboy has a bigger game than you." Hopkins wiped his hair.

  "Haha, this guy is a personal treasure. Alright Harry, my old friend, this time we want to ask for his help, let him in, we need to have a good talk." After finishing speaking, Roosevelt rubbed his tired eyes.

  Hopkins came into the reception room, Hughes was already on his feet and smoothing out his clothes, carrying a sheaf of dispatches to follow Hopkins to the President's office.

  "Come in," he said, pushing open the door, and Hughes saw the legendary president.

  Hughs bowed to Roosevelt: "Good afternoon, Mr. President, and Steve sends his regards."

  "Hello Mr. Howard, my little friend is doing well in Spain and his achievements will go down in the history of the US Air Force." Roosevelt's words immediately warmed up Hughes.

  "Hughes exclaimed excitedly: 'Sun's driving level is the only one I've ever seen, his skills are amazing, this is his battle report in Spain, he has become a hero of both Spain and the United States.' He handed over the stack of data in his hand."

  Roosevelt's tone changed after seeing the stack of data: "Of course, Mr. Hughes, I've been paying attention to Steve's affairs, but you didn't come here just to brag about your collaborator, did you?"

  Hues: "Of course, but it's still Son's business. His record is dazzling, but you have to see beyond the dazzle, like the plane he's flying."

  Roosevelt said helplessly: "Well, military orders are not up to me, Mr. Hughes, you see..."

  Hughes interrupted Roosevelt's speech: "Oh, no, Mr. President, I'm just expressing my concerns to you as a patriotic businessman, the Spanish War has already had multiple foreign powers intervening, you see as a far-sighted person, I think war is not far from us, we should make early preparations." Hughes didn't mention military orders at all.

  "Hopkins sneered, 'War is not far from us, it's just across the Atlantic! Mr. Howard, do I need to tell you how wide the Atlantic is? Are your concerns a bit out of your depth? Even if war breaks out, would wars in Europe and East Asia have a direct impact on us? Do we need to squander taxpayers' money for other countries?'"

  Roosevelt waved his hand: "Alright, Harry, Mr. Howard is right, some things do need to be prepared in advance, the situation in East Asia is becoming increasingly tense, Japan is not a country that will give up on expansion opportunities. Alright, Mr. Howard, I understand what you mean, I'll submit the proposal to the military department, the rest depends on your manufacturing level, take me to see Steve."

  Noticing Roosevelt's tired expression, Hughes immediately bid the President farewell: "I think the President has understood my meaning; Mr. Hopkins, heh-heh, you are really very 'wise'."

  After Hughes left, Hopkins looked at Roosevelt with a puzzled expression: "Are we really going to get involved in the war? Old friend?"

  Roosevelt's eyes were unfocused: "Maybe, if it comes to that, I hope our preparations are sufficient."

  On March 27, 1937, Roosevelt urged in a special message that the naval construction program be increased by 20%. Congress debated it heatedly.

  August 29, 1937 Congress passed the Vinson Naval Expansion Act after a heated debate five months and two days later, allowing for a $2 billion development of the Navy (originally $1 billion in history).

  The Navy immediately issued a call for proposals for carrier-based fighters, with five American military aircraft manufacturers: Lockheed Aircraft Company, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Boeing Airplane Company, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (famous for the P-40), and H.S. Airplane Company competing.

  Various classic models in history appeared, the difference is that the planes of the other three companies were still on paper, only Grumman's F4F Wildcat prototype was manufactured, so this bidding meeting became a competition between the paper products of the three companies and the F4F Wildcat and F4U Corsair.

  Two aircraft compared on paper performance. The more refined F4U outperformed its opponent in firepower, speed, range and takeoff weight.

  In the aerial dogfight, Howard Hughes directly invited Sun Xiang's instructor, Lt. Reed, to the Bolling Air Force Base, and had the pilots of the two planes engage in 10 air battles, with Reed ultimately defeating his opponent by a score of 9-1.

  The F4U fighter got a carrier-based aircraft order after this stunning performance, with 550 military orders (excluding the 120 orders brought by Colonel Ralph at the Poling Base) in advance, and the cost of this order alone reached $11 million (pass: $20,000 per unit), paid in installments.

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