In mid-July of the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), Japan's Southern Army used Indochina as its forward base and launched a fierce attack into Southeast Asia.
In less than three months, the Japanese army swept through almost all of Southeast Asia.
On the Burma battlefield, the smoothness of the Japanese advance far exceeded the expectations of the Southern Army Command.
After the attack on Lashio, the Japanese 56th Division captured a large number of American vehicles aiding China and used these vehicles to carry thousands of infantrymen in a rapid pursuit north along the Burma Highway.
Along the Burma Highway, the Chinese Expeditionary Force was defeated like a mountain, and the Japanese army encountered almost no decent low resistance. The emperor's soldiers suddenly became more confident, believing that no force in the world could stop their progress, and they would
Keep pursuing like this until we capture the capital of China - Chongqing!
However, at this time, Yue Weihan came to Myanmar, and the Japanese people's dreams were shattered!
After Yue Weihan succeeded Du Yuming as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, he parachuted into the Myanmar battlefield in the shortest possible time, successfully inspired the fighting spirit of the expeditionary force, and captured Myitkyina in one fell swoop! After Myitkyina changed hands, the Chinese Expeditionary Force immediately had
As a former base for US military transport planes to take off and land, the war situation in Myanmar has changed again.
However, the successful sneak attack on Myitkyina was not enough to reverse the severe situation faced by the expeditionary force. The Japanese army still firmly occupied the initiative on the Myanmar battlefield. Compared with the Japanese Fifteenth Army, the Chinese Expeditionary Force was inferior in strength, battlefield environment and
The three main factors of soldier quality are at a disadvantage.
In terms of military strength, the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps on the Burma battlefield had four field divisions with nearly 100,000 troops.
In the Yan'anqiang and Tonggu battlefields, the Japanese Fifteenth Army suffered heavy casualties, but the Japanese navy had expelled the British navy from the Bay of Bengal. Through sea routes and railway lines, the Japanese army's reserve troops could quickly land in Yangon and transport them.
On the front line in northern Burma, the strength of the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps has even increased slightly so far.
However, the Chinese Expeditionary Force currently only has more than 70,000 soldiers, many of whom are sick or injured. The actual number of available troops is less than 50,000. What is even worse is that the Chinese Expeditionary Force cannot obtain supplementary troops from the southwest rear area.
Although the U.S. government has decided to open air routes to continue blood transfusions to China, opening up the hump route is not that easy.
In terms of battlefield environment, except for the hundreds of thousands of overseas Chinese living in Myanmar, almost all Myanmar indigenous people support the Japanese army. In Myanmar, the Chinese Expeditionary Force is more like an invader, while the Japanese army is more like the "Liberation Army" of the Myanmar indigenous people, so
, the Chinese Expeditionary Force often encounters unexpected difficulties, while the Japanese army can obtain widespread support.
In terms of soldier quality, there is a clear gap between the Chinese Expeditionary Force and the Japanese Fifteenth Army Corps!
Japanese soldiers generally believe in the Bushido spirit, and most of them are not afraid of death. However, at the spiritual level, the Chinese Expeditionary Force is by no means inferior to the Japanese army. However, in terms of the quality of its soldiers, especially the quality of its officers, the Chinese Expeditionary Force is far behind the Japanese army. Japan
Soldiers generally have a junior high school education, and all junior officers graduated from the non-commissioned officer school. On the other hand, in the Chinese *** Corps, whether they are ordinary soldiers or junior officers, the vast majority are illiterate and cannot read a few characters!
Soldiers without education are not terrible. As long as they are not afraid of death, they are basically qualified.
If an officer is uneducated, it often means reckless command, hasty decisions, stupid defense, and even idiotic suicidal attacks. The braver and less afraid of death an officer is, the greater the harm to the army, like
Illiterate tactical masters like "Li Yunlong" are not only rare, but also require a long process of growth.
Although Yue Weihan possesses monster-level tactical command capabilities, he is equally powerless in the face of a large group of reckless, ignorant, reckless and stupid grassroots officers. In the Taihang Mountain base, Yue Weihan also spent a lot of energy and founded the Taihang Military Academy and
The officer crash training camp has qualitatively improved the quality of grassroots officers of the 39th Group Army.
In short, the situation faced by the expeditionary force is still very serious, and if you are not careful, the entire line will collapse!
Fortunately, the air route between Myitkyina in northern Myanmar and the Dinh River in India has been connected. With this air lifeline, the expeditionary force's logistics supplies are basically worry-free. Because of this, the expeditionary force has the courage to resist to the death.
Be confident, as long as you persist for two to three months, the 39th Army will enter Myanmar and the war situation will turn around!
Yangon, 15th Corps Headquarters.
In the war room, senior generals such as Shojiro Iida and Haruki Isayama have gathered around the simulation sand table.
Isayama Haruki said to Iida Shojiro with a solemn expression: "Your Excellency, Commander, although there is no precise information yet, the collective destruction of the 14th Tank Regiment is already conclusive. The aviation reconnaissance team reported that the China Army has already arrived.
Meng Gong put up a stubborn resistance posture along the line. At this point, Yue Weihan's intention has become obvious, which is to wait for help!"
"Stick and wait for reinforcements?" Iida Shojiro said solemnly, "How to solve the logistics supply of the China Army?"
"We will definitely rely on airlift supplies from the U.S. Air Force." Isayama Haruki pointed to the sign of Myitkyina and said, "This is also the only reason why Yue Weihan chose the distance to capture Myitkyina, because Myitkyina has an airport built by the British army."
"Air supply from the U.S. Air Force?" Shojiro Iida pondered for a moment, then turned back to Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Oda, commander of the 5th Aviation Group, "Oda-kun, please send the air force to blow up the airport in Myitkyina, please."
"
Oda Hideyoshi said with a sinister smile: "Iida-kun, don't worry, the 5th Flying Group of the Imperial Japanese Army will never let any American transport plane land at Myitkyina Airport."
Kunming, Wujiaba Airport.
Chennault was convening a meeting with more than a hundred pilots from the Flying Tigers stationed at Kunming Airport.
Americans value freedom and everything must be decided through collective discussion. Although Chennault is the captain of the Flying Tigers, he cannot personally make a decision on whether the Flying Tigers should be integrated into the U.S. Air Force.
He must first obtain the consent of the majority of the Flying Tigers.
"Oh no, to hell with the Pentagon missives!"
"You would be a fool to serve in the US Air Force. I hate the lifeless barracks!"
"Yes, I will never leave Kunming. I like the girls here. They fascinate me."
"Sir, if the Pentagon is willing to pay us $500 a week, we might consider it."
The opinions of the Flying Tigers are surprisingly unified. These guys were originally the thorns in the US Air Force. They chose to retire early and come to China to hunt for gold because they were not used to the atmosphere of the military camp. Now let them give up their high salary of US$500 per month and return to the US Air Force.
Of course they are not willing to take a monthly salary of US$150.
More importantly, serving in the U.S. Volunteer Air Force to China is free and unrestrained, and you can even openly solicit prostitutes in the base building. However, once you return to the U.S. Air Force, you will be bound by many military regulations and rules, and if you want to continue
The current kind of romantic, happy and carefree life is absolutely impossible.
"Hey, you guys, you really disappoint me." Chennault frowned, "Do you only have money and women in your eyes? Aren't you willing to fight for America and freedom?"
"Sir, you should talk to Roosevelt or Marshall about this."
"Yes, the U.S. Air Force's military regulations should have been reformed long ago. Those dirty politicians should really think about why the U.S. Air Force can't retain the best pilots? It was they who kicked us out of the U.S. Air Force in the first place, and now
They think of transferring us back when they need us to sacrifice our lives for them, God, this is so shameless."
Chennault's words triggered even more fierce rebuttal from the Flying Tigers.
While the argument was going on, a Chinese staff member from the intelligence station suddenly ran in and said nervously: "Sir, each radio station team sent back an emergency call. A large number of Japanese bombers and fighter jets are taking off from Hanoi, Bangkok and Yangon Airport.
Judging from the flight of the Japanese military aircraft group, the bombing target is suspected to be Myitkyina in northern Myanmar."
As mentioned earlier, Chennault adopted an early warning system in China.
This so-called early warning system sounds quite mysterious. To put it bluntly, it is actually a group of espionage teams lurking in the Japanese-occupied areas. Once a Japanese aircraft takes off from various airports, these espionage teams can quickly transmit the news back to the base building at Kunming Wujiaba Airport.
, the Flying Tigers can get the news in advance and be ready to take off to fight.
"A lot of Japanese planes? How many are there?" Chennault, who originally seemed a little lazy, suddenly became energetic, like a shark that smelled blood, or a cheetah that found its prey.
"There are more than 100 Japanese planes taking off from Bangkok, Hanoi and Yangon airports!"
"There are more than a hundred Japanese planes taking off from land bases? Maybe there are also Japanese planes taking off from aircraft carriers. This is a large-scale cluster bombing operation!" Chennault rubbed his hands excitedly, and then turned back to the Flying Tigers.
He roared angrily, "You bastards, we'll wait until we return to the U.S. Air Force. Now it's time to get to work, go! go! go!"
Chennault gave the order, and more than a hundred Flying Tigers immediately flew out of the base building.
In less than fifteen minutes, the two P-40 fighter squadrons stationed at Wujiaba Airport had all taken off. After completing their formation in the air, they roared straight towards Myitkyina in northern Myanmar. At the same time, the P-40 fighter squadrons stationed in Yunnan
Two flight squadrons from Baoshan Airport and Myitkyina Airport also took off and were ready for the battle.
At this time, another batch of 120 P-40 fighter jets from the United States to assist China have arrived in Kunming. The number of fighter jets that the Flying Tigers can fly into the air has reached more than 200. In addition, the Flying Tigers are already familiar with Chennault's "Wolf"
Using "group" tactics, the Flying Tigers' combat effectiveness has been greatly improved compared to when it was first formed.
After arriving over Myitkyina, the Flying Tigers immediately sent out reconnaissance aircraft to search the southeastern airspace.
Myitkyina Airport originally had a radar station, but before the British troops evacuated, they bombed all important airport facilities such as the radar station. After the Japanese occupied Myitkyina, the expeditionary force destroyed the radar station before they had time to repair it.
, the Flying Tigers were unable to obtain guidance from ground radar, so they could only send out reconnaissance planes to conduct aerial searches.
Half an hour later, a reconnaissance team urgently reported that a group of Japanese aircraft had been discovered!
Two hundred kilometers southeast of Myitkyina in the airspace, a huge Japanese fleet is roaring forward.
The Japanese fleet consisted of more than 30 Type 97 level bombers and more than 50 Type 99 dive bombers. The 5th Flying Group of the Southern Army attached to the 15th Army of Myanmar could be described as an elite dispatch.
Such a huge bomber group was only escorted by a mere 20 Zero fighter jets.
The little devil is really not underestimating his enemy by doing this, because the radar station at Myitkyina Airport cannot be repaired in a short time. The bomber groups taking off from Hanoi, Bangkok, Yangon Airport and the aircraft carriers parked in Singapore Harbor have all the range
In the Japanese-occupied areas, the Flying Tigers' aerial surveillance could not cover these airspaces at all.
Under normal circumstances, the Flying Tigers would only know the news if Myitkyina Airport was bombed.
By the time the Flying Tigers took off in an emergency and rushed to Myitkyina to intercept them, the Japanese bombers had already dropped their bombs and returned. Once they were far away from the airspace near Myitkyina and the vast sky, it was simply wishful thinking for the Flying Tigers to find the whereabouts of the Japanese bombers.
, fighter jets of this era are not equipped with airborne radar.
Little did the Japanese know that Chennault had already extended his "tentacles" right under their noses!
The communication channel of the Japanese military fleet was silent, except for Colonel Tomita's voice occasionally.
Colonel Tomita was the navigator of the entire Japanese military fleet. This old devil served in the 3rd Flying Group of the Kwantung Army for many years. He participated in the Battle of Nomonkan, had confrontations with the Soviet Air Force, and also participated in the military operation to attack Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The USS Nevada battleship was blown up by this old devil.
"Attention, all teams, attention, all teams." As soon as the landline plane emerged from the clouds, Colonel Tomita grabbed the walkie-talkie and said unhurriedly, "We are about to arrive at the target airspace, we are about to arrive at the target airspace..." Before he finished speaking, Colonel Tomita
Suddenly, I noticed a flash of light out of the corner of my eye. When I turned my head to look, a section of the aircraft's tail quickly disappeared into the clouds on the right front.
No, it's a reconnaissance plane from the Flying Tigers!
Colonel Tomita is indeed the ace pilot of the Japanese army. Although it was just a glimpse, he still accurately judged that it was a reconnaissance plane of the Flying Tigers. In a few minutes at most, the fighter groups of the Flying Tigers would definitely swarm Tomita.
The colonel immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and issued a battle order: "Bomber team, maintain formation, fighter team, prepare for battle!"
The only 20 or so Zero fighters in the Japanese fleet immediately accelerated forward and formed a battle formation.
Suddenly, hundreds of Allied fighter planes emerged from the clouds ahead. Looking from a distance through the cabin, they looked like a large swarm of densely packed locusts!