Okamura Neiji has always emphasized the importance of military speed, because he believes that as long as he moves quickly enough, the enemy will not have enough time to react, and the same combat plan will exert greater energy because of this "fastness".
For example, this time, the Eighth Route Army probably did not know that the intelligence had been leaked and was not prepared. Launching an attack at this time might cause a fatal blow to the Eighth Route Army Air Force.
On the contrary, if the Eighth Route Army is aware of the danger by slow action, then the effect of a hasty attack will be much less effective.
Therefore, it only took one day from getting the intelligence to launching the attack.
Okamura Neiji dispatched a total of five squadrons and more than 60 fighters.
The reason why there were more than originally planned was because Okamura Neiji was worried that Wanxian Airport would receive reinforcements by then.
"This is also not in the interests of Hawk-chan!" Okamura Neiji said: "Although the Hawk-chan pilots will not directly participate in the war, they will probably not sit back and watch the Eighth Route Army Air Force being annihilated by us, and will at least take action by then! It's enough for us to deal with them with one squadron!"
The remaining four squadrons, with a total of fifty-one fighters, formed a large group and flew toward Wangxing Airport. There were also fifty bombers of various types. In addition to the Type 97 bombers, there were also five Type 93 heavy bombers. , and for a time the sky was filled with Japanese planes, covering the sky like a dark cloud.
As soon as the Japanese plane took off, the Eighth Route Army got the information.
To be precise, it is Wanxian Airport.
The reason is that Wangxing Airport is newly built and many equipments are not complete, let alone early warning.
Therefore, the early warning is still the same as that of Wanxian Airport.
Since the contact information of the intelligence personnel was very complicated, and there was also concern that the identity of the intelligence personnel would be exposed, the warning was first sent to Wanxian Airport and then to Wangxing Airport.
Wang Xuexin was not surprised at all when he heard this information.
This did not allow Neji Okamura not to be fooled. After all, at this time, he already believed that the air supremacy belonged to the Japanese.
If air supremacy belongs to the Japanese, then why not block Wangxing Airport if it can be blocked?
Are you still watching the Eighth Route Army Air Force develop and grow at Wangxing Airport?
Of course, we must use thunderous force to nip it in the bud.
The problem is...
Okamura Neiji was completely unaware that this was a battle in which the Eighth Route Army challenged his air supremacy, a battle that led the Japanese "zero war" into a trap, and a battle that prepared the Japanese Air Force for more than a month. The battle of revenge for the bombing of Yuncheng soldiers and civilians!
But this is not to blame Okamura Neji.
Who would have thought that the Eighth Route Army, which has only fifty fighter planes, most of which are rocket fighters with almost no air combat capabilities, would be able to challenge the air supremacy established by the Japanese's "zero combat" of more than a hundred aircraft?
Who would have thought that the invincible "Zero War" would actually fall into a trap?
Even if it is a trap, what else in the world can swallow this "prey"?
Wang Xuexin didn't think much and immediately issued the order to prepare for battle.
At this time, Major Doug's call came in.
"King!" Major Doug persuaded on the phone: "Abandon Wangxing Airport, you can't succeed! After it (Wangxing Airport) is exposed, the outcome is already doomed!"
Major Doug said this with a "I told you so" attitude.
At this time, Major Doug indeed thought so:
"As I said, it's not easy to go out on your own. This is the air force, it's air combat, and they know nothing about it!"
"They simply don't realize that independence is obviously too early for them!"
"They need the protection of Eagle pilots. Without us, there would be no air force!"
…
This is actually the reason why Major Doug called Wang Xuexin. He wanted to prove to Wang Xuexin that it was wrong to ignore his advice before.
But of course, it would not be in Yingjiang's interests if the Eighth Route Army Air Force was wiped out.
Therefore, Major Doug advised Wang Xuexin on the phone: "Come back, the enemy is still more than half an hour away from you, you have time to return to the county airport, and we will organize cover!"
"I don't think so, Major!" Wang Xuexin replied: "I will not give up such a good opportunity!"
"Opportunity?" Major Doug felt that his IQ was insulted: "You actually think this is an opportunity? Are you crazy? There are more than sixty 'zero battles', you don't have the slightest chance! There are also bombers...
"
Wang Xuexin interrupted Major Doug: "Major, how do you think the Japanese knew that we went out independently?"
"What do you mean?" Major Doug was confused by Wang Xuexin's question, and then asked in a puzzled tone: "You mean, you deliberately released the information about your independent departure?"
"Of course!" Wang Xuexin replied: "Waiting for our good news!"
After saying that, he hung up the phone.
Major Doug on the other end of the phone was almost mad. He yelled: "This lunatic, he actually deliberately leaked information to lure the enemy. Who does he think he is? Fifty Hawker 81s versus sixty Zero Fighters."
?No one can win this battle, no one!"
It's not Major Doug's fault.
In this day and age, anyone who knew this situation would think Wang Xuexin was crazy.
Because no one is completely sure that sixty "zero battles" can be killed. In other words, it has nothing to do with whether the trap was actively set. The trap was probably just for catching a hare, and a hungry wolf broke into it.
At that time, I am afraid that not only will I not be able to catch the prey, but I will also be injured by the prey.
Wang Xuexin is actually not sure either.
After all, this is the X1, the first-generation air-to-air missile. Hans developed it to deal with the Eagle bomber.
Bombers are large and inflexible, so the probability of hitting the target with this manually controlled air-to-air missile is obviously greater.
However, the Eighth Route Army's x1 also has an advantage, that is, it is equipped with a proximity fuze.
Hans does not have a melee fuse, so it is destined to either use a collision fuse or a delayed fuse.
The former must hit directly, while the latter requires accurate estimation of the target's distance and speed to calculate time.
The proximity fuse does not require these at all, so it can be controlled by the pilot alone.
(Note: Hans’ x4 air-to-air missile requires an operator to specifically control it)
Despite this, the X1 has never been used in actual combat, and even only three test shots were fired.
Wu Guozhi test-fired one and improved it and fired two more.
It was not that he was reluctant to use "Gao Huo" as a target drone, but that he was worried that Wangxing Airport would be discovered by the Japanese in advance.
Under this situation, Wang Xuexin did not dare to say that the Japanese would definitely be defeated in this battle.
but……
Wang Xuexin knew that if he wanted to challenge the Japanese's air supremacy, this battle would be inevitable and it would only be a matter of time before it came.