Zhang Sixing began to turn around, but unfortunately, just as Chennault feared, he encountered a cold wind from the north.
As a last resort, Zhang Sixing had no choice but to issue an order through the small light bulb on the delta wing, and the five delta wings started their engines at the same time.
Fortunately, the propeller blades were constantly being rotated by the wind, so they did not have to step on the pedals to start the engine on the battlefield. In particular, the specially designed exhaust pipe acted as a muffler, which was exactly the opposite of the "street bombing" modifications of later generations.
According to the test, the noise propagation distance of the motorcycle engine is less than 80 meters. From the ground, the sound from the power delta wing, which is only 500 meters in the air and is the size of an eagle, cannot reach the ground at all.
The delta wing climbed up against the north wind, and soon followed the moon into the clouds again, disappearing into the dark sky.
After completing the bombing, Zhang Sixing looked down and passed the bottom of the walkie-talkie,
"Each team confirms the number of delta wings to ensure that no one is pulled into the battlefield."
The silent bombing carried out by the delta wing is first to find the target at night, and secondly to return the pilot.
As for being attacked, trying to find a few delta wings flying silently at night without radar really posed an unsolvable problem for Japanese pilots.
Just like a biplane can compete with a monoplane with its ability to hover, the flexibility of a delta wing is unmatched by airplanes.
When he received the reports from the captains of each team, Zhang Sixing's heart finally returned to his stomach.
There were twenty pilots, including one delta wing. At this moment, under the leadership of Zhang Sixing, they slowly climbed up against the north wind with difficulty.
This brought another worry to Zhang Sixing.
Generally speaking, it is impossible for the Japanese to think that something like an eagle in the sky will drop bombs.
Because Zhang Sixing and his colleagues determined through observations from ground personnel during the sky experiment that the flying altitude was above 300 meters, it would be difficult to distinguish the specially made glider that was somewhat similar to that of an eagle.
Even if they see it, they can't keep track of it visually.
However, all judgments based on speculation should not be a reliable result.
Therefore, as soon as they left the battlefield, Zhang Sixing immediately contacted the bombers that took them home and headed to the rear of the homeland defense line.
Then Zhang Sixing and his men also began to turn and fly towards the northwest.
This is a bit like sailing in a tack, and soon both parties reach the predetermined position.
However, just as he judged that the Japanese fighter planes could not find them, the bomber in the sky that came to pick them up also failed to find them.
Although the small lights on the twenty eagle wings flashed together, the eagle wings themselves could not accurately judge altitude, and there were no flight instruments.
Although the navigation points on the ground released the gas lanterns hanging on the kites, they still faithfully emitted light, but the bombers and delta wings still could not find each other.
"Flashlight, use the flashlight, let's fly over the ground..."
As time passed, the anxious bomber pilot came up with a suicide plan.
Despite the anxiety in his heart, Zhang Sixing still wanted to reject the idea of seeking death. It is true that this is a plain area. Even if there are mountains, they are only hills of one or two hundred meters, but flying over the ground in the dark night.
But without flying over the ground, it would be impossible for the bomber pilot to see the flashlight light used by the delta wing for communication.
Alas, it is too difficult to communicate with the plane in the dark. Is there any good way to go back by ourselves, even by land?
Take the land route?
On a battlefield like this where the Japanese don't know from which direction they will attack, this is not a good choice.
Even if they find a bomber to pick them up, it's not easy to get on a plane home.
The pilots of the D1A/Type 94 dive bomber lowered their altitude, and their eyes looked at the self-inflating gas lamp hanging on the kite that was not high in the distance.
Those gas lights were cast by the cavalry. After all, Zhang Sixing had very few motorcycles left in his hands, so he had to use the cavalry to do this.
When there is no wind, the horses must run to keep the gas lanterns floating in the sky.
The bomber slowly approaches the ground at a small angle without reducing the engine output. Only in this way can the fighter's maneuverability be ensured, and it can pull up or avoid obstacles in time.
"Give the signal."
The pilot shouted into the radio, then shouted to the gunner in the back seat,
"Keep an eye on it, don't miss it."
At this time, the pilots on the delta wing began to flash their flashlights downwards, especially in the direction of the bomber's engines.
In the dark night, the sound of a motorcycle engine with a muffler is too small, but the sound of a bomber engine is much louder, and the flickering flashlight will indicate the position of the glider to the bomber.
When the moon hid behind the clouds, the ground was only black when viewed from the sky. If the kites and chandeliers released by the cavalry were not used as far-off navigation, the fighter planes would have hit the ground long ago.
The closer the plane gets to the ground, the more the pilot's heartbeat beats like a drum.
Originally, when the wind was good, Zhang Sixing and his crew carried enough fuel to fly back to Jurong. However, when the wind turned against them, the only thing they could rely on was their fighter plane.
"I saw it, I saw it."
"Keep an eye on it, don't lose it."
Amid the roars of the gunner in the back seat, the pilot pulled the bomber and began to climb. The gunner in the back seat kept staring at the delta wing, which was difficult to distinguish in the dark.
Now that he had made contact with the bomber, Zhang Sixing fired a green flare.
The kite gas lanterns that originally had a navigation effect were extinguished at almost the same time because they were no longer needed. Now their task is to retreat as soon as possible. After all, the Japanese have more cavalry and better mobility.
Things seemed to go much smoother below. The bomber flew levelly in front of the delta wing at minimum speed while releasing a rope.
Originally, it was extremely difficult to "recover" a delta wing in the air, even during the day. However, Zhang Sixing came up with a solution through future hose-type aerial refueling.
The rope dropped by the bomber has a small light bulb at the end, and there are two small wings and short vertical wings at the end of the rope to maintain horizontal and vertical stability.
Drag the light rope through the delta wings, and finally connect all the delta wings together.
"Fixed complete."
When Zhang Sixing was the last one to be completely fixed and sent a signal to the bombers, the bombers finally put their hearts back in their stomachs and began to increase their power, taking Zhang Sixing and the others back to the field airport outside Jurong City.
At this time, a large kite also flew up from the field airport and was towed by a car and released into the sky.
The bright light in the distance almost illuminated the night sky, indicating the bomber's return direction.
It was only then that all those who participated in the operation felt their hearts go back to their stomachs, and were filled with pride that they had participated in the most exciting air raid in their lives.