On September 1, 1939, on the day when Germany invaded Poland, Yamamoto was appointed by Mitsumasa Yoneuchi as the commander of the Combined Fleet and the First Fleet. Some people say that it was precisely because of his character as a gambler that Yamamoto launched the attack on Pearl Harbor against the United States.
sneak attack.
After the Battle of Pearl Harbor, Isoroku Yamamoto formulated a series of bold combat plans, including the invasion of India or Australia. These exaggerated fantasies soon became mired in the Chinese battlefield because the army was short of manpower and insufficient resources.
was rejected due to the fact that it was necessary to use transportation capacity to mobilize troops.
Until the Battle of Guadalcanal, six months after the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Japanese Army and Navy were forced to bleed heavily by the Americans. Tens of thousands of Army soldiers became cannon fodder. The most important thing for rebirth was that the Navy lost a large number of warships, carrier-based aircraft, land-based aircraft and excellent pilots.
These are things that Japan's industrial capabilities and educational capabilities cannot make up for.
Watching the Japanese elite aviation force being depleted little by little, Yamamoto clearly realized that Japan had lost this battle, so he wrote what was equivalent to a suicide note and locked it in a drawer.
It reads: "Tens of thousands of loyal and brave soldiers have sacrificed themselves to become gods. How can I go to see the Holy Lord?" and "I want to show my loyalty, so I can take risks and rush into the enemy's lines. My liver and brains will be smeared on the ground, and my body will be exposed in the wilderness."
However, in order to maintain Japan's dignity, Yamamoto Isoroku, as the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, did not want to admit defeat, could not admit defeat, and could only survive in death.
In Yamamoto's view, the only feasible way is if time can be gained to consolidate the Japanese defensive posture before the US military launches a large-scale attack, then it is still possible to slow down the US military's attack. As time goes by, it is still possible for Amaterasu to
Smiling at Japan again.
In order to save the unfavorable situation, Yamamoto Isoroku decided to take another gamble and decided to launch "Operation No. N".
"Operation N" took several months of planning by Yamamoto Fifty-Six, and Yamamoto was determined to regain the initiative in the Pacific War in this operation.
So it started on April 7, 1943. In addition to the 184 carrier-based aircraft of the Third Fleet, there were also 88 Zero Fighters of the 11th Air Fleet, 27 Type 99 carrier aircraft and 72 Japan's latest aircraft.
A type of land attack, 4 reconnaissance planes and 191 aircraft, a total of 375 aircraft, began "Operation N".
375 aircraft, which was the total number of carrier-based and land-based aircraft that the Japanese Navy could deploy in the Solomon direction at that time.
Yamamoto Isoroku couldn't help but sigh. Just over a year ago, when Pearl Harbor was attacked, the number of carrier-based aircraft alone exceeded 350. During the Battle of Midway, the first wave of attack teams was 108, and there were more than 100 aircraft still flying.
He was on standby, but the war had been going on for less than a year and a half, and the Japanese navy was getting more and more frustrated. Just to command these four hundred aircraft, Yamamoto Isoroku had already racked his brains.
At this time, the Japanese Navy only had more than 200 aircraft left, and the experienced flying "veterans" had basically been exhausted. Yamamoto Isoroku knew that it was very slim for Japan to win this war.
I was very worried about my future and felt that I would either be guillotined or exiled.
This "Operation N" was the largest aviation operation carried out by the Japanese navy after Pearl Harbor. It lasted for a week and sank one US destroyer, four transport ships and other ships, and shot down and destroyed 31 aircraft.
The Japanese Navy's losses were 46 aircraft, and some carrier-based aircraft were lost.
However, Yamamoto Isoroku regained hope after "Operation N". This was because his subordinates panicked and reported the military situation in order to reassure him, and exaggerated the results of the battle to Yamamoto Isoroku. The losses of the U.S. Navy
In the ears of Yamamoto Isoroku it became: "Sinked one cruiser, two destroyers, 18 various transport ships, severely damaged 8 various transport ships. Shot down about 100 enemy aircraft and destroyed more than 15
”.
So Yamamoto Isoroku was very happy and determined to inspect the field airport on Bougainville Island, the "controlled island". To this end, Yamamoto Isoroku specially dressed up, and boarded the ship with a radiant face.
The fast transport aircraft on Bougainville Island began its "death journey" under the escort of six Zero aircraft.
Just three days before Yamamoto Isoroku took off, the U.S. Naval Intelligence Unit code-named "Magic" intercepted and deciphered a message containing detailed information about Yamamoto's itinerary, including arrival time, departure time and related locations, as well as the plane Yamamoto was about to board.
Model and escort lineup.
This confidential information was immediately sent to Pacific Fleet Commander Nimitz. Nimitz knew that if Yamamoto could be assassinated, it would greatly weaken Japan's will to fight. The matter was so important that he reported it to President Roosevelt. Roosevelt asked for
After understanding the views of the military bishop and removing the moral obstacles, he finally made the decision: "Kill Yamamoto!"
Roosevelt named the operation plan for the surprise beheading "Operation Revenge", intending to avenge Pearl Harbor.
Roosevelt ordered Navy Secretary Frank Knox to "kill Yamamoto." Knox instructed Admiral Chester Nimitz to carry out Roosevelt's order. After Nimitz discussed with South Pacific Theater Commander William Halsey,
On April 17, the assassination mission to intercept and shoot down Yamamoto's plane was approved.
Nimitz thought twice. Originally, he wanted to use American pilots to carry out this mission, but after thinking about it, he felt that the skills of American pilots were not enough to guarantee this mission. So, Nimitz decided to let Xu Rui lead the mission.
Langya went to complete this task.
The reason why Xu Rui was chosen was because Nimitz knew that both Xu Rui and his Wolf Fang were veterans and possessed superb flying skills. Xu Rui, in particular, was able to kill Japan's ace pilot Shozo Shima in the melon air battle.
Such technology is beyond the reach of any American pilot.
When Xu Rui received a call from Nimitz, he was training troops on Guadalcanal. When he learned that Nimitz needed to intercept Yamamoto Isoroku's phone, Xu Rui happily accepted the task.
At the moment, Xu Rui selected 17 Langyas. Xu Rui did not explain the specific content of this mission, but just told them that he would take them to carry out a very difficult mission this time.
On the morning of April 18, 1943, Yamamoto took off on time from Rabaul on two Mitsubishi Type 1 land attack fast transport aircraft. Soon, Xu Rui led 18 P-38 fighter jets with auxiliary fuel tanks to take off from Guadalcanal Airport. After 430
Flying at ultra-low altitude for miles with radio silence, all 18 aircraft arrived in the target airspace. At 9:42 Tokyo time, Xu Rui's aircraft formation was close to the target airspace.
"Old Xu, no target found." Leng Tiefeng's voice came from the communication device.
Xu Rui said: "Keep flying forward and you will definitely meet the target!"
"Captain, the target has been found!" After a while, Han Feng's voice came from the communication device.
Xu Rui looked forward, and sure enough, to his lower right, six Japanese Zero fighter jets appeared protecting two transport planes.
Xu Rui's eyes flashed, and he knew that one of the two transport planes was Yamamoto Isoroku's plane.
At that moment, Xu Rui assigned a task, asking twelve fighter planes to entangle the six escorting Zeros, while he led six fighter planes to attack two transport planes.
The Japanese aircraft were getting closer and closer. Apparently, the Japanese aircraft had discovered Xu Rui's fighter plane. Six escort fighter jets immediately rushed out, preparing to cover the escape of the two transport planes.
But Xu Rui would not give them such a chance. Han Feng led twelve fighter planes toward the six Zeros, and soon they were fighting with the Zeros. The twelve P38 fighter jets adopted a two-plane formation tactic.
Two Zero fighters fought against one Japanese Zero fighter. Soon, two Zero fighters were shot down.
At this time, Xu Rui led the remaining six fighters to chase the two escaping transport planes.
"Ta-ta-ta..."
Calling Donkey fired a string of bullets at one of the transport planes, but the pilot of that transport plane was obviously an experienced pilot, and the fuselage turned sideways and managed to dodge the bullets.
"Oh, that's pretty awesome!"
The caller once again aimed at the transport plane from behind, and fired a string of machine gun bullets at it.
However, the plane made another barrel roll and dodged the bullets again.
This technique makes me even laugh at the donkey, thinking that the transport plane is as nimble as a fighter jet. The skills of this Japanese pilot are really not that good.
However, no matter how good he flies, a transport plane is still a transport plane. How can it be compared with a fighter jet?
Calling the donkey once again locked the enemy's transport plane.
"Ta-ta-ta..."
This time, Barking Donkey finally hit the Japanese transport plane. The transport plane was hit so much that thick smoke billowed out from its tail, and it plunged into the sea.
"Hehe..." Niao Donkey smiled, raised the nose of the plane, and started looking for the next target.
While calling the donkey to attack the Japanese transport plane, Xu Rui's machine gun had locked onto another Japanese transport plane. The pilot of that Japanese transport plane was extremely alert and kept doing various aerial maneuvers, trying to get rid of Xu Rui's lock. Xu Rui
I have to admit that the Japanese pilot is very skilled. If the plane he is flying is a Zero fighter, then I will never be able to easily lock his plane. Unfortunately, he is flying a transport plane now.
How could an ace pilot like Xu Rui get rid of a heavy transport plane? That simply became a big joke. After a few rounds, no matter how the Japs pilot tried to escape, they could not escape Xu Rui's lock. The Japs pilots
has fallen into despair.
At this time, Yamamoto Isoroku was sitting in the cabin of this transport plane. After learning that his plane had been ambushed by the Allies, Yamamoto Isoroku had fallen into despair. Of course, he knew that the bulky
When a transport plane encounters a fighter jet, the result can only be that it is shot down, and the chance of escape is slim. Anyway, the possibility of survival is low, and fear is useless. It is better to be brave and face the impending death calmly.
Yamamoto Isoroku sat upright, tidied his clothes and hat, and tried to make his appearance look neater...