It was already the afternoon of August 17th when the already huge Wildcat fighter formation passed through the Myanmar airport in three batches and stopped in Kuncheng before flying to the mountain city and various airports in Sichuan Province.
It was only 30 hours before the August 19th bombing in Tang Dao's memory.
According to daily air observations by Ming Xin and Pang Zilong who stayed in the mountain city, the Japanese reconnaissance planes had been flying over the mountain city for five consecutive days since the beginning of August, and had an encounter with the Wildcat fighter jets stationed at Jiulongpo that came to drive them away.
Over the fight.
In the past five or six days, it has stopped.
The tree wants to be still but the wind doesn't stop! The calm on the surface is often a cover-up for the turbulent waves under the calm. Tang Dao understands that the Japanese are very likely to be planning a big action, but they don't know how big the scale of the action will be.
In the August 19th bombing, the Japanese army dispatched a total of 178 bombers, dropping bombs, incendiary bombs and poison gas bombs on the mountain city on five occasions.
But this time, with nearly 200 40mm anti-aircraft guns, the sky above the mountain city will no longer be an air corridor for Japanese bombers.
And the 100 Wildcat fighter jets we have will not have the opportunity to let Japanese bombers come and go as freely as in our own backyard.
However, Tang Tuanzuo, who had calculated that there were no missing items, really miscalculated this time.
.........
Yes, the Japanese, especially the navy, have been greatly aggrieved since the Yiling air battle, and have been holding back their energy to prove themselves.
Not only were a total of 76 bombers stockpiled at Jianghan Airport and Yuncheng Airport in Shanxi Province, but five aviation squadrons were also transferred from aircraft carriers to the two airports. There were as many as 64 Zero fighter jets used to escort the bombers.
For the Japanese Navy, this is also trying its best. If nothing goes wrong, on the morning of August 15, there will be the first batch of 50 bombers from Jianghan Airport and Yuncheng Airport, escorted by at least 40 Zero fighter jets.
Fly down to the mountain city and drop the first batch of heavy aviation bombs.
The Japanese have even used preliminary reconnaissance to locate the bombing sites in the most prosperous areas of mountain cities such as Ciqikou.
Only by killing a large number of Chinese people can we destroy the Chinese people's will to resist and avenge the humiliating battle over Yiling. This was the combat philosophy of the then Japanese naval commander in China, Kiyo Nagaya.
But why hasn’t this round of attacks been launched for so long? It’s not that August 15th was not a good day to go out, but there was a small problem with the Japanese Army.
The Japanese navy and the army are not in harmony, and have even become enemies. However, combat can only be accomplished if the navy and army work together, and the Japanese navy cannot foolishly send its own fighter planes to take off and ignore everything else.
In particular, such a large-scale military operation must nominally be approved by the China Expeditionary Forces Headquarters.
However, on August 11, something happened to the general commander of the China Expeditionary Force Headquarters, which shocked the Japanese themselves.
The general commander of the China Expeditionary Force, Nishiomon, has long been assassinated.
During the Sino-Japanese War, assassinations of Japanese high-level officials in China were actually not new. For example, Army General Shirakawa Yoshinori was killed by a hand-thrown bomb after the 128 Songhu War, and others were poisoned but not killed.
Aoi Shigemitsu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, etc.
But the reason why this unlucky Japanese army general was assassinated was a bit funny - he didn't like it. Moreover, the person who assassinated him was not a Chinese, but his colleagues.
Specifically, Nishiomon went to Songhu early to conduct a patrol to demonstrate the strength and sentiments of the Japanese Empire.
Of course, in addition to "promoting the country's prestige", Nishiomon has two other small thoughts. First, he has finally become the commander-in-chief of the Japanese invaders, so he must be awe-inspiring; second, he wants to deal with his "sworn enemy":
Songhu Military Police Commander Miura Saburo.
The "deep hatred" between these two people is also very interesting. There is no hatred for killing their father or for taking away their wives. It is simply because they dislike each other.
What's so unpleasant about it?
Although Nishiomon Hayao is not a good guy, and has committed countless crimes in China, he is self-righteous and has always regarded himself as a traditional noble soldier. He pays attention to etiquette in everything. Although historical data records that this guy is a samurai in the family.
Identity is bought with money.
Miura Saburo is the complete opposite. He is a naked realist when he doesn't engage in such nonsense. Ever since he became the commander of the Songhu Military Police, he has done nothing but good deeds. In Nishiomon Zao's eyes, this
He is a typical idiot. How can a bad person clearly write the word "bad guy" on his face? So after going back and forth, the two of them formed a feud.
Now, the West Tailed Beast has finally waited for such a good day. It can not only be powerful, but also find an excuse to kill its enemy. Wouldn't it be nice?
However, when Nishiomon had already thought this, Miura Saburo also naturally thought of it - Nishio came to his own territory specially, without any military orders or urgent messages. He must have come to deal with me. As the saying goes, it is better to strike first than to sit back and wait for death.
, it’s better to give it a try!
Of course, Saburo Miura was not a fool. He could never openly kill his superiors, so he came up with a clever plan.
To put it simply, they took advantage of the opportunity to receive Xiweijuzao at the hotel in the concession of the Empire where the sun never sets, and sent a killer to assassinate the general commander, and then put the blame on foreigners, and then prepared in advance
The gendarmerie troops occupied the foreign concessions in one fell swoop.
In this way, we can not only get rid of Xiwei Beast Zao, but also legitimately win over the concessions of various countries in Songhu, killing two birds with one stone.
Anyway, the allies are now overwhelmingly dominant on the European battlefield, and these blond and blue-eyed foreigners are almost losing their homes. What is there to be afraid of? The empire has long wanted to deal with them.
It can only be said that Nishiomon is unlucky, because he has always looked down on the Empire. When he heard that he was going to Songhu for a tour and was going to stay at the Empire Hotel, he actually got angry and refused to go! Then!
Go straight to the International Hotel in the American Concession.
As a result, all the preparations made by Miura Saburo were in vain. But at this time, there was no way out, Miura Saburo simply did not stop and led his people directly to the International Hotel in the American Concession.
I don’t know if the military policemen under Saburo Miura were too panicked or too arrogant. They actually wanted to break into the American concession in full force. With the pride of the American people, how could they tolerate this?
Not only infantry was dispatched, but tanks and artillery were also brought out. The result was naturally not difficult to predict. Miura Saburo and his group of military police were wiped out in one fell swoop, and no one escaped.
Nishiomon, who was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, had already found the peace notices prepared in Saburo Miura's office, which were used to stabilize people's hearts after the Japanese army occupied the concessions in various countries.
It can only be said that Saburo Miura was very well prepared and had good ideas, but his luck was not as good as that of his opponent.
In this way, the most blinding assassination operation of the Japanese Army ended with Saburo Miura being arrested and sent to a military court. Nishiomon was fine and had killed his enemy, so don't be too happy.
However, a military police commander pointed his gun at his colleagues, and the underlying reasons had to be investigated, which would take several days anyway.
Therefore, no matter how hard the Japanese Navy works, it is waiting to drop a large number of bombs on the Chinese people's heads. It still has to wait for the early approval of the West Tails Beast. If it waits, it will have to wait for 100 Wildcat fighter jets.
Already.
It can only be said that luck, an illusory but definitely existing thing, has once again taken over China's side.
.............
Morning of August 19, 1940!
Captain Saburo Shinto got into a brand new Zero fighter, hovering over Jianghan at 3,800 meters, and then watched the 97 heavy explosive aircraft climb from low altitude to high altitude and reorganize in the airspace around 3,500 meters.
Shindo Saburo looked to the left and right, and there were 11 Zero fighters to his left and right. That was the aviation squadron he had replenished to a full strength. Today he will lead his 12th Aviation Squadron to provide this aircraft with 30 bombers.
large formation escort.
But it was not just his aviation squadron that was escorting him. There was another aviation squadron formation less than 1,500 meters away from his aviation squadron formation.
"This time the Imperial Navy dispatched 48 fighter planes, its purpose is not only to escort the bomber formation, but also to find Chinese fighter planes for a decisive battle.
If the Chinese fighter planes dare not go to war, then let them watch the imperial bombers turn their cities and people to ashes!
But based on my understanding of the Chinese people, they will definitely not allow this to happen. Then, Shindo-kun, the time has come to wash away your shame.
Shindo-kun, can you promise me that no matter how many fighter planes they come, or how many despicable Americans sell them new fighter planes, you will destroy them all?" Captain Shindo Saburo thought that he was about to lead his team on an expedition.
Recently, Colonel Shinoda Umon, the commander of the 2nd Air Wing, came to him to express his heartfelt words.
The reason why the total number is said to be 48 is because at the airport in the northwest, there are still 24 fighter planes to escort 20 bombers that have taken off to kill the important town in southwest China.
The Second Air Wing, which lost eight fighters in the air battle at Yiling, deployed nearly half of its strength this time.
The Chinese dispatched 6 new American fighters last time. The imperial intelligence department analyzed that these new fighters should be Wildcat fighters that the Americans had just put into active service. The Chinese will only equip one squadron at most, and the rest will only be those old ones.
An old Hawker III or the I-15 fighter jet from the Bear Country.
48 Zero fighter jets are definitely the resources to crush!
"My subordinates must fight bravely to kill the enemy and strive to destroy the last air power of the Chinese in one fell swoop and make the Chinese completely despair!" Saburo Shinto responded firmly to his immediate superior.
Xu squinted his eyes and looked at the golden light of the morning sun shining on the wings of the plane. Shindo Saburo calmly picked up the wireless intercom: "Everyone, follow me and let's go!"
A huge formation composed of more than 50 Japanese aircraft roared over the Jianghan Plain, flew over lakes, and rushed along the surging rivers and towering mountains toward the important town in southwest China.
The Fengdu air defense force, 150 kilometers away from the mountain city, was the first to issue a warning. The air defense forces along the way sounded air defense sirens and hung up red lanterns. The mountain city that received the warning also sounded a shrill air defense siren.
People ran out of their homes and hid in the air-raid shelters closest to their homes!
Since the first half of 1938, the frequency of Japanese bombings on mountain cities has continued to increase. Fortunately, mountain cities have the advantage of mountains. Under the guidance of the government, all districts and streets have dug air-raid shelters according to local conditions. As long as they are not particularly unlucky, they will be hit by bombs.
The casualties would not be particularly large if the Japanese army dropped the most brutal poison gas bombs at the entrance of the cave.
The tragedy that killed 3,000 people in the tunnel, which was once the deadliest tunnel in time and space, was caused precisely by the incendiary bombs dropped by the Japanese army. The incendiary bombs consumed a large amount of oxygen in the tunnel, causing the already thin oxygen in the tunnel to become even scarcer. Thousands of people were trapped in the tunnel.
Died of suffocation in the tunnel.
But this time, the mountain city was slightly different from the previous ones that could only be passively bombed. The 10 newly formed air defense battalion officers and soldiers rushed to their artillery positions.
Including the 60 previously owned anti-aircraft guns of various types, there are a total of more than 250 anti-aircraft guns with their muzzles raised high. In addition to the newly introduced 194 40mm anti-aircraft guns, there are also 24 Krupp 88mm anti-aircraft gun batteries located near the center of Shancheng City.
on those mountains.
That is the core weapon of Shancheng's anti-air defense in the past two years. The total weight of this anti-aircraft gun imported from the German Empire before the war reached 11,240 kilograms, which is much heavier than the body of the 150 howitzer, but it is precisely because of this heavy weight
With the support of the gun body, its shooting height reaches an exaggerated 9,900 meters, and no bomber can be beyond its range.
However, although this type of anti-aircraft gun is powerful, it is too small in number to provide sufficient protection for the area above the huge mountain city. Moreover, its gun body is heavy and difficult to maneuver. Japanese reconnaissance planes have long detected its location, and only
Just stay away from the firing range of the anti-aircraft gun position during the bombing process.
Twenty-four heavily invested 88mm anti-aircraft guns could only protect a small area during more than two years of air combat. They watched Japanese bombers pass by from the edge of the range and drop bombs into the city. This is also the largest force of the Chinese air defense force.
have no choice.
But this time, on the periphery of its air defense position, there are nearly 200 40mm anti-aircraft guns with a shooting height of nearly 5,000 meters. Unless the Japanese bombers drop bombs at an altitude of 5,500 meters or even higher, they are destined not to be what they imagined.
so smoothly.
The Japanese Navy never expected that the Americans were even more "despicable" than they thought. Not only did they sell hundreds of fighter planes, but even anti-aircraft guns were transported to China by air.
Therefore, they escaped the core position of China's 24 88mm anti-aircraft guns as usual, but instead broke into an anti-aircraft gun group consisting of more than 200 small-caliber anti-aircraft guns.
What's even more terrible is that in order to realize the naval commander's plan to kill more Chinese civilians and destroy the confidence of the Chinese people, after approaching the area above the mountain city, the bomber formation lowered its altitude to 4,000 meters, and the bombers in the rear cabin of the bombers
The division also began to aim at the ground and prepare for bombing.
As a result, the Japanese were subjected to the most intense ground fire since they bombed the mountain city for more than two years.
In the exact words of a reporter from the Gallic Empire stationed in a mountain city: "I have been living and working in a mountain city in China for more than a year. During this period, I have experienced more than 30 Japanese bombings, large and small. In my pupils, everything I see is this city.
The beautiful ancient city and the impoverished Chinese people are struggling and wailing under the raging flames!
But this time, I saw the blazing anti-aircraft fire. The explosion was so brilliant that it even blocked the light of the sun!
The bright fireworks exploded by the Japanese bombers in the sky made me feel for the first time that maybe this backward ancient Eastern country really had a chance to win this asymmetrical war.
And although my motherland has fallen, I am extremely convinced at this moment that the great French people will also win the final victory!"
The Chinese never thought that their desperate resistance would inspire the fighting spirit and confidence of a Western reporter. They just tried their best to send one shell after another high into the sky.
Groups of soldiers, like worker ants, rushed to the artillery positions from distant artillery storage points, carrying artillery shells, and then the artillery roared and sent the shells into the sky.
"Damn it, are you feeding the dogs with two steamed buns and one egg for each person in the morning? Hurry up, hurry up. There is an order from the top to shoot down a Japanese plane. All the brothers who participated in the battle will receive bonuses and medals!"
A major battalion commander stood outside the bunker, roaring heart-breakingly.
Because the training had not been carried out for a long time, each artillery position was unable to reach the maximum rate of fire, which naturally failed to meet the requirements of the air defense battalion commanders.
Before the war, each air defense battalion had already planned its tactics. Each air defense battalion's 18 artillery pieces were responsible for an area. There was no need to aim at anything, they just fired artillery shells into the established airspace.
This time, each gun was shipped with 500 rounds of artillery shells, which may not be enough to last for a long time, but it is still no problem to meet the air defense needs within a month.
On the Burma Highway, a huge transport team consisting of trucks, horse-drawn carriages, and camel teams was traveling a long distance to transport more than 50,000 artillery shells.
The Japanese aircraft fleet that had just entered the mountain city area were directly stunned by this intensive anti-aircraft fire.
In just one breath, two 97 Heavy Explosives were hit by anti-aircraft artillery shrapnel and caught fire. One of them sped up and dived to the ground, emitting black smoke, and completely entered a death spiral less than 2,000 meters away from the ground. Ten seconds later
It hit the Jialing River hard and exploded into a cloud of gunpowder smoke.
The other one was much simpler, because the bomber's head was cut off by half of the shrapnel that tore open the cabin. A bomb mounted under the belly of the aircraft had no time to drop. After being roasted by the burning fire for 30 seconds, it disappeared high in the sky.
Explode.
Directly blow up the huge bomber into a sky full of fireworks!
Within 40 seconds of the start of the war, two Japanese planes were wiped out!
