Chapter 23: 23, Advance Military Reconnaissance, Printing Leaflets
After January 28, the entire situation in Shanghai changed dramatically.
The river surface was full of Japanese warships, and so was the sea.
Even air superiority was controlled by Japanese Army aircraft.
For this reason, the newly established Air Force of the Republic of China gathered at Minggong Airport in Nanjing.
China Airlines therefore temporarily suspended operations, and foreign pilots left the airport one after another to go home.
Fang Wen stayed at the airport and became a temporary mechanic for the Guangdong Air Force.
But the military aircraft did not receive orders to sortie.
All day long, several aviation team military officers could only stand by at the airport, without even the ability to learn about the frontline situation.
Fang Wen thought of his high-power radio in the dormitory. The radio business in Shanghai was developed, so he might be able to get some news through it.
Immediately, he took out the radio and placed it in the hangar to tune the frequency and receive signals from Shanghai.
After the sound of static, an indignant male voice came through.
“The Japanese Army’s ground attack was blocked due to the stubborn resistance of the 19th Route Army, and Zhabei remains under our control.”
“But Japanese Army aircraft frequently sortied and bombed multiple buildings in Zhabei. The train station and goods yard were continuously bombed.”
“I heard people in the British Concession say it was the naval aviation team flying from warships at sea.”
“Our great China, today reduced to such a situation, we are ashamed before our ancestors!”
The broadcast from the radio echoed in the hangar.
Lieutenant Lu and the other pilots were all listening. Some looked guilty, others were furious.
But without orders, how could they take off?
The atmosphere in the hangar became extremely oppressive.
Fang Wen suddenly realized how unrealistic his idea was of piloting a military aircraft to join the battlefield.
He could not wait for orders from above, allowing Japanese military aircraft to rampage over China’s own territory.
Then let him, an ordinary person, do something for his countrymen first.
Having made the decision, Fang Wen went to the airport dormitory and found Howard.
He stated his plan.
“I plan to pilot the Detroit to Shanghai for military reconnaissance, and deliver some gifts along the way.”
“Fang, are you crazy? The Detroit has an altitude limit of 4000 meters and is slower than fighter jets. Once discovered, you won’t be able to escape.”
“They can’t fly at night, but I can.” Fang Wen replied confidently. After his trip to the Northeast, he discovered his huge advantage: the flight ability brought by mechanical perception could be used at night too, something other pilots could not do.
Therefore, even piloting China Airlines’ Detroit-type aircraft, he could make a safe round trip.
Howard still did not understand: “Even if you can fly at night, what use is that?”
“It might be useful, it might not. How will we know without trying? I’m short two assistants, one to drop leaflets, and one to draw the discovered situations on a map.”
Howard hesitated, then agreed. “I’ll go with you. I can do the map drawing, but how do we handle the leaflets?”
Fang Wen showed a business card. “Remember Boss Yang who flew on our plane last time? He’s a bookseller. Let’s go find him.”
As a countryman pilot for China Airlines, he did not lack social connections in daily flights. This business card had been given to him voluntarily by the other party, and now it had a use.
Immediately, Fang Wen used the airport telephone to dial the number above.
“Boss Yang, this is Fang Wen from China Airlines. You’ve flown on the plane I piloted.”
“Oh, Commissioner Fang, I’m a regular on your planes. It’s a pity the Japanese are causing trouble now; even your planes can’t fly.”
“Yes. I’m looking for you today because I have something to ask for your help with.”
“Go ahead.”
“Can you print a batch of leaflets before tonight, with some patriotic text on them?”
“Commissioner Fang, what are you planning to do?”
Fang Wen paused. If it was to be done tonight, there was no need to keep it secret from the other party, and he still needed to think of a way to make him willing to help.
“I have a military reconnaissance action, and plan to drop leaflets over Zhabei and surrounding areas to boost our countrymen’s morale.”
The other end of the phone went quiet.
After a while.
“Commissioner Fang, you coming to me for this means you think highly of me. I’m patriotic too. Even if business is stopped, I’ll get it done for you tonight. Tell me what to write inside the leaflets, and I’ll design them.”
Fang Wen really hadn’t thought about the content of the leaflets yet.
“Boss Yang, my knowledge is limited. How about you write the content?”
This surprised Boss Yang a bit. “That works too. Then I’ll quickly find people to discuss it. When do you receive the goods?”
“Before 10 p.m., deliver the items to the airport.”
The call ended. Fang Wen didn’t know if the other party could do it, but even without leaflets, his night flight had to proceed.
The current problem was that several military aircraft were parked on the airport runway. Without scheduling, he needed to taxi his Detroit to the rear half of the runway to take off.
But now it was under military control, so he had to find someone to apply.
He found Lieutenant Lu: “Lieutenant, I have something I want to discuss with you.”
“Say it here.” Lieutenant Lu stood outside the hangar and lit a cigarette.
“I want to apply to use a civil aviation aircraft for aerial reconnaissance, to clarify the positions of warships around Shanghai, and their warships and carrier-based aircraft takeoff points.”
“What?” Lieutenant Lu’s cigarette fell from his mouth. He looked at Fang Wen incredulously. “Don’t mess around. That’s suicide.”
Fang Wen stamped out the cigarette on the ground and replied calmly: “Remember the last incident? I piloted a Rhine NYP-2 from Beiping to the Northeast, round trip entirely at night. If done well this time, the Japanese aircraft won’t discover me.”
Lieutenant Lu’s expression changed. He had later inquired about Fang Wen’s Northeast trip and heard a little about it.
But hearing it directly from the participant still felt somewhat miraculous.
On pitch-black nights, with few ground reference objects, it’s easiest to lose direction—this is currently a major taboo for pilots. He hadn’t expected there to be pilots with such a talent.
Lieutenant Lu looked at Fang Wen, thinking about something, then spoke again.
“I can approve your flight, but even if you bring back reconnaissance intelligence, you won’t receive any commendation. Are you still willing?”
“Yes.” Fang Wen replied without hesitation.
“Alright then. I’ll arrange it.” Lieutenant Lu nodded and turned to leave.
With takeoff settled, Fang Wen still needed to find a helper to drop the leaflets in the air.
This was not difficult. He called Boss Yang and asked him to find a helper.
The other party readily agreed.
8 p.m. at night.
The Detroit-type aircraft taxied onto the runway and waited.
Car headlights lit up outside the airport; it was a truck.
The truck was stopped by the defending troops at the side door. Then Fang Wen came out, explained, and let the truck in.
The truck stopped at the edge of the runway. Several young people got off, who didn’t look like workers but students who hadn’t graduated from school yet.
Boss Yang also got out of the truck cab.
“Commissioner Fang, the items are ready. Take a look. By the way, these students are from Shanghai. They wanted to help, so I brought them to carry things. As for dropping leaflets from the plane, Pan Jiafeng will do it.”
Fang Wen looked where Boss Yang pointed. Pan Jiafeng was the tallest among the students and the most enthusiastic.
That works, at least he wouldn’t get scared during the flight.
Fang Wen bent down and pulled out a leaflet to see what was written on it.
