Chapter 221: Pirates Take Flight
No one understood how excited they would be when the F4U Corsair fighter, descending like a divine weapon from heaven, was truly presented before Cheng Rufeng, Ye Qiyuan, and the other thirty-seven pilots.
These sons of the sky, who once could only fly dilapidated “international patchwork” aircraft in desperate battles against the Japanese invaders, now finally possessed a sharp weapon capable of rivaling the enemy’s most elite aviators!
After the initial shock and ecstasy, these pilots, like children who had received the latest and coolest toy, poured all their enthusiasm and energy into these new fighters.
For a whole week, they all pored over those thick technical manuals and operation guides without sleeping or eating.
For these elite pilots, before taking to the air, memorizing and understanding every performance detail of the aircraft had become instinct; those unfamiliar with the aircraft’s performance were not worthy of flying it.
Besides, it was just memorizing materials—could it really be harder than the old days when they had no fighters and could only watch helplessly as Japanese planes rampaged overhead?
Even so, the F4U Corsair, as one of the world’s most advanced carrier-based fighters at the time, required them to learn and adapt from scratch to its complex operating system, advanced instrument panel, and unique flight characteristics.
They absorbed every bit of knowledge about the “Corsair” like sponges soaking up water.
From every parameter of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine to the firing rate and ballistics of its six Browning M2 machine guns; from the aerodynamic advantages of its unique inverted gull wing design to the retraction procedure for its complex hydraulic landing gear;
From the functions of the densely packed instruments and switches in the cockpit to emergency response plans… they studied every detail repeatedly, pondering carefully, afraid to miss any key information.
Ye Qiyuan spent just three days flipping through that brick-thick flight manual inside out, able to recite most of its key data backwards and forwards.
He often sat alone under the cold wing of a “Corsair,” manual in hand, comparing it to the real thing while muttering to himself; his intense focus and obsession made it seem as if this plane were his long-lost wife.
Feng Mingqian, leveraging his meticulous and steady personality, not only studied himself but also proactively organized some less experienced young flight trainees to study the manual together, discuss difficult issues, mark important operation points and precautions for easy memorization.
Cheng Rufeng, as their leader, led by example even more.
He was the first to arrive at the tarmac every day and the last to leave. Not only did he master the “Corsair” fighter’s performance himself, but he also constantly monitored every team member’s learning progress and mental state, promptly answering questions, resolving doubts, and boosting morale.
He knew very well that advanced fighters were powerful, but it was the pilots flying them who truly unleashed their power. Only by perfectly combining man and machine could the strongest combat effectiveness be formed.
Driven by this unprecedented enthusiasm for learning, in just five days, these Chinese pilots who had known nothing about the F4U Corsair gained a fairly in-depth understanding of the advanced fighter’s basic performance and operation essentials. They firmly imprinted all flight data, operating procedures, and emergency plans in their minds, even simulating piloting the “Corsair” soaring through the skies in their dreams.
Su Yaoyang clearly saw the pilots’ efforts in his eyes. After confirming they had basically mastered the basic theoretical knowledge of the “Corsair” fighter, he decisively made the next arrangement.
He formally organized these thirty-seven pilots into the Corsair Flight Group, subordinate to three flight squadrons.
Considering Cheng Rufeng’s seniority, prestige, and rich air combat experience, Su Yaoyang appointed him as the captain of this newly formed “Corsair Flight Group” and also as the squadron leader of the First Flight Squadron.
Ye Qiyuan, due to his outstanding flight talent and influence among the young pilots, was appointed as the squadron leader of the Second Flight Squadron.
Feng Mingqian, due to his steady and meticulous style and organizational coordination abilities, was appointed as the squadron leader of the Third Flight Squadron.
Each squadron was equipped with twelve F4U Corsair fighters.
After the organization was established, Su Yaoyang did not immediately assign them high-intensity combat missions.
After all, even the most advanced theoretical knowledge needed to be consolidated and tested through actual operations.
Especially for a high-performance fighter like the F4U Corsair, with its powerful horsepower and handling characteristics completely different from the planes they had flown before, it required a gradual adaptation process.
Therefore, in the following days, he first arranged for these pilots to conduct ground taxiing, takeoff and landing training, and basic formation flight practice.
Only after the pilots truly familiarized themselves with the “Corsair’s” temperament and could proficiently handle these steel raptors would he assign them real combat missions.
However, the frontline situation waited for no one.
Since Doolittle’s P-47 Thunderbolt “Thunderbolt Group” entered combat, although it effectively curbed Japanese aircraft raids around Wutaishan and achieved certain results, their forces were limited after all.
They not only had to handle air patrol tasks over Wutai, Xiangding, Xinxian, and surrounding areas, but sometimes also received requests for air support from friendly forces like the Jin-Sui Army and Eighth Route Army, and occasionally even had to play the role of ground attack.
Prolonged high-intensity airborne combat had already left Doolittle and his team members feeling exhausted, and the wear and maintenance pressure on the P-47 Thunderbolt fighters was increasing daily.
Therefore, Su Yaoyang decided that once Cheng Rufeng and the others became more familiar with the “Corsair” fighter, he would immediately deploy the First and Second Flight Squadrons—led by Cheng Rufeng and Ye Qiyuan—to routine patrol and alert missions in the western Shanxi periphery.
Their primary goal was to relieve the air defense pressure on Doolittle’s “Thunderbolt Group,” ensure the safety of the 300-400 square kilometers area centered on Wutai County, and also, through this relatively low-intensity actual combat patrol, let the pilots further familiarize themselves with the F4U fighter’s performance, accumulate air combat experience, and prepare for potentially larger-scale air battles in the future.
As for the Third Flight Squadron led by Feng Mingqian, it would temporarily serve as the reserve and training unit, continuing advanced tactical training such as air combat dogfighting, ground attack, and coordinated combat drills with the P-47 Thunderbolt squadron, and so on.
Just like that, on the heavily guarded rear tarmac at Jinshaling Airport, the roar of engines gradually replaced the pilots’ voices reading manuals.
One by one, brand-new F4U Corsair fighters, under their masters’ control, began clumsily yet determinedly taxiing, taking off, and landing on the runway…
Although the initial attempts inevitably had minor errors like veering off the runway during rollout, unstable landing attitudes, excessive spacing in formation flight, and even some impatient young pilots nearly taxiing into the adjacent grass due to improper operation, causing chaos and cursing among the ground crew and watching Americans.
But these small setbacks did nothing to dampen the pilots’ high enthusiasm. Every successful takeoff and landing, every smooth taxi, drew cheers and applause from the tarmac.
They were like a group of children who had just learned to walk—stumbling yet filled with endless longing and courage to explore this new world.
…………
Jinshaling’s mornings always carried a distinctive chill.
Thin morning mist draped like light gauze over the rolling mountains and the developing airport; the lingering cold stimulated people’s nerves, invigorating their spirits.
On the tarmac, two dark blue F4U Corsair fighters lay like hibernating beasts, quietly basking in the faint morning light.
Their unique inverted gull wing lines appeared hazy in the mist, with dew drops not yet dry on the fuselage sparkling faintly in the weak light.
Cheng Rufeng, captain of the newly formed “Corsair Flight Group” and squadron leader of the First Squadron, was now standing under the left wing of one of the “Corsairs.”
He wore a thick yellow-green flight jacket, flight helmet on his head, goggles pushed up on his forehead.
His face bore a focus and gravity that appeared only before combat or flight.
Beside him, similarly attired, was his wingman pilot, a young lieutenant named Zhao Tiezhu.
Although Zhao Tiezhu was young, he had exceptional flight talent, a honest and brave personality, and was specially selected by Cheng Rufeng as his wingman for his precise shooting skills and fearless fighting spirit.
Today was the first routine patrol since the Corsair Group’s formal establishment—impossible not to be nervous.
At this moment, Zhao Tiezhu’s face was also filled with irrepressible excitement; while carefully checking his mount’s tires and landing gear, he kept glancing up at Cheng Rufeng.
“Tiezhu, how’s the check?” Cheng Rufeng’s voice was low and powerful, breaking the morning quiet.
“Captain! All normal! Fuel full, ammo sufficient, all components intact!” Zhao Tiezhu straightened up and replied loudly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
“Good!”
Cheng Rufeng nodded, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Tiezhu’s flushed young face, and said gravely: “Remember what I told you—the ‘Corsair’ has great power and a fierce temper. During takeoff, stay steady, gently advance the throttle, and watch for directional corrections.
Today is just routine patrol—focus on familiarizing with the aircraft’s performance and coordination, no rash risks, understood?”
“Understood! Captain!” Zhao Tiezhu nodded vigorously.
Cheng Rufeng said no more; he reached out, patted Zhao Tiezhu’s shoulder, then turned his gaze to his own mount’s tall fuselage.
These days, he had spent nearly all his time on this F4U numbered “Corsair One,” knowing every component and characteristic like the back of his hand.
But when he formally piloted this fighter into the sky and took on the duty of defending the homeland’s airspace, an indescribable excitement still surged in his heart.
He took a deep breath, feeling the cold, fresh morning air fill his lungs, then strode firmly toward the boarding ladder.
The ground crew had already placed the lightweight aluminum boarding ladder against the fuselage behind the left wing root of the “Corsair.”
Cheng Rufeng climbed the ladder and in a few steps reached the wing.
He did not enter the cockpit immediately but circled the cockpit edge first, carefully checking the canopy slides, antenna connections, and wing surface.
This was a habit from years of flying—no matter how advanced the plane, meticulous pre-flight checks were essential.
Confirming all was well, Cheng Rufeng agilely swung into the somewhat cramped cockpit.
The F4U Corsair’s cockpit visibility was not great on the ground due to its unique long nose design, but once airborne, the high cockpit position and large bubble canopy provided pilots with excellent aerial visibility.
Cheng Rufeng proficiently secured himself in the seat, fastened his harness; the thick parachute pack pressed against his back, giving a sense of security.
His gaze quickly swept over the dense instrument panel: airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, engine tachometer, fuel gauge, manifold pressure gauge… he knew every reading by heart.
His hands operated the switches and controls with muscle memory.
“Click, click, click…”
A series of crisp switch sounds echoed in the cramped cockpit.
Main power on, fuel pump started, magneto switched on…
With his operations, the cockpit instrument panel lights flickered on one by one, like a sleeping giant’s nerves awakening.
Cheng Rufeng donned his headset, adjusted the throat mic, and pressed the radio button: “Tower, tower, Corsair One requests engine start, over.”
The tower controller’s clear response came quickly through the headset: “Corsair One, cleared to start, wind from northwest at three meters, runway clear, over.”
“Corsair One copies, over.”
Ending the tower call, Cheng Rufeng turned to the engine start panel. His right hand gripped the starter handle, left on the throttle and mixture controls.
“Tiezhu, ready?” he asked over the intercom.
“Report Captain, ready!” Zhao Tiezhu’s excited voice came through the headset.
“Good! Start per procedure!”
Cheng Rufeng took a deep breath and slammed the starter handle down with his right hand!
“Whirr—wooo—”
The inertial starter wheel emitted a deep, powerful whir, turning the massive Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder radial piston engine slowly.
“Chug… chug…”
The engine pistons labored in their cylinders, the huge four-bladed propeller beginning to turn slowly, like a waking giant stretching.
Cheng Rufeng focused intently on the engine tachometer and cylinder head temperature gauge, precisely controlling throttle and mixture with his left hand.
“Pop! Pop! Pop…”
A few light ignition pops sounded, followed by a burst of black smoke from the exhaust stacks!
Suddenly!
“ROAR—!!!”
A deafening roar erupted!
Like a sleeping volcano awakening in an instant! Like a caged beast breaking free!
The 2,000-horsepower Double Wasp engine successfully ignited under Cheng Rufeng’s precise control!
The massive propeller spun wildly, whipping up fierce airflow that scattered dust and grass on the tarmac! The entire airframe trembled slightly from the engine’s immense torque, emitting heart-pounding metallic resonance!
Cheng Rufeng felt the intense vibration through the seat and the engine’s violent, rhythmic roar; a confident smile tugged at his lips.
This was the “Corsair” fighter! This was power!
Almost simultaneously, Zhao Tiezhu’s “Corsair” also started up; the two Double Wasp engines’ roars intertwined like awakening beasts echoing each other, resounding across Jinshaling Airport!
Ground crew quickly removed the boarding ladder and chocks.
Cheng Rufeng glanced at the instrument panel, confirmed parameters normal, and called the tower again: “Tower, Corsair One and Two request taxi to takeoff line, over.”
“Corsair One and Two, cleared to taxi, follow ground guides, over.”
“Copy, over.”
Cheng Rufeng released the brakes and gently advanced the throttle.
The massive “Corsair” fuselage began sliding forward slowly.
Due to its unique long nose, pilots needed S-turns on the ground to see ahead.
Cheng Rufeng skillfully worked the rudder and brakes, guiding the plane in an elegant “Z” pattern along the ground lines toward the runway start.
Zhao Tiezhu’s “Corsair Two” followed closely, maintaining safe distance.
During taxi, Cheng Rufeng constantly swung the nose left and right to check the runway ahead, feeling the plane’s ground attitude and handling.
Soon, the two “Corsairs” reached the takeoff line holding area.
Cheng Rufeng rechecked flaps, trim tabs, etc., then requested takeoff: “Tower, Corsair One and Two at takeoff line, request takeoff, over.”
“Corsair One and Two, cleared for takeoff, good hunting, over.”
“Corsair One copies! Tiezhu, ready!”
“Ready, Captain!”
Cheng Rufeng took a deep breath and slowly pushed the throttle forward!
“Wooo… whirr… ROAR…”
Engine RPM surged, propeller blast nearly lifting runway pebbles! Immense thrust shoved the “Corsair” fighter forward like an invisible giant hand—the acceleration began!
The fuselage yawed left from torque; Cheng Rufeng steadily applied right rudder to correct. His eyes fixed on the runway end, feeling speed build.
Wind howled past, cockpit vibration intensifying!
Airspeed indicator needle raced upward!
Eighty knots! One hundred knots! One hundred twenty knots!
Now!
Cheng Rufeng yanked back on the stick with his left hand!
The “Corsair” fighter’s heavy nose pitched up sharply! Like an eagle breaking earth’s bonds, its massive inverted gull wings carved a graceful arc skyward!
Right behind, Zhao Tiezhu’s “Corsair Two” followed with equal grace, howling off the ground!
The two dark blue “Corsair” fighters, like arrows loosed from the string, pierced the morning mist with deafening roars, climbing straight into the clouds! They quickly adjusted attitude in the air, retracted gear, and formed a neat two-plane formation heading for the patrol sector.
