Chapter 269: 268 Elite Flying Team Forms, Actual Combat Training, Spanish International Brigades
A piece of intelligence about the Red Army was sent from domestic.
Fang Wen carefully read the intelligence content.
Last year, the First Front Army of the Red Army met with the local Red Army in Shaanbei, and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region became the Red Army’s foothold in the north.
This was an astonishing military action, marching over ten thousand li from the south, experiencing countless battles and encirclements and suppressions, yet still successfully arriving in the north.
Such powerful combat will and spirit caused a great response among the Chinese people, and many changed their views because of it.
At this time, the Red Army announced joint resistance against Japan and sent an advance team against Japan to cross the Yellow River to the Hebei area.
Also, the latest intelligence mentioned that Northeast Army controller Young Marshal Zhang also went to the Shaanbei base area in early April to secretly negotiate joint resistance against Japan.
Looking at all this, Fang Wen seemed to see a consensus forming domestically for united action against the outside, which was the best change.
Everyone was working hard, and he needed to step it up too.
He continued with his own tasks.
Modify 3 Il-16s.
Train elite pilots.
In April 1936, for a whole month, Fang Wen was busy with modifying airplanes and training.
The engines and propellers of the three Il-16s were replaced with 800 horsepower Hornet engines and matching propellers.
The doubled power boost required corresponding changes to the airplane’s structure and strength.
The original inconsistent front and rear aircraft skin structure was completely removed and replaced with higher-strength aluminum alloy.
The internal framework of the airplane was also reinforced.
These modifications gave the Il-16 higher strength, thereby boosting the speed to a cruising speed of 450 kilometers.
This was cruising speed, not maximum airspeed, a high-speed flight status that no airplane in the world could currently achieve.
But such high speed also greatly increased the difficulty of piloting.
To allow the elite students to gradually adapt to this high-speed flight, Fang Wen specially converted one of them into a two-seat trainer aircraft, and in the following days conducted special training for the elite flight cadets.
April 26, Yangon Airport.
Elite flight cadets assembled, lined up in two neat rows.
The front row was 3 Red Army flight cadets, the back row was 4 specially recruited Southeast Asia flight cadets.
The two groups of cadets had extremely strong competitive awareness and had been competing openly and covertly with each other during this period.
Fang Wen believed this competition was a good thing and did not stop it, and the results were as such; under competition, both sides made remarkable progress.
He strode to the front of the formation and said: “Starting today, we will conduct Il-16 actual flight training. Since there is only one trainer aircraft, each person gets only 1 hour of actual flight training per day. I hope you cherish this opportunity.”
The 7 cadets replied in unison: “Yes, officer.”
Fang Wen nodded, took out a notebook, explained the training order, then boarded the Il-16 trainer aircraft first.
The first flight cadet was from a Southeast Asia overseas Chinese family; he sat in the front pilot seat.
“Let’s begin.” Fang Wen said.
The cadet followed the procedures, checking the instrument equipment.
“Report officer, checks complete, request takeoff.”
“Takeoff approved.” Fang Wen made a mark in the notebook and approved.
The cadet calmed his somewhat nervous mood, activated the various switches, controlled the airplane to accelerate on the runway, then pulled up into the air.
“Increase speed to 450.”
Under Fang Wen’s command, the cadet increased the speed.
At such high speed, strong wind hit, and the sound became muffled.
The two pulled up the cockpit transparent cover plate, turning the cabin into a sealed type.
Only then could communication continue.
“Can you adapt to this speed?” Fang Wen asked.
“Report officer, no problem.” The cadet replied.
“Good, now for the first lesson of high-speed piloting training: side wing deflection 30 degrees, dive turn flight.”
Under Fang Wen’s commands, the cadets performed various high-speed flight maneuvers.
For these elite flight cadets with excellent foundations and qualities, the basic high-speed flight maneuvers were not too difficult for them, and all could complete them qualifiedly.
Subsequently, the flight difficulty increased.
Fang Wen required these cadets to learn coordinated combat skills.
This step of training would be done with Pan Jiafeng piloting one Il-16 in coordinated flight with the trainer aircraft.
One as lead aircraft, one as wingman, playing different air combat roles, performing various coordinated operations in different air situations.
This training allowed the flight cadets to master the cooperation awareness of fighter formation combat.
The above two types of training were what Fang Wen considered the key focuses of high-speed fighter jet military training. After mastering fighter formation combat skills, they would proceed to aerial shooting training.
To better adapt to future flight shooting environments, Fang Wen even preemptively replaced the weapon systems of the three modified Il-16s with two 20mm autocannons.
The two 20mm autocannons were installed in the left and right machine gun firing positions, with only flat firing angles, aimed and fired using the pilot seat’s aiming device.
Each autocannon loaded with 500 rounds, allowing three to four rounds of contact combat.
After completing the autocannon upgrade modification, it was time for the aerial shooting training target.
The target used aerial target, a balloon sewn from red canvas, inflated by wind in the air to form a flying ball, the best moving target.
At the beginning, to let the flight cadets adapt, a low-speed seaplane was used for target towing training. The flight cadets piloted the Il-16 high in the air chasing the aerial flying ball trailing 300-400 meters behind the seaplane, conducting live ammunition shooting training.
Once they adapted to shooting low-speed flying objects, they switched to high-speed fighter jet target towing training, with flight cadets taking turns piloting the Il-16 for target towing training.
Time passed bit by bit, and the elite flight cadets’ training proceeded in a dull and high-intensity manner.
From April, continuing until October.
Over these six months, these elite flight cadets who already had foundations mastered higher flight skills and honed out team spirit among themselves.
The 7 people were no longer divided into two competing groups but harmoniously became members of the Taishan elite flight regiment.
Seeing their progress, Fang Wen was also gratified. This elite flight regiment currently just lacked actual combat experience.
But actual combat suitable for high-speed fighter jets was not something easily obtained, and Fang Wen was troubled by this.
Until the arrival of his father-in-law and wife.
October 13, a Taishan Airlines seaplane landed at the port. Fang Wen put down his work and went to greet them.
Father-in-law Kuang Shanming and wife Kuang Mingzhu got off the airplane and came ashore in a small boat.
“Father-in-law. Mingzhu. Why did you come?” Fang Wen asked.
“My brother is in trouble.” Kuang Mingzhu looked worried.
“Fang Wen, you must help me with this. Of my three children, the eldest is finished, the second married you, now the old third is my hope, he can’t die in Europe.” Kuang Shanming said urgently. This time, he set aside his father-in-law status, completely in a requesting posture.
“What exactly happened?” Fang Wen supported his father-in-law and listened to the situation.
It turned out that after Fang Wen left Europe and returned, the revolution on the Spanish side erupted big time.
But for all of Europe, the Spanish Revolution was just a tumor. Germany and Italy secretly supported monarchists, big landlords, senior monks, Falange Party members and other forces within Spain, and selected a person named Franco to lead these forces in rebellion.
They established a rebel government in a place called Burgos in northern Spain, confronting the Popular Front.
Just a few days ago, Franco’s army launched an attack on Madrid.
At this time, Kuang Family’s old third Kuang Anming was also in Madrid. Kuang Shanming’s intention was to have Fang Wen find a way to rescue Kuang Anming.
After hearing his father-in-law’s words, Fang Wen had a good idea.
Wasn’t the Spanish internal strife a perfect actual combat training opportunity?
Such an opportunity was very rare.
He comforted his wife and father-in-law, then used the telegraph to contact the European branch.
Through the European branch, Fang Wen established contact with the Spanish side and obtained a means of intervention.
That was the International Brigades.
When Madrid in Spain was under siege, the Communist International Executive Committee, with the Spanish government’s approval, formally decided to recruit volunteers and form the International Brigades to aid Spain’s revolution.
This free organization was composed of progressives from various countries around the world, meaning that as long as one was willing to aid in the war and was accepted by the Popular Front, one could go to Spain to participate in this war.
Upon learning this news, Fang Wen immediately found the three Red Army elite pilots.
And asked directly.
“Do you have contact with the organization?”
The three Red Army pilots were stunned but replied: “We have a special encrypted telegram contact method, not to be used unless absolutely necessary.”
“Then help me contact them. Say that Taishan Airlines wants to contact the Communist International through domestic relations to join the International Brigades and participate in the Spanish Revolution war.”
Pausing, Fang Wen added: “This is our best actual combat training environment. Only in that real war can you grow up.”
The Red Army pilots agreed and borrowed the telegraph room’s telegraph machine to send a telegram to the north.
Their telegram received a reply the next day.
【Contacted Communist International, they agree for Taishan Airlines Flying Team to join the International Brigades.】
【Also attaching International Brigades radio waves contact frequency.】
After getting this feedback, Fang Wen immediately used the International Brigades’ dedicated contact frequency to communicate with them and received a reply.
The other side required that airplanes joining the International Brigades for combat needed to land at Albacete, to assemble there.
After getting the International Brigades’ feedback, Fang Wen immediately checked the map and determined the combat participation method.
This flight to Spain for combat included a total of 5 fighter jets: three Il-16s, one Shrike Hao, and one Boeing 247 modified into a fuel logistics aircraft.
The four fighter jets, due to their air threat, could not land at some airports along the way and had to be transported by Taishan International’s cargo ship to Valencia Port in eastern Spain.
Fang Wen would pilot the Boeing 247, carrying the 7 elite pilots and mechanic Howard, heading first to Albacete.
The group boarded, following the Asia-Europe flight to Rome, then turned from Rome to fly to Albacete.
After the airplane landed at the crude Albacete Airport, an International Brigades reception personnel arrived.
“Hello, I’m Milorad Nobus. Communist International officer, currently serving as International Brigades liaison officer.”
Fang Wen smiled and shook hands with him: “Nice to meet you. Besides this airplane, 4 more fighter jets will dock at Valencia Port. Hope you can help assist with unloading and porting the fighter jets then.”
“No problem, I’ve already sent people there. Now, I’ll take you to the resting place.” Milorad Nobus said, leading Fang Wen and the others out of the airport.
Under his lead, the group arrived at the International Brigades’ assembly area.
Milorad Nobus introduced: “Many volunteers from various countries have already arrived here. There are several thousand in number, and more will come later. For easier future management and combat, we divided the volunteers into 6 International Brigades.”
In his explanation, these several thousand international soldiers were respectively formed into:
11th International Brigade, mainly composed of Germans and Austrians.
12th International Brigade, mainly composed of Italians.
13th International Brigade, mainly composed of Poles, Slavs, Hungarians, and Bulgarians.
14th International Brigade, mainly composed of French and Belgians.
15th International Brigade, mainly composed of British, Americans, Canadians, and Irish.
150th International Brigade composed of people from other English-speaking countries.
After he finished speaking, he also led Fang Wen’s group to their residence.
“This is your residence. Because of language differences, I specially applied for an additional squad, called Asia Flying Squad. What do you think?”
“Fine.” Fang Wen replied.
“Good, you rest here first. I have other matters to attend to. We’ll keep in touch on the fighter jet matter.”
Milorad Nobus left after speaking.
Fang Wen’s group methodically found their respective beds and began making them.
This was a large room with over a dozen beds, enough for Fang Wen and the others.
The conditions were a bit poor, but Fang Wen, the flight cadets, and Howard had no complaints. After all, they came to fight a war; being picky before starting was too unbecoming of combat personnel.
After making the beds, Fang Wen assembled the team and said: “We are an independent combat troops. Besides combat, there are other things we need to prepare ourselves, so besides daily training, you all have other duties. These duties include daily life residence diet management, fuel management, external contact, military equipment management, etc.”
Under his arrangement, the 7 elite pilots had their respective daily duties. Everyone needed to work together to keep this independent combat squad in high combat readiness.
After arranging this task allocation beneficial for flying team team building, Fang Wen stood up to go out for a stroll.
He was very curious about the International Brigades and wanted to take this opportunity to see.
Just as he went out, he bumped into a middle-aged man with a bushy beard.
The somewhat portly middle-aged man sized up Fang Wen and proactively extended his hand: “Hello, I’m Hemingway. I heard a flying team arrived, and we’re all very interested. We’d like to invite you to tonight’s activity, is that okay?”
Fang Wen sized up the other and recalled a famous literary work from the future.
The other’s invitation was exactly what he wanted; a gathering was the best communication environment. He immediately smiled and shook hands with the other.
“Sure, we’ll attend tonight.”
