Chapter 272: 271, Spanish Civil War Situation, Madrid Defense Battle, University City Air-to-ground
Black paint, under the movement of the paintbrush, gradually outlined the mark of two biplanes on the right side of the Shrike Hao’s fuselage.
Fang Wen wrote a line of small characters next to the battle record insignia.
‘In November of the 25th year of the Republic of China, Shrike Hao shot down two German Condor Legion He 51 fighter jets over Madrid.’
After writing this, it counted as recording Shrike Hao’s battle record.
Meanwhile, the members of the Taishan Elite Flying Team watching nearby also felt envious.
Unfortunately, the other shot-down aircraft belonged to three I-16s jointly shooting it down, counted as team honor, and could not have battle record insignia drawn on a single fighter jet.
At this moment, the pilots of the Taishan Elite Flying Team all felt a surge of fighting spirit, wanting to pilot their fighter jets to single-handedly shoot down enemy aircraft and personally draw the honor on the fighter jets.
This was the unique sense of honor belonging to fighter jet pilots, and for this, they all made a request to Fang Wen together.
Seeing the eager expressions of these pilots, Fang Wen put down the paint bucket and held an impromptu team meeting on the spot.
“Coming to Spain this time is mainly to enhance everyone’s actual combat experience and team combat cooperation ability, of course, we will not prohibit single-handedly shooting down aircraft. I now announce that anyone who single-handedly shoots down an enemy aircraft can draw their own unique battle record on the fighter jet. Including, personal signature, shot-down fighter jet model.”
Hearing Fang Wen’s words, the seven elite pilots cheered.
But Fang Wen changed the topic: “War is not child’s play, even I cannot guarantee absolute safety in air combat, you must have the resolve to face death, the ‘wills’ I required you to write, have you written them? If something happens, it can at least give your families an explanation.”
This requirement made the lively atmosphere somewhat heavy, but it was something that had to be done.
The seven pilots returned to the room and handed their respective ‘wills’ to Fang Wen.
They were:
Red Army pilots Qi Baoqian, Du Jiahua, Shao Deqing.
Southeast Asian Chinese pilots Deng Zhongyu, Zhai Xiaojun, Rao Minghe, Fan Bosheng.
Fang Wen carefully put away the seven ‘wills’, these things were best never to be used.
With the seven pilots’ matters arranged, there was still one more person to arrange, that was brother-in-law Kuang Anming.
Fang Wen had promised his wife and father-in-law to bring this kid back safely.
But this kid was now in Madrid, and to find him, he still had to go through the International Brigades.
For this, Fang Wen decided to visit the International Brigades’ command headquarters in Albacete.
At the Albacete Base command headquarters, Fang Wen, wearing a Soviet flight suit, negotiated with the guard.
“Please help me report, Asian Aviation team Captain Fang Wen wants to see the commander.”
The International Brigades commander Fang Wen wanted to see was the International Brigades commander appointed by the Soviet side.
Named Emilio Kleber, this man was originally an old-regime officer of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, later captured by the Soviet Union, now a Soviet military officer, sent to Europe to manage International Brigades affairs.
It could be said that the entire International Brigades was filled with too much complexity, poets, writers, painters, workers, former nobility, old-era officers all present.
The guard on duty replied in English with a Scottish accent: “Please wait.” Then he turned and entered the command headquarters to report.
Not long after, the guard came out: “Comrade Fang Wen, please follow me.”
He led Fang Wen to the third-floor room and reported: “Asian Flying Team Captain Fang Wen has arrived.”
The room was holding a meeting, all International Brigades appointed officers.
They invited Fang Wen inside to join this meeting.
Seeing the situation, it was temporarily unsuitable to talk about his own matters, so Fang Wen stayed silent and observed quietly.
He took a seat and listened attentively.
A bearded officer spoke up:
“Currently, Franco’s army is preparing to encircle Valencia, they have powerful naval forces, making the government army very passive. But Valencia must not fall, it is our central area, once it falls, Catalonia and Aragon will lose southern defense.”
Another officer spoke: “Valencia is indeed very important, the Popular Front has drawn a large number of troops for defense, but this makes Madrid’s defense forces weak. Madrid cannot fall either, otherwise the northern rebels can attack from the center.”
Fang Wen listened to these officers explaining the situation, analyzing in his mind.
Clearly, Franco was no incompetent, striking straight at the Popular Front’s weaknesses strategically.
The Popular Front controlled Spain’s rich industrial and agricultural areas: Aragon-Valencia-Catalonia.
Whether Madrid or Valencia fell, it would deal a fatal blow to the Second Spanish Republic’s ruling power.
And at this moment, International Brigades Commander Emilio Kleber spoke.
“I have already discussed with the Popular Front, they will mobilize troops to defend Valencia. Our International Brigades will defend together with the remaining troops in Madrid, resisting Franco’s army.”
It seemed the problem was serious.
Madrid’s defense was actually handed over to the International Brigades to preside over, for a loose temporary military organization composed of volunteers from countries around the world, this was very challenging.
But in reality, the International Brigades’ appointed officers were very excited about this, they firmly believed they could block Franco’s army’s attack.
They had even begun discussing allocation of their respective defense areas.
In the discussion, new arrangements for the Asian Aviation team were also mentioned.
According to the new situation changes, the Asian Aviation team’s command allocation returned to the International Brigades side.
Emilio Kleber specifically had a private talk with Fang Wen.
“Your Asian Aviation team has performed very well, it will be an important air combat force for our International Brigades. But given the current situation, your missions will be heavy, in the future not only air interception, but also ground harassment, bombing, reconnaissance, transport and other missions, hope you can cooperate with the actions.”
Fang Wen nodded, having come to Spain this time, he was mentally prepared, in the complex battlefield environment, various demands were a challenge for elite pilots, also a precious actual combat experience accumulation process.
Seeing Fang Wen agree so readily, Emilio Kleber was very happy, he proactively said: “Thank you for your cooperation, whatever demands the Asian Aviation team has, feel free to raise them.”
Fang Wen replied: “Currently, mainly ammunition supplies, we lack 20mm autocannon shells. Additionally, I personally have a request, can you send people in Madrid to find a Chinese person named Kuang Anming, he is my wife’s brother, I promised my wife to bring him back.”
Emilio Kleber readily agreed to Fang Wen’s request and immediately sent a telegram notifying the Madrid side.
With the strategic adjustment, the International Brigades took over from the Second Spanish Republic army, fully entering Madrid to begin defense.
These international soldiers built military fortifications in different areas, defending against Franco’s army.
Franco’s army, to avoid street fighting, deliberately bypassed the workers’ district, instead choosing the relatively open University City as the attack breakthrough point.
Therefore, the defense area in northern Madrid’s University City became the most intense place in the Madrid defense battle.
Large numbers of International Brigades soldiers established defense fortifications in various teaching buildings in University City, books, desks, doors, the buildings themselves all became tools for relying on defense.
In these buildings, International Brigades soldiers fiercely fought Franco’s troops.
And the University City area was exactly where Kuang Anming was.
The University City defense battle was ongoing.
The originally handsome Kuang Anming now had a face full of black soot, completely disregarding his image, he held a Mosin-Nagant rifle aiming at distant targets.
With the trigger pulled, a gunshot rang out, but the enemy opposite was not hit.
Regretfully, he waved his fist, “Damn, missed again.”
The French international soldier beside him spoke: “Kuang, you’ve done very well, my first time on the battlefield, I didn’t even dare to fire the gun.”
These words made Kuang Anming somewhat proud, he felt he was born a warrior.
At this time, two International Brigades officers came from the rear, specifically looking for Kuang Anming.
They talked in the fortifications.
“Is your brother-in-law named Fang Wen? Asian Flying Team captain?”
“Yes.”
“He wants you to join the Asian Flying Team.”
But Kuang Anming refused.
In response, the two International Brigades officers sent a telegram back with the situation.
Fang Wen didn’t expect his brother-in-law to be so reckless, actually not listening to him.
This wouldn’t do, if the war continued, Kuang Anming on the frontline could have an accident at any time.
For this, Fang Wen decided to talk personally with Kuang Anming.
He piloted Shrike Hao to depart, landed at Madrid Airport, then under the lead of International Brigades officers came to University City.
Ahead, gunfire and artillery fire, as an important air power commander of the International Brigades, Fang Wen was prohibited from proceeding further.
“Please stay here, we will bring your brother-in-law back.”
One officer went alone to the foremost frontline, after a while, led Kuang Anming to Fang Wen.
They thoughtfully let Fang Wen and Kuang Anming be alone.
Only Fang Wen and Kuang Anming left in the room, Fang Wen organized his words and spoke: “Your sister and your father are very worried about you.”
But Kuang Anming, tempered by warfare, replied: “Brother-in-law, don’t you understand what I’m doing? This is the war between the new world and the old world, we will surely win.”
Looking at Kuang Anming yearning for a beautiful future, Fang Wen couldn’t help thinking of Red Army soldiers, all harboring lofty dreams.
But this dream could be slightly adjusted.
He said tactfully: “I understand. But I ask you, do you love the whole world, or love your homeland more?”
Kuang Anming was stunned: “What’s the difference?”
“There is. If you die here, there will be no chance later to contribute to the homeland. Do you think being great here is meaningful, or returning home is more meaningful?”
At this point, Fang Wen gently pressed on his brother-in-law’s shoulder, meaningfully saying: “I came here to learn war experience, to use in the homeland. But you are on the most dangerous frontline, with extremely high death rate, if you die here, at most a brave internationalist soldier, but to your homeland, no meaning at all. Think about it.”
Listening to Fang Wen’s words, Kuang Anming couldn’t help feeling somewhat confused, brother-in-law was right, dying here seemed too wasteful.
He couldn’t help asking: “But I can’t be a deserter either. What will my friends think of me.”
As expected of the Kuang Family Third Young Master, still caring about face at this moment.
Fang Wen helplessly punched his brother-in-law, “Come to my aviation team, I’ll arrange a frontline task for you, as ground guide, providing ground attack guidance for the Asian Aviation team.”
Kuang Anming was immediately delighted, “Brother-in-law, what do I do?”
Fang Wen took out a radio wave transmission guidance device, handed it to Kuang Anming, and taught him how to operate it.
His brother-in-law’s matter was finally arranged.
Although he was still on the frontline, as a ground guide, safety was greatly improved, Fang Wen no longer had to worry about his danger on the frontline.
Next, Fang Wen wholeheartedly accepted the International Brigades’ orders, beginning the Taishan Elite Aviation Team’s actual combat training.
Air military orders were quickly issued.
Conduct military cruise over University City, execute interception, air-to-ground harassment and other deterrent military actions.
This was a military action with high freedom, needing to be continuously carried out.
Fang Wen immediately set to work.
November 10th.
The Asian Aviation team set off for the first time, a formation of four monoplanes took off from Albacete Base, appearing over Madrid University City.
The four aircraft circled in the air, Fang Wen activated mechanical perception ability.
Under mechanical perception ability, Fang Wen fused as one with the airplane, calling on the airplane’s various equipment for detection.
Onboard radar had no air feedback, no German Condor Legion aircraft within 300 kilometers nearby.
In this situation, no need to worry about air threats, Franco’s enemy ground troops on the surface were excellent attack targets.
And the ground situation observed by mechanical perception made Fang Wen even more excited.
Franco’s frontline ground troops surprisingly had no anti-air weapons equipped.
Such an opportunity was too rare.
He issued an order to his subordinates via encrypted telegram.
【30 minutes free ground attack】
This was a rare non-formation attack order, the 3 pilots were delighted, they each sought targets, diving down.
High-speed diving aircraft rushed toward different targets, 20mm autocannon shells exploding on Franco’s frontline positions.
Smoke and dust and explosions continuous, aircraft pouring death’s artillery fire, ground troops helpless against this 400-plus km/h high-speed dive shooting.
And at the same time, International Brigades soldiers, under their own fighter jets’ harassment, took the chance to launch an attack.
Fang Wen observed all this from the air, the only one who hadn’t acted needed to strike at the best timing, adding fuel to the International Brigades’ offensive.
This opportunity would be provided by Kuang Anming, but the executor could only be Fang Wen.
Time passed bit by bit, three fighter jets strafed at low altitude, the International Brigades’ counterattack, under air aircraft cooperation, seized back a building.
And at the same time, on the tallest building in University City, Kuang Anming was confirming the target.
He and his French companion stared at a place in northwest University City, talking in low voices.
“There, should be a secret artillery position.”
“Very possible, but we haven’t seen cannons, can’t confirm.”
“Wait, my brother-in-law said patience is most important, we just need to confirm once.”
“Is your brother-in-law really that capable?”
“Of course, he is invincible in the sky.”
Kuang Anming proudly spoke of his brother-in-law, but suddenly fell silent.
He took out binoculars and saw, in that building, five cannons pushed out, soldiers adjusting shooting angles.
If they adjusted the shooting elements, it would pose a huge threat to the attacking International Brigades soldiers.
For this, Kuang Anming immediately aimed the radio wave device and pressed the transmission switch.
Special frequency radio waves transmitted out, reflected waves received by the device on Shrike Hao.
Fang Wen, controlling Shrike Hao circling in the air, had a target worth striking.
