Chapter 280: 279, Return To China, International Brigades Meritorious Medal, Yangon Affairs Report
Emilio Kleber sized up Fang Wen, feeling regretful about the departure of this Eastern Legendary Pilot.
But the International Brigades were not a strictly disciplined army organization, and members could apply to leave, let alone Fang Wen and the others who were meritorious officials with repeated merits in air combat.
He stood up and sincerely shook Fang Wen’s hand: “Your homeland was once very great; it needs to go through trials to stand up again. I wish you greater achievements in your own country after you return.”
“Thank you.” Fang Wen smiled in response, seizing the opportunity to state his request: “Can I purchase the four Il-16s sent by the Soviet Volunteer Aviation Team?”
“Purchase? I need to communicate with them; this requires some procedures.” Emilio Kleber was not surprised by Fang Wen’s request to buy the Il-16s. He knew this Asian aviation magnate had sufficient financial resources to purchase military aircraft.
Moreover, Emilio Kleber had other ideas.
He continued:
“How about this: stay a few more days. I’ll handle the aircraft purchase. There are also some matters. You and the Asian Aviation Team have merits in Madrid, Valencia, and Caceres. Before you leave, the International Brigades will issue merit rewards.”
Next, Fang Wen chatted briefly with Emilio Kleber and then took his leave.
Because he was about to leave Spain, Fang Wen began preparations.
Eight fighter jets and one fuel transport aircraft needed to be transferred domestically. Now, Valencia to the east was under air blockade, so they could not leave from there.
The north was controlled by the rebels, so going to Paris was not an option either.
They could only fly south, transiting through Africa to Asia.
Africa was not peaceful either. After Italy occupied Ethiopia, it merged it with Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea into Italian East Africa.
And Spain’s African colony Morocco was also a main soldier source for the rebels this time, with large numbers of foreign mercenary groups coming from overseas to join the war.
Therefore, the only place suitable for transit was the French Algeria region.
It was currently controlled by the French Foreign Legion.
Conveniently, there were French from there in the International Brigades who were quite familiar with the local situation.
Moreover, among this group, two were seriously wounded in combat and were looking for a way to be sent back; they could just take Fang Wen’s aircraft to return.
Both sides hit it off. They would contact the airport. The Asian Aviation Team would conveniently transport the wounded, then fly from there to Rome, then to Ankara, and the subsequent flight path would follow the existing civil aviation routes.
But flying this way required greasing the palms of civil aviation airports everywhere; otherwise, they would not accommodate.
Therefore, Fang Wen also needed to notify Taishan International Aviation branches everywhere to negotiate with local airports.
In short, as long as there was money, things would get done. Additionally, the aircraft had to have their military armaments removed.
To this end, Fang Wen brought mechanics who disguised all the machine guns and 20mm autocannons on the Il-16s and Shrike Hao. From the outside, the gun barrels were completely invisible, which should satisfy the opponent’s non-military flight requirements.
After everything was ready, the aircraft purchase was finalized.
International Brigades Commander Emilio Kleber brought people to the Asian Aviation Team Camp.
The Soviet officer responsible for negotiating the Il-16 sales took the initiative: “This batch of aircraft was given to the Spanish government via aid, essentially belonging to the Popular Front. We negotiated with them and are fully authorized for this transaction.”
Pausing, the officer seemed unaccustomed to deals, a bit hesitant to speak.
But he still said it.
“Given the current situation, the Spanish peseta has depreciated severely, making pricing difficult. We decided to use foreign currency: $9,000 per aircraft.”
“So cheap?” Fang Wen was somewhat emotional. Valuing Soviet-made goods was truly difficult, but he did not want to take advantage of comrades he had fought alongside. He directly raised the price: “I’ll pay $15,000 per aircraft.”
The officer was stunned; he had never seen a buyer proactively raise the price. Before he could respond, Emilio Kleber agreed on his behalf.
“Thank you. This money will be used exactly to purchase military supplies. Medicine is scarce now; only high-priced US dollars can buy it.”
Hearing they lacked medicine, Fang Wen added: “When I return, I’ll arrange a batch of anti-infective drugs, transported via civil aviation to Paris. Send someone to pick them up then.”
“What drug?” the Soviet officer asked.
“Penicillin, a new type of anti-infective drug that can effectively treat wound infections.”
“Thank you; that’s great.”
The officer eagerly shook Fang Wen’s hand; he knew very well how important such medicine was for the wounded.
Afterward, Fang Wen directly paid $60,000 in cash to complete the purchase of the four Il-16s.
But that was not all; Emilio Kleber solemnly awarded merit medals to Fang Wen and the Asian Aviation Team’s pilots, as well as the ground crew mechanics.
It was a triangular star medal with a soldier’s portrait in the center, symbolizing the International Brigades’ honor.
In addition to the medals, there were spoils of war rewards and merit certificates.
For example, Fang Wen’s downing of Vulture Legion fighter jets, and assisting the tank corps in defeating the enemy’s mechanized joint forces.
To this end, some meaningful captured small items became souvenirs for Fang Wen and the other pilots.
An exquisite Luger P08 pistol, Vulture Legion badge, and material rewards from the Spanish government: 30,000 pesetas bonus per person, one whole Iberian ham per person, and a pile of miscellaneous items.
Receiving these rewards meant the Asian Aviation Team had gained recognition in this war.
This civil war would continue into World War II before ending.
But Fang Wen and the others could no longer stay here.
With all matters settled, everything was ready.
The Asian Aviation Team was about to depart.
Reluctant Kuang Anming was forcibly taken aboard the Boeing 247.
He shouted discontentedly: “You all go ahead; why take me? I protest; let me off.”
“Let you off? In a few days, you’d be dead here. Should we let your sister, your brother, and your father risk the warfare to come collect your corpse?” Fang Wen glared at Kuang Anming, adding: “If you want to die, go back and fight the Japanese. Dying in the homeland would be a worthy death.”
Scolded by his brother-in-law, Kuang Anming quieted down.
Fang Wen then spoke with Howard: “No problem driving the Boeing 247?”
“No problem.” Howard responded concisely.
Fang Wen knew what he meant. Though Howard was reclusive and introverted, he was not just a mechanic; he had skills in flying too. Driving the Boeing 247 was nothing for him.
One hour later.
Three International Brigades soldiers from French Algeria arrived by military vehicle.
Two had severe injuries, wrapped in gauze all over, in a coma.
The other was accompanying them back to Algeria and took the initiative to communicate with Fang Wen: “Thank you for taking my two brothers home. Even if they die, they want to return to their hometown.”
Fang Wen nodded solemnly: “We’ll depart immediately. I hope they can return to their hometown alive.”
Then, the aviation team’s pilots pitched in, carefully loading the two wounded onto the Boeing 247.
Once the three had boarded, formation flying began.
Shrike Hao took off first, followed by the seven Il-16 fighter jets into the sky.
The last to take off was the Boeing 247. The fighter formation split into two groups, escorting left and right southward.
Along the way, they encountered no issues. The aircraft formation crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, completed the Mediterranean crossing, and entered Algerian airspace.
Facing the eight-fighter formation, the French Foreign Legion’s three biplanes took off and conducted a courteous escort in the air.
The group arrived at seaside Algiers, a city built on hills, yet Algeria’s most important port and busiest area.
Behind the city was a small airport, originally the Foreign Legion’s military airport.
Now it had become the Asian Aviation Team’s temporary transit point.
Would anything go wrong?
Fang Wen was uncertain.
But without transiting here, the fighter jets could not reach Rome. Problem or not, they had to land.
He dismissed distracting thoughts, had the transport aircraft land first, then the eight fighter jets landed one by one on the airport.
Aircraft parked; no need to refuel at the airport—the Boeing 247 fueler could handle refueling and supplies.
Meanwhile, the two seriously wounded International Brigades soldiers were carried off the plane. Their families wailed in grief, including even some Foreign Legion officers.
The officers managing the Foreign Legion were all French. It turned out these two critically wounded soldiers were their relatives.
Faced with this, Fang Wen watched the two dying wounded leave, feeling only emotion.
After an hour’s rest, Fang Wen bid farewell to the local airport officers, and the flight formation took off again.
This time flying northeast, crossing the Mediterranean area to Rome Airport, then transferring from Rome Airport to Turkey’s Ankara Airport.
Along this route, bypassing the Valencia theater, they encountered no more trouble.
In the subsequent journey, with sufficient payoffs, they passed everywhere with one eye closed.
After two and a half days, the flight formation finally landed at Yangon Airport.
The Asian Aviation Team’s return to Yangon Airport was met with a warm welcome.
All those under Fang Wen were eager to learn about the war situation in distant Europe, Spain.
These people included: aircraft manufacturing plant and bullet manufacturing plant workers in Taishan Industrial Park, chemical park workers, Taishan Volunteer Army mercenary troops training daily, and seaplane gunship detachment pilots.
Facing such enthusiasm, Fang Wen felt the atmosphere was right for a unique report meeting to explain to these people who had not experienced real war what war was like.
This was very necessary, after all, the full-scale War of Resistance in China was coming soon.
Of course, he did not need to do this report meeting himself; instead, the combat-participating pilots and mechanics would give lectures.
To this end, he had all pilots and mechanics compile their experiences into reports, one per day, for collective reporting speeches at the large venue in Taishan Industrial Park.
This requirement was not something all pilots and mechanics excelled at; for example, Howard firmly refused to participate.
But the others could not escape. Under Fang Wen’s strict requirement, they racked their brains in their rooms, organizing their experiences and observations.
After all, these were their personal experiences, with genuine feelings. When they compiled their Spanish Civil War experiences, they did not expect the speech effects to be so good.
Each reporting speech was packed, with everyone silent and listening carefully to the elite pilots’ reports.
In the distant West, a revolution was actually taking place.
To support this revolution, soldiers from all over the world participated.
The reports came alive so vividly under emotionally charged speeches.
War was cruel, but those who participated were not brutal. Noble ideals, sacrificial spirit, and wartime camaraderie sublimated on the battlefield.
Some pilots, speaking, lost emotional control and let true feelings flow.
All this also infected everyone listening to the reports.
Laying a psychological education foundation for the upcoming full-scale War of Resistance.
Meanwhile, Fang Wen was learning about the situation in Yangon during his absence.
Bai Zeshan, responsible for the aircraft manufacturing plant; Huo Duanyang, for the chemical plant and bullet factory; Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping couple, responsible for Taishan Volunteer Army Mercenary Corps training, all came together to the aircraft manufacturing plant office for a briefing.
Bai Zeshan went first: “As of today, the aircraft manufacturing plant has produced 96 Shuiyun Type 1 Seaplanes, of which 83 have been shipped domestically for seaplane route operations. The remaining 13 have been converted to gunships and handed over to the seaplane gunship detachment for training.”
Nearly 100 aircraft, production momentum strong; after those reporting speeches, Fang Wen felt production efficiency might rise further.
Next was Huo Duanyang.
“The chemical plant and bullet factory are all normal. To increase production capacity, I’ve discussed with the US side; new equipment is en route, and the second-phase petrochemical project has begun preparation.”
Fang Wen nodded in satisfaction. Huo Duanyang himself studied chemistry and was now in his field, showing initiative and getting better at it.
On this aspect, Fang Wen had no opinions to offer and thus did not make random suggestions.
The last to report were Wu Yingzong and Zhao Wanping couple.
Wu Yingzong said: “General Manager, during this time, we conducted multiple confrontation drills between domestically recruited mercenaries and foreign-recruited mercenaries. Through competition, both sides progressed and integrated. How should we proceed with the next training?”
Fang Wen was prepared for Wu Yingzong’s question.
He had a complete combat plan in mind.
The mercenary corps would not operate alone; in the future, they would coordinate with gunships.
They would go to different places for combat with gunships, so they needed to learn seaplane boarding and land airborne operations, achieving triphibious combat.
To this end, training in essential military skills like rowing, swimming, diving, parachuting was needed.
Only then could they cooperate with gunships for air-ground coordinated combat.
Moreover, conditions were limited now, but later, Taishan Volunteer Army ground troops would need their own mobile combat equipment.
The first thing Fang Wen thought of was tanks. Large tanks required a complete steel industry chain, which was impossible, but Italy’s CV-33 super light tank gave him a new idea.
If using the CV-33 super light tank as a template, could they develop dedicated infantry light armored cars for Taishan Volunteer Army ground combat?
With such mobility, Taishan’s own infantry guns and powerful individual weapons could also be attempted for mounting and development.
Thinking this far, Fang Wen quickly reined in his diverging thoughts and explained his training plan to Wu Yingzong.
After delegating, Fang Wen could not stay long in Yangon.
He had other matters.
Such as taking Kuang Anming back to Guangzhou to account to his father-in-law.
And checking on Gang Leader Wang’s injuries in Hong Kong.
He also needed to return domestically; company affairs could not be neglected.
Thus, he took Kuang Anming aboard the Boeing 247 fueler and flew domestic.
