Chapter 289: 288 Escort Team Intercepts Type 97 Reconnaissance Aircraft, Shuiyun Ii Aircraft Design
Early March 1937.
Because of the appearance of the Taishan Airlines Escort Team, no Japanese Army aircraft had been seen above Tianjin for ten days.
But the city was not peaceful.
A few days ago, a gang robbed the Tianjin Customs warehouse, which caused a big stir, and the British people unusually protested to the Japanese side.
Obviously, although the British people did not state the specific situation, they had already proven with action that it was done by the Japanese side.
Local Tianjin newspapers published an article directly pointing out that it was Japanese-Korean ronin instigated by the Japanese side who carried out the robbery.
However, with the current strength of the Japanese side, the British people who had been operating the customs since the Qing Dynasty could only express their anger with diplomatic rhetoric this time.
In the current Northern China, assets of various countries are withdrawing, and even the British people are preparing to take away their remaining garrison.
Everyone had a feeling that a storm was brewing.
And it was during this time that the emperor of Manchukuo in the Northeast announced the《 Imperial Succession Law》.
This matter had not yet spread, but Fang Wen, who had access to intelligence channels, learned about it first.
Jinan Airport.
Fang Wen was personally in command, waiting for possible emergencies. The Japanese Army aircraft would certainly not yield like this, and encounters between the Taishan Airlines Escort Team and Japanese Army aircraft could happen at any time.
In his spare time, he would read intelligence sent from Shanghai.
Today, he was reading the detailed content about Manchukuo’s《 Imperial Succession Law》.
The《 Imperial Succession Law》 clearly stipulates: upon the father’s death, the son succeeds; upon the brother’s end, the younger brother succeeds.
In other words, after the Pu emperor dies, the throne is inherited by his son; if there is no son, it is inherited by his younger brother or the younger brother’s son, with the specific candidate selected by the Japanese emperor, and Pu can only accept the result without opposition.
Isn’t this obvious? The Japanese side only wants the legitimacy of the Qing Dynasty. Once they produce a prince with Japanese bloodline, it will probably be a bad end for him.
Fang Wen couldn’t help but ponder.
This last emperor of the Qing Dynasty could be said to have entered the tiger’s mouth. If he really took a Japanese woman and gave birth to a child with Japanese bloodline, it would be dangerous.
Even if he understands the danger, his younger brother is easier to control. It is said that his younger brother’s Japanese wife is pregnant, which led to the appearance of this《 Imperial Succession Law》.
Step by step, the Japanese invaders have no goodwill toward China, only thinking of extermination.
Putting down the intelligence, Fang Wen stood up and walked to Hangar A2.
The seaplane that crashed on the Haihe River Flight Path was parked there.
Because the right wing was damaged, it barely flew back to Jinan and was undergoing more detailed inspection and repair.
Fang Wen came here to talk with the mechanic from the aircraft manufacturing plant.
“Have you found the problem?”
“The main issue is the structure of the wing. In a stall situation, it’s hard to maintain balance,” the mechanic replied.
One accident revealed the design problem of the Shuiyun Type 1 aircraft.
When designing the Shuiyun Type 1 initially, the concept was simple and practical, using low speed and good handling to accelerate the popularity of domestic aircraft in the market.
But this design did not consider balance. Once an emergency evasion occurs, drastic turns or climbs and descents would cause stall danger.
Fang Wen couldn’t help considering whether to design the next generation of seaplane version with better balance.
This was also for the gunship in mind. Future low-altitude air combat would also require certain maneuver space; low-speed aircraft cannot just be simple and practical.
How to design a new seaplane model?
While thinking, Fang Wen knew inspiration doesn’t come easily; at least now he had no clue.
At this moment, an alarm siren suddenly sounded in the airport, the piercing sound indicating that the cruise aircraft had encountered an emergency.
Fang Wen immediately jogged out and shouted loudly: “First cruise team, take off to assist. Qi Baoqian, get ready quickly.”
The Taishan Airlines Escort Team has a total of 4 cruise teams. Fang Wen leads the first cruise team, and Red Army pilot Qi Baoqian is his wingman.
The two quickly ran to the parking area and boarded their respective fighter jets.
Fang Wen piloted Shrike Hao onto the runway first, taking off quickly, followed by Qi Baoqian’s Il-16 into the sky.
The two aircraft flew directly toward the Hai River cruise area in the northeast, about 260 kilometers away, arriving in 40 minutes.
During the flight, Fang Wen kept watching the secret telegram device. As long as no higher-level alarm was transmitted, it meant combat had not started.
But from the secret telegrams sent back, the situation was not good.
The Japanese side sent 4 aircraft this time; two cruise aircraft alone could not stop them.
According to the established one-on-one strategy, at least two aircraft had broken through the interception.
Fang Wen’s heart sank. This was North China airspace, with people below watching. The Taishan Airlines Escort Team’s first encounter could not be lost.
North of Tianjin, above the Haihe River Basin.
Zhai Xiaojun and Shao Deqing’s third cruise team encountered Japanese Army fighter jets.
Overseas Chinese pilot Zhai Xiaojun and Red Army pilot Shao Deqing faced 4 Japanese Army fighter jets. In a situation of outnumbering the enemy, they showed no fear.
They followed the pre-set requirements, each locking onto one aircraft, using the Il-16’s performance to follow closely without letting go.
This was a preview of an air dogfight; neither side opened fire, just chasing and tailing each other.
This was a high-skill air melee. Once outmaneuvered to the rear by the opponent, it meant possible being shot down.
And on the ground below, people in the Tianjin area also saw this scene.
People came out onto the streets one after another, looking up and discussing animatedly.
“Why are they just chasing each other without firing?”
“They can’t fire. Officially, it’s still a ceasefire period now; firing would mean starting combat.”
“Yes, Japanese aircraft are just flying over to show off and drop some leaflets. Taishan Airlines can only escort above the Haihe River Basin. They really can’t start a real fight, but this air contest will decide who wins.”
“How to decide who wins?”
“I think if the Japanese Army aircraft are blocked, Taishan Airlines wins.”
“But they only have two aircraft; how can they block them?”
“Look south quickly; two more aircraft are coming. Now it’s four against four; there’s a good show to watch.”
People turned their heads one after another; in the southern sky, two more aircraft flew in.
They immediately blocked the two Japanese Army fighter jets preparing to fly south.
Fang Wen arrived in time and encountered two Japanese Army fighter jets above Tianjin that wanted to enter the North China hinterland to harass.
These were new-type aircraft he had not seen before.
（Type 97 reconnaissance aircraft）
In an instant, Fang Wen recalled the matching intelligence data from memory.
This was the Ki-15 developed two years ago at the request of the Japanese Army headquarters, also known as the Type 97 fighter reconnaissance aircraft.
At that time, the Japanese Army instructed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a theater target photographic reconnaissance aircraft capable of high-speed breakthroughs, requiring operational flight altitude of 2,000 to 4,000 meters, combat radius greater than 400 kilometers, and maximum speed greater than 450 km/h at 3,000 meters altitude.
This was also the Japanese Army’s new generation monoplane fighter model.
Its weapon was just one 7.7 mm machine gun, belonging to a reconnaissance-type aircraft with limited combat power.
Obviously, the Japanese side wanted to use the speed and flexibility of the Type 97 fighter reconnaissance aircraft to break through the obstruction of the Taishan Airlines Escort Team and complete this harassment above North China.
Fang Wen sent instructions to his wingman: each lock onto one.
He piloted Shrike Hao easily parallel to the enemy aircraft. At such a close distance, he could clearly see the situation inside the enemy airplane cockpit.
The enemy aircraft cockpit had front and rear dual seats, and the two Japanese Army pilots showed nervous expressions.
Fang Wen made a no-pass hand gesture, requiring the opponent to return to base.
In response, the enemy aircraft did not agree and tried to force through.
For this light reconnaissance aircraft, Fang Wen could easily shoot it down, but the problem was he could not open fire. In the current situation, if he did, he would become the sinner.
He could only use air melee to stop the opponent.
Therefore, he immediately turned his fuselage and pressed the opponent again.
After going back and forth, no matter how the enemy aircraft tried, it could not shake off Fang Wen’s obstruction.
If they had really opened fire, it would have been shot down long ago.
Perhaps realizing their skills were inferior, and continuing would just be embarrassing, this enemy aircraft was the first to choose to return.
With its return to base, Fang Wen joined his wingman’s interception, two against one, with multiple thrilling close contacts, leaving the opponent unable to continue entangling and forcing it to return to base like its teammate.
Seeing this, the other two enemy aircraft did not persist either. In the end, all invading enemy aircraft failed in the melee and left North China airspace.
The people on the ground who saw this scene were greatly excited and spread the news excitedly.
Although not a single shot or shell was fired, it still demonstrated the superb strength of the Taishan Airlines Escort Team.
The interception above the Hai River ended, and the four cruise fighter jets returned to base.
After the aircraft landed at Jinan Airport, since the news had not yet arrived, the airport side was still very calm.
Fang Wen got off the aircraft and held a post-mission summary with the three pilots.
“Everyone performed well in this flight: bold yet cautious, good technical execution, worthy of praise.”
The three pilots smiled; praise from Fang Wen was the rarest.
But after the praise, they did not become complacent and each went back to write action summary reports.
This was Fang Wen’s requirement for them: after every action, learn to summarize, constantly remind themselves to maintain sufficient vigilance, to have strong fighting spirit.
After all, in real air combat, victory or defeat is in a flash: technology and courage account for 70%, luck 30%; any complacency or relaxation brings life danger.
But all this was just basic operation for the Taishan Escort Team.
Compared to the Spain air combat, this interception was just a minor episode, nothing much.
To the outside world, however, this interception greatly boosted the reputation of Taishan Airlines.
Within a few days, multiple newspapers published reports on the Hai River interception.
Among them, Dagong Bao and Yishi Bao had the greatest impact.
The article published in Yishi Bao was not only circulated in Tianjin but also spread to Beiping and Jinan, even with employees bringing the newspaper back to the airport for everyone to pass around.
Fang Wen also read this report.
“Republic of China Year 26, March 6th, an auspicious day for travel. The escort elite of Taishan Airlines soared over the Hai River domain, carrying out routine patrol missions. Unexpectedly, Japanese Army fighter jets crossed the border, intending to harass the North China hinterland and disturb public peace.
Although the Taishan Escort Team is a commercial escort operation, it takes national security as its own responsibility. How can it allow foreign enemies to invade our country’s territory?
Our escort warriors, seeing this, were filled with righteous indignation and vowed to defend the airspace, not letting the enemy aircraft cross even half a step. They bravely took to the sky, engaging the Japanese aircraft in the firmament, fighting wits and courage, fully displaying the heroic fearlessness of Chinese sons and daughters.
After a melee, though without real bullets, it was extremely thrilling, with moments of near collision between the two aircraft, extremely dangerous. The Japanese aircraft, due to inferior skills, unable to match our escort heroes’ superb technique and tenacious fighting spirit, became timid and was forced to abandon the harassment, slinking back to its domain, failing to commit the evil deed of invading the airspace.
This interception is a manifestation of our national integrity and a heroic act that lets countrymen hold their heads high. The Taishan Airlines Escort Team, with iron blood and loyalty, guards our rivers and mountains; their actions and virtues inspire us to never forget national humiliation and strive for self-strengthening!”
Subsequently, the Taishan Escort Team’s air interception of Japanese Army aircraft continued to ferment.
Representatives from various places in North China came to Jinan Airport to send specialty products, gifts, and congratulatory messages.
This interception without real weapons produced very good results, invigorating the people of North China.
However, the Taishan Escort Team could only guard the Haihe River Basin, blocking the nearest harassment route, but could not stop Japanese Army enemy aircraft from harassing from other positions.
In fact, the situation became even more tense.
The wheels of history kept turning; one air interception could not change anything.
The second batch of over 1,900 Japanese Army arrived in Pingjin for “rotation of troops,” and the British people prepared to start withdrawing.
Intelligence from Yoshida in Tokyo homeland indicated that by the end of the month, 60 warships of the Japanese Combined Fleet would sail to Qingdao for exercises.
This was preparation to invade North China.
The National Government finally publicly commended the War of Resistance actions in Suiyuan.
But Kuomintang-Communist Cooperation was still not on the table, and local Civil War was still ongoing.
The originally displayed sincere unity to cope with the War of Resistance was not immediately realized after all.
Facing this situation, Fang Wen understood that a arduous path of War of Resistance lay ahead.
What he could do was to do everything he could control as best as possible to face the upcoming war.
Especially in the design and manufacturing of the Shuiyun II aircraft.
How exactly to design the Shuiyun II aircraft with better balance?
Fang Wen had not found this breakthrough.
Until he returned to Wuhan and had dinner with his wife, he got inspiration.
Late March.
At home in Wuhan, Fang Wen, who returned from Jinan, was eating the dinner prepared by his wife.
As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Living in Wuhan, the diet had changed from Shanghai style to local.
Kuang Mingzhu said with a smile:
“This is ordered from Shengji Lane; they say it’s the best local dishes. Try them.”
Fang Wen tasted them one by one, eating while listening to his wife introduce.
Shengji Lane is near Hankou’s main street, a good place for food.
The fish at Daxingyuan Restaurant is personally cooked by Master Liu, the king of sheatfish, with excellent taste.
Zhang Hanji Beef Shop’s beef is also exceptional: beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef tripe, beef tendon can all be made into dishes.
Other restaurants’ dishes are also very distinctive.
Fang Wen ate one bowl of rice and stopped.
His wife said in surprise: “Why so little? Poor appetite, or not feeling well?”
“Something on my mind, not hungry.” Fang Wen replied.
His wife asked with concern, and upon learning it was about aircraft design, she casually said.
“This airplane, isn’t it learned from birds flying? The airplane wing is like a bird’s wings; why not go watch birds.”
The speaker meant it unintentionally, the listener took it to heart.
Fang Wen thought it made sense, so the next day he found a place with many flying birds and watched their flight again.
He watched for several days.
He, with deep research in aircraft design, from days of observing birds’ flight, calmed down to think about his feelings when piloting aircraft with mechanical perception, combining the two, found the design inspiration for the Shuiyun II aircraft.
