Chapter 217: Unforeseen Survival, First Thought Of Death
Su Yaoyang bid farewell to Li Yunlong and Kong Jie in the county town of Wutaishan, then returned, but what he did not know was that the news of the Shanxi Militia Air Squadron severely damaging the Japanese Army Air Force was still rapidly fermenting.
At the same time, he also underestimated the huge shock and profound impact this victory brought to the entire China at that time, especially to those Chinese Air Force pilots who had once battled in the skies but were now unable to fulfill their ambitions.
Since the July 7 Incident, China and Japan had formally entered a state of total war.
Across the vast land of China, war fires raged everywhere, and the people suffered immensely.
And in that equally vast sky, the air forces of China and Japan also engaged in one brutal aerial slaughter after another for the crucially important air supremacy.
In the early stages of the war, the Chinese Air Force, relying on the pilots’ high morale and superb skills, once dealt heavy blows to the arrogant Japanese Army and Navy Air Forces.
However, the enormous gap in national strength meant that the Chinese Air Force was far behind Japan in terms of aircraft numbers, performance, logistics support, and pilot replenishment.
After more than a year of brutal attrition warfare, the Chinese Air Force’s strength had already suffered a devastating blow.
The Chinese Air Force, which once had more than three hundred aircraft of various types, had its available aircraft reduced sharply to less than forty by the end of 1938, with only a mere twenty-seven truly capable of taking off for combat!
This was a heart-wrenching number, behind every digit representing the fall of an eagle that once soared in the blue sky, as well as the sacrifice of one or several hot-blooded pilots.
Large numbers of excellent Chinese pilots, in battles against several times their number of Japanese air force fighters, shed their blood in the sky and died for the country.
The surviving pilots, as well as those young pilots who had recently graduated from flight school and had not yet experienced large-scale air combat, were mostly forced to transfer to the Chinese Air Force Officer School（, the famous Central Aviation School, later relocated to Wujiaba Airport）, located in Kunming, Yunnan, established with American assistance, where they received further training, or rather, preserved the spark for future counterattacks.
This was actually a helpless choice.
For those ace pilots who had once fought bloody battles with the Japanese invaders in the blue sky and personally witnessed their comrades sacrifice one by one before their eyes, hiding in Kunming on the southwestern border, far from the front lines, continuing what seemed like endlessly distant training and waiting, was undoubtedly a huge torment.
They yearned for battle, for revenge, to once again pilot war eagles and strike hard at the invaders, but unfortunately, today’s China couldn’t even produce aircraft screws, let alone advanced aircraft.
At that moment, an inspiring message, like a bolt of lightning tearing through the dark night, quickly spread across the country and reached the ears of those anxiously waiting pilots at the Kunming flight school—the obscure Shanxi Militia Air Squadron, in the skies over Jiuqu River, outnumbered the enemy and shot down and damaged more than twenty Japanese aircraft of various types, achieving the largest air victory for the Chinese side since the Wuhan Air Battle!
This news was nothing less than a shot in the arm for those Chinese Air Force pilots who had long despaired of the prospects of air combat and even felt somewhat disheartened!
“Shanxi Militia? Where did they get the planes? Where did they get the pilots? They actually fought such a brilliant battle?!”
“I heard they used a new type of fighter plane with very advanced performance!”
“Who are their pilots? Could it be… American volunteer pilots?”
“No matter who! As long as they can fight the Japanese devils! As long as they can win battles! They’re all good!”
Various speculations and discussions quickly spread among the pilots at the Kunming flight school. The initial shock and disbelief were soon replaced by immense excitement and hope.
If previously they had doubts about whether they could return to the skies and strike hard at the Japanese devils, then this victory by the Shanxi Militia Air Squadron undoubtedly gave them a clear signal—China’s airspace had not completely fallen! China’s War of Resistance still had hope!
Kunming Flight School
On a somewhat dull afternoon, the pilots’ cafeteria at Kunming Flight School was filled with the aroma of food and the low voices of trainees conversing.
Unlike the usual bustle and occasional laughter and cursing, the atmosphere in the cafeteria lately had always carried a hint of suppression and anxiety.
The defeats in the war, the heavy losses of the Air Force, and the constant bad news from the front lines weighed like a heavy lead block on the hearts of these proud sons of heaven.
Many of them had once been eagles dominating the skies, but now they could only be confined to this southwestern corner, conducting repetitive and boring training every day, watching helplessly as the beautiful rivers and mountains were ravaged by the Japanese devils, yet powerless to act.
Cheng Rufeng, Feng Mingqian, and Ye Qiyuan were sitting at a table by the window, silently eating the simple meals on their plates—coarse rice, stir-fried vegetables, and a few pieces of bland cured meat.
Such food had long become routine for these pilots accustomed to luxurious lives, but the bitterness in their hearts could not be filled with food.
“Heard about it? Over in Shanxi, Wutaishan… no, Jiuqu River, the militia there fought the little devils’ planes a few days ago and won a big victory!”
Ye Qiyuan shoveled a couple of mouthfuls of rice, finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up, breaking the silence. His young face showed excitement and disbelief.
This news was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly rippling across the nearby tables. Many pilots who were eating stopped their chopsticks and pricked up their ears, looking toward them.
Feng Mingqian put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, with a shrewd gleam in his eyes: “Yeah, I heard too. They say that Shanxi Militia flight squadron used a type called P-47, an American new fighter plane, extremely powerful performance, beat the little devils’ planes to pieces, took down over twenty in one go!”
“P-47? American new plane?”
Low exclamations and murmurs rose around them. For these pilots who dealt with planes every day, the words “new fighter plane” had fatal allure.
Cheng Rufeng frowned slightly and said gravely: “Is the news reliable? Militia… where did they get new planes? And taking down over twenty devil planes, that’s no joke.
Even our regular Air Force struggles to achieve such results now.” His tone carried a hint of doubt, but also an undisguisable longing.
“Absolutely true!” Ye Qiyuan patted his chest and guaranteed, “The news came from Chongqing, they say even the Chairman knows about it and awarded that militia!
Plus, I heard their militia commander is called Su Yaoyang, a talented guy who studied abroad, not only good at training troops but also at doing business, has great connections with Americans, that’s how he got those good machines!”
“Su Yaoyang…” Cheng Rufeng murmured the name silently, a flicker of thought in his eyes.
At that moment, a young pilot in his early twenties at the next table, still with a somewhat childish face, couldn’t help but interject: “Wow! New single-wing plane! That’s way more advanced than the Hawk III, I-15, I-16 we’re flying now! Just to touch one of those planes would be worth dying for!”
His words immediately drew a chorus of agreement from around.
“Exactly! We tinker with these outdated biplanes and the junk the Soviets scrapped every day, forget fighting devils, we’re thankful if they take off without issues!”
“Yeah! Back when I was fighting for my life in the sky against the little devils, if we’d had a few good planes, so many brothers wouldn’t have died in vain!” An older pilot with several scars on his face, looking like he’d been through many fierce battles, slammed the table hard, said bitterly, his eyes reddening.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly became impassioned and somewhat indignant. These former aerial warriors’ longing for advanced fighters and frustration at not being able to kill enemies freely erupted all at once.
Seeing this, Feng Mingqian’s eyes turned, an idea struck him. He cleared his throat and raised his voice: “Brothers, since everyone’s so interested in the Shanxi Militia and their new planes, I have a proposal, wonder if you’d like to hear it?”
All eyes focused sharply on Feng Mingqian.
Feng Mingqian smiled slightly and continued: “We’re stuck here in Kunming now, training and more training every day, flying outdated old planes, to put it bluntly, it’s just wasting time and wearing down our will!
Instead of staring longingly here, waiting who knows until the year of the monkey and month of the horse for new planes, why not… we just go to Shanxi Wutaishan… oh no, Jiuqu River area and check it out!”
“Go to Shanxi?!” This proposal startled everyone present.
Feng Mingqian calmly continued: “That’s right! Go to Shanxi! Go see that Su Yaoyang’s militia! First, we can witness firsthand how they won the battle, learn their advanced experience.
Second, maybe… we’ll even get a chance to get close to those P-47 fighters! Even just to look and touch would be better than us puzzling over blueprints here, right?
What’s more, if that Su Yaoyang is really as capable as the rumors say, maybe… he can give us experienced pilots real chances to fight the devils!”
Feng Mingqian’s words were like a blockbuster bomb, stirring up the pilots’ hearts.
“Go to Shanxi to join the militia? This… is that possible? We’re regular Air Force!” Someone hesitated.
“What are you afraid of! We’re going to fight devils! Not to be traitors! Besides, the country is like this now, who cares about regular or not! As long as we can kill devils, we’re heroes!” Ye Qiyuan immediately retorted, his young face full of heroic spirit.
Cheng Rufeng also pondered and spoke: “Brother Feng’s proposal, though bold, … is not without reason.
Everyone knows the Air Force’s current situation. Rather than sit here waiting for death, better to go out and try, maybe find a new way out. Moreover, if that Shanxi Militia really has the capability and is willing to take us in, we can put our skills to real use.”
Cheng Rufeng’s words carried great weight. As one of the most senior and prestigious aces among the pilots present, his stance undoubtedly gave a reassuring pill to those still hesitating.
“Right! Big Brother Cheng is right! We can’t stay this useless anymore!”
“Better to go to Shanxi for a chance to fly new planes and fight devils than tinker with this scrap metal here!”
“Count me in! I’ve been holding it in for too long!”
In an instant, the cafeteria was abuzz with excitement, with supporters crowding in. The long-suppressed frustration, unwillingness, and longing for battle in their hearts found an outlet at this moment.
Once the idea took root, it spread like wildfire, impossible to contain.
Soon, more than a dozen like-minded pilots began taking action.
Among them were experienced veteran pilots and some outstanding young trainees from the flight school eager for real combat.
Of course, they knew that leaving the Nationalist Government’s regular Air Force to join a local militia was procedurally irregular, even possibly seen as “desertion”.
But they couldn’t care less now; they only knew to go where they could fight devils and realize their value, and soon they found their superior, the principal of Kunming Flight School, Nie Zhiyuan.
“Nonsense… absolute nonsense, do you know what you’re doing?”
Angry curses from Principal Nie Zhiyuan echoed from the principal’s office.
Nie Zhiyuan, already fifty-two this year, was quite fat, usually with a smile on his face, but today his chubby face was full of anger.
“Never mind if the news is true or fake, even if it is, how can you pilots cross thousands of kilometers to reach Shanxi? You might get caught by devils halfway!”
Cheng Rufeng said firmly: “Principal, we’ve made up our minds, whether you agree or not, we’re leaving the flight school to go to Shanxi and join that Commander Su, even if we die on the road, we have no regrets.”
“Insolent… is this how you talk to superiors?” The director of instruction nearby was furious, slamming the table and scolding.
Cheng Rufeng and the more than ten others stood silently, but their faces were all stubborn, with expressions saying even if executed, we’re going to Shanxi.
The director was so angry his body trembled.
“Alright Old Wang, don’t be angry.” Nie Zhiyuan sighed deeply, patted his shoulder, then turned to Cheng Rufeng and the others seriously.
“You’ve really decided to go to Shanxi?”
“Yes, Principal.” Cheng Rufeng’s expression was full of determination, “I still remember, when Captain Gao（ Gao Zhihang） gave us our first lesson, he told us: As pilots, taking off means combat! Do not expect to return alive, think first of going to your death.
Now Captain Gao has fulfilled his oath, it’s our turn.”
“Principal!”
Feng Mingqian also stood up, “It’s not just Captain Gao, our school motto is the same, do you remember the school motto engraved at the gate of Hangzhou Jianqiao Central Aviation School?”
Before he could speak, the more than ten pilots and trainees behind him recited in unison: “Our bodies, planes, and bombs shall perish together with the enemy’s warships and positions!”
As they recited, many began to shed tears.
Looking at world history, the Chinese Air Force had the highest casualty rate and shortest survival time.
In the early Anti-Japanese War, Chinese Air Force pilots had an average lifespan of less than 6 months; by the end of 1938, more than 400 pilots had been killed, nearly half graduates of the flight school, with an average age at death of only 23.
These young men, mostly from wealthy families, fulfilled their oath with their lives, “Die for the country, never return alive!”
American reporter Edgar Snow recorded in《 Red Star Over China》:
“These Chinese youths knew each takeoff might be farewell, yet still smiled as they walked to their planes.”
They piloted fighters far inferior to the Japanese（ like Hawk III with max speed of only 360km, while Japanese Type 96 carrier aircraft reached 435km）, charging selflessly at enemy planes, unhesitatingly perishing together with opponents.
“You… you bastards…” Nie Zhiyuan was so angry his face turned red, pointing at these audacious pilots, unable to speak for a long time, finally storming out of the office with a huge slam of the door.
“Lawless… lawless…” The director pointed at Cheng Rufeng and the others, his finger trembling.
“You all only know to grieve for your fallen comrades and brothers, little do you know Principal Nie’s heart aches ten or a hundred times more than yours.
Which of those sacrificed pilots wasn’t the old principal’s student? You can still take to the skies to avenge your comrades, but the principal?
He can only watch his students die on the battlefield one by one, the torment in his heart is worse than yours, yet you rub salt in his wounds?”
Facing the director’s torrent of scolding, Cheng Rufeng and the others all lowered their heads in silence, letting tears slide continuously down their cheeks.
After some unknown time, the office door was pushed open again.
Nie Zhiyuan walked back in; this old man who had toiled his life for the Chinese Air Force’s construction glanced at everyone and said flatly: “I just got the contact info for the Shanxi Militia General Regiment through the Second War Zone Command, and sent them a telegram.
They replied quickly; Commander Su Yaoyang agreed to send a C-47 transport plane in two days to pick you up. Those of you willing to go, submit your reports to me in these two days, ‘as individuals’ going to Shanxi to ‘study and learn’ from the militia flight squadron’s advanced experience, understood?”
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up, and they replied in unison: “Understood, sir, thank you for your guidance!”
“Alright, stop standing here, you’re annoying to look at, get the hell out!”
“Yes… Thank you, Principal, for your nurturing!”
The pilots ran out while speaking, scattering in an instant…
