20_20434 Hearing Yang Zhen's assignment, Chen Xi was surprised and couldn't close his mouth for a long time. Looking at the only national map on hand that could be used as a reference, he couldn't help scratching his head and said: "No. 1, there is nothing meteorological data and topographic data on the way, and you don't have to go through a test flight, just with this national map, you want to fly from Yan'an to southern Anhui, isn't this a bit too risky?" ”

"Not to mention that we don't know anything about the deployment of the Japanese air force along the way, and even all the geographical environments along the way are extremely unfamiliar, and the terrain there can be used as a reference object is not clear at all. It is quite dangerous to fly long distances without even the most basic ground navigation. Even if you can refuel in Luoyang, the danger is considerable. ”

In addition, although there are no mountains and mountains on this road like in the west, this route is located in the middle of the two major air bases of the Japanese army in Wuhan and Nanjing. Even in Henan and Shaanxi, it was within the operational range of the air force of the Japanese North China Front. There are also Japanese air bases such as Wuhu and Anqing around the destination. ”

"There is a high probability that we will encounter Japanese fighters along the way. Without fighter escort, we had almost no chance of escaping once we were intercepted by Japanese fighters and flying in an unfamiliar environment. Even if they were lucky enough to disengage from the Japanese planes, the possibility of getting lost was quite high. ”

"One, when you're marching and fighting, don't you never rely solely on maps for command? Before each battle, don't you also have to look at the terrain of the battlefield in detail? The flight of the aircraft is the same as that of commanding the battle, and there must be a ground reference for the pilot to judge whether he has lost his flight or not. ”

"Especially in the absence of navigation, ground references are important. From Yan'an to southern Anhui, it was not the time we came. When we came, there were routes in Mongolia that the Soviet army was already familiar with. Even after entering the country, the unfamiliar flight path is quite short. As long as we pass Baotou, we will enter the route we are familiar with. ”

"But this time it's different, we haven't flown all the routes at all, and we don't know what the reference on the ground looks like. There are special landmarks there that can be used as an indication, and we are even more unclear. It is not impossible to rely solely on the compass and compass, but the premise is that there can be no interception by Japanese aircraft. ”

Regarding Chen Xi's difficulties, Yang Zhen shook his head and said: "This trip to southern Anhui is related to the life and death of one of our friendly troops. No matter how great the difficulty is, you must also find a way to open up the route from Yan'an to southern Anhui. This is not me, but the task given to you by the central government, and you must do everything you can to complete it. ”

"Don't worry too much, though. In terms of intelligence, I think that once the central authorities agree to my proposal, they will find a way to obtain the necessary information. You should trust the central government's intelligence-gathering capabilities. Although we have not flown this route, it is not unfamiliar to the Air Force of the Nationalist Government. ”

Seeing Yang Zhen's unchangeable expression, Chen Xi hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and said, "No. 1, if you insist, do you want us to test the flight first, at least we have to familiarize ourselves with the route." So as not to get lost when the time comes. Your safety is higher than a qiē, and as the pilot of your special plane, I must be responsible for your safety. ”

"We first tested the flight, first, to find a way to find out the terrain on this route and find the necessary ground references. In addition, it is possible to find out the enemy situation on this route, as well as the tightness of the Japanese army's air defense, especially the law of the activities of the Japanese air force. ”

Regarding Chen Xi's thoughts, Yang Zhen shook his head without thinking and said: "The news of my trip to southern Anhui must be kept secret, so your plane can't be tested." All I can give you is a compass plus a map. There may also be a map of the route of the Nationalist Government Air Force from Henan to southern Anhui. ”

Yang Zhen's insistence, Chen Xi had to shake his head helplessly and said, "No. 1, I want to find a way." If you can get a route map, that's the best. If it really doesn't work, I'll have to fly blindly. But number one, I still hope you'll think about it carefully. You must know that your safety is related to the safety of the Northeast Battlefield. ”

Chen Xi's persuasion, Yang Zhen just shook his head and said, "You don't have to think about my safety, your task now is to come up with a feasible solution as quickly as possible." Remember, no test flights are allowed. Every qiē operation must be strictly kept secret, and no one other than your crew, including our own comrades, is allowed to divulge half a cent. ”

"In addition, all but three people on your plane are loaded with seven or nine bullets. In addition, you are choosing a C-46 transport plane in the best condition, loading light and heavy machine guns and 65 bullets, as well as some medicines and radios to enter a state of readiness with you. ”

"Tell the commander of the fighter team not to return to the northeast during this period, and to be stationed in Yan'an on the spot. Let them do a good job in the air defense of the Yan'an area, and resolutely do not allow Japanese planes to drop a bomb in the Yan'an area. As for the rest of the transport planes, all returned to the Northeast. According to the original plan, the mission to the central airlift was carried out. ”

Before Yang Zhen's words fell, Yang Jialing rang the bell used as an air defense siren. Listening to the bell of Dangdang, Yang Zhen frowned, grabbed the binoculars and said to Chen Xi: "It's really Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive." I just finished explaining the task here, and before you could convey it, the Japanese planes over there came uninvited. You go get the anti-air radio station, and we'll go and see it together. ”

After that, Yang Zhen rushed out of his cave first, pushed Li Mingbo and Zhang Zixiong who came to stop him, quickly climbed a mountain behind his cave, and raised his binoculars to look in the direction of Yan'an City. As for the safety of his fleet parked at Yan'an Airport, he is not worried.

In order to protect these hard-won planes, the central authorities have specially used a large amount of manpower to dig a large number of caves near the airport to park the planes. In the face of these semi-natural bomb shelters, the power of the Japanese bombers was very limited, whether they were throwing explosive bombs or incendiary bombs. Unless they can develop a super bomb, the dozens of kilograms of bombs they use will not be able to help these caves hidden under the thick loess.

Even though the number of planes that came this time was large, it exceeded the capacity of these caves. But the planes that could not be concealed were quickly towed away from the airport and camouflaged after landing. As long as the Japanese planes did not dive extremely low, they simply could not detect those well-camouflaged aircraft.

All aircraft shelters and hideaways have small runways where these aircraft can taxi directly to the take-off runway if necessary. With these countermeasures, Yang Zhen is not worried about the safety of his fleet, what he wants to see is how the reaction ability of the twelve fighters accompanying him this time is.

However, the performance of the aviation in this battle was still very satisfying to Yang Zhen. Just as Yang Zhen had just climbed the hill and raised his binoculars, eight P39 fighters quickly took off from Yan'an Airport to meet the incoming Japanese bomber group. An air battle unfolded within Yang Zhen's field of vision.

Looking at the Japanese bombers in the sky without fighter escorts, Yang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief in his heart: "The central government's secrecy work is still quite strict. The Japanese obviously did not expect that there would be fighter planes in Yan'an, otherwise they would not have sent only bomber groups and not fighter escorts when they carried out an air raid on Yan'an. ”

In addition to the fact that the Japanese army only sent bombers and did not send fighters to escort them, Yang Zhen judged that the Japanese army did not know that a group of fighters had arrived in Yan'an. Yang Zhen also judged from the bombing targets of the Japanese bombers that the Japanese army obviously did not know that a large group of aircraft had arrived in Yan'an. Otherwise, they would not have chosen the key target of the bombing in the urban area of Yan'an, instead of the airfield that was as empty as a wilderness on weekdays, except for the group of transport planes of the Anti-United Nations and the occasional visit of American and Soviet transport planes. Because Yan'an Airport has no targets for them to bomb on weekdays.

At present, the airport in use in Yan'an has been specially expanded on a large scale after the establishment of the air corridor. In addition to lengthening and widening the runway, a large number of aircraft hideouts were also excavated on the side of Qingliangshan. Although there was a shortage of tractors and the necessary gasoline, there were only two cars used for towing at the entire airport, as well as a fuel truck left over from the Northeast Army. However, for this purpose, the central government specially recruited some horses from the border areas.

In order to expand the airport in the shortest possible time to accommodate a large number of aircraft to take off and land under the condition of a weak foundation and lack of large-scale construction machinery, in addition to mobilizing a large number of garrison troops to take turns to participate in the war, almost all the leaders of the central government have participated in labor on the construction site.

Even under the premise that it was impossible to recruit migrant workers because of secrecy, the 359th Brigade, which was transferred back from the front line, was pulled to the airport construction site as soon as it arrived in Yan'an to participate in the expansion of the airport. After several months of hard fighting, the expansion of the airport was finally completed before the freeze.

However, although the airport at the foot of the Qingliang Mountain in Dongguan, Yan'an, has undergone a large-scale expansion, it is limited by primitive conditions, with only a simple wooden tower and only two air-to-air radio stations to direct aircraft take-off and landing. As for the rest, there was only a flag to replace the anemometer.

In the entire Yan'an Airport, except for the frequent visits of anti-United Nations planes, only Soviet transport planes and planes of the Nationalist Government occasionally take off and land. Such an airfield was difficult for the Japanese to gnaw at without any targets worthy of their bombing. Compared with the central authorities they thought were still stationed in Yan'an, this airfield did not arouse the slightest interest of the Japanese army.

Therefore, Yang Zhen knew that they did not find the group of planes they led from the fact that the Japanese planes targeted the city of Yan'an. Otherwise, in terms of the character of the Japanese, even if the airfield was covered by a small amount of anti-aircraft fire, they would destroy it without regard for it.

The target of the Japanese plane was not the airport, and Yang Zhen's mood was relieved at the same time, and he hung up for the people in Yan'an City. The airport is important, but the safety of the people in Yan'an is equally important. Whether or not their own fighters can disperse these bombers or even force them to retreat is not only related to whether the anti-United Nations air force can get a good start in front of the central leaders, but also means whether or not the people of Yan'an can suffer fewer losses.