Chapter 1 Nagasaki Air Battle

The battle over Nagasaki was fierce. At Lin Fan's command, the fighter jets that had refueled at Saga Airport, led by Captain Guan Guohao, took off with twenty-four aircraft to reinforce the battle.

Twelve fighter jets remained to guard Saga Airport, while over two hundred bombers and fifty-four fighter jets landed to refuel and load supplies from the airport.

Lin Fan led the remaining hundred-plus bombers and twenty refueling planes back toward the airspace between Nagasaki and Guangde, setting another ambush.

Having successfully ambushed fighters with bombers once, Lin Fan had gained some experience. He decided to use the same trick again, hoping the Japanese would fall for it.

Mao Wenxing, commanding in the air, received Lin Fan's latest battle plan and immediately ordered the entire air wing to retreat along the flight path while fighting.

The fighter jets were instructed to lure away the Japanese planes and lower their altitude to 3,000-3,500 meters.

After a detailed understanding of the entire battle plan, Captain Pan Yongshan ordered the entire squadron to prepare for retreat to Saga Airport.

The Japanese air combat teams had been fighting the Special Forces Brigade's air wing for almost an hour, far exceeding their expected thirty-minute resolution.

They had assumed that the Special Forces Brigade's planes, having traveled across the ocean, would be low on fuel. They were surprised to see them lasting so long.

Now, seeing the air wing finally retreating towards the sea, Captain Yuteng Zhe excitedly ordered, "They're running! They must be out of fuel! Follow them, everyone, the moment of miracle has arrived!"

They had already lost over ten planes since the beginning of the fight, and now that the Special Forces Brigade's planes were retreating, it was clear they were trying to escape.

Captain Kaku Ryuu also encouraged, "Let's chase them and see the spectacle of so many planes crashing together!"

The pursuing Japanese pilots noticed that the retreating fighters ahead were gradually lowering their altitude to 3,000 meters.

Flying at this altitude was clearly to conserve fuel and extend their flight range. In combat, occupying a higher altitude was the advantageous position.

The retreating fighters were low on fuel and could only fly at the most fuel-efficient altitude and speed.

"The dark clouds ahead foreshadow the dark future of those fleeing planes," Captain Kaku Ryuu said with a smile.

The speed of the retreating planes was indeed slowing down. Were they trying to maintain that speed to fly back?

"Impossible! We won't allow it!" Captain Yuteng Zhe said to all the Japanese pilots.

"Increase speed and chase them down! Eliminate them!" Captain Kaku Ryuu ordered.

Pilot Watanabe Kazuo, flying his fighter jet at the forefront, was an ambitious fighter pilot. Since joining Kaku Ryuu's squadron, he had always been the most diligent.

He spent every spare moment studying combat techniques and aircraft operation. His efforts had not been in vain. During today's air battle, he had twice managed to evade incoming shells at the last moment.

Although he had not shot down a single plane, he believed that as long as he was still in the air, there was still a chance. Now, he wanted to catch up and be the first to destroy an enemy fighter.

That way, he would achieve his ambition as quickly as possible, and at least a lieutenant's rank would be within reach.

With thoughts of his promotion to lieutenant in his mind, his actions did not slow down as the pursuing fighters entered the cloudy airspace.

With less than five hundred meters separating him from the fighter ahead, Watanabe Kazuo opened fire, his machine gun bullets pouring out, chasing the plane in front.

Although he was at the very front of the air wing, many planes from Kaku Ryuu's squadron were following closely behind.

These fighters also strafed the Special Forces Brigade's fighters flying at low altitude. Numerous machine gun bullets drew brilliant lines across the dark sky, combining into a beautiful display.

In Watanabe Kazuo's eyes, this scene was very rewarding. They, the Japanese, had driven the attacking Special Forces Brigade's planes out of Nagasaki and into the sea.

Once all the pursuing Japanese fighters had entered the cloudy airspace, Lin Fan and Captain Guan Guohao, leading over one hundred and fifty bombers and twenty-four fighters hidden in the clouds, gave the order: "Attack!"

This ambush was far more intense than the previous one. With the addition of twenty-four fighters, nearly two hundred planes charged out.

Watanabe Kazuo, who had just been admiring the beauty of the scene, was the first to be hit. He was struck by a shell, and his plane exploded into pieces in mid-air before he could react.

The fate of the other fighters at the front was the same. They were the priority targets.

Captain Kaku Ryuu, flying at the rear of the formation, witnessed a group of planes flying out of the clouds and swooping down on his entire air wing with lightning speed.

Again, machine gun bullets drew fiery red lines across the dark sky, but this time, the red lines intertwined into a net.

This enormous net of firepower engulfed the entire Kaku Ryuu squadron, resulting in plane after plane exploding in mid-air or plummeting towards the sea, trailing black smoke.

Captain Kaku Ryuu's plane suffered the same fate; it was not given any special treatment.

Seeing that the battle was over after just one round of attack, Lin Fan immediately contacted Mao Wenxing, instructing him to organize all the planes still fighting fiercely over Nagasaki to retreat towards them while fighting.

This time, there was no need to set up any more ambushes. With two fighter squadrons and a bomber group here, the remaining Japanese planes stood no chance.

Captain Yuteng Zhe only knew that the other two squadrons had chased the Special Forces Brigade's fighters out.

He rallied the Japanese pilots, "Everyone! Hold them back! They are starting to run away again. These are the ones left behind to cover the retreat.

As long as we hold them, their fuel will run out soon!"

The air battle had been going on for an hour, and Zhu Qingmao and the other fighters were indeed running low on fuel. Upon receiving Mao Wenxing's command, the entire squadron retreated while fighting along the return route.

Their retreat was exactly what Captain Yuteng Zhe had just told the Japanese pilots. "Captain is wise!"

Several Japanese pilots were flattering Long Tengzhe.

This made Long Tengzhe feel somewhat pleased. Once this battle was over, and if all these enemy fighters were shot down, could he be crowned the "Air War God"?

Captain Long Tengzhe, eager to become an Air War God, keenly noticed the retreat of the Special Forces Brigade's fighters and, of course, would not let them go.

Just as the two sides were entangled in a fierce battle in the air, two hundred planes suddenly emerged from the surroundings.

Among them were fighters, but even more were bombers. Regardless of the type of plane, they swooped down on Yuteng Zhe's squadron, which had only about thirty planes left.

This time, Captain Yuteng Zhe was terrified. He ordered, "Retreat!"

However, his order had already been anticipated by Lin Fan. The two hundred-plus planes had already surrounded the entire airspace, making it impossible for the Japanese fighters to escape.

With an absolute advantage of seven to one, the Special Forces Brigade launched a devastating attack, shooting down the last batch of Japanese fighters.

With all enemy planes destroyed in the air, except for the twenty-four fighters brought by Guan Guohao's squadron, which remained to protect the bomber group, all the remaining fighters flew to Saga Airport to refuel.

Over one hundred and fifty bombers once again flew over Nagasaki and began another round of bombing.

Nagasaki Shipyard: The women huddled outside the factory gates watched in horror as the dark mass of bombers roared down from the sky, dropping bombs again and again.

Fires that had just been extinguished reignited, and ruins that had just begun to be cleared were once again in disarray.

Not only the shipyards but also the inland ordnance factories and steel mills were subjected to another round of heavy bombing!

After completing the bombing, Lin Fan did not lead the planes back but instead flew to the neighboring Kumamoto Prefecture. Flying at low altitude, they found a Japanese airfield and unleashed a barrage of bombs.

Only then did Lin Fan lead the entire squadron back. While still in the air, he received a report from the airport: "A large stockpile of Japanese aerial bombs has been found at Saga Airport."

Lin Fan's already prepared mind for the return journey became active again: "How much?"

"At least five thousand tons!"

With so many aerial bombs, the Special Forces Brigade's two hundred-plus bombers could not carry them all in one trip.

After a moment's thought, Lin Fan issued the order: "Prepare to attack! All bombers prepare to replenish bombs and continue bombing the Japanese."

With so many bombs, bombing Nagasaki again would be a waste. Lin Fan needed to consider where to bomb with the five thousand-plus tons of bombs that would require three trips by the bomber group to drop all of them on the Japanese.

Where should these bombing targets be located?

While still in the air, Lin Fan sent a telegram to Jurong, ordering Gui Shiyun to provide valuable bombing targets in Tokyo and valuable targets near Saga.

Mao Wenxing was also pondering this question. He knew that with so many bombs, the first thought was which Japanese city to bomb.

By the time Lin Fan led the bomber group back to Saga Airport, the airport apron was already filled with fighter jets, and twelve fighter jets were patrolling the sky.

The remaining fighters were all refueled and ready to take off into the sky at any moment.

Mao Wenxing's transport planes were also refueling. Lin Fan held a temporary military conference at the airport to discuss how to utilize the bombs at the airport.

The bombs stored here by the Japanese must be used, but where should they be used?

Lin Fan was, of course, inclined to take off directly and bomb Tokyo. It was the Japanese capital, and bombing it would let them know that from now on, they would not be safe no matter where they hid.

However, from Saga to Tokyo was nine hundred kilometers, almost the same as the return journey.

If they did not bomb Tokyo and only dropped bombs in the cities around Saga, it would be very easy.

Gui Shiyun, who had been busy drawing maps in Jurong every day, ran out to watch the battle when the air battle began.

She was a journalist, and a very famous one at that. However, she was not a war correspondent, and this was the first time she had seen a scene like today's.

In fact, the scale of today's air battle was also a first for the people of Jurong and the soldiers of the Special Forces Brigade.

Gui Shiyun watched as Jurong's anti-aircraft fire shot down Japanese planes like swatting flies. Although some planes fell into the county town, and some fragments crashed into residential buildings,

the rescue personnel rushed over immediately. Fire trucks, sirens blaring, mixed with the air raid sirens, and quickly extinguished the fires that had broken out in those places.

This scene made Gui Shiyun's blood boil. She watched until the end of the air battle, her heart still pounding with excitement, and was still walking in the garden when

she received an urgent telegram delivered by a soldier. Gui Shiyun took it and saw that it was sent by Lin Fan. Seeing Lin Fan's order, she immediately returned to her office.

She summoned the entire drafting team, showed Lin Fan's request to everyone, and everyone immediately began drafting a telegram.

What they needed now was to use language to fulfill Lin Fan's request, which could only be to provide Lin Fan with a wide range of bombing targets.

Gui Shiyun thought of the several large Japanese naval ports she had visited and quickly sent the first telegram to Lin Fan: Within 300 kilometers of Saga, there is the Kobe Naval Port and a Japanese naval shipyard.

About 250 kilometers from Saga, there is the Japanese Kure Naval Port, as well as the Kure Naval Factory, the largest Japanese naval factory.

The two naval ports are in the same direction, less than 50 kilometers apart, making them very suitable as targets.

The Japanese naval port in Nagasaki had just been bombed twice by the Special Forces Brigade's bomber group, and their naval shipyard had also been bombed twice, so they did not need to be targeted.

If they returned directly, they could bomb the Japanese naval port on Okinawa Island. There are two Japanese naval ports here, about 550 kilometers from Saga, but this would make the return journey long, reaching 1,500 kilometers.

After receiving the telegram, Lin Fan quickly drew on the map and said to all the air wing commanders and three company commanders present: "We will set off immediately and bomb the Japanese Kobe Naval Port and shipyard in Hiroshima.

The second wave will attack the Kure Naval Port and the Kure Naval Factory.

After bombing these two places, everyone will take off from here, go around and bomb Okinawa once, and then return home."

Lin Fan looked at Zhen Jianshu, Meng Qilue, and Qi Yixuan, the three infantry company commanders, and asked, "We are leaving to bomb. You will need to hold here for at least six hours. Do you have the confidence?"

"Yes!" The eyes of the three company commanders were filled with excitement.

"We guarantee to complete the task!"

Lin Fan then gave the order to the air wings: "Leave one squadron of fighters here to assist in protecting the airport, and the refueling planes will follow! All other units, attack!"

The squadron commanders, including Guan Guohao, were all very excited. This time, they were using Japanese oil and Japanese bombs to bomb Japanese warships.

This was the kind of battle that was really satisfying!

Lin Fan ordered the air wing commanders: "Announce the battle plan to the soldiers and prepare to depart!"

"Yes!"

While they were holding the meeting here, the pilots of the entire air wing were not resting. Their planes were being refueled and rearmed.

The bombers were also being refueled and reloaded with bombs. The meeting here had just ended.

The squadron commanders began to organize the bombing mission, and the new operational task was issued: Target, Kobe!

The twelve fighter jets protecting the airport were still circling in the air, and the three infantry companies each sent two platoons, who were still constantly transporting supplies from the warehouse to the runway.

From here to Kobe is about 250 kilometers, so the round trip is 500 kilometers. If they don't bring refueling planes, the combat time in the middle will only be about fifty minutes.

Lin Fan can extend the combat time to one and a half hours by bringing refueling planes.

When the Special Forces Brigade's squadron set off, the Japanese mainland was in an uproar.

They had only intended to use two unfinished warships to lure the Special Forces Brigade's air wing in, with the plan of annihilating the entire air wing.

They did not expect that the plan was perfectly conceived, but there were problems when it came to execution. Not only were two half-built warships bombed for nothing,

but the entire shipyard and the entire naval port were bombed twice in a row. More importantly, the Special Forces Brigade had actually occupied Saga Airport.

"What are they trying to do? Stay at Saga Airport forever?" Prime Minister Hiranuma Kiichirō asked loudly at the official residence.

The Minister of the Army and the Minister of the Navy both lowered their heads and did not say a word. At this time, Naval Vice-Minister Yamamoto Isoroku stepped forward and said, "Prime Minister! I believe they are only temporarily resting at the airport and will leave immediately."

Hiranuma Kiichirō immediately asked, "Can we send planes to intercept them on their way back?"

Yamamoto Isoroku thought for a moment: "No! The Empire's warplanes have been depleted too much during this period, and production cannot keep up.

During the Battle of Wuhan, the Army's planes suffered huge losses, the Fifth Naval Fleet Air Squadron was completely wiped out, and the loss at Taoyuan Airport was even greater.

Next, there was the air battle with the Special Forces Brigade in Shanghai, and the loss of planes was huge. Most of the mainland's warplanes were urgently sent to the front lines, and there were not many warplanes left.

This time, in order to ambush the Special Forces Brigade in Nagasaki, all the Imperial Navy's fighters have been concentrated, and now only bombers and some others remain.

We are unable to intercept them on their way home!"

Hearing his explanation, Prime Minister Hiranuma Kiichirō's face turned red with anger: "Are we just going to let them go back like this?

How am I going to report to the Emperor? How am I going to explain to the people?"

Yamamoto Isoroku looked embarrassed: "This is all because the Empire does not invest enough in the Navy. If we could increase investment and the Navy's carrier-based aircraft could increase by 5,000, there would not be such an awkward scene.

The Prime Minister can propose to the Emperor to continue to strengthen domestic laws and let the people contribute more so that our strength will be greatly enhanced.

As for the people's views on today's events, they are not important. Last time, a fire broke out in the middle of the night, and ten cities were set ablaze, but didn't people quickly stop asking about it?"

What he said made sense, and Prime Minister Hiranuma Kiichirō's face, which had just been flushed, gradually calmed down: "What can we do to make those people willingly take out their money to support the Empire's war effort?"