When the "September 18th Incident" happened, Liu Cuigang was studying in the First Engineering Department, and he personally heard and witnessed the barbaric acts of the Japanese invaders in Shenyang. The vast Shenyang City is full of displaced people, teachers and students are scattered, and Liu Cuigang is forced to return to his hometown.
On the second day of the September 18th Incident, the Japanese invaders invaded Tieling, Changtu and Changchun to the north of Shenyang. In Changtu, the Japanese bayonet forced local officials and gentry to set up a pseudo "stability meeting", and the Japanese army also set up barracks and garrisons in Changtu. They burned, killed and looted everywhere, committing all kinds of evils, which aroused Liu Cuigang's deep-rooted hatred of Japanese imperialism. In front of the enemy's bayonet, he was unarmed and unable to resist. The collapse of his hometown and the broken mountains and rivers plunged him into great grief and indignation mentally. Liu Cuigang thought hard and finally understood a truth: in China, it is not feasible to take the road of "saving the country through industry". In order to get revenge and drive away the invaders, you must pick up your sword and gun! He suddenly remembered that when he was studying in Shenyang No.1 Engineering College, that is,1February, 930, Nanjing Central Army Military Academy (formerly Huangpu School) had come to Shenyang to enroll students, and now he wants to join the army. Why not apply for this military school? After making up his mind, he bid farewell to his lovely hometown and relatives, resolutely boarded the train in exile in Beiping, and then went south from Beiping to Nanjing, where the Central Military Academy enrolled students. He was admitted to the ninth infantry division of the school with excellent results, became a enlisted student of the Central Military Academy, received strict military training and study, and began his military career.
In Nanjing Central Military Academy, Liu Cuigang first received the training of conscripts, worked hard all day, changed the scholar's spirit, developed a healthy and strong body, and successfully passed the hard training of conscripts. Then there is discipline training, and the academic performance has always been excellent.
1932 65438+February, Liu Cuigang was admitted to the Kuomintang Central Aviation School again,1934 65438+February graduated from the Aviation School and became a trainee officer of the First Brigade who was expelled from the Kuomintang Air Force. In the following years, he was transferred from warrant officer to second lieutenant, and then to second lieutenant. 1937 was promoted to captain of the 24th Team of the 5th Air Expulsion Brigade and led his team to Nanchang.
After the Lugouqiao Incident, the Japanese General Staff drew up a plan to fight near Shanghai. In order to maintain its dominant position in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek, the Kuomintang, had to take more active anti-Japanese actions at the strong request of the Chinese production party and the people of the whole country, and mobilized a large number of troops in Shanghai, Suzhou and Jiading. On August 3rd, the 5th Air Expulsion Brigade was ordered to be transferred to Yangzhou in this situation. The next day, the whole team left Nanchang and secretly flew to Yangzhou.
On August 1 1, when the battle between Shanghai and Shanghai started, Liu Cuigang sent home a letter similar to a will from Yangzhou, in which he wrote: "If I die for my country, I will do my best, because we were born in modern China, and we can't drag out an ignoble existence for a moment. You should create a new life and transform the environment. I just hope you will always remember that you have met such a person in your life journey. We fight for justice, we fight for survival, and we will win ... "
Xu Xilin, a gentle and virtuous wife, fully understood her husband's mission and ardent desire to serve the country, and sent him a warm, encouraging and considerate letter: "Don't be distracted because I miss you. Otherwise, Lin is really a sinner of the country. We don't want to be arrogant, we don't want to be humble, all we want is a sound body and a firm, patient and meticulous heart. Check yourself every time you get on the plane. It is not appropriate to trust people too much. At the same time, we should be clear-headed and ready to attack the invading enemy. I take care of you at home, so don't miss it. Now that you have handed it over to the country, I shouldn't disturb your heart of defending your country with personal things. Cui Gang, this is not our time. As you said, our time is the day when we defeat the invaders and restore the rivers and mountains, and our Chinese nation will live forever. At that time, our little family will be full of happiness. I hope that day will come soon ... "
On the night of August 13, the 5th Air Brigade received the anti-Japanese war order from Chiang Kai-shek of the Kuomintang for the first time. Late that night, Wang Zhuo, the lieutenant of the 24th expulsion team of the 5th Air Brigade, was on the night shift as usual. 1 1: 30, rainy on cloudy days. Suddenly, the telephone rang in a hurry, and he quickly grabbed the receiver. A blunt questioning voice came from the earphone, which sounded familiar: "Who are you?" "I am Captain Wang Wei, Lieutenant of Team 24!" The voice in the earphone rang again: "I am the chairman. Now, I order your fifth brigade to prepare for battle immediately! The traitor Huang Xun, the confidential secretary of the Executive Yuan, leaked the news that I blocked the Yangtze River to the Japanese. Now there are fifty Japanese warships fleeing eastward on the Yangtze River. You send me a 18 plane, chase and bomb it before dawn tomorrow, and destroy it all! Don't blow it up when you enter the Huangpu River. You repeat it for me! " Wang Zhuo recognized Chiang Kai-shek's voice from the beginning, because the chairman was also the principal of the Central Aviation School. He has repeatedly "lectured" at the aviation school and "reviewed" the Air Force. As a third-year student in the aviation school and a division leader of the Air Force, he is familiar with Chiang Kai-shek's voice. Wang Zhuo repeated every word into the microphone and immediately carried out the command.
Reported Chiang Kai-shek's orders to the battalion chief Ding. With a siren, the whole brigade stood up. After defining the combat mission, Liu Cuigang and everyone were overjoyed. I waited for six years from "9. 18" to "8. 13". Today, I received the anti-Japanese war order for the first time 1. Who can sleep? The whole brigade began preparations before take-off, some moved bombs, some hung bombs, some loaded bullets, some drove to keep warm, and the whole brigade was ordered to enter the combat state. At that time, the 5th Brigade had 40 aircrafts, in addition to the original 30 Hawk III destroyers, there were also 10 Hawk II aircrafts. The latter is old, weak in fighting capacity and slow in speed. After take-off, the landing gear could not be retracted, and it was driven by the former Guangdong Air Force pilot. According to Chiang Kai-shek's orders, the battalion chief selected 18 Hawke III destroyers, and the rest of the planes stood by to set out. The task is to defend the airport, prevent enemy planes from attacking or perform new tasks.
/kloc-in the early morning of August in 0/4, it rained harder and harder, and the night was extremely dark, with poor visibility. At 3: 35, the fifth aviation brigade 18 Silver Eagle took off under the leadership of the team leader Ding, flew into the misty night sky and descended along the Yangtze River. Pilots have to fly on the horizon when flying a plane, but the weather is so bad that they can't see the horizon at all. In order to find Japanese warships on the river, the plane had to fly at low altitude, close to the Yangtze River, and the Yangtze River was seamlessly connected with the sky, just like an organic whole, really like Tianshui. Therefore, every pilot knows that flying in this bad weather is extremely dangerous, otherwise it will get into the water. Ding led the fleet to fly along the river for a while, but found no bombing target, so he had to order to return to Yangzhou airport. Time is running out, and the task is not completed. If the fighter plane is delayed, all Japanese ships will flee from the Yangtze River estuary. Ding is extremely anxious. He knows Chiang Kai-shek's temper and personality. Once Chiang Kai-shek scolded him, he could not work. At this moment, he thought of General Fei, one of the few "all-weather" pilots in China Air Force! The battalion chief Ding has always attached great importance to it, and he almost said it in a pleading tone; "Liu Duichang, it's up to you this time. You lead the team, what about me and the team? " The battalion chief wants the wingman of the squadron leader, which shows that Liu Cuigang's flying skills are serious. Liu Cuigang looked up at the gloomy night sky, and his resolute face showed a stern and firm calm expression. Without saying anything, he immediately nodded in agreement. Later, the 5th Brigade reorganized the 2nd Flying Team.
The plane took off again. 1 is the squadron leader of Liu Cuigang, the second is Liang Hongyun, the vice captain of Team 24, and the next is the captain's plane. ...
With many years' flying experience, Liu Cuigang's two bright eyes spewed out the flames of revenge, staring at the surface of the Yangtze River and flying at low altitude. The "240 1" Hawk-type three-drive aircraft he was flying was relatively advanced at that time, but only half of the windshield of this aircraft could not stop the rainstorm, which directly poured into the cabin, accompanied by a burst of coolness. However, he completely ignored these, full of blood boiled all over him, and he was absorbed in searching for Japanese warships. The result was disappointing. When the fleet tracked the Wusong estuary of the Yangtze River, there was not even a warship on the river.
Liu Cuigang had to turn around and go south from Wusongkou. When he passed through Chuansha, the leader Liu Cuigang suddenly saw a Japanese warship! Boy, I finally found "foreign fishing"! We have been angry for many years, and this time we finally have a chance to get revenge. Liu Cuigang ordered the players to divide into several echelons, dive in turn, and resolutely sink the warship.
This is a Japanese destroyer with a large tonnage and a "plaster flag". It dragged its huge and bulky body and swam upstream on the water. For pilots, it's just a short-lived snail crawling. Liu Cuigang changed direction, made an inverted bomb after the first dive 1, and a 500-pound bomb roared down. As this is the first bombing, it is impossible to correct the impact point. The bomb exploded near the warship and missed the enemy ship. But this is the first bomb dropped by China Air Force on the Japanese invaders!
The second bomber is the vice captain Liang Hongyun. Shandong people made corrections according to the location of the first bomb in Liu Cuigang. After that, he dived and hung the bomb upside down. Another 500-pound bomb landed right behind the Japanese ship. The stern of the Japanese ship suddenly caught fire and sank, but the bow of the ship tilted up. After Liang Hongyun, which player will take the bomb back? The third, fourth and fifth time ... 18, a 9000-pound bomb fell like hail, and soon sank the destroyer, killing all the Japanese on board. When Liu Cuigang ordered a successful return, he found that the destroyer had only one mast swinging on the water, whether it was floating or sinking. ...
At 8: 00 am, Liu Cuigang led the 18 plane back to Yangzhou Airport. China Air Force won the first battle. Mao Bangchu, deputy commander of the Kuomintang Air Force and former enemy, drove a reconnaissance plane and rushed to Yangzhou Airport to express condolences to the air force soldiers who returned home triumphantly. Mao Bangchu said, "You made your first achievement today! This is the first meritorious service of the Japanese Air Force in its war against China! You sank a Japanese warship, which is unprecedented in the history of China. It's amazing! I congratulate you! " This is indeed the first great victory in the history of China Air Force. From the Sino-Japanese naval battle of 1894 to the sinking of the ship of 1937 on August, it was indeed a rare great victory. Liu Cuigang led the flight, first found the bombing target, and first dropped the bomb. Liang Hongyun, the vice captain, was the first to bomb the Sino-Japanese ship and made the first contribution. Liang Hongyun was the first victim of China Air Force. On the afternoon of August/0/4, 2004, while patrolling in Shanghai, his plane was attacked by a Japanese reconnaissance plane. He was shot five times and his intestines were broken. He completely ignored it and simply flew the plane back to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Repeated rescues were ineffective and heroic sacrifices were made.
On the afternoon of August 14, a Sino-Japanese air battle took place over Jianqiao in Hangzhou. Captain Gao Zhihang of the 4th Air Expulsion Brigade opened the record and shot down a plane of the Japanese Kisarazu Air Force. Li Guidan, Zheng Keyu, Liu Zhensheng and Wang Wenhua of Zhihuang Team also shot down five enemy planes. This is the famous "August 14" air battle. In order to commemorate the great victory of China Air Force warriors in sinking Japanese ships and shooting down enemy planes in the afternoon, 14 in August every year is designated as the air force day of the Kuomintang army.