Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 209 Meeting the Enemy
"Woo...Woo...Woo..."

The piercing, shrill air raid siren, like the roar of death, suddenly shattered the tranquility above the airport on the banks of the Jiuqu River!
The siren was extremely penetrating, like an invisible blade piercing into everyone's eardrums, instantly dragging the airport from its usual peaceful state into the vortex of war!

The pilots, who had been gathered in twos and threes in the makeshift rest area, smoking and chatting, wiping their pistols, or resting with their eyes closed, were all stunned when they heard the sudden alarm that represented the highest level of threat. The relaxed expressions on their faces instantly froze.

The next second, everyone sprang from their seats like rabbits with their tails on fire! Almost reflexively, they threw away everything they were carrying and sprinted at their fastest speed ever, recklessly heading towards the fighter jets that stood silently on the tarmac!

The heavy flight boots pounded on the mud and gravel, making a rapid "thump-thump-thump" sound and kicking up clouds of dust.

As the pilots ran, they subconsciously checked their equipment... whether they were wearing their flight helmets, whether their oxygen masks were properly hung, and whether their pistols were in their holsters.

The top floor of the airport control tower, inside the command center.

Colonel Jimmy Doolittle was on the phone with Su Yaoyang, who was far away in the county town, discussing the next steps in the pilot training plan and the airport defense deployment.

The sudden, piercing air raid siren made even this experienced, legendary American pilot's heart leap! He almost instantly realized that this was not a drill, but a real air raid siren!

"What happened?!" Doolittle asked in a deep voice into the microphone, while his sharp gaze swept out the window.

On the other end of the phone, Su Yaoyang's voice became noticeably urgent: "General Doolittle! I've heard the alarm here too!"

"Intelligence has just received an urgent report from the radar station... To the west! A large formation of Japanese aircraft has been spotted to the west! Extremely large! They are flying towards us at high speed!"

Almost as soon as Su Yaoyang finished speaking, the communications operator in the control tower removed his headset, turned to Doolittle with a pale face, and reported in a trembling voice: "Colonel! Radar station emergency call! Confirmed! Large-scale enemy aircraft formation has appeared in the western airspace! Distance 160 kilometers... speed 400 kilometers per hour, expected to arrive in 20 minutes!"

"Damn it!"

Doolittle cursed under his breath, a flicker of anxiety in his azure eyes. He knew his worst fears had come true! The Japanese retaliation was faster and more ferocious than anticipated!
"Boss...please immediately order all ground units to enter the highest state of combat readiness!"
"I will personally lead all fighter jets to take off immediately to engage the enemy! Ground anti-aircraft fire, prepare to fire!" Doolittle said decisively into the microphone, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Understood! I've given the order! The airport is in your hands now, Jimmy... hold on!" Su Yaoyang's voice was equally firm.

After hanging up the phone, Doolittle grabbed his flight helmet and, without turning around, yelled at the other staff officers in the control tower: "Activate the highest level of air strike plan! Notify all air defense positions! Order all pilots to scramble immediately as the first combat order! Target: Intercept the enemy approaching from the west!"

Having said that, he strode towards the gangway leading downstairs, his heavy military boots clanging loudly on the metal steps. This legendary pilot, already in his forties, was once again personally taking to the skies to fight the enemy!

The airport was already a scene of busy activity, both tense and orderly.

Although the pilots were already moving very quickly, the ground crew and mechanics who were already waiting on the tarmac were even faster!

The moment the piercing alarm sounded, these men in oil-stained work clothes seemed to be injected with a stimulant, rushing out from every corner. Some quickly removed the canvas covers from the cockpit and engines, some swiftly pulled off the wheel chocks under the landing gear, and others skillfully assisted the pilots in putting on their parachutes and connecting the radio and oxygen lines.

"One-Eyed Jack" and Tom, the two partners who had just shot down two reconnaissance planes, should have already completed their missions and didn't need to fly again today, but they still rushed to their respective aircraft as fast as they could, just like everyone else.

"Quick! Quick! Quick! Get the engine up and running!" One-Eyed Jack roared at the ground crew beside him as he nimbly climbed into the cockpit. His single eye gleamed with excitement, like a beast about to be unleashed.

Ground crew members quickly helped them fasten their seatbelts and connect various cables. One mechanic skillfully turned the inertia starter, while another assisted the pilot outside the cockpit.

"Buzz...buzz...thump-thump-thump...boom!!!"

With a heart-pounding start-up sound, the P-47's powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 "Twin Wasp" 18-cylinder radial engine roared like a behemoth awakening! The huge four-bladed propeller began to spin rapidly, stirring up powerful air currents that sent dust and weeds flying everywhere!

"Clear prop!" (Clear the propeller area!)

With a roar from the pilot, one P-47 Thunderbolt fighter jet after another, guided by flag signals from ground controllers, taxied from the tarmac to the main runway.

The auxiliary fuel tanks mounted under the wings and the full load of .50 caliber aircraft machine gun bullets gave these normally somewhat bulky "big milk bottles" a deadly aura at this moment.

Inside the cockpit, the pilots were intently checking the instruments and adjusting the flaps, preparing for the upcoming fierce battle.

"Tower calling 'Thunder' formation! Cleared for takeoff! Repeat! Cleared for takeoff! Good luck! God bless!"

Doolittle's voice came clearly through the radio into each pilot's headset. He himself was already seated in the cockpit of a P-47, preparing to taxi to the runway.

"'Thunder One' received! Take off!" One-Eyed Jack was the first to respond, slamming the throttle to the maximum and releasing the brakes.

"boom!!!"

The P-47 let out an even more ferocious roar, its heavy fuselage accelerating along the runway. The powerful thrust pressed One-Eyed Jack firmly against the seat back, and the scenery on both sides of the runway rushed past.

When the speed reached the critical point for takeoff, One-Eyed Jack suddenly pulled the control stick!

The P-47's massive nose rose proudly, and its heavy fuselage seemed to defy Earth's gravity as it roared into the azure sky!
Following closely behind, Tom's plane, Doolittle's plane, and more than ten other P-47 fighters roared and howled, taking off one after another from the runway of the Jiuquhe River Airport like arrows released from a bow, soaring straight into the sky!
The noses of the aircraft formation were pointing in the direction of Wutai County. They had to stop the Japanese planes before they reached Wutai County, since no one could guarantee that the Japanese were targeting Wutai County, the airport, or both.

…………

Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led two squadrons, a total of twenty-four P-47 Thunderbolt fighters, in close formation, flying at an altitude of six thousand meters.

The sun beat down on the cockpit canopy, but none of the pilots cared. Everyone was focused intently on the front. This was their first large-scale air battle with the Japanese Army Air Force since arriving in China, and no one knew what the outcome would be.

"Tower calling 'Thunder' leader, tower calling 'Thunder' leader! Latest enemy aircraft position: Yaoguaidong (170 bearing), approximately 80 kilometers away from us, altitude unknown!"

Preliminary assessment of enemy aircraft numbers: approximately twenty bombers; the number of escort fighters is unknown, but at least fifteen! (Repeated...)

Enemy situation reports from ground radar stations, transmitted through the control tower, continuously rang in Doolittle's headset. This invaluable information from the "long-range eyes" provided the P-47 formation with crucial battlefield situational awareness. "'Thunder' leader, received!" Doolittle responded calmly, while his sharp gaze swept across the airspace below and ahead.

Twenty-four P-47 Thunderbolts, under Doolittle's command, skillfully used the cover of the clouds to maintain their altitude advantage, like a flock of falcons circling high in the sky, patiently waiting for their prey to enter the optimal attack range.

About ten minutes later, the tense search finally yielded results.

"Target spotted! 11 o'clock, below! Approximately 15 kilometers away!" One-Eyed Jack's slightly hoarse, excited roar boomed through the radio on the formation channel.

Following the direction indicated by One-Eyed Jack, all the pilots saw the Japanese aircraft group looming over them like a dark cloud!
At an altitude of about 5,000 meters, dozens of dark green Japanese aircraft, in a relatively dense formation, were flying menacingly toward Jiuquhe Airport.

Leading the formation were massive Type 97 heavy bombers, resembling mobile aerial fortresses, their fuselages covered with turrets for defensive machine guns. Around and above the bomber formation, more than a dozen relatively agile Type 97 fighters patrolled, acting as close bodyguards for the bombers.

"Attention all units, this is the team leader! Target confirmed!" Doolittle's voice was calm and decisive, clearly transmitted to every pilot's ears via radio.

"We will employ the 'high-speed dive, hit and run' tactic! Maintain altitude advantage! Attack in two-plane formation! Hit hard, disengage quickly, then climb and repeat the attack! Don't let the Japanese Nakajima fighters drag us into dogfights!"

After several days of contact and multiple flights, Doolittle has gained a deep understanding of the characteristics of the P-47 "Thunderbolt". The advantages of this fighter jet are its powerful horsepower, robust airframe, fierce firepower and excellent high-altitude and high-speed performance, while its relatively clumsy turning performance is a weakness.

Therefore, using altitude advantage to launch a high-speed dive attack, strike and escape, and then climb back up to gain altitude was the best tactic for the P-47 against the more maneuverable Japanese fighters, which is the well-known "Boom and Zoom" tactic.

"Attention, 'Thunder' squadrons! As planned, the first squadron will follow me and advance from mid-to-high altitude, prioritizing the attack on the rear of the enemy bomber formation! The second squadron, led by Jack, will attack from the flank and above, focusing on taking out their escort fighters! Remember, disrupt their formation and create chaos!" Doolittle quickly issued the specific attack orders.

“Roger that, Colonel!” One-Eyed Jack replied excitedly, eager to taste the Japanese plane.

"'Thunderbolts', engage! Engage! Engage!"
With Doolittle's command, twenty-four P-47 Thunderbolt fighter jets, like birds of prey receiving a hunting signal, suddenly broke the silence of the high sky!

The two attack squadrons, led by Doolittle and One-Eyed Jack, almost simultaneously pointed their noses at the Japanese aircraft below, yanked the control sticks, and entered a high-speed dive!
"Woo——!!!"

The P-47's powerful engines roared sharply as it dove, like the scythe of death slicing through the air! The heavy fuselage, carrying enormous kinetic energy, hurtled toward the Japanese aircraft below at an astonishing speed! The pilots were pressed tightly into their seats, feeling the oppressive force of the G-force, while their eyes were extremely focused, their fingers gripping the machine gun firing buttons tightly.

The Japanese aircraft group clearly did not expect to encounter such a swift and sudden attack in this airspace that they considered absolutely safe!

When those "lightning bolts" fell from the sky and struck them with overwhelming force, many Japanese pilots didn't even have time to react!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Above! Chinese fighter jets!"

In the Japanese bomber formation, the lookout gunner was the first to spot the P-47 diving at high speed and let out a terrified scream. But it was too late!
Doolittle's First Squadron, like a sharp razor, slashed fiercely into the tail of the Japanese bomber formation!
"Fire! Fire!"

Doolittle took the lead, aiming his aiming ring at a Type 97 heavy bomber that had fallen behind the formation, and pressed the launch button without hesitation!
“Da da da da da——!!!”

The eight powerful .0.50-inch (12.7 mm) Browning M2 heavy machine guns inside the P-47's wings roared simultaneously! Eight blazing trails of tracer rounds, like the lash of death, lashed fiercely at the unfortunate Japanese bomber!

"Puff puff puff puff—BOOM!!!"

Faced with the P-47's ferocious firepower, the relatively thin skin and structure of the Type 97 heavy bomber were utterly vulnerable! Tracer rounds instantly tore through its wings and fuselage, sending aluminum sheets flying and sparks flying everywhere! One of the rounds even directly detonated the bomber's right wing fuel tank!

A deafening explosion! The right wing of the Type 97 Heavy Bomber was instantly engulfed by a massive fireball, billowing thick smoke! The plane lost its balance and, like a bird with a broken wing, spiraled downwards towards the earth, trailing a long plume of black smoke!

Several Japanese aircrew members screamed as they parachuted from the burning plane, but their parachutes were quickly torn apart in mid-air by stray bullets from a follow-up attack by a P-47.

"Whoosh... Take one down!" came the excited shout from the wingman pilot through Doolittle's headset.

Almost simultaneously, the Second Squadron, led by One-Eyed Jack, pounced on the Japanese Type 97 fighters responsible for escorting them from the side and above, like a pack of ferocious wolves!

"Tom, watch your six o'clock! I'm going to take out their leader!" One-Eyed Jack roared, his P-47 shooting like an arrow towards a Japanese Type 97 fighter painted with the commander's insignia.

The pilot of the Japanese Type 97 fighter was clearly an experienced pilot, and he made evasive maneuvers the moment the P-47 dived down, attempting to break free of the P-47's lock-on by making a sharp turn.

But One-Eyed Jack gave him no chance! He used the P-47's powerful dive speed and inertia to keep a tight grip on his opponent!

"Da da da da da!"

A series of precise bursts of fire! The tracer rounds accurately hit the engine and cockpit of the Type 97 fighter jet!
The Type 97 fighter jet suddenly shuddered, its engine billowing black smoke, and then it traced an irregular arc in the air before plunging headfirst into the ground! The pilot didn't even have a chance to eject!

"Another monkey shot down!" One-Eyed Jack laughed triumphantly; this was already his third fighter jet shot down that day.

The P-47 formation's surprise attack was like a thunderbolt thrown into a calm lake!
In an instant, tracer bullets crisscrossed the sky above Mount Wutai, and explosions echoed one after another! Hit Japanese planes trailed black smoke and flames as they plummeted to the ground like dumplings being dropped into a pot!
P-47 pilots strictly adhered to Doolittle's dive-and-zoom tactics, striving for speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness in every dive attack. After firing a salvo, regardless of the outcome, they would immediately pull back on the control stick, utilizing the P-47's powerful climb performance to ascend to a safe altitude, shake off the Japanese fighters, and then seek another opportunity to launch a dive attack.

This hit-and-run tactic, which never allowed them to linger in combat, left the Japanese fighter pilots, who were used to engaging in low-altitude dogfights with the Chinese Air Force, feeling extremely frustrated and helpless! Although their Type 97 fighters were superior to the P-47 in maneuverability, they were completely outmatched by the P-47 in high-altitude, high-speed performance and firepower!

They watched helplessly as those ferocious "lightning bolts" swooped down from the sky time and time again, slaughtering their bombers and comrades as if toying with their prey, while they could hardly mount an effective counterattack. Once they attempted to climb and pursue, the P-47s would have already sped away with their powerful engines; and if the P-47s dove down again, they would be forced to scramble to evade them.

In the brief first engagement lasting only a few minutes, the Japanese aircraft were stunned by this sudden and unprecedented attack method! Caught off guard, at least a dozen Japanese aircraft (including bombers and fighters) were directly shot down in mid-air by the P-47's concentrated firepower, or were severely damaged and crashed while trailing thick smoke!

The sky was torn apart, and debris and flames burst forth like fireworks of death.

The P-47 formation achieved a resounding victory in its first battle! They achieved brilliant results with minimal losses (a few P-47s may have been damaged by Japanese defensive fire and fighters, but most were able to withstand the damage thanks to their robust airframes)!
But Doolittle knew this was just the beginning! The Japanese aircraft still held an overwhelming numerical advantage, and they had gradually recovered from their initial panic and begun to organize an effective counterattack. The most brutal battle was yet to come!

"All 'Lightning' aircraft, regroup! Regain altitude! Prepare for the second wave of attack!" Doolittle's calm voice rang out again on the radio, directing his aerial falcons to prepare for the next deadly hunt.

(End of this chapter)