China's interest in P-43.
As early as 193 1 Japan invaded northeast China, Americans began to pay attention to the comparison of air power between China and Japan. 193 1 August 31day, an assessment document of the US military said that China has only 80 fighters and 80 pilots, of which only 10- 12 can be called "first-class fighter pilots". However, the then "National Government" was very interested in modern fighters, and China's arms procurement group even went to Germany to buy new Junk K-47 fighters. In the eyes of Americans, this first means huge business opportunities. In the following period, although Soviet-made fighter planes became the main type of China Air Force, several American companies competed to send personnel to China to compete for orders. The intensity of competition is called "cutting throat" in the industry. Just to give one example, even the P-5 1 fighter plane of Sevsky Aircraft Company recommended by Chennault fell through because of various interests. However, the situation waits for no one. 1940, the Japanese navy's new "zero" war appeared over the battlefield in China, exposing the inferiority of China's air force. At the end of the same year, Chinese and American high-level officials gradually realized their intention to form a "special aviation force", which was later the "Flying Tigers". However, the Flying Tigers equipped with P-40 also let China down. Moreover, P-40 fighters are not only supplied to China Air Force, but the "National Government" can only hope for other fighters.
On the other hand, China's air force is trying to find new planes to compete with the Japanese, and the aviation manufacturing industry in the United States is also splitting. Seversky Aircraft Company is a well-known enterprise in the early aviation industry in the United States. At that time, it went bankrupt and was separated from it and the aircraft company. Its products were limited to improving the fallen P-35. 1939 In March, the US Army ordered the first batch of 13 improved P-35 fighters: AP-4 fighters with military number YP-43. After the lease bill was passed by the US Congress, the number of U.S. military aircraft purchased increased to 125, and the model was changed to P-43a-L. Most of these fighters (108) were assigned to the China Air Force, except for a few of them (later handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force).
The image of P-43 is really not elegant. The plane is 28 feet 6 inches long, 0/4 feet high, 36 feet wingspan and weighs 8480 pounds. At first glance, it gives people a clumsy feeling. However, it is equipped with a reliable and powerful "Pratt & Whitney" R- 1830-57 engine and turbocharger, with a top speed of 356 miles per hour, a range of 650 miles and a ceiling of over 6,000 feet, and some performance even exceeds that of the Flying Tigers P-40B.
According to records, China noticed this pattern very early. 1939 In May, Sun Ke, President of the Executive Yuan of the Kuomintang, mentioned the P-43 in a letter to John Jouett, Chairman of the American Aviation Chamber of Commerce (1932 came to China to participate in the development of the Hangjianqiao Central Aviation School), saying that "Sevsky Company (sic) guaranteed a speed of 320 miles per hour. When meeting with American diplomats in Chongqing a few weeks later, Sun Ke once again mentioned whether this new fighter could be used instead. Horse's P-35. In June 5438+February of the same year, Major General Mao Bangchu of the Kuomintang Air Force and some representatives of the China Arms Regiment submitted the purchase list to Joseph Green of the the State Council Control Office in Washington, D.C., and P-43 ranked first. 194 1 In March, the United States will formally approve the lease bill. The P-43 became the first American fighter to aid China under the Lending Act.
But when it comes to the real reason why P-43 came to China, the Lending Act says that assisting friendly countries to continue fighting for the cause of * * * is only one of the official reasons. There is also an extremely important reason: the US arms industry needs these foreign orders to expand its production scale and prepare for future American wars. P-43 order is a typical case. From the end of 1939 to the end of 1940, the most difficult time for the development of * * * and aircraft companies was to rely on this order to survive. It is no exaggeration to say that without the P-43, the US military could not have the P-47 lightning that shocked Europe in the future.
A fighter that is "not suitable for combat"?
The first batch of 30 P-43A- 1 set sail at the beginning of 1942, and arrived at Karachi Mariel Airport for assembly test flight on March 20th. 1942 from February to March, Japan stormed Myanmar. Karachi is an important hub of allied activities, so the construction period of P-43 is greatly affected. The first P-43 did not enter service until early April. The famous 4th Brigade of China Air Force came to receive these new American fighters, and American pilots also came with the team to help, which shows the importance attached by both sides at that time. However, the P-43 is a new fighter for Chinese and American pilots. The accident rate during transshipment is quite high. On April 24th, Wu Zenghua, deputy squadron leader of the 24th Squadron of the 4th Brigade, was killed in a plane crash on the way from Karachi to Kunming. On April 29th, two P-43s leaked oil at Tingjiang Airport in India.
According to colonel Robert L. Scott, the P-43 had a serious oil leak and a turbocharger in its belly, which made it easy to catch fire in the air. "The people of China refused to accept these two fighters and returned to China directly." On May 12, Chen Ye, the squadron leader of the 24th Squadron, failed to land in a training flight in Kunming, causing death. In July, the P-43 driven by Zheng, the brigade commander of the Fourth Brigade and an air combat hero, caught fire in flight, and Zheng was unfortunately killed.
So many accidents and losses have really added insult to injury to the already weak China Air Force. At first, Mao Bangchu and others who actively competed for P-43 reacted the most intensely. They believe that the P-43 is "not suitable for operational needs". On July 2nd, Brigadier General Crayton Bisell, a senior US aviation officer stationed in the China-Burma-India war zone, mentioned in a letter to Chiang Kai-shek that he was willing to help China rebuild these fighters or provide new models. Bisell suggested that all P-43s should be returned to the United States. This type of R- 1830 engine can be used on C-47 and C-53 transport planes to transport more urgently needed war materials. In hindsight, this hasty decision actually ruined the opportunity for P-43 to perform better. Without spare parts and follow-up support fleet, the P-43 is destined to be a passer-by in China's air combat history.
For China, despite the constant accidents of new aircraft, the air force can only receive these fighters as soon as possible under the heavy pressure of front-line wars. On August 3rd, the P-43 with the number 1222 driven by Chen Sen, the deputy brigade commander of 4th Brigade, was destroyed, which indicated that China Air Force continued to receive the P-43. In August and September, the 4th Brigade accepted the last batch of P-43s, completed the training and moved to Chengdu. Only 47 (41) P-43s finally reached the hands of China Air Force.
P-43 is fighting.
From 1940 to 1942, the air battlefield in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was the darkest year. China Air Force has only carried out several bombing missions, and it is almost impossible to see China pilots in the sky. The increasing popularity of the Flying Tigers only confirms the dismal situation of the China Air Force from another aspect. In the summer of 1942, things began to change. Chennault had become a brigadier general of the US Army at that time, and he reorganized the China Aid Flying Team into the 23rd Fighter Brigade, which is also the backbone of the future "American Aviation Task Force in China" (CATF). P-43, followed by P-66 and A-29 fighters also arrived in Kunming.
On August 6, in the report submitted to General Stilwell, Chennault made a comprehensive assessment of the air battlefield situation. He believes that although the Japanese army has advantages, it is difficult to completely seize the air superiority. At that time, the main forces of the Japanese army included the 62nd Aviation Division stationed in Xiangyang and Wuchang (equipped with 97 heavy bombers), the 99th Aviation Division stationed in Licheng and Peiping (equipped with 99 double-engine light bombers), the 65th Aviation Division stationed in Shanghai and Hangzhou (equipped with single-engine light bombers), the 54th Aviation Division stationed in Hankou and Nanchang (equipped with 97 fighters), and the/kloc stationed in Hankou and Guangzhou. It is not easy for the Japanese army to concentrate its superior forces on such a vast battlefield from Beiping in the north to Guangzhou in the south. In addition, the Japanese plane has a large number of reconnaissance missions and military defense missions, and its actual control area is limited to the narrow strip of the Yangtze River basin. On this basis, Anade proposed that the two aviation units of China and the United States should work together to fight against the Japanese army and strive for favorable fighters. The "Flying Tigers" are mainly responsible for the defense tasks of Jiangnan and Chongqing; China Air Force is mainly responsible for operations north of the Yangtze River. This is not only conducive to the coordinated operations of the two armies, but also conducive to ensuring the defense forces in the core areas. According to Chennault's estimation, the China Air Force has only 65 fighters (mainly P-40B, P-40E and some P-43a- 1), including squadrons 16, 24, 75 and 76, and the bomber squadron 1 1 is equipped with eight B-25C bombers. Chennault suggested that China's air force should be restored to at least 150 destroyers and 50 bombers at this time, but as far as the situation was concerned, China's air force could only get reinforcements from the P-43 fleet of the 4th Brigade.
China's first record-setting P-43 was piloted by an American pilot. 10 P-43 stranded in Karachi was repaired and handed over to the 23rd Fighter Brigade under Chennault's command. American records show that the fuel tanks of these fighters have been replaced by self-sealing fuel tanks with "Van Bole" diaphragms. 1942 August 17, the 75th fighter squadron of the US Army in Guilin received an air warning that a Japanese plane had invaded. Two P-40 s and two P-43 s took off to intercept. P-40 returns no contact, P-43 has found the target. Captain O 'Neill first occupied the launching position, but the airborne radio and machine gun failed at the same time. Wingman brenner followed, when an alert Japanese plane tried to speed up its escape. Two planes dive, sprint and climb. Brenner has only one chance, but he is too far away to succeed. Brenner reported afterwards that the Japanese plane was extremely fast, equivalent to the P-43 at an altitude of 20,000 feet. This is rare in Japanese cars. After the analysis, this plane probably belongs to Guangzhou 18 Independent Squadron's Hundred-type reconnaissance plane, with a top speed of 375 miles per hour. On September 3rd, Captain Crook of the American 75th Fighter Squadron went out on a reconnaissance mission in a P-43. He returned due to mechanical failure and was attacked by a Japanese plane near the base. Crook barely landed and jumped out of the plane to escape, but survived. This P-43 became the first lancer to be destroyed by the Japanese. On September 12, Major Frank Hill, the squadron leader of the 74th Flying Squadron of the US Army, took off from Kunming in a P-43 and went to Hanoi for reconnaissance alone. On the way, three Japanese planes tried to intercept, but Hill escaped. The important information obtained from this reconnaissance flight played an important role in a bombing operation of the US military a few days later, so Hill was awarded the Silver Star Medal. Hill himself died in an air crash near Kunming on February 8, 65438, and was buried on a hill near Kunming. 1October, 1942, 1 1, the F-4 fighter (reconnaissance modification of the P-38 fighter) arrived in China, but due to the good maneuverability and speed advantage of the P-43, the aircraft continued its visual reconnaissance flight.
Judging from the types of tasks performed, the P-43 is actually comparable to the P-40. On many occasions, the P-43 even acts as a "guard" for the P-40. 1942 14 February 14, four p-43s served as high-altitude cover for attacking the P-40 in Hanoi, enabling it to successfully complete its mission. On 30th of the same month, three P-43s once again provided high-altitude cover for six P-40s, enabling them to shoot down/KLOC P-40/Japanese fighter in Lashio, Myanmar.
At the beginning of September, 1942, General Stilwell held a battle meeting. Chennault proposed that, in view of the performance of the P-43, attention should be paid to the issue of spare parts replenishment for the fighter aircraft of China Air Force and "American Aviation Task Force in China", but the meeting was noncommittal on this issue. It was found that Bithell faithfully fulfilled his promise in India, and the engine of the P-43 left in Karachi was disassembled and put on the transport plane, so one P-43 lost in the battlefield in China was missing.
China Air Force's lancer fleet.
19421June13rd, about 50,000 people from China gathered at Chongqing Commercial Airport. Twenty P-43s of China Air Force were divided into two formations and made a grand demonstration flight. It is said that this move is to show the combat strength of China Air Force. Whatever the purpose, after two weeks, the dispatch rate of China Air Force increased obviously. 10/0 On October 24th, two P-43s took off from Cheng Nan, Jiangxi, and successfully shot down 1 Japanese reconnaissance plane, which was the first record of P-43s of China Air Force. On the 27th, at least 12 P-43s escorted the A-29 bomber group that bombed Yuncheng, Shanxi.
1943 in the new year, the P-43 fleet of China Air Force has also taken on a new look. 1 month, P-43 was dispatched many times to act as a high-altitude escort for P-40. 1 month 12, two p-43s encountered two "zero" fighters while flying over Yidu on the west bank of Hanshui river. China Battle Report said that 1 H plane was shot down and injured. At this point, the P-43 fleet, which was initially considered "unfit for combat", became the main aircraft type of China Air Force.
By the end of 1 943,65438+1 0, China Air Force claimed to have three bomber squadrons, but in fact only1A-29 bomber squadron and1SB bomber squadron were really effective. The situation of the four fighter groups is similar. In fact, only three squadrons of P-66 and I- 153 mixed brigades are available. Only the four squadrons of the fourth brigade equipped with P-40 and P-43 all have combat effectiveness. This brigade is also the only flying unit with "offensive combat mission".
The US P-43 also made some gains in the new year. During this period, the reconnaissance mission of the Kunming-Hanoi route almost became the patent of the US P-43. Captain Jeffrey Wilbern of the 76th Squadron found a Japanese high-altitude reconnaissance plane when he returned from a reconnaissance mission in northern Myanmar. At that time, the Japanese plane was above the American plane, and the captain quietly chased the tail of the enemy plane. The sun machine didn't realize it. The American plane fired first, and the Japanese plane immediately turned into a dive after being frightened. Wilbern was in a hurry, so he threw it to the ground and lit it.
However, this good momentum did not last long. Due to the tight supply of oil, from February to March, Chinese and American aviation turned to the defensive, and air combat rarely occurred. P-43 only undertakes a small number of reconnaissance and liaison tasks. Americans found that the luggage compartment of this fighter was relatively large, so they occasionally changed it into a fast transport plane to transport passengers. In March, Chennault's aviation task force in China was officially upgraded to US 14 Air Force.
On April 1 day, air combat became tense again. L P-43, 14 P-40K- 1 intercept 12 Japanese fighter. With the advantages of height and quantity, the US military shot down four Japanese planes in one fell swoop, including two new Ki44 fighters. In May, the Japanese army attacked Dongting Lake along the Yangtze River. Fierce ground battles forced the US Air Force 14 and China Air Force into it. However, in this war, the P-43 fleet of China Air Force, with high morale, repeatedly missed the opportunity to engage with the Japanese army. On May 29th, all the main forces of the 4th Brigade took off from Liangshan and went to Chongqing to intercept Japanese planes. Afterwards, it was found that it was a false alarm. After the fleet left the base, 19 Japanese planes bombed Liangshan airport in turn. Two days later, nine P-43s escorted five A-29s to bomb the ferry between Yichang and Yidu. At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel John Allison and two other American wingmen led seven P-40s of the 4th Brigade to cover nine B-24s to bomb Yichang. Lieutenant Colonel Allison will return to China on this mission. The ace of air combat is eager to set another record and fight, but the state is disrupted by the Japanese interception fleet. Chang An Shi Daping, squadron of the 33rd Japanese Aviation Division 1 Squadron, seriously injured Allison's plane in the melee. At the critical moment, the P-40 plane No.2304 arrived in time and shot down Masaji Daping. Alison survived. Captain Zang Xilan, the pilot of the Fourth Brigade who flew the plane, was awarded the Silver Star by the US military. The only regret of this campaign is that the P-43 plane failed to arrive before the end of the air battle and missed the opportunity to annihilate the enemy plane.
At the end of May, the US Air Force 14 began to accept new P-40K and M models. Two months later, more P-38 high-altitude fighters arrived in China. In mid-July, many P-43 reconnaissance flights were cancelled due to the weather, which was the last time that P-43 was mentioned in the US Air Force. In August, the P-43 officially withdrew from the fighter sequence of the US Air Force.
The last battle of cavalry shot in the sky in China
The Japanese air force, which was repeatedly frustrated, decided to launch an air strike in the summer of 1943 in an attempt to completely destroy the aviation power of China and the United States. The operational plan drawn up by the Japanese army can be roughly divided into three stages: the first stage (from the end of July to the middle of August) focuses on attacking the US military aviation base in Guilin; The second stage (from August to early September) focuses on bombing the water traffic lines in the Yangtze River basin, East China Airport and Chongqing; In the third stage (September), other targets in Guilin and Yunnan were bombed again. To this end, the Japanese army also dispatched air force reinforcements. The Japanese air force's massive attack initially achieved certain results, and the Japanese claimed that 50 American warplanes were destroyed in the first round of operations. But in the second stage of bombing Chongqing, the 4th Brigade of China Air Force stepped forward. On August 23rd, the 25th Squadron of the 58th Aviation Division of Japan took off from Hankou and headed for Chongqing. On the way, the 14 fighter of the 33rd Flying Squadron joined the fleet as escort. Because China has developed a very effective air defense warning system. These air defense posts throughout China made it difficult for the Japanese bombing to be sudden. A sharp alarm soon sounded at Yi Baishi Airport. At 10: 30 in the morning, the Japanese plane appeared at an altitude of 7000m (23,000ft), while four brigades and1/brigade, 10 P-40, and eight P-43s,1/kloc.
Nana Ogawa Kurosawa, commander of the Japanese bomber squadron, recorded in the battle report: "The enemy and enemy fighters fought fiercely in the right front of our plane. There is heavy bombing by our plane below, and the ground air defense firepower is fierce. Suddenly, a string of bullets flew past my eyes, and an enemy plane bit my tail. Falcon, the escort fleet, suddenly bit the incoming enemy plane. The enemy plane suddenly caught fire and smoked and fell at high speed. " It was later confirmed that the plane was a P-43. 1 member of Nana Ogawa bomber group was killed. Another 1 Japanese bomber was shot down and many people were injured. China Air Force lost two P-66s, 1 P-40 and 1 P-43. According to the memories of the combatants, in this fierce air battle, only the P-43 climbed rapidly and was able to cope with the Japanese plane, while both the P-40 and the P-66 seemed unable to do so.
At the end of August, the 1st 1 Bomber Battalion, 3rd and 5th Fighter Battalion of China Air Force moved to Karachi to receive P-40~WB-25 bombers and re-received the training of the US military. These units later became members of the Sino-American mixed air wing. At this point, the China Air Force's domestic actions tend to be low-key. P-43' s participation in air combat has also decreased accordingly. 165438+1On October 29th, China Air Force 2 1 Squadron 4 P-43s escorted 1 P-40 on a reconnaissance mission and were met by 4 Japanese planes. China Battle Report said that four planes were shot down, and the loss was 1 P-43. By the end of February, there were only 19 P-40s, 22 0943s, 53 P-66s and 14 A-29s in China Air Force (excluding the troops participating in the China-US mixed aviation wing). Since then, these fighters have rarely participated in air combat and are basically in training. According to China's records, as of May 1945, the China Air Force has more than 20 P-43s, but these fighters are obviously no longer listed as combat effectiveness.
Forgotten merit
Ironically, when the P-43 withdrew from the main fleet due to lack of follow-up support, its value was most obvious. Since August 1943, complaints about P-40 by Chinese and American military fleets have surged. Major Robert Lilly of the 16 squadron of the United States wrote, "... enemy planes flew over our fleet and we could not rise to this height." Lieutenant Colonel Bonawitz of the US 74th Squadron reported, "The enemy plane used its altitude advantage to avoid the P-40, then found a favorable opportunity to dive down, and then immediately rose to get rid of it after attacking our fleet." Edmund Gauss of the US 75th Squadron lamented, "Compared with Japanese fighters, our P-40 is at a disadvantage in speed and altitude." The experience of the US military is indeed a new problem. During this period, the Japanese army added Ki44 fighters with outstanding high-altitude performance, and focused on air combat tactics at an altitude of 20,000 feet. The challenge of the new model at a new height really makes the P-40 unbearable. But just at this time, the P-43 with outstanding high-altitude performance was forced to quit the battle sequence because of lack of spare parts and follow-up support.
Perhaps it is precisely because of the improper handling of P-43 by both China and the United States that P-43 has not received due honor in the United States or China. In the United States, P-43 cannot be compared with its successor P-47. In the eyes of China people, the early Soviet fighters and the Flying Tiger P-40 seemed to occupy all the air combat honors, and the P-43 gradually faded out of the impression of the world.