Chiang Kai-shek, a big man in the Nationalist Army, was also the supreme leader of China during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. If you can get his attention, it must be a bright future. However, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, there was an air force general, Chiang Kai-shek said that he was a pillar of power in the field of China's air force, while Zhang Xueliang said that he was "a flying eagle in the northeast, the soul of the air force." He is General Gao Zhihang, a famous anti-Japanese hero of the Air Force during the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Gao Zhihang, a native of Tonghua, Liaoning (present-day Tonghua, Jilin). At that time, the Northeast Army expanded its air force under the leadership of Zhang Xueliang, and after Gao Zhihang learned about it, he signed up to join the army. In school, Gao Zhihang is excellent in all aspects. Later, in order to improve the technology of the Air Force, Zhang Xueliang selected outstanding students at the school and went to France to study. At that time, Gao Zhihang passed all aspects, and he was not selected because of the height problem.
But he did not give up the opportunity to study, but wrote a letter to Zhang Xueliang, in which he became determined to change his name to "Zhihang (his original name was Gao Mingjiu)". Eventually, Zhang Xueliang agreed to go to the Moulana Aviation School in France to study. Later, Gao Zhihang's performance also proved that Zhang Xueliang did not look at the wrong person.
In January 1927, the 19-year-old Gao Zhihang returned with excellent grades, and was subsequently appointed by Zhang Xueliang as a major (army rank) pilot of the Northeast Aviation Department's Flying Eagle Team. He strives for excellence in his skills, so he is rewarded for each exercise.
In 1931, after the September 18 Incident, Zhang Xueliang issued an order to the whole army not to resist. Overnight, the entire northeast was occupied by the Japanese. At this time, Gao Zhihang was ambitious and difficult to reward. Later, through the introduction of his classmates, he joined Chiang Kai-shek's Nanjing Aviation Committee, and the position at that time was that of lieutenant detachment leader. During his time in Nanjing, he learned to fly at night, fly backwards and arcs. He became the first Chinese pilot at that time. Even international flights are rare.
In 1935, especially after the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek realized the importance of aircraft and decided to expand and buy aircraft. At that time, Jiang handed over the purchase of the plane to Song Meiling. At that time, Song Meiling was also known as the "Mother of the Chinese Air Force". Song Meiling knew that Gao Zhihang was a rare talent, so she asked him to go to Italy to investigate air expulsion technology and buy aircraft.
In Italy, his flying skills won the attention of the Italian leader Mussolini, and hoped that Gao Zhihang could stay, but Gao Zhihang replied: "My position is in China, and I am only willing to be a Chinese soldier." When Mussolini heard about it, he admired Gao Zhihang's military integrity even more.
After returning to China, Gao Zhihang was transferred to Nanchang as the captain of the fourth brigade. In particular, in 1936, on the occasion of Chiang Kai-shek's 50th birthday, an air combat technology and aerobatic performance was held in Nanjing with the participation of the air forces of Britain, Germany, and Italy. At that time, Gao Zhihang participated on behalf of the Chinese side, and he compiled the word "Zhongzheng" in the sky. Chiang Kai-shek was overjoyed when he saw this, and said to Gao Zhihang on the spot: Your technology is very high and you have surpassed the world level. Since then, Gao Zhihang's name has been known to almost everyone in the military.
On August 13, 1937, the Battle of Songhu broke out. The Japanese air force flew around over Shanghai and threw bombs, causing great casualties to the Nationalist army. Later, Chiang Kai-shek said that we should let our air force meet the world and blow up the little devils. At this time, Gao Zhihang led the Chinese Air Force to take the initiative to attack. It has bombed important military targets such as devils, ammunition depots, and landing docks in 9 batches.
Soon Gao Zhihang was ordered to lanzhou to receive Soviet fighters aiding China, and when he was transferred to The Airport of Zhoukou in Henan, the troops encountered air raids by enemy aircraft and suffered heavy casualties. When Gao Zhihang was ready to take off to meet the battle, but there was an accident in the aircraft, at this time, Gao Zhihang still flew the fighter plane and flew towards the enemy, and Gao Zhihang disappeared into a sea of fire along with the enemy plane. Gao Zhihang, who was martyred, still clutched the joystick of the plane with both hands, was 30 years old at the time.
When Chiang Kai-shek learned of Gao Zhihang's martyrdom, he said with sadness that we would rather lose a hundred planes than one Gao Zhihang. The plane is gone and can be bought again, but the "god in the air" is difficult to revive, but it is not painful.
It is worth mentioning Gao Zhihang, who has cultivated many air combat heroes, such as Liu Pugang, Liu Zhesheng, Dong Mingde, Li Guidan, Zheng Shaoyu, Le Yiqin, Luo Yingde and others. Another of his students, Liu Shanben, flew to Yan'an in June 1946, setting a precedent for the Air Force to pilot an uprising and later making significant contributions to the creation of the New China Air Force.