On November 11, the People's Air Force will celebrate its 72nd birthday. Over the past 72 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, generations of air force personnel have continued to struggle, chase dreams in the sky, and strengthen the army with great strength; the people's air force has tempered in the flames, grown up in battle, and soared in the course of reform and transformation, and has made immortal meritorious contributions to defending socialist construction and reform and safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Generations of air forcers and everyone who cares about supporting the construction and development of the air force have either written or witnessed the magnificent tracks and brilliant achievements of the air force, leaving behind a series of exciting, enterprising, and inspirational stories. From now on, we will successively release the "My People's Air Force and Me" series of articles collected in the early stage, telling the story of their growth and flight with the Air Force.
We have the final say in the sky!
Volunteer Air Force pilot Tao Wei dictated
In the second half of 1950, when the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea began, I was still in high school at Wuhan Experimental Middle School. Joining the army and resisting US aggression and aiding Korea was the choice of many young people at that time, and more than 30 of the 40 people in our class chose to sign up for the army, and I was naturally no exception. On January 16, 1951, when the enlistment order arrived, I packed my bags and went to the former Air Force's Central and Southern Preparatory Corps in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, to become a cadet. Before leaving, my mother was reluctant and asked me worriedly, "Can we win the battle?" "To be honest, I didn't know the answer at the time.
During the 3 months in the Preparatory Corps, time passed quickly, where I not only learned about the nature and purpose of the People's Liberation Army and the situation on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, but also learned the good news that Li Han, the pilot of the Fourth Air Division, shot down the enemy plane for the first time. At that time, I had only one idea, like Li Han, to become a fighter pilot, to the front line to defeat the invaders, and let our sky decide for itself.
In April 1951, I came to the former Third Air Force Aviation School in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, to learn to fly. For more than a year, I flew The Yak-18, Yak-11 and MiG-9. What I still remember vividly is that the instructor who was me in the graduation examination at that time was Li Yongtai, the captain of the Fourth Air Division. Later, he shot down a number of enemy planes on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and was known as a "tank in the air." Although I had a slight cold during the assessment, I still successfully completed all the assessment courses.
In July 1952, I and other new comrades came to the Fourth Air Division and began to modify the MiG-15 jets, which were completed by the end of the year and began to take on combat duty. In March 1953, the Fourth Air Division entered the Korean War for the fifth time, and I went with the team at the age of 19. Although this was my first time on the battlefield, it was fortunate that there were old pilots who taught us combat experience. These experiences not only saved my life many times, but also allowed me to achieve good results.
On April 17, 1953, I participated in air combat for the first time. However, after taking off, I was left behind due to insufficient engine thrust, and more dangerously, I was also "bitten" by 4 US F-86s. Although there is experience taught by old pilots, the first actual battle, the choice of counterattack timing, the grasp of the action must rely on themselves. I calmed my breath, and suddenly turned to the enemy plane after seeing the timing, the enemy plane did not expect me to counterattack, too late to react and flew out from below me, I immediately turned right, not only successfully got rid of the enemy plane, but also successfully "bit the tail", successfully injured 1 enemy plane after firing 3 consecutive shots and returned smoothly.
△ Tao Wei's record of close combat annihilation of the enemy
The experience of successful operations in the first battle made me more confident. A month later, on May 17, I took to the skies for the second time. This time, my comrades-in-arms and I flew 8 fighters and 20 enemy planes in a fierce battle, and in that battle we not only achieved the victory of shooting down 4 enemy aircraft, but also set the record of the People's Air Force for 120 meters of close combat annihilation of the enemy. Later, after Wang Xiangxiong, deputy commander of the Fourth Air Division, saw in the shooting photos that I was flying the plane while rolling around and firing a cannon to rush to the enemy plane, and shooting the enemy plane down in an upside-down state, he blurted out: "This is not a bayonet in the air!" ”
On the eve of the victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, my plane was also hit by 21 shells by the US plane, although the key system of the aircraft was not damaged, but the cockpit cover was exploded, and the fragments formed left permanent marks in nearly 40 places such as my neck, arms, and thighs.
△ Tao Wei made meritorious achievements
In 1953, after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, my second-class good news of combat was also sent home. My mother bought a glass photo frame, framed the good news, and hung it in the most conspicuous position in the house. I think this is the best answer I can give to my mother, and it is also the best answer to the mother of the motherland.
(Images in this article are provided by the author)
Description: Takeshi Wang
Image reviewer: Yu Hongchun