Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 839 The handover in Red Square, a secret base in the suburbs of Moscow, and old friend Ivan.

The fighter jet touched down on the temporary runway in Red Square, and the hydraulic landing gear retracted under the pressure and then returned to normal.

The plane taxied quickly down the runway and finally came to a stop at the other end.

Soviet soldiers immediately surrounded the aircraft, armed with guns, and encircled it.

Fang Wen immediately checked the small bronze cauldron in the inner pocket of his chest, but there was no vibration or warning from the cauldron.

This means that at least nothing has happened that could have endangered their lives.

With unwavering resolve, he raised his hand, pushed open the cockpit canopy, stood up, and calmly looked down at the Soviet officers and soldiers below.

Several Soviet officers, dressed in dark woolen overcoats, walked through the ranks of soldiers and stood directly in front of the fighter jets.

The middle-aged officer in the lead looked up and asked loudly in English:

"Comrade, are the supplies entrusted for transport still on the plane?"

Fang Wen replied, "Yes. It's intact."

Having received a reply, the officer did not ask any further questions and immediately raised his hand to signal.

Two Soviet soldiers immediately carried a metal ladder and placed it on the side of the fuselage.

Fang Wen turned around, bent down, and untied the ropes securing the box to the back seat.

They were lifted one by one. The outer shell of the box was intact and the locks were tight; it contained the key materials that held the Enigma machine and a complete set of core data.

He carried the box containing the Enigma machine down the ladder with both hands and handed it to the soldier.

Then he went up again and took down the document box.

After the transported supplies were handed over, no one opened the boxes for inspection on the spot. Such military intelligence equipment, which has an impact on the war, must not be verified in open public places. It must be sent to a top-secret site and disassembled and inspected by a specialized technical team.

Two officers picked up the suitcase, and the officer in the lead, who had just spoken with Fang Wen, gestured an invitation: "Mr. Fang, please come with us to a place."

"Where's the plane?" Fang Wen asked.

The officer replied, "This aircraft will be handed over to the Air Force. It is similar to the German fighter jet model and has very high research value. We will compensate for this."

Fang Wen nodded in agreement.

He followed the officers out of Red Square and got into two GAZ-61 military vehicles parked outside.

Once in the car, Fang Wen couldn't resist using his special ability to examine it.

Judging from the mechanical condition of the equipment, it is a four-wheel drive vehicle and should have just left the factory.

This type of car was likely a vehicle specifically assigned to high-ranking military officers.

The convoy left Red Square, avoiding the fortifications and patrols along the main roads, and sped towards the northwest of Moscow.

More than half an hour later, the convoy drove into a manor.

This is a noble estate left over from the Tsarist era. The architecture is elegant, the environment is tranquil, and it is far away from cities that are preparing for war, making it very secluded.

Many people were moving around in the manor, and it was unclear what they were doing.

Fang Wen got out of the car and followed the officer into the main building.

In the hall, an elderly man with gray hair, wearing old-fashioned round-framed glasses and a research uniform was waiting quietly.

Fang Wen was slightly taken aback.

He recognized the man; he was the chief research fellow at the Leningrad Aerodynamics Institute in the Soviet Union. The two sides had previously collaborated on aviation technology and military materials on several occasions. This senior academician was involved in and promoted most of the early military trade between Taishan Group and the Soviet Union.

Upon seeing Fang Wen, the old academician took the initiative to walk over and shake hands with him, saying, "Comrade Fang Wen, thank you for your hard work. You traveled thousands of miles across the war zone to deliver top-secret equipment all by yourself. You have brought the most crucial turning point to our western front."

“It’s my honor,” Fang Wen replied with a smile.

"Let me check the equipment," the old academician said eagerly.

Following the old academician's orders, the Soviet officer carrying the cipher machine gently placed the metal security box on the long wooden table in the hall.

The latch clicked open with a crisp snap, and the lid slowly lifted, revealing a finely constructed mechanical device lined with shock-absorbing velvet. Inside, a meticulously designed machine, covered with rotors and wiring, stood silently – the Enigma machine, a source of immense pride for the Nazi German army.

The elderly academician strode forward, bent down to examine the aircraft closely, his aged gaze fixed on every part of its structure.

Looking at the rotor arrangement and mechanical coding structure on the machine, he couldn't help but marvel: "That's right, this is the Enigma machine. The Germans have perfected mechanical encryption. Each rotor combination can generate a massive number of keys. No wonder we've been unable to crack the German high-frequency telegrams at the front lines; countless intelligence reports have become worthless after being intercepted. With this physical prototype and its accompanying documentation, our code-breaking work can be accelerated by at least several months, or even years!"

After confirming that the equipment was working correctly, he immediately opened the second document box. Inside, a thick stack of German manuscripts, encrypted logs, key pattern records, and communication templates for the frontline troops were neatly arranged.

The elderly academician quickly flipped through several pages, his expression growing more solemn as he read, while the joy in his eyes intensified.

These materials not only record the basic encryption logic of the Enigma machine, but also include some of the German army's frontline communication habits, commonly used coded language, and time-based key patterns, making them invaluable.

"This is incredibly valuable; it contains the most crucial information!"

The old academician couldn't wait to study it. He immediately closed the data box, turned to the officer beside him, and ordered in a deep voice: "Arrange a special car immediately to take me and the equipment to Research Station No. 3!"

After saying that, he turned to Fang Wen, his expression apologetic: "Comrade Fang Wen, I'm sorry I can't accompany you. This great gift is enough to change the intelligence landscape on the eastern front. I must immediately lead a team to conduct decryption and analysis. As for your affairs, someone will be arranged to liaise with you afterwards!"

After saying this, the old academician, carrying the document box, quickly left under the escort of two guards and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The officer who brought Fang Wen followed closely behind, carrying the cipher machine and quickly leaving the scene.

The huge hall of the Tsarist Russian building suddenly became empty, leaving Fang Wen standing alone in the same spot.

The night outside the window was deep, and the staff inside the manor hurried about, all looking tense and busy like during wartime. No one came to greet him anymore. Just as Fang Wen stood quietly, looking around this top-secret wartime manor, the side door of the hall was pushed open, and a tall, upright military figure strode in.

The newcomer was dressed in a leather flight suit and carried the rank of Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. He was an acquaintance of Fang Wen: Ivan, a former pilot of the Soviet Air Force that aided China. The two had fought side by side against Japanese warplanes on the Chinese battlefield and had also fought together in Nomonhan. They had a deep friendship.

When Ivan saw Fang Wen, he smiled broadly, strode forward, and opened his arms wide.

"My old friend Fang! I'm so glad to see you again!"

Fang Wen smiled and stepped forward to give him a big hug. It was a standard Russian hug, strong and sincere. Seeing his old friend again after so long, he felt a warmth in his heart.

Releasing his embrace, Fang Wen asked, "Ivan, when did you return to the country?"

Ivan sighed, his tone heavy: "In the second half of last year, as the domestic situation became increasingly tense, our air force aiding China began to withdraw in batches to return home for rest and recuperation. I was in the last batch. Not long after I returned, the Soviet-German War broke out completely, and we were in a very passive position. Some of my comrades had already sacrificed their lives in the air battle."

Fang Wen's expression darkened. The comrades-in-arms Ivan mentioned were the pilots of the China Aid Air Force. Fang Wen knew many of these people, but he never expected that they would survive in China but sacrifice their lives in the early stages of the German-Soviet War.

He voiced his doubts: "When I was in America, I read in the newspapers that the German army launched a blitzkrieg and that a large number of your warplanes were destroyed on the ground, resulting in extremely heavy losses. Is that true?"

When this was mentioned, Ivan's eyes were filled with helplessness and indignation: "It's true, and it was even worse than what the newspapers described. The German attack completely exceeded our expectations. Their bomber formations broke through our defenses at night, approached at low altitude, and accurately bombed our airfields, runways, and tarmacs. A large number of fighter jets were destroyed on the ground before they even had a chance to take off, and many pilots didn't even have time to board their planes to join the battle. In addition, they destroyed our air defense system along the border, leaving us completely unable to deal with their air strikes."

He looked at Fang Wen earnestly and said, "The reason I'm here to receive you is not only because we know each other, but also because there's something very important I need your help with. This isn't the place to talk. Let me take you to your lodgings so we can chat."

Fang Wen did not refuse and followed Ivan out of the hall.

The manor has a well-organized layout with several independent living quarters scattered throughout, all of which are quiet and private.

Ivan led Fang Wen into a two-story building. The first floor was a reception room, and the second floor was a bedroom and rest area. It was clean and tidy with simple furnishings. Although it was not luxurious, it was a very high standard of hospitality in Moscow during the war when supplies were scarce.

"Please sit down, I'll get you a glass of water." Ivan gestured for Fang Wen to sit down, poured a glass of cold water, handed it to Fang Wen, and then closed the door.

He turned around and sat down opposite Fang Wen, looking at Fang Wen with a serious tone.

“Fang, I won’t beat around the bush. The higher-ups know that you are one of the world’s top air combat pilots, having participated in numerous air battles and fought against Japanese and German aircraft many times. This time, you even single-handedly traversed the entire German blockade, using an unarmed modified fighter jet to repeatedly break through the German air force’s blockade and reach Moscow through the airspace of the Eastern Front. Your understanding of the performance of German aircraft, air combat tactics, and surprise attack methods must far exceed that of us combat pilots.”

He paused for a moment, then continued:

"Our air force has suffered heavy losses. New pilots are inexperienced and veteran pilots have been killed one after another. We have never been able to find an effective way to deal with the German blitzkrieg, formation encirclement and suppression, and high-altitude raid tactics."

"On behalf of the frontline air force, I would like to ask you for your insights on air combat against German Bf series fighters and Ju series fighter-bombers, as well as your practical experience in dealing with their blitzkrieg tactics and formation encirclement. Could you tell us this? It could save the lives of countless Soviet pilots and even change the course of the war in the Eastern Front."

Looking at his old friend's serious and earnest expression, Fang Wen understood. This was the real reason why Su Fang had arranged for an old acquaintance to meet him immediately after receiving the classified equipment.

Compared to a cipher machine, what the Soviet army needed most at the moment was practical tactics and top-notch experience to counter the German air combat system.

He put down his water glass, his expression calm: "I can tell you all my practical experience, without reservation."

Ivan was delighted and took out his notebook and pen: "Please tell me, and I will write it down."

"First, we need to understand the core advantages of the German army. It was never the performance of a single fighter jet, but rather tactical coordination, predictive attacks, and layered encirclement and suppression at high and low altitudes. Their Bf 109 series fighters had average low-altitude maneuverability, but their high-altitude acceleration and dive-bombing attack capabilities were extremely strong. They were best at striking and disengaging, and would never engage in a dogfight to wear you down."

Ivan nodded as he wrote, completely agreeing with Fang Wen's words.

Fang Wen continued:

"You suffered heavy losses before, and the biggest problem was not that your fighter jets were outdated, but that your approach was wrong. You were used to close-quarters dogfights and close-range combat, which made you fall right into the trap of the German dive-bombing attacks."

Ivan stopped writing and asked, "So what should we do?"

Based on his numerous encounters with the German Air Force, Fang Wen shared his thoughts:

"First, abandon passive air defense and establish forward early warning patrols. All German air raids were based on precise prediction of flight paths. Your ground observation was too lagging, and you lacked radar equipment. Often, you only detected enemy aircraft when they were right in front of you, completely losing the initiative."

"Second, to deal with the Bf 109 series fighters, we should avoid their high-altitude dive advantage and exploit their low-altitude weakness. Their fighters have strong high-altitude power and high speed, but poor low-altitude turning and sustained maneuverability. Once they are dragged into continuous maneuvering dogfights at medium and low altitudes, their advantage will be completely lost."

"Third, do not engage them in a concentrated attack against their encirclement tactics. The German four-aircraft formations with high and low formations are a well-established method of encirclement and suppression. Grouped aircraft will only be locked on, separated, and shot down one by one. The optimal solution is for individual aircraft to disperse and infiltrate at opportune moments, using maneuverability to disrupt their formation. Once their formation is broken, their coordinated advantage will be greatly reduced."

"There are also large aircraft like the Ju 88. Whether it is a bomber or a modified fighter, it may seem to have fierce firepower and high speed, but it is bulky, slow to turn, and slow to climb. It can only engage in head-on strafing. Once it is flanked and penetrated at low altitude, it has no ability to fight back."

Fang Wen presented his thoughts clearly and logically, breaking down and detailing his practical experience in previous confrontations with German aircraft and this long-distance breakout. He shared his insights without reservation, covering everything from aircraft weaknesses, tactical loopholes, and coping strategies to on-the-spot operational techniques.

Ivan listened intently throughout, taking notes rapidly in his notebook, marking every key point.

His eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if he had found a way to defeat the German air force at that moment.

These insights into aerial combat, drawn from top-level real-world experience, are all winning strategies summarized by this ace pilot from life-or-death battles. They represent the most urgently needed solutions for breaking the deadlock in aerial combat for the Soviet military at that time.

After writing the last character, he said, "If we follow these improvements you suggested, I think the Soviet Air Force still has a chance to defeat them."

Fang Wen felt it was necessary to offer some reminders: "But you lack experienced pilots. The German Luftwaffe swept across Europe without suffering heavy losses; their current strength is at its peak. Even if you know their weaknesses, you may not be able to gain the upper hand."

Yes, Fang Wen is right. The German Luftwaffe has not yet suffered a defeat. The only stalemate is in the air battles against the British.

"What should we do then?" Ivan looked at Fang Wen expectantly. This Eastern pilot was not only a skilled pilot, but also a very intelligent person. Perhaps he had a solution.

What to do? Fang Wen felt it was not a good idea. The Soviet Air Force was far inferior to the German Air Force, and it was almost impossible for them to win.

It would be easier to drag things out until victory, as is done in history, by sheer blood and flesh.

However, it is not impossible to achieve victory in local wars.

Fang Wen is not only a pilot, but also a businessman and the head of a military industrial enterprise. Naturally, he would promote his own products and, incidentally, increase his chances of purchasing cyclotron acceleration device parts.

Therefore, he replied, "Using our Taishan equipment, we can achieve better results in the air battles against Germany." (End of Chapter)