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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0574.PDF
230 FLIGHT MARCH 4TH, 1943 INTO BATTLE : Chinese bomber crews preparing for a sortie. Before Germany's attack on the Soviets the Chinese received quantities of aircraft from Russia, among them the SB.2 seen in this picture. But at present aircraft supplies are urgently needed to increase the offensive power of China's Air Force. China in the Air Her Modest Air Force Used with Qreat Ingenuity : Up-to-date Allied Aircraft Types Needed for More Offensive Air Policy By V. L. G. FOR over five years wave after wave of Japanese hordesstormed the walls of China, and although they haveachieved some territorial gains they are still far from a decision. It is not the Great Wall, which in the ancient days defended them against the impact of desert people, that has helped the Chinese in their battle against modern aggression. Rather is it the indomitable spirit of resist- ance which has been forged into China's main weapon and given her armies that staying power which they have so valiantly displayed ever since they were attacked. At the beginning China stood alone, apart from such meagre assistance as was rendered sporadically to General Chiang Kai-shek's Government by friendly powers, or by keen business enterprises for whom an attractive field of activity was opened. Nevertheless, consistent efforts were made by the .Chinese to establish their Air Force, on sound foundations and to increase its strength. This Air Force, although modest in its numerical strength, has not been an outcome of Japan's aggression. It has grown out of the separate Forces maintained by the different provincial governments, together with the process of China's unification under a National Government. In 1928 the completion of this process had been achieved and the entire air organisation unified under the central authority of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's Govern- ment. Equipped with American, British, German and Russian types, the unified Air Force grew steadily in size: from five squadrons (three of which with land-based air- craft and one with seaplanes) to eight in 1934, and four-, teen squadrons in 1935. From motives obviously other than profits or markets for their aircraft, the Russian Government gave China steady support, and thus contributed materially towards cementing the foundations of China's resistance. So far as the Air Force was concerned, this help mainly took the form of lending Russian technicians and instructors to the Chinese maintenance staff and also pilots and aircraft. Among the latter were the J-14 and the J-15 fighters and some SB-2S. At that time these aircraft were adequate, comparing favourably with the types encountered by Chinese airmen, and they rendered invaluable service. But with Russia itself plunged into war against Germany the supplies petered out, leaving China dependent on the Burma Road. True, the Chinese Air Force still had J-15S, but by then they were no longer a match for the more modern types since developed in Japan, particularly the "O" fighter. Chinese Ingenuity When Allied supplies began to reach the Chinese they hoped that again their Air Force would be able 'to meet the Japanese aggressor equipped with weapons as good as his. Neither superiority nor even numerical parity was wanted for this aim. Just sufficient modern equipment to meet the Japanese in the air. That alone would have been a tremendous asset in the hands of the fighting
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