Li Chunguang (left) and Hu Yingfa (right) coordinate on the ground.
Written by:Yang Zhihuai
58 years ago today——January 9, 1966 at 15:51, Deputy Captain of the 24th Regiment of the 70th Air DivisionLi Chunguang, Deputy Squadron LeaderHu Yingfa, piloting a J-5 twin aircraft in the sea of Matsu Island, FujianUltra-low-altitude, ultra-close-range fireShoot down the Hu-16 with 3 traitors and 14 Taiwanese military and political dignitaries on boardBoth were awarded first-class meritorious service
On the night of 8 January, the day before, three brothers, Wu Wenwen, navigator of the 2nd Shipping Squadron of the Fujian Provincial Military Region, Wu Zhenjia, an engineer engineer, and Wu Chunfu, an antiaircraft machine gunner, took advantage of the night lights to control the hijacking of the boat, brutally killed the captain and seven other officers and men, and defected to Matsu Island, which was occupied by the Kuomintang army. This incident not only shocked the garrison troops stationed in the area and the Fuzhou Military Region, but also alarmed the Military Commission.
Schematic map of the location of Matsu Island between Fujian and Taiwan provinces.
The Taiwan authorities were overjoyed upon hearing the news and planned to send a C-47 transport plane to Matsu early the next morning to pick up the robbers and organize a "welcome" meeting of 10,000 people in Taipei.
After intercepting this information, the Fuzhou Military Region immediately drew up an operational plan for annihilating the rebels over the Taiwan Strait and submitted it to the General Headquarters and the Central Military Commission for approval. Prime MinisterInstructions to the Air Force:If you are sure and advantageous, you will defeat it, and if you are not sure, you should not have to fight, in short, do not suffer.
Li Chunguang entered the cabin and prepared to take off.
The 24th Air Division, which was stationed at Fuzhou Airport that year, was studied and determined after receiving the taskDeputy Squadron Leader Li Chunguang and Deputy Squadron Leader Hu YingfaDriving the J-5 twin aircraft is the first echelonPilots Shen Xueli and Yang CaixingPiloting the J-6 twin aircraft as the second echelon and cover, on standby on the take-off line of the airport, and taking off the tunnel mission at any time.
Shen Xueli and Yang Caixing, who are responsible for the deputy attacker and cover task.
January 9th8:37The Taiwan authorities received the rebel C-47 transport plane and flew it to Matsu, but the wing was damaged due to a mistake in maneuvering, and they had no choice but to send a Hu-16 seaplane from the ambulance squadron stationed in Chiayi12:11 p.mLanding at the Matsu airstrip. In order to test our hypocrisy, the cunning enemy repeatedly carried out radio feints until he thought that the danger period had passed3:35 p.mCarrying the rebels to Taiwan.
Hu-16 seaplane No. 1021 anchored on Matsu Island ready to pick up the Three Traitors.
15:39Four J-5 and J-6 fighters of the 24th Air Division were ordered to take off and fly directly to the waters of Matsu Island. At that time, the sea was covered with low clouds, and the height of the cloud top was less than 400 meters, and under the condition that the radio was flying silently and could not ask for instructions, the long plane Li Chunguang decisively penetrated to an altitude of 200-250 meters under the clouds, and the wingman Hu Yingfa followed closely behind to cover it, and the two planes searched for the target together.
3:51 p.m, Hu Yingfa first spotted the Hu-16 4 kilometers in front of its right and immediately reported to the long plane and the ground command post. According to the rule that the first discoverer has priority in engagement, the chief machine Li Chunguang issued an order: "You attack, I will cover!."”Hu YingfaThat is, the first attack was launched at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour and 800 meters from the tail of the enemy plane, but the target was missed because the distance was too far;Immediately after that, the enemy plane opened fire for the second time when it was 576 meters away, causing minor damage to the tail of the enemy plane, but it had little impact on its flight.
Faced with a sudden attack by fighters, Major Chen Bingrui, a pilot of the Hu-16, made full use of the advantages of the seaplane, quickly reduced the altitude and speed, and flew at a low speed close to the sea surface, in a vain attempt to induce our J-5 high-speed fighter to stall and fall into the sea during the pursuit.
No matter how cunning the enemy is, no matter how advanced the equipment is, he can't fight the warriors of our army who dare to fight and win. I seeLi ChunguangThe altitude was reduced to no lower, the distance was pressed closer to the point that it could not be closer, and four consecutive artillery attacks, the lowest distance from the sea was only more than 20 meters above the sea surface and 310 meters away from the enemy plane, and they hit the left engine of the Hu-16, the tail of the fuselage, and the root of the right wing of the aircraft, respectively, and all 17 people on board, including three traitors, were killed on the spot and buried in the sea.
At 16 o'clock, Li Chunguang and Hu Yingfa's J-5 planes, and Shen Xueli and Yang Caixing's J-6 planes, which were in charge of covering and luring the enemy, all returned safely. After the war, the air force of the Fuzhou Military Region awarded Li Chunguang and Hu Yingfa a first-class meritorious service, and went to Beijing to be received by the leaders of the Central Military Commission.
In October 2001, Li Chunguang took a photo in front of the J-5 fighter he flew at the Beijing Air Exhibition Hall.
About the Author. Yang Zhihuai, pen nameAged old wineHe has worked in the Beijing Air Force for many years, served as the planner and editor-in-chief of "A Brief History of the Air Force of the Beijing (North China) Military Region", and is the author of "Huaifeng Whisper", "Debate on Life", "Old Wine", "Essentials of Army Official Document Writing" and other works.