On February 6, 1953, Wang Bingzhang was appointed as the first deputy commander and chief of staff of the Air Force by the ** Military Commission, and became a capable general under Liu Yalou. Soon after, he went to Moscow with Prime Minister *** to attend Stalin's funeral, and was provisionally decided to stay in the Soviet Union to negotiate with the Soviet side on the issue of ordering air force equipment.
In order to work, Wang Bingzhang wrote to Liu Yalou, asking him to send some daily necessities and books to the Soviet Union. After receiving the letter, Liu Yalou attached great importance to it, immediately replied and gave guidance: "If the negotiation enters the stage of 'having reported to the superior' and 'waiting for the instructions of the superior', please take the initiative to return to China early."
Past experience has taught us that it's easier to negotiate by telegram when you come back, and it's really hard to deal with without you at home. ”
Wang Bingzhang showed excellent work ability in Liu Yalou's letter, which made Liu Yalou feel very difficult after losing his help, which proved Liu Yalou's trust and dependence on Wang Bingzhang.
In February 1960, the enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission established the direction of work focusing on two bombs (atomic bomb and missile). Soon after, in order to emphasize the importance of missiles, the two bombs were readjusted and the work policy of "giving priority to the two bombs and missiles first" was proposed.
During this meeting, Liu Yalou called Wang Bingzhang over for a conversation. After meeting Wang Bingzhang, Liu Yalou first exchanged a few words of greeting, and then said directly: "The above has decided to let you be in charge of the missile work." ”
When Liu Yalou was speaking, his face showed a very sad expression.
Wang Bingzhang and his wife took a group photo Listening to Liu Yalou's words, Wang Bingzhang suddenly became anxious. Realizing that he had a lot of experience in the Air Force, but nothing about missiles, he said sincerely: "I'm afraid I'm not up to the job!" ”
Liu Yalou fully understands Wang Bingzhang's position, and he doesn't want such a capable subordinate to leave. For Liu Yalou, talents like Wang Bingzhang are not easy to find, and once he leaves, the possibility of returning is very small.
However, considering the needs of the country, Liu Yalou didn't say much, but said helplessly: "I'm helpless, this is the decision of **, you can find ** yourself!" ”
Hearing Liu Yalou's words, Wang Bingzhang also understood that this matter was beyond Liu Yalou's authority, so he decided to ask Prime Minister *** for help to see if he could send someone else.
After meeting the Prime Minister, Wang Bingzhang greeted him warmly: "Prime Minister, you haven't come to see me for a long time, how are you doing lately?" * The prime minister knew the purpose of Wang Bingzhang's visit, but he pretended not to know, smiled and said: "You, Wang Bingzhang, always go to the Three Treasures Hall for nothing."
Tell me, what's the matter with me? Seeing that Prime Minister was in a happy mood, Wang Bingzhang stepped forward and said sincerely: "Prime Minister, I am not at a high level in this area, and I don't understand missiles!" ”
**The prime minister assigned Wang Bingzhang to be in charge of the missile program, and although Wang Bingzhang did not understand missiles, he honestly said that he could not recommend a suitable candidate. **The prime minister insisted that he take over, and Wang Bingzhang had no choice but to accept the task and begin to prepare relevant materials.
Liu Yalou presided over the meeting of the Fifth Research Institute and determined the division of labor among the leaders of the Fifth Research Institute. Mr. Nie also instructed on April 4 on relevant matters. Liu Yalou reported the work arrangements of the Fifth Research Institute to the General Political Department and the National Defense Science and Technology Commission for the record.
The party committees of the five academies unanimously agreed that Liu Yalou would be the first secretary, and Comrades Wang Bingzhang, Liu Youguang, and Wang Zhen would be the secretaries. In Liu Yalou's absence, Comrade Wang Bingzhang was in charge of the overall work.
Wang Bingzhang officially took office as vice president of the Fifth Research Institute and began to lead missile research. During his tenure of office, he worked closely with political commissar Liu Youguang and vice presidents Qian Xuesen, Wang Zhen, and Liu Bingyan, humbly learned from them, created a stable working environment for him, and made tremendous contributions to the missile development of new China.
After the cooperation between the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister agreed to Liu Yalou's resignation as the president of the Fifth Academy and appointed Wang Bingzhang as the president of the Fifth Academy. With the advice of Qian Xuesen and other missile experts and his own experience, Wang Bingzhang improved the scientific research system and adapted it to the new China's missile industry.
Qian Xuesen once spoke highly of Wang Bingzhang: "He successfully applied the strategy of large-scale operations to scientific and technological work and organized thousands of scientific and technological workers. Under his leadership, the successful launch of the "Dongfeng-2" laid the foundation for the victory of China's "two bombs and one satellite" cause in the missile field.
However, just as the missile was about to leave the factory, the staff in charge of counting the materials reported: "One screw is missing." Hearing this news, Qian Xuesen stressed that the missile is different from the car on the ground, it is going to the sky, and the missing screw, whether it is left in the missile body or left elsewhere, will have a significant impact on the accuracy of the missile, which is a big problem.
Wang Bingzhang and Qian Xuesen studied together, and Qian Xuesen said that he must find the screw. Wang Bingzhang also agreed with him, and personally instructed to find the screw.
The staff searched the work site, but could not find it. Some people suggested that the screw might be in the body of the missile, and after careful consideration, Wang Bingzhang decided to disassemble the missile and look for it.
Although the size and weight of the screws are not large, some technicians are concerned that disassembling the missile will affect the launch time. However, Wang Bingzhang insisted that the screw must be found.
As staff members entrusted by the party and the state, we cannot take our guard lightly. Only by making sure that there are no problems with the missiles can they leave the factory and go to the sky! His seriousness was infectious, and he decided to disassemble the missile to find it.
After 25 days of inspection, although the missing screws were not found, some debris was found in the missile body, such as pressure pads, iron wires, rosin, etc. The reassembled missile not only met the launch requirements, but was also more standardized, and finally successfully launched.
After the incident was over, Wang Bingzhang did not forget it, but conscientiously summed up it and worked out more effective working methods, which became an important principle in the missile development cause.
In November 1964, the premier decided to reorganize the Fifth Research Institute into the Ministry of Missile Industry, which is also known as the Seventh Aircraft Ministry, and appointed Wang Bingzhang as the minister, becoming the first leader of the Seventh Aircraft Ministry.
In view of the special international and domestic environment, it was decided to set up a special committee to lead the atomic energy industry and nuclear industry, and Wang Bingzhang was added as a member of the special committee. Under the guidance of the first missile industry, Wang Bingzhang formulated a plan for the development of the missile industry of "four bombs in eight years", which was approved by the first missile industry.
In October 1966, the "two bombs combined" nuclear missile was successfully launched, and on December 26, the birthday of the first day, the "Dongfeng No. 3" was successfully launched, which is of great historical significance.
In October 1968, Wang Bingzhang was appointed as the secretary of the Party Committee of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, and since then, Wang Bingzhang has begun to preside over the work of the entire national defense scientific research front. Under his leadership, China's surface-to-surface missiles have been successfully launched one after another, from the "Dongfeng-1" short-range missile to the "Dongfeng-5" intercontinental missile, indicating that New China's missile undertaking has continuously reached a new level.
In addition, he has successfully developed various types of ground-to-air missiles and navy missiles, making indelible contributions to New China's missile cause. Although he himself did not understand missiles, he was convinced that "there is nothing difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to climb," and he continued to innovate in practice, and finally achieved remarkable results.
Wang Bingzhang's life trajectory from an air force general to a leader in missile research is not only a cross-border change, but also reflects his indomitable attitude and perseverance.
He was born on January 14, 1914 in a peasant family in Anyang County, Henan Province. At the age of 15, he was successfully admitted to the radio school of the Northwest Army.
After graduating, he was assigned to work in the 5th Route Army. However, after Feng Yuxiang's defeat, the 5th Route Army was organized as the 26th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army. Next, they were transferred to Jiangxi to carry out "encirclement and suppression" of the Red Army.
In the process, Wang Bingzhang and some leaders of the 26th Route Army gradually realized the inadequacy of Chiang Kai-shek's policy of "suppressing the Communists", and under the influence and guidance of the Chinese Communist Party, they decided to look for opportunities to carry out riots.
Wang Bingzhang played a key role in the uprising, and one of his important tasks was to arrest the generals who opposed the uprising and control their armed forces. On December 14, 1931, Wang Bingzhang received an order from his superiors to arrest the officers who had come to the banquet to oppose the uprising.
Wang Bingzhang adopted a clever way, he first walked to the herald downstairs, sat down by the gun, and then left unconsciously.
His departure cooperated with the battalion commander in successfully arresting the herald. Immediately afterwards, Wang Bingzhang rushed to the second floor, raised his gun and fired a shot into the air, and shouted: "The Red Army is sneak attacking!" ”
This action of his immediately threw the officers on the second floor into confusion. The battalion commander took advantage of this opportunity and led people to the second floor and managed to control the officers who opposed the uprising.
Subsequently, the 26th Route Army announced an uprising, which became known as the Ningdu Uprising. After the success of the uprising, this unit was organized into the 5th Army Corps of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and Wang Bingzhang was appointed as the leader of the herald squad of the corps headquarters.
Wang Bingzhang's wisdom and courage played an important role in this uprising, and he proved with his actions that with determination and courage, it is possible to overcome difficulties and achieve goals.
After Wang Bingzhang took a group photo with his comrades-in-arms, he served in many positions in the Red Army, including the captain of the Legion Headquarters Signal Team of the Red Fifth Army Corps, the staff officer of the First Division Headquarters of the Red First Army Corps, the head of the supplementary regiment, the deputy commander of the training battalion, the acting chief of the Military Education Section of the Corps Headquarters, and the chief of the Operations Section of the Corps Headquarters, and participated in the world-famous Long March.
In 1937, the main force of the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army, and Wang Bingzhang was appointed as the chief of the Operations Section of the 115th Division. In his later positions, he served as the chief of staff of the 115th (actually the chief of staff), the commander of the Luxi Military Region and the commander of the 3rd Brigade (343 Brigade), the commander of the Huxi Military Division and the commander of the 4th Brigade (344 Brigade), and the first of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region.
6. Commander of the 11th Army Division, Commander of the Eastern Henan Command of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, Deputy Commander and Commander of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, Commander of the 11th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, and Commander of the 17th Army of the Second Field Army.
In November 1949, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force was established, and Wang Bingzhang was appointed Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In February 1951, ** personally inspected the Air Force.
When General Mao Anying and General Liu Yalou were in Beijing together, General Liu Yalou's leaders introduced Mao Anying one by one. When introducing Wang Bingzhang, Mao Anying looked at Wang Bingzhang carefully, stepped forward, held Wang Bingzhang's hand, and said, "You are Wang Bingzhang?"
You did a good job in the southwest of Lu! When she spoke, Mao Anying's affection was beyond words. In October, the Sino-DPRK Air Force Joint Command was established to provide unified leadership and command over the Volunteer Air Force.
In November, the Air Force was ready to order a batch of equipment from the USSR. For this reason, Wang Bingzhang deliberately went to the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, after learning that the Soviet Union had unilaterally swallowed back the 372 MiG-9s that had been discussed in Beijing to replace them with advanced MiG-15s, Wang Bingzhang felt very angry, raised his hand and slapped it heavily on the table.
After a snap, the whole venue fell silent. The Soviet negotiators all looked at each other, and the atmosphere was very awkward for a while.
**After reporting to ***, request** instructions. Without waiting for instructions, Stalin sold all the MiG-15s to China at a low price. After Wang Bingzhang returned to China after completing the order task, he was summoned and praised by ***.
During the period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, Wang Bingzhang frequently went to the front line to understand the operational situation, solve specific problems, convey orders, and help the Chinese People's Volunteer Air Force formulate operational plans. He repeatedly submitted operational plans to the Military Commission in his personal name and received approval, and even drafted a number of operational telegrams sent to Stalin about the Air Force.
Wang Bingzhang's role in the process of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea cannot be ignored. In July 1952, Deputy General Su Yu approved a joint operation plan for the air forces of the three countries.
On January 3, 1953, the "Requirements and Instructions for Air Force Operations to Prevent Landing Behind the Enemy's Flank" was issued. Under this instruction, Wang Bingzhang presided over the drafting of the anti-landing operation plan.
Immediately afterwards, Wang Bingzhang personally went to Anton to work out a specific battle plan with the front-line leaders. After obtaining Liu Yalou's consent, Wang Bingzhang submitted this battle plan to the ** Military Commission in his personal name.
** Instructions on the battle plan: "Do it!" On February 6, the Military Commission appointed Wang Bingzhang as the first deputy commander and chief of staff of the Air Force in accordance with the instructions of the Military Commission.
After the PLA implemented the military rank system in 1955, Wang Bingzhang was awarded the rank of lieutenant general. Over the years, Wang Bingzhang has gradually become proficient in the work of the Air Force and has become handy.
This is also the reason why when Premier *** decided to put him in charge of missile work, Wang Bingzhang said, "I am not qualified for this work."
After Lieutenant General Wang Bingzhang assumed the post of vice president of the Fifth Research Institute, with his firm conviction and tenacious perseverance, he made great contributions to the missile cause of New China and was highly praised by the United States.