noffsinger Chapter 250: Follow Me?
Chapter 250: Follow Me?
Major General Dussel was a staunch advocate of "bombing first", but Chennault was a supporter of "equal emphasis on fighters and bombers".
Therefore, fierce conflicts broke out many years ago.
Now, Chennault and the Flying Tigers fell into his hands, and he had to take good care of them.
At the disbanding rally of the Flying Tigers, Dussel bluntly and harshly addressed the pilots and ground crew.
"If you don't stay here, you will face compulsory conscription when you return to Country M! So, gentlemen, I suggest that you stay in the 23rd Battalion!"
"Shit! To hell with your forced enlistment!"
How could those pilots and ground crew members who were used to freedom fall for your tricks? Originally, only a few people wanted to return home, but now only these dozen people are left.
Chennault was also preparing to return home to see off his comrades with whom he had been living for seven months.
Today I flew to Kunming specifically to meet my old friend, Wang Meng, whom I met only once.
"Mr. Wang, thank you for your penicillin, which saved the lives of several of our pilots!"
"General Chen, I've said it before, you have made outstanding contributions to the skies of our country, this is what you deserve!"
Indeed, the Flying Tigers spent most of their seven months in the war fighting in Burma and southwestern China.
The Flying Tigers achieved the record of shooting down about 12 enemy aircraft and destroying 61 enemy aircraft at the cost of losing 150 of their own aircraft in the air and 297 aircraft destroyed on the ground.
The M Country Air Volunteer Group lost a total of 26 pilots.
Such an impressive record is worthy of a star.
Chennault straightened his chest, he really did live up to the Chinese people.
"Goodbye, my friend! If I ever return to China, maybe we'll meet in the blue sky! Also, your fighter plane is great!"
Wang Meng thought for a second and immediately made a bold decision.
"General Chennault, I have an idea. Are you interested in hearing it?"
Chennault looked at his watch and saw that there was still time, so he stopped.
"Mr. Wang, I still have half an hour. This half an hour belongs to you, my friend!"
"General Chennault, I wonder if you are willing to join the Independent Column Aviation Division and fight alongside us! Work with me? Your salary will remain the same, and we are even willing to pay you first!"
Wang Meng made a preliminary plan and decided that these pilots with rich combat experience were treasures.
If they are willing to continue flying fighter jets to fight the enemy, that would be great.
If they don't want to fly fighters, they can still fly bombers and transport planes.
If it really doesn't work, then earn less salary, teach at the Aviation College of the National Defense University, fly a trainer plane, and help them train more Chinese pilots.
"Mr. Wang, your plane is indeed very advanced, but is your plane big enough for us to fly?"
"Of course, I can tell you the size of our aviation division, but you must swear in the name of your parents that you will never tell anyone else!"
"Of course!"
"Our aviation division currently has 60 fighters, 30 bombers, 30 transport planes, and 60 trainer planes. We also have two permanent airports and one field airport!"
After hearing this, Chennault took a deep breath.
You should know that when the Flying Tigers were first established, they only purchased 4.5 Hawk 100A-81 aircraft from the United States at a price of US$2 (five or six times the normal price).
Later, 50 additional P40Es were purchased.
And this "little warlord" in front of us actually has nearly 200 planes?
If he hadn't believed in Wang Meng's character, he might have been labeled a "boast".
"Oh my God! There is such a strong air force in China? Unbelievable!"
"Of course, if you don't believe it, you can go with us to take a look later!"
After much thought, Chennault finally decided to follow Wang Meng to take a look. After all, seeing is believing.
"Mr. Wang, please give me ten minutes!"
With his personal charm, Chennault asked the pilots and ground crew who had already packed their luggage to give him three days.
"Gentlemen, if everything goes well for me, we will continue to stay in China. Of course, our salary will remain the same, or even higher!"
"Yes!"
Chennault temporarily stabilized the Flying Tigers and now placed all his hopes on Wang Meng.
Wang Meng was not idle either. He handed over 10,000 bottles of penicillin to Nicholas's consignee Mao Hang, and asked him to cash them in as soon as possible.
In addition, he found William, the spokesperson for Minister Louis of the US Department of Defense.
"Sir, here are 1500 bottles of penicillin. According to the agreed price of $ per bottle, the total is $ million. I wonder if you can afford it?"
"Mr. Wang, according to our previous agreement, we cannot pay in cash and can only use weapons and equipment to offset it. Can you accept it?"
Wang Meng thought for a long time and finally decided to use the payment to purchase B-17 Flying Fortress fighters and C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft.
When Wang Meng heard that these two aircraft cost $60 each, his jaw dropped!
"Oh my God, you are robbing me. As far as I know, your factory price is only $200,000!"
"Mr. Wang, we can provide door-to-door delivery service. Then you can see your new plane in beautiful Kunming! How pleasant!"
Wang Meng looked fiercely at William who seemed to be immersed in it, and could only sigh.
"Give me 17 B-45s and 50 C-s each!"
"No, 40 at most!"
"Deal, but you must provide me with at least 100 maintenance personnel for a year!"
"You pay the salary!"
"make a deal!"
Just like that, a deal for 80 large aircraft was concluded in just a few words.
William quickly took out the contract, and after the two men signed it, they shook hands hypocritically.
"Mr. Wang, the fighter jets you provided us last time have given us a lot of inspiration. Our aircraft will soon be mass-produced. If you need them, you can continue to exchange them for penicillin at a favorable price!"
"So fast?"
Wang Meng was filled with surprise. As expected of a major industrial country with such profound technological accumulation, they had improved their prototype by following their example in just a few months.
The prototype provided by Wang Meng undoubtedly accelerated their research and development.
"Well, the situation ahead is tight, we have to speed up. Let me tell you in secret, its name is Hellcat!"
Wang Meng cursed him in his heart, what a cocky guy!
He already knew the name, so why did he need to tell me secretly?
"How much!"
"Very cheap, only $60,000 a piece!"
When Wang Meng heard this, he almost fainted.
"You are robbing me! If I'm not mistaken, the factory price is at most $10,000!"
William had a sly smile on his face.
"Hey, same here!"