The U.S. Air Force, which had completed its force projection mission, was divided into two groups. 20 P-40 fighter jets stayed to provide air fire support to the airborne troops until they crashed, while 32 DC-3 transport aircraft flew along Manila to Pampanga Province.
The railroads were flying northeast, and they were running low on fuel, but they could still do something before crashing.
A few minutes later, the transport fleet discovered the Onta River Bridge and the Pampanga River Bridge.
Immediately, the rarest suicide attack scene in the history of the U.S. Air Force appeared. After the pilots of the first two transport planes jumped out first and tried to crash the bridge with their empty planes, Lieutenant David of the 17th Squadron of the 10th Air Force of the U.S. Air Force shouted:
"Long Live America" crashed his plane into the Unter Bridge.
This American was obviously stimulated by the Orientals.
After the huge explosion, the Angat Bridge was broken into two parts by billowing smoke.
Captain David's suicide attack immediately detonated the entire transport squadron. All the pilots' eyes turned red instantly, and they all turned into desperate desperadoes who were not afraid of death. Immediately, two more Yankees crashed into the plane with their own planes.
After destroying the Pampanga River Bridge, the red-eyed Americans turned their ferocious eyes on the Japanese mechanized troops that were rushing along the highway to Manila for emergency reinforcements.
…………
Downtown Manila, Japanese Army Headquarters in Luzon.
The stubbornly resisting Japanese troops in the flight control center of the Turtle Airport were quickly wiped out by the Allied airborne troops. Yamashita Fengfumi had also returned to the headquarters. Although the airport had been completely lost, the old Japanese soldier Yamashita was still very calm. In any case, he parachuted into Manila.
The allies only have a few hundred people, and no matter how powerful they are, they can't make any waves.
As soon as reinforcements from the 15th Division arrive, their performance will be over.
As soon as he sat down in the office, Chief of Staff Tomita Tsuguo hurriedly walked in, immediately put his feet back and stood at attention and said: "Your Excellency, Commander, the search wing directly under the 15th Division reported that the Pampanga River Bridge and the Angate River Bridge
They have all been destroyed by the Allied forces, and General Yamauchi is rushing to mobilize the engineer regiment to build the bridge, but it is impossible for reinforcements to cross the river before dark tomorrow."
"What!?" Yamashita Fengwen's face changed drastically when he heard this, and he said in disbelief, "This is impossible. The Allies did not dispatch bombers at all. How could they destroy the Pampanga River Bridge and the Angate River Bridge?"
"It's an American transport plane!" Jiro Tomita said miserably, "These Americans are crazy. After they completed the projection of troops, they launched a suicide attack on the marching column of the imperial army's return troops. The Pampanga River Bridge
And that’s how the Onta River Bridge was destroyed by these damn Americans.”
"Baga Yalu." Yamashita Fengwen immediately slumped into his chair.
Both bridges were destroyed, and the returning mechanized troops were unable to cross the river at all.
Moreover, there are only two bridges nearby. It is impossible for the Japanese army to go around from upstream or downstream, and it is useless to collect ships. Unless large ferries are used, it is impossible to return heavy tanks, field artillery and other heavy equipment to the Japanese army.
Equipment to cross the river, if it is just to ferry the infantry troops across the river, it will not be enough to recapture the airport.
Yamashita Fengfumi had already seen the combat effectiveness and firepower of the Allied airborne troops. Without tanks and field artillery groups, it would have been impossible for the Japanese army to recapture the airport from them. But if the tanks and field artillery groups wanted to cross the river, they would only have to
We can wait for the engineer team of the 15th Division to erect the pontoon bridge, which will take at least two days!
At this time, another major officer came in and reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, there is an urgent call from Saigon!"
Yamashita Fengwen took the telegram and hurriedly read it, the expression on his face suddenly became even more bleak, and then he said to the second son Tomita next to him: "Mr. Tomita, please reply to Saigon immediately: Pampanga River Bridge and Angate River Bridge are both
After being destroyed, our returning troops were unable to cross the river for reinforcements in time, and it was impossible to recapture the airport. Manila is facing an unprecedented threat."
"However, crises often hide opportunities. I thought that an opportunity to reverse the war situation in Southeast Asia has appeared! Commander, please call the base camp and the Combined Fleet Command urgently to request the Navy Combined Fleet to return to Southeast Asia urgently and take this opportunity to severely damage the Southeast Asian allies.
The power of the air!"
"As long as the air power of the Allied forces in Southeast Asia is destroyed, the U.S. troops trapped in Luzon Island will be unable to fly. The Allied advance team parachuted into Manila and the upcoming reinforcements will only add chapters to the imperial army's military merit book. More importantly,
What’s more, after the Allies lose their air power, the Imperial Japanese Army will be able to regain the initiative in the Southeast Asian battlefield!”
"Hai!" Tomita Jiro hurriedly recorded the message, then suddenly lowered his head, turned around and walked away quickly.
Just after Tomita Jiro left, another colonel officer came in and reported: "Your Excellency, the Allied forces have begun to attack the city!"
"What!?" Yamashita Fengwen's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he said sternly, "Awesome, awesome! It seems that the commander of the Allied Forces is also a powerful character. With less than a thousand troops, he actually dared to divide his troops to attack the city.
?However, they really hit the key point of the imperial army and ordered all documents to be burned and all personnel in the headquarters to evacuate urgently!"
…………
Saigon, Southern Army Headquarters.
Juichi Terauchi slammed the message in his hand on the table, and then roared angrily: "The Battle of Midway, which is related to the fate of the empire, is about to break out. At this juncture, even if the headquarters orders, Yamamoto Isoroku will never let the alliance
The idiot Yamashita Fengfumi who has withdrawn the main force of the fleet to the Southeast Asian waters is too wishful thinking!"
"Your Excellency, General, let all the fighter jets of the aviation force take off in an emergency." Lieutenant General Luota Gong said sadly, "Although the two major flying groups have less than 50 fighter jets left, they are at a disadvantage compared to the Allies in terms of number and performance.
It’s an absolute disadvantage, but we can’t worry about that much anymore. It would be good to destroy a few Allied transport planes.”
Terauchi gritted his teeth and said in a ferocious voice: "Order that all fighter jets, bombers and transport aircraft of the air force take off urgently, and ignore the escort fighter jets of the Allied forces. Their target is the Allied transport aircraft. They will do whatever it takes and use any means.
Destroy as many Allied transport aircraft as possible and eliminate the Allied air transport power!"
"Hai!" Luota Gong lowered his head suddenly and immediately took the order and left.
…………
Rangoon, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.
Major General Chennault hurriedly walked into the war room and said to Yue Weihan: "Sir, my early warning team sent back a report that Japanese fighter jets from various airports in Southeast Asia have taken off. It seems that the Japanese army is preparing to intercept our transport aircraft group, but let people
What’s confusing is that the Japanese bombers and transport planes have also taken off, but they don’t know what they want to do?”
"Bombers and transport planes also took off?" Stilwell frowned, "Is there some conspiracy?"
"Conspiracy?" Yue Weihan curled his lips and said disdainfully, "No, the Japanese are crazy. Their bombers and transport planes must be heading towards our transport plane. However, with the escort fighters of the Fourteenth Air Force here,
Coupled with the fact that there are two airborne early warning aircraft, it is impossible for the Japanese to succeed."
As soon as he finished speaking, Colonel Liu Xin hurriedly came in and reported: "The main office, the special operations brigade called urgently. They had occupied the combat readiness warehouse near the airport five minutes ago. Due to the sudden incident, the Japanese army did not have time to transfer any materials.
All the supplies, including tens of thousands of tons of fuel, are in my possession, and now the special operations brigade is attacking the city."
"The combat readiness warehouse has been taken down? Very good!" Yue Weihan nodded and ordered Liu Xindao, "Call Liu Tiezhu back so that he doesn't have to attack the city. Yamashita Fengwen is just a small role and is not worthy of the special operations brigade. Now they
The mission is to immediately control the Port of Manila, seize enough ships, and pick up General MacArthur and the trapped American officers and soldiers from the sea!"
"Yes!" Liu Xin stood at attention and immediately took the order.
Yue Weihan immediately turned around and laughed at General Stilwell.
If the Japanese army thought that the Allied forces would deploy a large number of troops to Luzon Island and then forcibly open the communication line between Manila and the Bataan Peninsula, they would be completely wrong! From the beginning to the end, the Allied forces had no intention of deploying
Too many troops were sent to Luzon, and there was no thought of opening up a land transportation line between Manila and the Bataan Peninsula!
…………
Manila Airport.
In the hall of the flight control center, Liu Tiezhu was pouring wine into a goblet. With such skill, battle reports from the special operations brigade and the US airborne battalion came in like a stream.
"Report, the 1st Battalion has occupied the Japanese headquarters in the city center."
"Report, the 5th Battalion has taken control of Manila Port, two Japanese gunboats have escaped, and the remaining hundreds of ships, large and small, have all been controlled by our troops."
"Reporting that the US friendly forces have organized twenty trucks and are rushing to transport fuel from the combat readiness warehouse to the airport."
"Report, urgent message from Yangon headquarters, ordering us to stop pursuing the Japanese army and control the port as quickly as possible."
Liu Tiezhu filled up the wine, and as soon as he took a sip, he squirted it all out, cursing and saying: "Damn, this is also called wine? Is this what little Japan usually drinks? It's so damn boring." After that, Liu Tiezhu reported to the communication again.
The staff officer said, "Call back to the headquarters. The special operations brigade has effectively controlled the port and all ships. We only need to wait for reinforcements to arrive before we can cross the sea to rescue people!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another communications staff member hurriedly walked in and reported: "Bridge, the tower reported that they have received the signal from the Tenth Air Force, and they will fly to Manila Airport in half an hour."
"Hey, the time has advanced by more than half an hour?" Liu Tiezhu looked at his watch, then turned back to Major Wright, the commander of the US airborne battalion that parachuted into Manila Airport, "Major Wright, a transport aircraft of the Tenth Air Force
The group will be arriving soon, and all my people have already gone out, so I’ll leave it to you to pick them up.”
"Yes, sir!" Major Wright saluted and immediately took the order.
Major Wright did not resist Liu Tiezhu's order at all. This was not because Liu Tiezhu's rank of major general was three ranks higher than his, but entirely because Liu Tiezhu's special operations brigade had no resistance during the airborne landing and the subsequent battle to seize the airport.
Americans are proud of their super fighting power, but they also respect the strong.
Half an hour later, a transport fleet of the U.S. Air Force's Tenth Air Force successfully arrived over Manila.
The Japanese fighter planes intercepted mid-flight did not cause much trouble to the transport fleet of the Tenth Air Force. Nearly a hundred escort fighters of the Fourteenth Air Force, under the guidance of two early warning aircraft, carried out interception of the Japanese fighter planes.
Counter-interception, most Japanese fighter planes were intercepted and shot down before they could even detect the US military transport plane.
Under the guidance of ground personnel, a total of 173 transport aircraft of various types landed at Manila Airport.
More than 5,000 Chinese officers and soldiers, as well as a large amount of weapons and ammunition, disembarked from these 173 transport planes. After getting off the plane, these Chinese officers and soldiers quickly entered the defensive positions around the airport and began to build stronger defenses. Their mission was to
The next three days are like nails hammered in around the airport.
Another half hour later, two airborne early warning aircraft with nearly a hundred P-40 and P-51 fighter jets landed at Manila Airport one after another after completing the expulsion mission. In the next few days, these fighter jets will be stationed permanently.
Manila Airport to respond to Japanese air strikes at any time and at the same time provide air protection for Allied transport aircraft.
Among them, 20 P-51 fighter jets took off again soon after being filled with fuel.
Because at this time, the Chinese special operations brigade had driven nearly a hundred large and small ships to the other side of Manila Bay, preparing to rescue General MacArthur and more than 20,000 US officers and soldiers who were trapped on the Bataan Peninsula. These 20 P-51 fighter jets were
Provide air cover for these ships to prevent Japanese gunboats cruising nearby from approaching.
…………
New York, Times Square.
It was already past eleven o'clock at night, and President Roosevelt's speech had long ended. However, the crowd gathered in the square had not dispersed because they knew that at this moment, a rescue operation affecting the entire United States was taking place thousands of miles away.
is unfolding on the island of Luzon, and they are eager to know the latest progress of the operation!
The hour hand was almost pointing to zero, and the bell on the top of St. John's Cathedral in the distance was already ringing.
Suddenly, a rustling noise sounded from the loudspeakers around the square, and the citizens who were bowing their heads in prayer immediately pricked up their ears.
Immediately, the voice of Hughes, the famous National Public Radio host, rang out from the radio speakers: "Gentlemen and ladies, listeners all over America, I am your old friend Larry Hughes."
"Now I have exciting good news to report to you. Just before this news was broadcast, the first batch of more than 2,500 US military officers and soldiers had boarded the ferry. They were sailing across Manila Bay to the Port of Manila on the opposite side. They had already
Escape from the damn Bataan Peninsula, yes, it was an escape, a victorious escape!”