A pilot from China’s “Wang Hai Squadron” has recalled the tension of close-range engagements with foreign aircraft. Even in situations where a collision seemed inevitable, there was no retreat. “At the time, we were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. We held out until the very end; we were fighting for that last breath,” the pilot said.
“Wang Hai Squadron,” part of the Air Force Aviation Brigade, was the first operational unit to be equipped with the J-20 stealth fighter jet. Before this significant upgrade, the squadron had four instances of close-range combat with foreign aircraft during a protection mission. When foreign military aircraft threatened to breach Chinese airspace, squadron lead pilot Li Debing directed a head-on confrontation.
Li Debing shared his intense experience: “At 10 kilometers, 5 kilometers, 1 kilometer… we were facing an imminent collision, and we were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice. The foreign aircraft made an abrupt evasive maneuver and retreated… Our struggle to the last was a battle of will.”
Their dauntless spirit has not wavered from the early days of the People’s Air Force, with its fearless “airborne bayonet fights” during the Korean War, under the leadership of Wang Hai. This legendary squadron participated in more than 80 aerial battles, shooting down or damaging 29 enemy aircraft. The squadron’s bravery has come at a high cost, with more than 50 pilots having made the ultimate sacrifice.
Pilot Yang Chunlei of the “Wang Hai Squadron” said, “In choosing this profession, we have foregone considerations of life and death. As our old hero Wang Hai said, ‘In battle, one must not fear death; one must be prepared to give everything.'”
With the induction of domestically produced advanced fighter jets, “Wang Hai Squadron” became the first unit to be fully equipped with the J-20. The squadron boasts several “Golden Helmets” and “Golden Darts,” the highest honors in the Air Force. These ace pilots, now tasked with piloting these advanced machines, face new challenges: “The J-20 is a good jet to fly, but it’s challenging to fly well. The physical strain under high G-forces for extended periods is immense,” they explain.
Even with rigorous training, these pilots see their role as the ultimate honor. Yang Chunlei remarked, “Being able to pilot a fighter jet to protect our country and its people makes all the effort worthwhile. When we take off to handle a situation, especially at night, seeing the lights behind us – that’s the direction of home. I am a part of the defense line of our motherland’s airspace.”
“Victory means life, defeat means death in air combat, with life and death decided in an instant,” believes Yang Chunlei. “The motherland has entrusted us with its most advanced weapons. We must prove ourselves worthy of this trust. Whenever the motherland needs us, we will ascend swiftly.”
Time may pass, but their courage remains. Pilot Li Peng added, “If, in the heat of battle, I exhaust all my ammunition, my fighter jet will become the last missile rushing towards the enemy.”