1937.09.21: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Ace 三輪寬少校 Shot Down Over China By 陳其光少校 Poem by Frank Yue

1937.09.21: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Ace Maj. Hiroshi Miwa Shot Down by A Chinese Nationalist Pilot, Maj. Chan Kee-Kwong, at Taiyuan, China

- a true epic story by Frank C Yue

1
Yellowed but unforgotten magazine records show
On 21 September 83 years ago,
O'er the placid skies of Taiyuan, Shanxi,
Gallant defenders were anxious to see
24 invading Imperial Japanese
Bombers and fighters, like black-death disease,
Coming in formation - a violent, merciless gale -
While over the City air-raid sirens wail'd and wail'd.
2
In Peking just a little over two months ago,
Over the Marco Polo Bridge surged the foes
To dominate China weakened by internal strife,
Plundering, stifling people's right to life!
Against Japan's great military might
The poorly-equipped Chinese troops did fight!
13 August: Began the Battle of Songhu,
With the fall of Shanghai the Chinese armies withdrew.
3
Now 9 Mitsubish G3M medium bombers thundering came,
With 15 Type 96 Mitsubish A5M 'new' fighter planes.
Only 4 Chinese Curtis 35/63 Hawk II bi-planes
Were stationed around the capital City: But not in vain!
Major Chen Qiguang (Chan Kee-Kwong) led his three comrades -
Lieutenants Su Yingxiang, Liang Tingyuan and Lei Yanjun -
To hurl themselves at the in-coming threats:
They knew they were racing towards certain deaths.
4
Their biggest wish: Ere their demise, to shoot down as many
As possible war planes of the enemy!
Second wish: To bring down own aircraft safely,
For man-and-machine to fight again fearlessly.
While Japanese planes lost would be quickly replaced,
Chinese losses meant even fewer fighter planes.
So injured Chinese pilots desperately tried
Landing, but ne'er abandoning, their damaged ride!
5
A fierce air battle erupted between David and Goliath:
4 specks of Gallant Defenders fighting in situation dire -
At 1450 hours: Around 8,000 feet high,
20 miles short of Taiyuan, up in the sky -
4 dots turned into fearless Flying Tigers breathing fire.
Each pounced upon a selected bomber: 'Eat my sword fiery! '
But then 6 'Red Sun' bandit fighters ganged up on The Four.
Might there be more '12-point White Sun' fighters! Let there be more!
6
All chaos broke loose - Mad dogs chasing mad dogs: Dog fights!
With steel resolve, the Four Defenders fought with all their might.
One or two bandits swarmed after each Nationalist fighter -
For the first 10 minutes: Sharp turns, loops! 'Rat-ta-ta-ta-ta! '...
30 minutes gone: One of the pirates at 3,000 feet height
Was so badly wounded, out of combat had to take a hike.
Two more Jap fighters joined up, then jammed was Lt. Lei's guns;
He had to go, mission half-completed, to fight another day in the Sun.
7
Blatantly unfair: It was two against one! 'Rat-ta-ta-ta! '...
Now still outnumbered, out-manoeuvered and out-gunned,
Valiant Defenders were hit many times, one by one...
Lieutenants Su and Liang went down with their flaming planes!
Alas! Most of the marauding pirates were seasoned hands;
Our brave warriors relatively inexperienced men.
There was no radio on board in those early days;
With hand signals and wing dipping, pilots talk that way.
8
The sole survivor Maj.Chan, though wounded, fought on still.
Enemy bullets busting, cutting through wood and steel...
As leader himself, Maj. Chan set his sight on the other -
Flying haughty with wing-man in train - the other leader.
It was a message clear: With a salute of the wing -
Two Opposing Lions would now duel one-on-one, sure thing.
No self-respecting Samurai could do this otherwise.
Challenge me and my superior machine - you shall die!
9
Dying was the last thing on Maj. Chan's mind: 'I'll keep focus'd.'
He thought, 'Down I'll have his bloated ego cut.'
Not your ordinary flyer, Maj. Chan was a maverick:
A great aerial acrobat, he rolled and turned unpredict'd.
For this and his shooting out of the sky four enemy planes four,
He was nicknamed 'Crazy Kee' and was expected to score more.
The Japanese squadron leader was the 'Beiping Air Force Commander':
An 'Ace' pilot, having shot down many a Chinese fighter!
10
9 bombers with 7 escort fighters then flew on their way
To civilian targets for their bombs to unload away!
4 of the remaining 6 Jap fighters were damaged; they circled mostly
Above the 2 whirling combatants, watching them closely.
Maj.Chan and Maj. Miwa fought high and low;
Where one plane went the other was sure to follow.
Tenaciously they fought,
At one another they shot!
11
A gang of shameless cats, the strongest cat
Toying with a brave mouse, but a defiant one at that.
The Flying Samurai was most confident and rightly so -
His ride - the 'Father of the A6M', the predecessor of 'Fighter Zero'!
A prized possession was tucked to the side of the Ace's suit,
Gleaming samurai sword inscribed with the words 'King of Pursuits'!
-Presented to him by a proud Emperor Hirohito,
Maj. Miwa, one of the 'Four Aces', a National Hero!
12
... Almost out of ammo, Maj.Chan resorted to ramming!
Caught by surprise, the Ace at the last moment veered away.
So close to each other, the planes were at a near-slamming!
By Major Chan's last rounds, the Japanese cockpit was sprayed.
The Ace's plane fell from 3,000 feet, trailing thick smoke...
At once,2 Japanese planes dived: RAGE! - their guns spoke and spoke!
Maj.Chan twisted and rolled his plane, looping the loop;
Enraged Samurai Fighters dived steep and down they swoop'd...
13
The twin Keen Avengers kept firing their machine guns:
Hundreds of screaming 7.7 mm bullets flashed in the Sun.
There were just too many murderous, flying slugs: 'Arrgh! '
Fighter cockpits on both sides were not armour-plated;
Maj. Chan was hit in the shoulder, the legs and the left arm!
The engine groaned, billowed smoke and his plane was gutted.
His disabled plane, limping at 100 to 200 feet above the ground,
Crashed-landed at Taiyuan Lady Teachers' College sports compound.
14
Two mad Japanese Avengers dived in strafing, to finish him off.
They didn't want to report... No, they didn't want to be laughing stock:
With superior numbers and planes, the 'Lone Ace-Killer' still got away? !
And you still called him the 'Sick Man of East Asia'? -No way!
Now with the dog-fights over, the Chinese military
Opened up with whate'er they had in their arms inventory.
The eager but Frustrated Avengers were driven away!
Bleeding profusely, a critically wounded warrior might come home for the day...
15
The shredded, crash-landing dark-green bi-plane banged against a wall:
Rescuers and helpers came running from directions all.
Maj. Chan broke some bones, and was also hit in the chest.
All bloodied, he appeared dead but he had given his best!
Maj. Chan remained in a deep coma for seven days...
That he got to walk with a limp, many were amazed.
His heroic deeds and resilience earned international praise;
But concrete help for China from the Powers wasn't on the way.
16
On the other hand, still falling was the King of Pursuits' plane...
An Ace fighter, control of his plane he struggled to maintain.
Dazed, on the nearest airfield Maj. Miwa landed his plane;
Then he was quite surprised to find
Chinese troops coming to take him alive.
Again, he took off fast: 40 miles outside Taiyuan he was seen last.
His battered plane finally crashed, and his body was found
With his precious sword and personal seal together bound.
17
Thus ended the glorious Son of Japan's battle last.
For China's and the World's, it would be eight years more, Alas!
By he Japanese Imperial General Headquarters estimate,
'Within three months of the war China would capitulate.'
O! How deadly wrong they could be,
E'eryone treasures one's liberty!
The Imperial Japanese forces in China finally
On 9 September 1945 surrendered unconditionally.
18
As regards Maj. Chan Kee-Kwong,
He remained in the army
And was assigned to a non-combatant post.
At the end of World War II he moved with his family to Hong Kong.
They then moved to Toronto in Canada later on;
Mr. Chan lived in quiet humility.
He passed away peacefully at the ripe old age of eighty,
Being surrounded by members of his family.