Yue Zhenhua, the leader of this army, was approached by Chairman Mao and added a star to his shoulder, becoming a senior colonel. After the founding of New China, in a short period of nine years, Yue Zhenhua's rank rose to three levels, from the founding major general to senior colonel, and the promotion speed was unique in the whole army. How did this happen? What the hell did he do?
Yue Zhenhua, former head of antiaircraft artillery, was awarded the rank of Founding Major General by 1955. 1958, Yue Zhenhua was ordered to set up a brand-new ground-to-air missile battalion of our army. Before taking office, the head of the army was worried that he would be emotional because of his demotion in disguise, and he also specially talked to him. Unexpectedly, Yue Zhenhua himself has no complaints, showing the excellent selfless quality and spirit of an old revolutionary party member: "It is the day for soldiers to obey orders."
The colonel was satisfied with Yue Zhenhua's attitude and didn't say much. Only one key message was revealed to him: "Chairman Mao attached great importance to the formation of the ground-to-air missile battalion. He made it clear that whoever can shoot down the U-2 plane will add one star to his rank. "
1949, at the beginning of the founding of new China, the domestic surface was calm, but in fact, the surface was turbulent. In order to obtain domestic confidential information, the Kuomintang took the initiative to contact the US military and formulated a brand-new high-altitude reconnaissance tactic. In the face of the arrogance of enemy planes, it paid no attention to the new China, and the whole country was angry.
Therefore, in order to protect the sacred airspace of the country from being violated, our army personally signed Chairman Mao's order on 1958, transferred elite troops and soldiers from the national air force to establish a ground-to-air missile battalion, and introduced brand-new ground-to-air missiles to the Soviet Union.
In September of the following year, the Kuomintang dispatched reconnaissance planes more and more frequently, which even seriously affected the National Day ceremony of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Yue Zhenhua was ordered to lead the troops to camp in the suburbs of Beijing to protect the safety of Beijing.
654381October 7, the enemy reconnaissance plane flew close to Beijing again. When approaching 350 kilometers, Yue Zhenhua immediately ordered the missile to be electrified and ready to launch, and urgently called the superior to apply for combat. Seeing that the enemy plane has flown to135km, it is about to enter the best launching distance, but the army staff officer called to indicate that the superior's order is to wait.
Yue Zhenhua was puzzled. He was very reluctant to look at the approaching enemy plane, because according to the visual inspection, the enemy plane would soon fly out of the best range, so at this critical moment, Yue Zhenhua didn't listen to the command at the last minute, squeezed through the crowd, ordered the soldiers to trigger the shooting, and promised his superiors that if asked afterwards, he would bear all the responsibilities.
At the moment, three missiles soared into the sky and exploded at high altitude in Wan Li. Soon, observers reported that the enemy plane was hit and crashed. This is the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China to shoot down enemy planes with ground-to-air missiles, and the whole country is jubilant. Yue Zhenhua, the hero who contributed to all this, did not have any joy, but submitted a confession of disobedience at the first time.
Unexpectedly, after investigation, it turned out to be misinformed by the army staff. The superiors didn't ask to wait, but they all insisted on stopping the investigation of enemy planes. If they were right, they would fight, and if they were wrong, they would fight. Yue Zhenhua made meritorious service and was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel.
196 1 year, the Kuomintang completely changed its U-2 reconnaissance plane and resumed its high-altitude reconnaissance mission. In order not to be destroyed by ground anti-aircraft guns, the U-2 reconnaissance plane is specially equipped with the most advanced electronic early warning system. As long as it is locked by the radar, it will call the police at the first time and then retreat calmly.
Moreover, this plane is not only fast, but also has a flying height of 20 thousand meters, and it also comes with the highest resolution camera at that time. Ground antiaircraft guns and China fighter planes can't do anything at all, but look at the ocean and sigh. Therefore, taking advantage of this weakness of our army, the Kuomintang often carried U-2 reconnaissance planes over China for reconnaissance, and took a large number of confidential photos at the scientific and technological test site in the Gobi desert in northwest China.
However, Yue Zhenhua, who likes to study hard by nature, does not believe in evil. After repeated deduction and hypothesis, he put forward the "near-fast warfare method", that is, when the plane approaches, the missile radar locks immediately and cannot leave them any escape time. But this method runs counter to the view of Soviet experts, because once the operator can't lock the target, it is easy to empty the gun, and a missile is worth millions. If it is empty, no one can bear the responsibility.
However, Yue Zhenhua resisted the pressure from his superiors and repeatedly emphasized the practicality of tactics. Finally, in June1963165438+10, when the enemy plane flew into the limit distance of 35 kilometers above Jiangxi, he immediately turned on the missile radar, locked the enemy plane in just eight seconds, completed the tracking trigger, and successfully destroyed a U-2 fighter plane. Yue Zhenhua made new contributions and was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel.
In July of the following year, Yue Zhenhua shot down a U-2 fighter plane in Fujian, and was cordially received by Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai. He was promoted to senior colonel for the third time and was also the only battalion commander in the whole army who won the rank of senior colonel.