Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
One of the main manifestations of the Soviet Union's active support for the Chinese people's anti-Japanese struggle was sending Soviet pilots to directly participate in the battles against Japan. On August 27, 1937, a lengthy conversation took place between Chiang Kai-shek and the Soviet ambassador to China, Bogomolov. Chiang Kai-shek declared to the Soviet Union the Chinese government's uncompromising position on the issue of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, openly posed a specific question, which contained a request to "Allow Soviet pilots to join the Chinese army as volunteers," and at the same time put forward a request to help China as soon as possible in training pilots with Soviet instruments. At the end of 1937, in fierce air battles, Chinese aviation suffered great losses, almost all experienced pilots were killed.
The Soviet side decided to send the best volunteer pilots to China and carried out a strict selection and training of those willing. Among the volunteers were the most experienced veterans, mostly communists. In October 1937, the volunteer pilots left for China, and soon a large air detachment of 99 people, including 39 volunteer pilots, arrived in China. In the summer of 1993, there were already over 400 volunteer pilots and aircraft technicians in China. From the autumn of 1937 to the beginning of 1942, when Soviet military specialists and volunteers returned to the USSR in connection with the beginning of the Chinese people's front, more than 5,000 Soviet people fought bravely, many of whom died a heroic death, sprinkling the Chinese soil with their hot blood. Their heroic deeds are forever inscribed in history, the memory of them will always live in the hearts and memories of the Chinese people.
On December 1, 1937, the first group of Soviet volunteer pilots arrived in the Chinese city of Nanjing and immediately entered into fierce battles with Japanese aviation. In the very first battles for Nanjing, they showed fearlessness and demonstrated their high combat skills. On December 2, 1937 alone, they shot down 6 Japanese bombers, and on December 3, another 4. From May to August 1938, in the battle for Wuhan, which lasted three months, the Soviet volunteer air detachment, side by side with Chinese pilots, fought more than nine times in the skies of this city against Japan, a total of 62 enemy aircraft were shot down, the Japanese aviation was dealt a sensitive blow, and a song was shot down from the enemy. The Japanese squadrons – "Kisarazu" and "Sasebo", which Japan praised so much, were dealt a crushing blow. For example, on February 23, 1938, Soviet pilots made a long-range flight to Taiwan and destroyed a Japanese air base there, destroyed several aircraft, sank several ships, marking the anniversary of the Red Army with brilliant combat successes.
During the anti-Japanese war in China, Soviet volunteer pilots, in addition to the battles for Nanjing and Wuhan, participated in air battles for Nanchang, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Chongqing, and the anti-Japanese struggle of the Chinese people. According to official statistics, by 1940, the Japanese aggressors had lost 986 aircraft on the ground and in air battles. These brilliant combat successes are closely linked to the heroism of Soviet volunteer pilots.
During the anti-Japanese war, a total of 700 Soviet volunteer pilots and aircraft technicians visited China at different times, of whom more than 236 died a heroic death for the cause of independence, freedom and liberation of the Chinese people. The commander of the bomber squadron G.A. Kulishenko and the commander of the fighter squadron A. Rakhmanov died. In Wuhan, in the Liberation Park, a monument to the fallen Soviet volunteer pilots still stands today. Their memory will forever remain in the hearts of the Chinese people.
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