Over Manila Bay.

The U.S. Air Force, which had completed its force projection mission, was divided into two routes: 20 P-40 fighters remained to provide aerial fire support to the airborne troops until they crashed, and 32 DC-3 transport planes flew northeast along the railway from Manila to Pampanga province.

A few minutes later, the transport fleet spotted the bridge over the Ang Ah Tat River and the bridge over the Pampanga River.

The scene of the rarest suicidal attack in the history of the U.S. Air Force soon appeared, after the pilots of the first two transport planes parachuted first and tried to crash the bridge with empty planes, Lieutenant David of the 17th Squadron of the 10th Air Force of the U.S. Air Force shouted "Long live America" and drove his plane into the Angat Bridge.

This Yankee was clearly irritated by the Orientals.

After the massive explosion, the bridge broke in two in the billowing smoke.

Captain David's suicidal attack immediately detonated the entire transport squadron, and all the pilots suddenly turned their eyes red, and they all turned into outlaws who were not afraid of death, and then two more Yankees drove their own planes into the Pampanga River Bridge, and after crashing the Pampanga Bridge, the red-eyed Americans aimed their fierce eyes at the Japanese mechanized troops who were urgently reinforcing along the road to Manila.

…………

Downtown Manila, Headquarters of the Japanese Army in Luzon.

The stubborn resistance of the Japanese troops in the flight control center of the turtle airfield was soon wiped out by the Allied airborne troops, and Yamashita Fengwen had also returned to the headquarters, although the airport had been completely lost, but the old devil under the mountain was still very calm, no matter what, the Allied troops parachuted into Manila were only a few hundred people, and no matter how powerful they were, they couldn't make any waves.

Just wait for reinforcements from the 15th Division to arrive, and their performance should be over.

As soon as he sat down in the office, the chief of staff, Jio Tomita, hurriedly walked in, and immediately retracted his feet and said: "Your Excellency, the search wing directly under the 15th Division reports that the Pampanga River Bridge and the Ang Ah Tat River Bridge have been destroyed by the Allies, and General Yamauchi is urgently dispatching the engineer wing to rush to build the bridge, but it is impossible for reinforcements to cross the river before dark tomorrow." ”

"What?" Yamashita Fengwen's face changed greatly when he heard this, and he said in disbelief, "This is impossible, the Allies did not send bombers at all, how could they destroy the Pampanga River Bridge and the Ang Ah Tat River Bridge?" ”

"It's the Americans' transport planes," Tomita Jiro said miserably, "these Americans are crazy, and after they have completed the projection of troops, they launched a suicide ramming into the marching column of the Imperial Army's reinforcements, and this is how the Pampanga River Bridge and the Angat River Bridge were crashed by these damned Americans." ”

"Yagayalu." Yamashita suddenly slumped into his chair.

Both bridges were destroyed, and the mechanized troops that returned to the reinforcements were unable to cross the river at all.

Moreover, there are only two bridges in the vicinity, and it is impossible for the Japanese army to detour from upstream or downstream, and it is useless to collect ships, unless a large ferry is used, it is impossible to cross the river with heavy equipment such as chariots and field artillery that have returned to the Japanese army, and if it is only to ferry infantry units across the river, it is not enough to recapture the airfield.

The combat effectiveness and firepower of the Allied airborne troops Yamashita has already seen that without the tanks and field artillery groups, it would be impossible for the Japanese army to recapture the airfield from them, but if the tanks and field artillery groups want to cross the river, they can only wait for the engineer wing of the 15th Division to erect the pontoon bridge, which will take at least two days

At this moment, another junior officer entered and reported: "Your Excellency, Commander, Saigon is in an emergency."

Yamashita Fengwen took the telegram and hurriedly read it, the expression on his face suddenly became more gloomy, and then he said to Tomita Jinan next to him: "Tomita-kun, immediately reply to Saigon: the Pampanga River Bridge and the Ang Ah Te River Bridge have been destroyed, my reinforcements cannot cross the river in time for reinforcements, it is impossible to recapture the airport, and Manila is facing an unprecedented threat." ”

"However, crises often hide turning corners, and I believe that an opportunity has emerged to turn the tide of the war in Southeast Asia in one fell swoop, so I ask Your Excellency the Commander to urgently call the headquarters and the Combined Fleet Command to request the Combined Naval Fleet to urgently return to Southeast Asia and take this opportunity to inflict a heavy blow on the air power of the Allied forces in Southeast Asia."

"As long as the air power of the Allied forces in Southeast Asia is destroyed, the American troops trapped on Luzon Island will not be able to fly, and the Allied advance team parachuted into Manila and the reinforcements that are about to arrive will only add a chapter in the book of military merits to the Imperial Army, and more importantly, after the Allies lose their air power, the Imperial Japanese Army will be able to regain the initiative in the Southeast Asian battlefield."

"Haiyi" Tomita Jio hurriedly finished recording the message, and then suddenly bowed his head and turned around and walked away quickly.

As soon as Jio Tomita left, another officer from Osa's office entered, saying, "Your Excellency, the Allies have begun to attack the city."

"What?" Hearing this, Yamashita Fengwen's face changed slightly again, and he immediately said awe-inspiringly, "Amazing, powerful, it seems that the commander of the allied forces is also a powerful character, with less than a thousand troops, he still dares to divide his troops to attack the city?" However, they really hit the vital point of the imperial army, ordered, burned all documents, and all personnel of the headquarters were evacuated urgently"

…………

Saigon, Southern Army Command.

Shouichi Terauchi slapped the telegram in his hand on the table hard, and immediately roared angrily: "The Battle of Midway, which is related to the fortunes of the empire, is already on the verge of breaking out, and at this juncture, even if the base camp orders, Yamamoto Fifty-six will never let the main force of the United Fleet withdraw to the waters of Southeast Asia, Yamashita Fengfumi is a fool, he is too wishful thinking."

"Your Excellency, let all the fighters of the air force take off urgently." Lieutenant General Luo Tian said miserably, "Although there are less than 50 fighters left in the two major flying groups, and they are at an absolute disadvantage compared to the Allied forces in terms of number and performance, we can't take care of so much, and it is good to destroy a few Allied transport planes." ”

Shouichi Terauchi gritted his teeth and said in a cruel voice: "Order, all fighters, bombers and transport planes of the air force take off urgently, ignore the Allied escort fighters, their target is the Allied transport planes, destroy as many Allied transport planes as possible at all costs and by any means, and eliminate the Allied air transport forces"

"Hai" Luotian suddenly bowed his head, and immediately took the order.

…………

Yangon, Expeditionary Force Headquarters.

Major General Chennault hurriedly walked into the war room and said to Yue Weihan: "Sir, my early warning team has sent back a report that the fighter planes of the Japanese airfields in Southeast Asia have taken off, and it seems that the Japanese army is preparing to intercept our transport planes, but what is 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 transporters also took off?" Stilwell frowned, "Is there some conspiracy?" ”

"Conspiracy?" Yue Weihan pursed his lips and said disdainfully, "No, the Japanese are crazy, their bombers and transport planes must also be going for our transport planes, but with the escort fighters of the 14th Air Force, plus two early warning planes in the air, it is impossible for the Japanese to succeed." ”

As soon as the words fell, Colonel Liu Xin hurriedly entered and reported: "Headquarters, the special operations brigade is in a hurry, they have occupied the combat readiness warehouse near the airport five minutes ago, due to the suddenness of the incident, the Japanese army has not had time to transfer any materials, all the materials stored in the warehouse, including tens of thousands of tons of fuel, have been owned by me, and now, the special operations brigade is attacking the urban area." ”

"The combat readiness warehouse was taken? Very good" Yue Weihan nodded, and instructed Liu Xindao, "Call Liu Tiezhu back, so that he doesn't have to attack the city, Yamashita Fengwen is just a small role, not worth the special operations brigade's big fight, now their task is to immediately take control of Manila Harbor, seize enough ships, and meet General MacArthur and the trapped American officers and soldiers from the sea"

"Yes" Liu Xin stood upright and immediately took the order.

Yue Weihan immediately turned around and laughed at General Stilwell.

If the Japanese thought that the Allies would throw a large number of troops into Luzon and then forcibly open the line of communication between Manila and the Bataan Peninsula, it would be a big mistake

…………

Manila Airport.

In the hall of the flight control center, Liu Tiezhu was pouring wine into a goblet of wine, and just like that, the battle reports of the special operations brigade and the airborne battalion of the US army came in like a stream.

"Report that the 1st Brigade has captured the Japanese command in the city center."

"It is reported that the 5th Brigade has taken control of Manila Harbor, two Japanese gunboats have escaped, and the rest of the more than 100 ships of all sizes have been controlled by our army."

"According to the report, friendly American forces have organized twenty trucks and are rushing fuel from the combat readiness warehouse to the airport."

"Report, the Yangon command sent an urgent telegram, ordering us to stop the pursuit of the Japanese and take control of the port as quickly as possible."

Liu Tiezhu poured a lot of wine, and as soon as he took a sip, he squirted it out, and scolded and said, "Damn, this is also called wine?" That's what Little Japan usually drinks? It's fucking boring. After that, Liu Tiezhu said to the communications staff officer, "Call back to the headquarters, the special operations brigade has effectively controlled the port and all the ships, and when the reinforcements arrive, they can cross the sea to save people."

As soon as the voice fell, another communications staff officer hurriedly stepped in and reported: "Brigade seat, the tower reports that they have received a signal from the 10th Air Force, and in half an hour, they will fly to Manila Airport." ”

"Hey, it's more than half an hour earlier?" Liu Tiezhu looked at his watch, and immediately turned around and said to Major Wright, the commander of the US airborne battalion that had parachuted into Manila Airport, "Major Wright, the transport group of the 10th Air Force will arrive soon, and all my people have gone out, so I will leave the matter of picking up the plane." ”

"Yes, sir," said Major Wright, snapping his salute, and immediately took the order.

Major Wright did not resist Liu Tiezhu's order in the slightest, not because Liu Tiezhu's rank of major general was three ranks higher than his, but entirely because Liu Tiezhu's special operations brigade showed super combat effectiveness during the airborne landing process and in the subsequent battle to seize the airport.

Half an hour later, the transport plane fleet of the 10th Air Force of the US Air Force successfully flew over Manila.

Nearly 100 escort fighters of the 14th Air Force, under the guidance of two early warning planes, carried out counter-interception of the Japanese fighters that had taken off to intercept them, and the vast majority of Japanese fighters had already been intercepted and shot down before they could discover the US transport planes.

Under the guidance of ground personnel, a total of 173 transport planes of various types landed at Manila Airport.

More than 5,000 Chinese officers and soldiers disembarked from the 173 transport planes, as well as a large amount of weapons and ammunition, and after stepping off the planes, these Chinese officers and soldiers quickly entered the defensive positions around the airport and began to build stronger fortifications, and their task was to drive them around the airport like nails in the next three days.

After another half an hour, two airborne early warning planes with nearly 100 P-40 and P-51 fighters also landed at Manila Airport one after another after completing the expulsion mission, and in the next few days, these fighters will be stationed at Manila Airport for a long time to deal with the air raids of the Japanese air force at any time, and at the same time to provide air protection for the Allied transport planes.

Twenty of these P-51 fighters were quickly re-launched after being refueled.

At this time, the Chinese Special Operations Brigade had already sailed to the other side of Manila Bay with nearly 100 large and small ships, ready to meet General MacArthur and more than 20,000 American officers and men trapped on the Bataan Peninsula, and these 20 P-51 fighters had to provide air cover for these ships in case of attack by Japanese gunboats cruising nearby.

…………

New York, New York Times Square.

It was already past eleven o'clock in the evening, and President Roosevelt's speech had already ended, but the crowd gathered in the square had not yet dispersed, because they knew that at this moment, a rescue operation that affected the whole United States was unfolding on the island of Luzon, thousands of miles away, and they were eager to know the latest progress of the operation

The hour hand is pointing to zero, and the bell on the top of St. John's Cathedral in the distance is already ringing.

Suddenly, a rustling sound sounded from the radio speakers around the square, and the citizens who were bowing their heads and praying suddenly pricked up their ears.

Immediately, the voice of Hughes, the famous host of the National Public Radio, sounded on the radio speaker: "Gentlemen, ladies, listeners and friends across the United States, I am your old friend Larry Hughes. ”

"Now for you the exciting good news, just before this news aired, the first batch of more than 2,500 U.S. officers and soldiers had boarded the ferry, and they were sailing across Manila Bay to the opposite port of Manila, and they had fled the damned Bataan Peninsula, yes, it was a flight, a victorious escape