July 28 Fall of Beijing. Ki-10s fly CAPs and close-support (with 30 kg bombs.)
Rude Awakening: 14 August 1937
Nine Mitsubishi G3M2 "Nell" approaching the Schien-Chiao Airfield near Hangchou. (Three Shotai of three planes coming from Taipei, over the water, at 500m.)
Player and one wingman must take off from airfield to intercept bombers. Available aircraft include Hawk III, Boeing 281, and Fiat CR.32. Mission goal: shoot down two bombers.
14th Squadron's Northrop 2E Gamma light bombers attack Japanese lines.
Black Saturday Redux: 14 August, 1937
Acting operational CO of the Chinese Air Force, Claire Chennault, organizes an attack against Japanese warships anchored off Shanghai.
Chinese Northrop Gamma 2E bombers took off from Guangde, about 120 miles west of Shanghai with early Curtiss Hawk II dive-bombers supporting them. About 40 planes arrived over Shanghai, which was covered in thick cloud. The Curtiss Hawks began dive-bombing the Japanese Marine headquarters at the Kung Ta textile mills while Northrops attacked Japanese cruisers and supply ships at Wusong and the Japanese warship Idzumo, then lying moored to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha wharf close to the Japanese Consulate General, just east of the mouth of Soochow Creek, which served as the Japanese military headquarters. One of the 550-pound bombs fell at the crowded intersection of Nanking Road and the Bund while two more bombs from a Northrop fell on bustling Avenue Edward VII. The bombs caught crowds of onlookers gazing up at the planes and the loss of life was appalling - 1,740 people killed and 1,873 injured.
Player leads two bomb-carrying Hawk II fighters and four Northrop Gammas. The Hawks are instructed to attack the Japanese flagship, the pre-dreadnought Idzumo (AAA: 9 x 80mm, 3 x 7.7mm).
As the raid began, a single E4N2 Type 90 scout-observation seaplane of the Idzumo attacked the enemy formations, downing one Hawk II.
Low clouds limit approach altitude to 1500 feet. Time of attack: about 10 a.m. "Friendly-fire" targets include HMS Cumberland, USS Augusta and Shanghai city structures. Mission goal: Damage the Idzumo without causing collateral damage to Shanghai or friendly warships.
Battle of Nanking: 15 August, 1937
Air Defense Command reports a flight of Japanese aircraft has flown past Soochow toward Nanking.
Player leads flight of four Boeing 281s (P-26 Peashooters). Friendly forces include two Fiat CR.32 and two Hawk IIs.
The Japanese aircraft are 20 G3M "Nells" from the Kisarazu Kokutai organized in four Shotai of five planes, flying at 900m. Mission goal: shoot down three bombers.
Battle of Nanking: August 16, 1937
Six G3Ms attack Chu Yung airfield near Nanking. Bombers arrive at 11:00 a.m, flying at 300m.
Low clouds at 500m delay the alarm. The players must take off as the bombs drop on the airfield. Available fighters include two Boeing 281s and two Hawk IIs.
Squadron Leader Captain Liu Chui-Kang of the 24th PS, 5th PG claimed an E8N northwest of Shanghai while flying a Curtiss Hawk III.
Six A2Ns from Kaga commanded by Lieutenant Chikamasa Igarashi, engaged four enemy aircraft over Kiangwan. Three of the enemy aircraft were shot down, one Corsair and two Douglas O-38s.
Hangchou Turkey Shoot: August 17, 1937
Intercept a dawn attack on Hangchou by twelve Mitsubishi B2M Type 89 torpedo bombers from the Japanese carrier Kaga. Player aircraft types include Hawk III, Boeing 281, and Fiat CR.32. The twelve Type 89 bombers, led by Group Commander Lieutenant Commander Iwai, left the Kaga for a raid against Hangchou. Bad weather prevented a rendezvous with an expected fighter escort and near their target the bombers were attacked by a group of Chinese fighter planes. Eleven bombers, including the commander's, were shot down. Lieutenant (JG) Tanaka managed to bring his bullet-riddled and crippled bomber safely back to the carrier; otherwise, the fate of the attacking group would never have been known, and another bomber formation might have suffered a similar fate. Tanaka's report astonished the officers of the fleet, and immediate warnings were issued to all bomber groups to take special precautions against the defending Chinese fighters.
Hypothetical -- August 17, 1937
Convoy Strike: Lead a flight of fighters or bombers to attack Japanese convoy (trucks, jeeps, tanks). Object: destroy three vehicles. Opposition: Flak from vehicles, two Ki-10s on delay.
Hypothetical -- August 18, 1937
Attack Supply Train: Escort or fly bombers (Gammas, V-11s, or Shrikes) to attack Japanese supply train. Available fighters: Hawk III, Hawk II, P-26, or C.R. 32. Object: Destroy the train. Opposition: Heavy flak, two Ki-10s on delay.
Hypothetical -- August 19, 1937
Yangtze Strike: Attack IJN destroyer conducting shore bombardment from the Yangtze River on Chinese troops defending Shanghai. Object: Sink that destroyer! Opposition includes flak from destroyer & torpedo boats, and A4N1 CAP.
August 20, 1937
Squadron Leader Captain Liu Chui-Kang of the 24th PS, 5th PG claimed an A4N northwest of Shanghai while flying a Curtiss Hawk III. During the day he also claimed an E8N over the Yangtze River.
Hypothetical -- August 20, 1937
A Bridge too Far: Player leads a flight of Hawk II fighters escorting Vought V-65 Corsairs to attack a Japanese bridgehead. Opposition: Heavy flak, Type 91 fighters. Object: Damage the bridge.
August 22, 1937
At 07:00 on 22 August Captain Wang Tien-Hsiang led 18 Hawk IIIs (including five aircraft from the 5th PG) to attack Japanese surface forces in the Liu Ho area near Shanghai.
Four A2Ns under the command of Lieutenant (junior grade) Tadashi Kaneko discovered the 18 Curtiss Hawk fighters that were scouting at a height of three thousand meters while they were flying a patrol over Pao-Shan. They made a surprise attack on them from the rear. This was the first fighter sortie by the fighters from the Ryujo.
August 23, 1937
At 08:40 four A2N fighters from Ryujo under the command of Lieutenant (junior grade) Minoru Suzuki discovered a mixed force of nineteen enemy aircraft, including Boeing 281s, while they were scouting over Pao-Shan.
At noon the Japanese and Chinese clashed again when five Hawk IIIs led by Captain Lee Kuei-Tan of the 21st PS met an estimated nine Japanese aircraft. The Chinese aircraft were flying in the Wan Chao Bin area in Shanghai in support of ground forces.
August 25, 1937
During the day three Nakajima A2Ns from Hosho led by Lieutenant (junior grade) Harutoshi Okamoto engaged three Martin 139 (B-10) bombers over Shanghai. One of the Martins was claimed shot down.
Three He-111As of the 19th BS (Heavy) attacked Japanese ships in the area of Shizilin and Yuncaobin during the day. Two He-111As were shot down; He-111A no. 1905 crash-landed at Chang-Zhou and He-111A no. 1903 crash-landed at Hang-Kou airfield in Shanghai and was then burned by bombing. Only the leader, Xie Wang managed to return safely to base.
Curtiss A-12 Shrikes of the 9th AG bombed the Japanese fleet in Yangtze but lost two A-12s.
August 27, 1937
At daybreak eight G3Ms of the Kisarazu Kokutai and six G3Ms from the Kanoya Kokutai attacked Nanking. Captain Mao Ying-Chu and Flight leader Lu Ji-Chun of the 23rd PS (Hawk IIIs), 4th PG, caught two of the G3M2s near Tien-Chang. Lu Ji-Chun attacked and claimed one bomber while the second escaped.
August 31, 1937
Nine G3Ms attack Canton. Eight Hawk IIIs intercept. The Chinese caught up with the Japanese formation over Tung Kwan (Dongguan).
Hypothetical -- September 1, 1937.
Sink the Kaga: Lead or escort bombers to attack the Kaga. Opposition: Flak from carrier & escorts. Four A5M Claudes. Object: Damage the Kaga.
September 4, 1937
A pair of A5Ms from the aircraft carrier Kaga meets two Hawk IIIs and two Boeing 281s over Lake Taihu. Neutral positions at 5000m.
On 4 September flight leader Lu Ji-Chun of the 23rd PS (Hawk IIIs), 4th PG, claimed a Japanese E8N over Shanghai.
September 7, 1937
Six Yokosuka B4Y Jeans escorted by three A5M Claudes, all from the Kaga. Intercepted at 07:50 by three Hawk IIIs near Tai Hue. Neutral positions at 3000m.
September 18, 1937
At 16:00, two Japanese Army Type 94 observation aircraft from the 12th Hiko Rentai flew to Tai Yuan to investigate reports of increased Chinese Air Force activities. Seven Hawk IIs scrambled to intercept. The Chinese caught and shot up both of the hapless observation planes. Both of the JAAF aircrews were killed.
Hey Willy: September 19, 1937
Captain Wong Sun-Shui 17th PS, 3rd PG, was wounded in action while flying Boeing 281 no. 1703, in a combat with eight Japanese E7K Alfs.
Twelve A5Ms led by Lieutenant Shichitaro Yamashita of the 13th Kokutai participated in the first air attack on Nanking as escort for the 17 carrier bombers commanded by Lieutenant Commander Tetsujiro Wada. Three fighters from Kaga under the command of Lieutenant Chikamasa Igarashi were also added to the main force and 16 reconnaissance seaplanes also took part in this attack. Twenty-three Chinese fighters rose to intercept: eight Hawk IIIs of the 4th PG, eight Hawk IIIs from the 5th PG and five Boeing 281s and two CR.32s from the 3rd PG. Play as two Claudes, two Jeans and two Daves versus two Hawk IIIs, one Peashooter, and one C.R.32.
Nine Ki-10's of the 2nd (Mizutani) of the Miwa Daitai (1st Daitai, 16th Hiko Rentai) patrolled over Tai Yuan led by Captain Tsutomu Mizutani when Yoshio Hirose's flight engaged four biplane bombers identified as O-38s. Hirose and his wingmen claiming all shot down for the first victories ever claimed by Japanese Army fighters.
September 20, 1937
The Kisarazu Kokutai's Hirosho G2H1s flew their first mission when they attacked Shanghai under the command of Lieutenant Motokazu Mihara.
At 10:00 32 Japanese aircraft raided Nanking. Nine Chinese Hawk IIIs and two Boeing 281's led by Squadron Leader Captain Liu Chui-Kang of the 24th PS, 5th PG were scrambled but didn't intercept the Japanese formation. Suddenly six more Japanese bombers escorted by three A5M fighters were spotted and attacked by Liu's formation. Liu damaged a lagging enemy bomber before downing an E8N in the Nanking area. Three of the Hawks suffered combat damage, but all Chinese aircraft landed safely at 14:00.
Battle of Canton: September 21, 1937
Japanese aircraft carriers Hosho and Ryujo attacked Canton, despite bad weather.
Seven Hawk IIIs intercept 12 Aichi D1A1 Susie and 3 Mitsubishi B2M2 bombers and 15 A2N fighters (six from Hosho).
That afternoon the carriers attacked Canton again with 16 Aichi D1A1 Susie escorted by nine A2N fighters. Five remaining Hawk III's went up. Two of the Hawk IIIs headed off to Hu-Men at the mouth of the Pearl River to search for the enemy, leaving three, which actually made contact with Japanese over Canton.
Enter the Ki-2: September 21, 1937
During the day fourteen IJAAF Mitsubishi Ki-2 bombers escorted by seven Ki-10 fighters attacked Tai Yuan. When approaching, the Ki-10s caught and shot down two V-65 Corsairs observation planes. Seven Curtiss Hawk IIs from the 28th PS, 3rd PG were scrambled at 14:00 to intercept the raiders.
September 22, 1937
During the sixth attack on Nanking PO1c Tadashi Torakuma of the 13th Kokutai (A5Ms) was on his way back to base alone, when a Chinese Hawk III near Chang-Chow jumped him. Torakuma's aircraft was peppered from behind with a total of twenty-one 12.7mm and 7.7mm bullet hits. Torakuma then turned the tables on the attacking aircraft and shot it down.
September 26, 1937
Lo Ying-Teh of the 24th PS (Hawk IIIs) of the 5th PG, surprised Lieutenant Shichiro Buntaicho Yamashita of the 13th Kokutai on a recon mission, shot him up and forced him to crash land over Central China. Yamashita survived to be taken POW but later died. This was the first intact A5M captured by the Chinese. This aircraft was later sent to the Soviet Union for testing.
September 27, 1937
Three G3Ms from the Kanoya Kokutai attack the Hankou-Canton Railway in the Kwangtung Province. Three Hawk IIIs from Tien-Ho Airfield in Canton and four Hawk IIs from Shao-Kuan Airfield intercept.
Fighters from Hosho took part in an air raid on Canton during the day. Akira Yamamoto, discovered two Curtiss Hawks, shooting down one.
October 6, 1937
Double Team Claude: Ten A5Ms fought two battles with 23 Chinese fighters in all, in which they supposedly claimed ten victories without loss. At least one of these combats seems to have been over Nanking.
The 2nd Daitai gained it first success when three Ki-10s led by First Lieutenant Mitsugu Sawada engaged three Curtiss Shrikes just before they were about to land at Baoding.
October 7, 1937
During a massive attack on the railway station near Yingde, Hawk no. 2807 was shot down and one pilot made a forced landing at Shaxing.
October 12, 1937
The Japanese attacked Nanking with nine G3Ms escorted by eleven A5Ms from the 13th Kokutai led by Lieutenant Commander Nakano. Colonel Kao Chi-Hang led six Hawk IIIs, two Boeing 281s and one Fiat CR.32 to intercept.
Air raid spotters phone in a report of two floatplanes flying from Shanghai, apparently on a reconnaissance mission. Intercept two Nakajima E8N Dave floatplanes from the seaplane carrier Kamoi over Chiang-yin.
October 24, 1937
On 24 October one Hirosho G2H1 of the Kisarazu Kokutai caught fire during engine start and blew up (it was armed with 3 x 250kg, 5 x 60kg and 5 x 50kg bombs) and the resulting explosions destroyed four other G2H1s, leaving only one G2H1 left and this was also badly damaged. The six G2H1s of the Kisarazu Kokutai had flown a total of ten operations.
November 11, 1937
Nine IJAAF Ki-21 Sally bombers attacked the Luoyang airfield during the day, escorted by six Ki-10 fighters. Intercept with Hawk III, P-26, C.R. 32.
November 11, 1937
Attack the Kaga: Three Northrop 2E Gammas attack the Kaga off the Maanshan Islands. They are intercepted by three A5Ms from Kaga.
November 12, 1937
Twelve IJAAF Ki-21s made a surprise attack on Changan.
November 21, 1937
The 4th PG, now re-equipped with the Polikarpov I-16 Type 5, were caught refueling at Chowkiakou Airfield (Honan Province) on their way to Nanking. Ten Japanese G3M2s, who evidently were conducting a reconnaissance, began dropping bombs on the refueling fighters without warning.
Red Baptism: In battle with 20 Japanese aircraft, seven I-16 Type 5's piloted by Soviet volunteers shot down without loss two A5M fighters and one bomber over Nanking.
November 22, 1937
CAP: Six I-16 Type 5s fought six A5Ms.
November 24, 1937
Six A5Ms escorting eight bombers engaged six intercepting I-16s over Nanking.
December 2, 1937
Eight Yokosuka B4Y Jeans with an escort of six A5Ms are intercepted by I-16 Type 5 fighters over Nanking.
Nine SBs strike Japanese shipping on the Yangtze River.
Nine SBs attack the Japanese airbase at Shanghai. From Nanking the aircraft fly along the right bank of the Yangtze River and then turn northeast and fly out about 30-40 km over the sea. This maneuver allowed them to approach their target from a direction unexpected by the enemy.
December 3, 1937
Curtiss Hawk IIIs intercept a Japanese attack on Nanking where Ki-10s escorted reconnaissance aircraft to the area, then broke off to strafe Daijiaochang airfield.
December 9, 1937
Fifteen G3M bombers escorted by eight A5M fighters attack Nanchang, the capital of the Kiangsi Province. Intercept group includes four Chinese Hawk IIIs and four Soviet I-16 Type 5s.
December 12, 1937
The Panay Incident: Japanese bombers attack the Panay, a US Navy gunboat anchored in the Yangtze River outside of Nanking on December 12, 1937.
A flat-bottomed craft built in Shanghai specifically for river duty, Panay served as part of the U.S. Navy's Yangtze Patrol in the Asiatic Fleet, which was responsible for patrolling the Yangtze River to protect American lives and property.
With Japanese forces moving on Nanking in December, Captain James Hughes assisted the evacuation of American citizens and three Standard Oil tankers from the city on December 11. The number of people aboard Panay rose to five officers, fifty-four enlisted men, four U.S. embassy staff, and ten civilians.
The following day, while upstream from Nanking, the Panay and three tankers, Mei Ping, Mei An, and Mei Hsia, came under attack from Japanese naval aircraft. The Japanese planes (Aichi D1A2s and possibly G3Ms) attacked at 1:27 p.m. The Panay was bombed and sunk; three men were killed, and forty-three sailors and five civilians were wounded. The Japanese also destroyed the three tankers. Survivors were later taken on board U.S.S. Oahu, and H.M.S. Ladybird and Bee.
The Japanese claimed that they did not see the US flags painted on the deck of the gunboat, apologized and paid an indemnity. Nevertheless, the attack and reports of the "Rape of Nanking" caused U.S. opinion to turn sharply against the Japanese.
January 4, 1938
Sixteen A5Ms escorting bombers fought with a group of 18-20 I-15bis and I-16 fighters in a battle above Hankou. Participating in this battle were seven Hawk IIIs and one Fiat CR.32 along with the Soviet pilots.
The 10th Squadron under the command of Vincent Schmitt and manned with non-Soviet volunteers (including several Americans) received Vultee V-11s during January. The unit was at this time based at Hankou.
In January 1938 Japanese aircraft repeatedly conducted attacks on Nan Ning. On one occasion five V-11 light bombers rose to intercept the Japanese and shot down two aircraft, losing their own aircraft No. 507.
January 23, 1938
Six SBs bombed the aerodrome at Wuhu while five more SBs bombed the aerodrome at Nangking.
Two missions of nine SBs each were flown to the railroad station at Shanching during the day. The fuel facilities were set afire.
Four Vultee V-11s flew out of Hankou to attack airfield at Wuhu. One crashed, two turned back, and one flew to Anyang but was unable to find the airfield.
Shortly after its first mission the 10th BS was attacked one morning at Hankou by Japanese aircraft. The V-11s were gassed and armed for another raid when a Japanese bomb exploded and the entire row blew up. The squadron was sent to Chengdu and disbanded on 23 February (according to other sources during March) due to inactivity
January 26, 1938
Before dawn 13 SBs took off to attack the captured Nanking airfield. The uncamouflaged Japanese aircraft including G3M2s, A5Ms, and Ki-10s stood in a line along the airfield boundary. In the air there was a defensive patrol of A4N carrier fighters.
January 27, 1938
The Japanese retaliated to the raid on Nanking when nine G3M2s bombed Hankou, dropping bombs from 2000 meters. Chinese fighters intercepted the bombers but didn't manage to inflict any losses. One bomber was shot down by antiaircraft fire and it fell not far from the airfield. Thanks to the Chinese warning system the airfield had been empty during the raid.
January 30, 1938
Eight Ki-10s escorted Ki.2 bombers over Luoyang. Chinese I-15s fighters scrambled to intercept.
February 18, 1938
The Japanese attack Wuhan with fifteen G3M bombers escorted by eleven A5M carrier fighters. Low clouds over Wuhan caused a lot of confusion. Following warning from the air raid warning net, the Chinese interceptors began taking off at 12:45. First came eight I-15s. Finally, ten I-16s took off from Hankou Airfield at 13:10.
February 24, 1938
Seaplane Intercept: Seaplane carriers Notoro and Kinugasa Maru dispatched 13 E8N Daves to attack Nan Hsiung. Some of the Japanese aircraft carried bombs while others served as escorts. A group of twelve Gladiators scrambled from Nan Hsiung Airfield to meet the intruders. Flying at 6,000 feet, they sighted the E8Ns at the 9 o'clock position.
February 25, 1938
Thirty-five land-based G3M2s escorted by 18 Japanese A5Ms attack Nanchang. The escort intercepted a reported 50 I-15s and I-16.
March 8, 1938
Eight Ki-10s escort bombers to Sian. Over Sian they encounter three Gladiators and three Polikarpov I-15s.
March 11, 1938
Thirteen Ki-10s escort bombers to Sian. Encounter nine Chinese fighters (I-15s and Gladiators) and engaged them in a dogfight at 18,000 ft.
March 18, 1938
Ten I-15bis strafe and bomb Japanese Army positions around Teng Hsien near Hsuchow on the Northern Front. On their return journey, encounter two Ki.2 Type 93 twin-engine bombers on a reconnaissance mission. During the action, other Chinese pilots spotted a Type 88 reconnaissance plane of the IJAAF 1st light bomber daitai and shot it up, killing the observer and forcing it to crash land in no-man's land.
March 24, 1938
On 24 March fourteen I-15bis carrying 25 kg bombs, led by the commander of the 7th PS Wu Yu-Liu flew from Guide (Henan province) to attack the cities of Lingcheng and Hanzhuang in the Shandung province.
On the return flight Japanese fighters intercepted them and a sharp air battle developed.
March 25, 1938
Five Ki-10s engage 18 Chinese I-15s over Guide.
April 10, 1938
I-15s bomb & strafe Japanese positions/convoys. Intercepted by K-10s. Claudes arrive later to reinforce Ki-10s.
April 10, 1938
I-15s attack the Japanese Army field headquarters in the town of Chao Chuang. Intercepted by Ki-10s and A5M Claudes.
April 13, 1938
The Japanese carrier Kaga launched a strike on Canton consisting of three A4N fighters, three Type 96 (A5M) fighters and 18 Aichi D1A1 dive-bombers.
Flying in an echelon formation at 15,000ft, nine Gladiators flew a CAP above Guangzhou while nine more, flying 3,000ft higher in two formations, were to seek and destroy enemy aircraft. At 10:50 they spotted nine dive-bombers at 13,000ft and 15 "pursuits" (actually five fighters and nine dive-bombers) at 17,000ft above Jiangchuan (a hamlet located north-west of Tienhe airbase). It was clear that they were heading for the Tienhe airbase.
April 29, 1938 (Emperor Hirohito's birthday)
Hirohito's Surprise: 18 G3M2s of the Japanese Naval Air Force escorted by 27 A5Ms attacked Wuhan. Reconnaissance revealed the Japanese intentions in good time, and a trap was set. The first communications from the air warning system (VNOS) began to be received at 10:00. That day dense clouds at several levels covered the sky, beginning at 2000-2500 m. At 14:00, when the Japanese aircraft approached Wuhan, a combined force of Soviet and Chinese fighters were already waiting in the air with sufficient altitude. According the previously drawn up plans, the I-15s closed in on the Japanese fighters in a pincer attack while the I-16 formation fell upon the bombers.
On the night of 20 May 1938 Chinese-piloted SBs flew a mission over Japan and dropped about one million leaflets over the Kyushu and Osaka Prefectures.
Two Martin 139s carried out a pamphlet raid on Nagasaki during the early morning of 20 May, using forward bases at Yushan and Nanchang.
In the spring of 1938, resisting the Japanese offensive the Chinese-flown I-15s were often used in the role of ground attack. On 20 May the 17th PS with I-15s was ordered to attack the Japanese positions near Yifeng (Henan Province), with escorts by I-16s and Hawk IIIs.
May 20, 1938
24 Ki-27s from the 2nd Daitai clashed with Chinese fighters over Langfeng.
May 31, 1938
The Japanese execute a new attack on the aerodromes of fighters defending the Chinese capital. The Chinese had received advance information and were ready for them, having been able to concentrate aircraft at the Hankou aerodrome already the day before.
At 10:15 18 G3M2 bombers were spotted over Tung Chin by Chinese air defense lookouts followed by a reported 36 enemy aircraft over Lu-Jiang at 10:45. 46 enemy aircraft were spotted over the Camel Pass at 11:45 followed by a report of 39 enemy fighters near Qing-Shan at 12:00.
Thus, at midday a reported 39 enemy fighters and 18 enemy bombers approached Wuhan. At 11:50 49 Chinese interceptors successively began taking off from Wuhan. The Chinese fighters were four I-15bis from the 3rd PG, eight I-15bis and six I-16s (of the 21st PS) from the 4th PG, 21 I-15bis and ten I-16s from the Soviet volunteers. The 31 Soviet volunteers become the main attack force according to a previously devised plan while the 18 Chinese fighters climbed higher to provide an echeloned covering detachment. The fighters patrolled between Hankou and Qing-Shan.
Even before the appearance of the bombers, one of the groups of fighters flown by the Soviet volunteers was attacked at 12:07 by 18 A5Ms at 4500 meters. The Japanese fighter formation was reported to be 39 aircraft flying in a 'V' formation with 18 fighters at 4500 meters, 12 at 5000 meters and the high-cover of 9 fighters at 6000 meters.
At 13:00 on May 31, 1938 nine E8N aircraft were spotted by ground observers. The IJNAF floatplanes were flying toward Hukou from Shu Sung in the Anhuei Province. Five Gladiators flew to intercept. They sighted nine E8Ns in a 'V' formation at 6000 feet near Hukou. The Gladiators had a height advantage of 1500 feet.
On June 16, 1938 reports indicated that nine enemy fighters were sighted near Nan Hsiung. Nine Gladiators were dispatched from Xiaoquan airbase to intercept. As they reached 13000 feet above Xixin, they saw six G3M2 heavy bombers in two 'V' formations flying 2000 feet below.
On June 28, 1938 six SBs flew from Nanchang to bomb the Japanese ships in the neighborhood of the Madanyaosai fortress. On the flight there they became separated from the escorting I-16s and were intercepted by Nakajima A4Ns.
On July 4, 1938 the Chinese sent up 65 fighters over Nanchang against 23 A5Ms and 26 G3M2s.
On July 7, 1938, the first anniversary of the start of the Sino-Japanese war there was a huge air battle over Nanchang. I-15s and I-16s intercept Japanese force of Nells and Claudes.
On July 16, 1938 fifteen A5Ms escorted groups of 18 land-based bombers attacking Nanchang and the aerodrome at Xiaogan. Chinese Gladiators flew to intercept.
On July 18, 1938 fourteen Aichi D1A2 carrier bombers and five Yokosuka B4Y carrier attack aircraft, escorted by six A5Ms participated in the attacks on Nanchang.
At 07:40 on August 3, 1938, 18 G3Ms were seen flying over Guangde. Later at 09:00, more than 70 Japanese A5M and A4M fighters were reported heading for Hankou. In response to this treat, the Chinese Air Force scrambled 52 fighters consisting of 20 I-15bis, 13 I-16s, 11 Gladiators and 7 Hawk IIIs in four groups from Hankou to intercept the Japanese intruders.
At 09:50 on August 30, 1938, Nan Hsiung Command Post received a transmission that nine D1A2s had started from an airbase in Fujien to bomb Huizhou in the Guangdong Province. When it was confirmed that the D1As were crossing the Fujien/Jiangxi provincial border, Gladiators scrambled to intercept the enemy bombers. The Japanese force seems to have consisted of six A5Ms led by Lieutenant Teshima, five carrier based bombers and 4 carrier based attack planes from Kaga.
On 6 October three Ki-10s intercepted eight SBs over Xinyang and claimed two of them shot down.
At 13:50 on February 20, 1939 the Air Defence Command at Sian spotted 30 Japanese aircraft (Mitsubishi Ki-21s and Fiat BR.20s) heading towards Lanzhou in the Kansu province in Northwest China.
Nine I-15s scrambled first to intercept the Japanese aircraft and was later joined by two more. Later Russian volunteers were scrambled at 14:05 with seven I-15bis and one I-16. At 14:10 four I-15s, one I-16 and one Curtiss Hawk took off from the Siku field.
On April 29, 1939 (Japanese Emperor Hirohito's birthday), seven Ki-27 Nates conducted a fighter sweep from Tuncheng against the Chinese Airfield at Nancheng. The Chinese scrambled six I-15bis to intercept.
On October 3, 1939 the Kulishenko's group attacked Hankou aerodrome, which by then was in the deep rear of the enemy. The SBs could not reach this far and the Japanese did not expect any attacks. In the open the Japanese had located a naval aviation aerodrome designated "Base W". It was also used by pilots of Army Aviation. On this day the airbase prepared to receive new aircraft ferried from Japan and representatives of the fleet command and the city authorities had assembled there.
Nine DB-3s flew to the target unobserved, in a tight wedge, maintaining radio silence. They attacked as the ceremony was in progress. Aircraft stood in four rows, wing tip to wing tip. The bombers attacked from an altitude of 8700 m.
The attack on Hankou aerodrome was repeated on October 14, 1939. Twelve DB-3s flew to the target, again led by Kulishenko. But just after dropping their bombs they were attacked by Japanese fighters and three bombers received damage.
On November 4, 1939 72 G3Ms attacked Chengdu in Sichuan Province in retaliation for a highly successful attack on the Hankou Huang-chia-tun Airfield on October 14, 1939. The G3Ms came over in two formations, each with 36 aircraft.
The Chinese responded by sending two formations against the attackers. The first Japanese formation was heavily attacked by seven Dewoitine D.510s and seven I-15s. Contact made at 4,000m.
On December 27, 1939 two Gladiators and one I-15s escorted three Soviet Volunteer SB bombers. During the mission they became involved in combat with Japanese A5M Claudes.