Survive as a World War II Soldier - Chapter 71



Only Noblemtl

#071

It’s something I didn’t want to say, but the problem is…

“But aren’t they colonies without a country?”

“Yes. For now, Joseon’s independence is a bit···.”

In the long run, Marshall’s words were absolutely right, but if we had openly supported Joseon right away, there would have been chaos.

In any case, wasn’t Japan an ally that joined hands with Britain and the Allied Powers to fight against Germany in World War I?

“We cannot support the establishment of an aviation corps.”

Both Bradley and Ridgeway agreed that the Koreans were more trustworthy than the Chinese, but they were reluctant to grant their requests.

That was when.

“Why not an aviation school? How about a branch of the Manila Aviation School, for example?”

It was Marshall. He saw the current situation in which Koreans who graduated from Manila Aviation School were scattered and individually enlisting in the Chinese military as a problem.

“If we move individually, won’t we just be exploited by the Chinese military? I think it would be a good idea to create a focal point where Korean pilots can come together.”

“Is that school?”

Manila Aviation School is a private school established by the private sector, so it is not at all strange for it to have branch schools overseas. This is especially true now that aviation schools are sprouting up all over China.

“And there are quite a few pilots among the retired soldiers. How about sending them?”

“Hoo. Not bad.”

Seeing Marshall actively expressing his opinions, I thought that the Chinese must really hate him.

As my response was positive, others also actively stepped forward and began to flesh out the methods Marshall had proposed.

“Then, I think the problem of exporting the aircraft will be easily solved. Can’t we just handle it as the personal belongings of those who go as instructors?”

“No, since the aircraft are now being manufactured in the Philippines, we can send them there.”

“It would be good if I could go and work as an instructor and learn some things like air combat doctrine.”

“Retired soldiers should be sent as official instructors, but active-duty soldiers belonging to the Air Force can be sent as observers, on vacation, or through other means.”

Particularly active were members of the Air Corps, including Henry Arnold.

“I saw the material that Director Mitchell sent me and it was amazing.”

“Yes, aircraft development is good, but isn’t the individual skill of each pilot also an important issue?”

As expected, they were Mitchell’s juniors, and it seemed like they were focused on practical experience.

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand.

They say that in the future, various devices such as simulators will be developed, but where can you find such devices now?

As a result, the pilots of the Air Force Academy were always thirsty for training. They couldn’t help but be distracted by the massive report that arrived, which was not about training but about actual combat.

“But there are some areas of concern. I think it would be unreasonable to blindly support this without a solution for this area.”

Unlike the air force, there was someone who looked at the situation coolly, and that was none other than Ridgeway.

“What on earth are you so worried about?”

“It is the belligerence of the Korean people. Koreans are often hostile to Japan. Even now, there are many cases of people enlisting in the Chinese army simply because they can fight against Japan.”

Oh, um. Isn’t that an inevitable instinct?

I had nothing to say so I kept my mouth shut, but Arnold and Patton were different.

“What’s the problem?”

“Isn’t that level of confidence natural for a man?”

But Ridgeway was undaunted and stubbornly insisted on his position.

“When I was in the Chinese army, I only fought against the Japanese army under orders from my superiors, and I never attacked the Japanese mainland or Korea. But isn’t the goal of the Korean people, especially the provisional government, to ultimately reclaim their lost homeland?”

The argument was that it would be a big problem if some of them were to fly across the West Sea to the Korean Peninsula or Japan.

“Hmm.”

“That, that···.”

After hearing everything, I couldn’t say that my worries were useless.

Especially since we know the personality of Kim Gu, who is currently in charge of the provisional government.

‘Isn’t that before the lunchbox bomb incident by Dr. Lee Bong-chang happened?’

Even I seemed to accept Ridgeway’s words without really refuting them, and the atmosphere of the meeting began to change.

“Then shall we put this on hold for now until a solution is found for this part?”

“Well, there’s no need to buy it and cause trouble.”

“No, I think differently.”

“yes?”

“Japan swallowed up Manchuria. I don’t think they will be satisfied with that.”

Among those tilting their heads in confusion, one person confidently expressed his opinion.

“You?”

“This is Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stilwell.”

Who? Stillwell, the American X-Man?

If Japan’s Renya Mudaguchi is the dark liberation army, then this is···.

Claire Lee Chennault, who founded the Flying Tigers, an American volunteer squadron in China in the 1940s and fought alongside Chiang Kai-shek on the Chinese front to take away Japanese air supremacy, said this about Stillwell:

‘If that kid was a Chinese soldier, he would have been shot on the spot.’

This one sentence should tell you what kind of guy Stillwell is.

As I stared blankly at him at the unexpected name, Marshall carefully added an introduction about him.

“I worked with him in China before. He was a friend who spoke Chinese very well…”

I nodded to Marshall and gestured toward Stillwell.

First of all, since it hasn’t happened yet, I’ll have to listen to what they have to say.

He may not be a general, but he might be okay up to a lieutenant colonel.

“The Korean people are not that simple. They have a grudge against Japan, which took their country away, but at the same time, they are organized enough to form a provisional government and respond. So they will not do something thoughtless like Captain Ridgeway is worried about.”

“But isn’t that something you can’t guarantee?”

“And what if one or two people commit terrorism?”

“What do you mean?”

Stillwell has argued that it would not be a problem if the Koreans in the aviation school behaved in a way that we are concerned about.

“Japan is not going to go to war with us. It’s not something we ordered. Isn’t it just the deviant behavior of an individual Korean? No, according to Japan’s claim, Korea is one country with them, so I think it’s just an internal Japanese thought, and it’s not something we, as foreigners, should worry about or interfere with.”

And really, Stillwell’s story was quite plausible.

“Come to think of it, Lieutenant Colonel Stillwell is not wrong.”

“Yes, if those who formed the provisional government were not fools, would they have done something that would make them look bad not only to the Japanese military but also to China, which was relying on them?”

Although it was a provisional government located in the French Concession in Shanghai, it was under the influence of the Chinese government.

And although the Chinese, including Chiang Kai-shek, somewhat acknowledged the usefulness of the provisional government and Koreans in the fight against Japan, at the same time they were wary of the provisional government acquiring a strong military force.

“I heard that they have been trying to have an army for quite some time. They actually set up military academies here and there to train the army.”

“But isn’t it because of interference from Japan and China that we haven’t been able to form a proper military yet?”

“Isn’t that natural? Since we have a common enemy, I can forgive them for living in a rented room, but I can’t let them raise an army.”

Given Kim Gu’s belligerent nature, he might have attempted to use airplanes to carry out terrorist attacks once or twice, but he was unlikely to start an all-out war.

“If something happens there that is beyond our control, we can cut them off then, but I think they are useful now.”

“That’s right. Not only did Japan take over Manchuria, but Russia also continues to show interest in the Primorsky Krai region.”

When Britain was in good health, it actively kept Russia in check as part of the Great Game.

Wasn’t the birth of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance also a result of that?

But at present Britain did not have the capacity to care about Asia.

“Then, let’s first work closely with the Philippines to establish a branch of the Manila Aviation School.”

When I came to my conclusion, my favorite was, of course, Arnold.

“Please also create a training program in the United States for graduates of aviation schools.”

“Training program?”

“Yes. I think it would be a good idea to bring those with combat experience here to train our pilots.”

I guess I know for sure why Arnold, not Mitchell, became the first Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Marshall clapped his hands, saying that it was a good idea when Arnold said that if he couldn’t go, he would bring in someone with experience and make it a good experience.

“By the way, I don’t know if Brigadier General Mitchell can handle this properly.”

Marshall was anxious and suggested that we send someone to take charge of the matter.

“Really? Definitely.”

Mitchell is capable, but he’s not the type of person who’s capable of this.

“Who would like it?”

“How about Stillwell? He’s also an expert on China…”

“hmm.”

If it weren’t for the name, I would have been okay with anyone…

“Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be better for Stillwell, who is an expert on China, to assist me here?”

“yes?”

“There needs to be someone here who can provide proper information about East Asia. And there’s already someone in the Philippines.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Eisenhower. He’s that capable. You don’t have to worry.”

“Oh, is that so?”

It was safe to keep a potential bomb nearby and manage it.

If an accident happens, wouldn’t it be possible to recover quickly if it happens next to me?

Naturally, Swell was very pleased that he would not go to China and would remain at my side as the Chief of Staff, and Marshall was also pleased that I held his favorite subordinate in such high esteem.

Well, there was one person who I had a complaint about, but whatever.

They’re coming across the Pacific to protest, what are you going to do?

But my heart is to help the provisional government in any way possible,

Marshall’s desire to have the insurance of diversity instead of an unreliable China in the upcoming chaos in East Asia.

The establishment of the Chinese branch of the Manila Aviation School, which began amidst the expectations of the Army Air Corps, including Arnold, who wanted to gain practical experience for Korean pilots, unfolded in a completely unexpected direction.

“The Filipinos are setting up an aviation school in China?”

“To be exact, it is understood that the intervention was by the US military led by the Filipinos.”

“What is more serious is that there are also traces of collusion with the provisional government established by Koreans.”

“what?”

When Japan first heard the news of the establishment of an aviation school, they reacted as if it were impossible.

China was also in a similar state of trembling.

“Aviation school? Why is it on our land…”

“You joined hands with Koreans?”

Although they were outwardly promoting the Filipinos, there was no one who did not know that behind them were our American soldiers.

“That is impossible.”

“We took them in out of pity, but we have to kick out the Koreans immediately.”

There were some who were angry at the provisional government’s actions in bringing in the US military, but

“Isn’t it better?”

“But don’t you think the Japanese will be mindful of America’s feelings?”

“We should also be more proactive in our contacts with the US military.”

In any case, some people expressed the opinion that if the US military expanded its influence in China, it would help to deter Japan.

And opinions were divided in Japan as well.

“Isn’t it the same as 1905?”

“What is that?”

“At that time, we got Korea and the US got the Philippines. This time, we got Manchuria, and isn’t the US trying to project its influence into southern China under the pretext of the aviation school?”

“Hoo.”

And what added confidence to the Japanese interpretation was President Hoover’s actions.

“We strongly condemn the Japanese Empire’s invasion of Manchuria. The Japanese Empire must immediately stop its crimes against humanity and…”

Our army was working hard to devise ways to check Japan and project influence into China and Asia, but the administration only expressed its opposition in words.

No, to be exact, they were not even happy about us coming forward and establishing an aviation school.

It was just after the Bonus Army incident that they were unable to actively oppose it.

Anyway, after many twists and turns, the aviation school barely opened that winter.

The Manila Aviation School Shanghai Branch opened in collaboration with Chinese residents in the Philippines, contrary to the original plan.

The majority of students enrolled at the branch school were Chinese.

However, the provisional government did not gain anything.

The support we provided was insignificant, but that was based on US military standards; it was different for the provisional government.

The Provisional Government was able to become the most influential organization among the many independence movement groups within China.

And there was also a change in the life of Ahn Chang-ho, who unfortunately was arrested by the Japanese and suffered hardships in the history of the original country.

Among the provisional government officials, there were several who had deep ties to the United States.

But the fact that among them, the person that MacArthur most favored was Ahn Chang-ho was enough to give him strength.

Next, the Chinese military began to grant instructor qualifications and manage Korean pilots from the Manila Aviation School who were active as individuals, so the Chinese military could no longer use Korean pilots as disposable pawns.

And in the meantime, something big changed for me.

“How does it feel to be a father?”

“How do you feel about becoming a grandfather?”