20 May 1938

China
  • Cen Zeliu led a flight of I-15bis fighters on a ground strafing mission near Lanfeng, Henan Province, China. They were intercepted by Japanese Ki-27 and Ki-10 fighters, which shot down 8 Chinese fighters and forced 2 to crash land. Only Cen and Lieutenant Ma Kwok-lim escaped from harm. After returning to base, ground crew counted more than 100 machine gun bullet holes on his aircraft. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | Lanfeng, Henan | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

Winston Churchill, 1935


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