The Rise Of A Billionaire 1943

Bombing Tokyo!

In 1944, this was not only the fervent wish of every Chinese person, but also the heartfelt desire of the American people.

Ever since 1942, when Doolittle led a group of B-25 bombers off an aircraft carrier to bomb Tokyo, all Americans had been looking forward to bombing Tokyo again.

"We want to do to Tokyo what we did to Hamburg—flatten it completely."

Forget about humanitarianism; for Americans in 1944, all they wanted was revenge. Nothing more, nothing less.

Just like the Anglo-American bomber groups had flattened Hamburg.

To make this happen, crippled Roosevelt ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans to bomb the Japanese home islands from bases in China. The cost of this plan was unimaginable—every ton of bombs dropped required 18 tons of supplies, all of which had to be flown over the Hump route to China, with all the attendant risks.

Even so, they still couldn't reach Tokyo, only Kyushu. In the end, the exorbitant costs made even the deep-pocketed U.S. military cry uncle.

But now, Pierre had given them another option.

Aerial refueling!

From the moment, four months ago, when he introduced aerial refueling technology at the White House, to modifying bombers and building airfields, it had taken only four months.

"Four months, Pierre, we built an airfield on Amchitka Island in just four months…"

Three runways, one of which is 10,000 feet long—the longest runway in the world…"

As the plane was about to land on Amchitka Island, Major Cage, the liaison officer sent by the Pentagon, looked extremely proud.

"And they've also built a port and an airport barracks that can accommodate over ten thousand people and massive amounts of supplies, Mr. Pierre. It's hard to imagine that all of this was built so far from the mainland, and in such a short period of time."

"Yes, it's truly no easy feat."

Pierre cast his gaze outside. By now, the plane was flying over Montana in the northwest. They would land here, rest, and then continue on to Amchitka Island.

"Major Cage, why didn't you choose Attu Island?"

"The winds there are too strong. The weather around Attu Island is characterized by persistent overcast skies, strong winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. In winter, the gales can exceed 100 nautical miles per hour. In summer, thick fog blankets Attu and the surrounding seas. Actually, Amchitka Island also has strong winds and heavy fog, but it's relatively better. There's nothing we can do—the winter gales and summer fog are ever-present features of the Bering Sea and the North Pacific."

"Yes, to truly bomb Tokyo, we'll have to take off from somewhere near the Mariana Islands."

Two months ago, after their victory in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the US military had already captured the Mariana Islands. Once the airfields there were completed, B-29 bombers would take off from the Marianas to bomb Japan.

Next year, the infamous "Great Tokyo Firebombing" would begin.

Thinking of the "Great Tokyo Firebombing," the corners of Pierre's mouth lifted, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Haha, Mr. Pierre, very soon—maybe by next year—we won't need aerial refueling to bomb Tokyo. But you know…"

Cage pointed upward with his finger.

"Those higher up want us to bomb Tokyo, so we have to go. Actually…"

Cage grinned.

"Actually, I want to go too. After all, it's bombing Tokyo."

"Who wouldn't want to?" Pierre nodded.

About half an hour later, the DC-4 landed at the airport in Montana. Even before disembarking, he saw the airfield was packed with planes, with more landing all the time.

"They're all planes for aid to the Russians. Pilots fly them from the factories to Montana, then to Alaska, and then Russian pilots fly them to Kamchatka."

As he explained, Cage suddenly turned his head and said, "Did you know? Those pilots are all women—members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. We'll be staying here for five or six hours today, Pierre."

At this moment, Cage wore a knowing, suggestive smile—the kind all men understand.

It wasn't just female pilots; there were also female ground crew and soldiers. It was almost as if they'd arrived in a kingdom of women. Many of the female pilots were even sunbathing in swimsuits on the grass beside the runway.

What kind of treatment does a man receive when he enters a kingdom of women?

Naturally, he becomes the center of attention. Even as he stepped off the plane, Pierre heard whistles—not from the crew or passengers, but from the women at the airfield. Some even shouted loudly.

"Hey, handsome, look over here…"

It had to be said, the military is definitely a place overflowing with hormones. Faced with the women's enthusiasm, everyone—including Cage—responded in kind, with whistles or waves. Soon, they rode a jeep to the airport bar, which was filled mostly with women.

As soon as they entered the bar, before Pierre could even order a drink, a woman walked up to him and asked directly:

"You're French!"

Shirley looked at the man before her and asked.

"Yes."

"Ah, Pierre, Pierre…"

Looking at the delighted woman in front of him, Pierre was a bit confused. Do we know each other?

"Haha, you're the second French person I've met,Pierre, my friend…"

Friend? I'm…

"My name is Li Yueying!"

Looking at the woman in front of him, dressed in a flight suit, Pierre was momentarily stunned. He had heard her story before, and if he remembered correctly, she would die in a flying accident in just a few months.

"Why can't a woman be a pilot?"

Shirley put her arm around her friend's shoulders and looked at Pierre.

"She—Li—is the best pilot I've ever seen, the very best. She's flown over a thousand planes to Montana. And more than ten years ago, in China, she went back hoping to join the Chinese Air Force and fight the Japanese, but the Air Force refused to accept female pilots. That's why Li came back. Don't think she's just a woman—she's the best pilot…"

Although her friend was praising her, Li Yueying still emphasized:

"Shirley, it wasn't just the Chinese Air Force that refused female pilots. The US Air Force did too, didn't they? We're just a service squadron."

Looking at her compatriot, Li Yueying spoke in fluent but slightly accented Mandarin.

"I'm sorry, sir, if we made a spectacle of ourselves."

Looking at the woman in front of him, Pierre quickly replied, "No, no…"

"…it's just that they don't realize what they're missing out on, ma'am. Maybe you could join my air squadron—my own squadron—where you could become a fighter pilot."