Chinese Air Force and Aircraft

While the war with the Japanese went on since 1931, both Chiang Kai-chek and Mao's government were negotiating purchases of fighter and bomber aircraft, mainly from Italy in the first half of the 1930's.After Italy signed a Non-Aggrestion Pact with Japan, China bought her aircraft from somewhere else.They bought aircraft from the Soviet Union.These craft were the frontline against the accidental Russian incurtion in 1938.But, when these Russian-imported aircraft went against the Japanese, they were slaughtered by Ki-27's and A5M's from Japan.In 1940, America brought in its own advisors and soon, pilots.The Flying Tigers flew valiantly against the Japanese in the P-40's, soon mounting impressive kills of their own.Along with their Chinese counterparts, they held off the Japanese and keep half of the Imperial Army and a quarter of the Imperial Navy's aircraft tied up in China.

Since 1941, their supply route was cut-off.With the Japanese conquest of Burma and the march into India, their fuel and ammunition had to be brought in by C-47's over the Himylains.By 1944, British, Indian, Chinese, and Australian troops pushed the Japanese back far enough to supply the Chinese Army and Air Force via the Burma Road.

As for bombing, the first half of the war was not good.B-17's didn't have a chance of reaching Japan.Two reasons:One-Range, the Japanese pushed them back to Chungking.Two-With the fighter umbrella over Shanghai and Seoul, they would have endurred as much as the Eighth Air Force did in Europe.In either case, by 1943, American command was concentrating all of their Flying Fortresses in Europe in the war against Hitler and Nazi Germany.But, in late 1943, a new bomber meant for the Pacific war was arriving in China.The Boeing B-29 Superfortress.They flew these B-29's from Miami, all the way around the Horn of Africa to China, in an effort to keep them secret from the Japanese.But, the Japanese knew.Even if the Japanese knew, it didn't matter.Within a few weeks, these bombers devastated Yokosuka's industrial area.

So, in conclusion, if the brave people of China couldn't hold their own against the Japanese, the the Pacific war would have taken longer, been bloodier, and the Chinese people would have to endure even worse hardships under Japanese rule.