This mysterious transport plane carried 9 Americans, including U.S. Army Colonel Red Bull, Second Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in China Xie Weisi, U.S. Army Infantry and Strategic Intelligence Service Captain John Golin, etc.

On the morning of July 22, 1944, a US military transport plane took off from Chongqing, escorted by three fighter jets, and headed straight to Yan'an .

This mysterious transport plane carried 9 Americans, including U.S. Army Colonel Paul Reed, Second Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in China Xie Weisi, U.S. Army Infantry and Strategic Intelligence Service Captain John Golin, etc.

These people have different identities, but they all belong to the newly established "US Army China-Burma-India Theater Zone Yan'an Observation Group" .

The United States had this idea in 1943 by sending a military observation group to Yan'an, the anti-Japanese base behind enemy lines led by the Chinese Communist Party.

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the United States urgently needed to hold back more Japanese troops on the Chinese battlefield out of overall consideration for the war against Japan. Therefore, it has been assisting Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang government economically and militarily.

However, the United States was not satisfied with the battlefield performance of Chiang Kai-shek and his army, especially Joseph Stilwell, the commander of the US Army in the China-Burma-India Theater.

The relationship between Stilwell and Chiang Kai-shek was not harmonious almost from the moment they met.

After the failure of the First Burma Campaign, the relationship between the two further deteriorated. Chiang Kai-shek complained that the failure was all due to Stilwell not obeying orders, while Stilwell complained to Roosevelt that he could not win because of "peanuts".

Peanut is American slang, specifically referring to people with great ambitions but poor abilities. Stilwell directly used "Peanut" to refer to Chiang Kai-shek in his diary.

Stilwell and other Americans who were dissatisfied with Chiang quickly noticed another Chinese military force, which was the anti-Japanese armed forces led by the Chinese Communist Party that were active in base areas behind enemy lines.

At Stilwell's suggestion, Roosevelt sent three telegrams to Chiang Kai-shek starting from February 9, 1944, requesting to send an observation team to Yan'an, but Chiang Kai-shek refused each time.

Chiang Kai-shek called the Chinese Communist Army "bandits" and had been blocking the real news about Yan'an from the outside world. If he agreed to the United States sending an observation team, wouldn't he expose the truth about the Communist Party's resistance to Japan?

Chiang Kai-shek was even more afraid that Americans would lean towards the Communist Party after understanding the Communist Party's capabilities.

However, Chiang Kai-shek's ability does not give him credit.

In April 1944, in order to restore its decline in the Pacific, Japan attempted to force Chiang Kai-shek to surrender and completely resolve the war situation in China. It launched the "No. 1 Campaign" in China, the Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi, and captured 146 large and small cities in 2 months. The Pinghan Road was opened and a large area from Henan to Guangxi was occupied.

The U.S. Flying Tigers aiding China were occupied by the Japanese troops at their air bases and airports in Changsha, Guilin , and they withdrew to Kunming.

The great defeat of the Kuomintang army aroused strong dissatisfaction with Chiang Kai-shek at home and abroad, especially the US government.

On June 23, 1944, US Vice President Wallace was appointed by President Roosevelt as a special envoy to Chongqing to hold talks with Chiang Kai-shek.

Roosevelt

Wallace was unhappy and completely critical.

Wallace emphasized the need to take all measures to end the war and save the lives of American soldiers, pointing out that US bombers attacking Japan and aircraft conducting air combat in North China may be shot down at any time, and the military and civilians in the CCP-controlled areas need to rescue the pilots.

The US military also urgently needs accurate military intelligence from North and Central China, and sending the US military observation group to Yan'an is a military necessity and has nothing to do with political issues.

Chiang Kai-shek is submissive.

Under the pressure of the United States, mainly because of the need for military assistance from the United States, Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to agree to the request of the United States and approve the establishment of the observation group. He agreed that the observation group would be directly under the leadership of the U.S. Military Command in China, and also agreed with Colonel Bauer Red. Serve as team leader.

As a mission stationed in the China-Burma-India Theater, the U.S. military originally called the mission the "U.S. Army Delegation" or the "U.S. Observation Group in the China-Burma-India Theater", but it encountered fierce opposition from Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang Kai-shek believed that calling it a "Regiment" was too high a standard and suggested changing its name to an "Inspection Group".

The name of the "inspection team" spread to Yan'an. Mao Zedong commented that "inspection" usually refers to a superior's visit to inspect a subordinate. This term is obviously inappropriate.

The name of the mission is related to political influence, and both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party are not careless.

Later, after tripartite consultations between the United States, Chongqing, and Yan'an, the name of the mission was finally determined to be the "US Army China-Burma-India Theater Observation Group in Yan'an" (hereinafter referred to as the "US Army Observation Group").

After selection, the U.S. China-Burma-India Theater Command finally determined a list of 18 people. These people have their own strengths, including infantry, aviation, signal troops, and military doctors. They belong to the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Strategic Intelligence. Bureau systems.

The US military observation group was finally formally established.

The mission assigned to the observation group is:

1. Collect Japanese military combat intelligence obtained by the Communist army;

2. Understand the combat situation and supply of materials and equipment of the Communist army;

3. Examine the meteorological and economic conditions in northern China, Assist Yan'an and several major base areas behind enemy lines to build weather stations to provide reliable meteorological information for the US Air Force;

4. Coordinate the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army to actively rescue US pilots who have crash-landed in enemy-occupied areas;

5. Evaluate the Communist Party Contribution to the Anti-Japanese War, exploring the possibility of military cooperation with the CCP, etc.

Red also had a problem with the name of the mission.

Reed and the members of the observation team called themselves the "Dixie Mission".

Many years later, Xie Weisi once explained that "Dixie" has two meanings. One refers to the rebellious states in the South during the American Civil War, and the other means the place where the sun shines.

At that time, Yan'an was a coveted place where the sun shone for members of the Dixie Mission.

Yan'an

At that time, the famous American journalist Edgar Snow's famous book "Red Star Shining on China" (i.e. "The Journey to the West") had spread throughout the world.

Members of the Dixie Mission are responsible for different "observation" projects based on their professional expertise.

According to Gao Lin, he was assigned because he was good at explosives technology and guerrilla warfare expertise.

The Dixie Mission arrived in Yan'an in two batches, with 9 people in each batch. July 22 was the first batch.

When the plane carrying the first batch of observation team members landed at Yan'an Airport , an accident occurred.

Yan'an Airport is said to be an airport, but in fact it is just a relatively flat temporary runway.

At the simple airport, pilot Champion piloted the plane to land. Just as the plane left the runway to make way for the escort fighter jets behind it, there was a loud "bang" and the plane suddenly tilted to the left and stopped. Come down.

Bao Rhett and Champion jumped off the plane and took a look and found that the plane's revolver had fallen into an old grave that no one noticed. The plane collided with the ground, and the left propeller and nose were damaged.

The propeller was like a sharp blade that was out of control and suddenly cut into the cockpit of the plane. At this time, Champion was leaning over to turn off the engine, otherwise he would probably die.

The welcoming crowd fell into chaos.

But soon, when the members of the observation team stepped off the plane, they saw Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Ye Jianying, Peng Dehuai and other CCP leaders who had regained their composure.

Zhou Enlai stepped forward and held the hand of the group leader Bao Ruide, and said frankly: "Team leader, a hero is injured. I think your plane is a hero. Fortunately, the other hero is yourself. No injuries. Chairman Mao asked me to convey his condolences to you for your arrival. "

52-year-old Colonel Borede has lived in China for many years and can speak authentic old Beijing dialect. He quoted a sentence from "The Analects of Confucius". He replied: "Is it hurtful? Don't ask about the horse."

A tense accident turned into a relaxed joke.

Due to injuries on the plane, the second batch of observation team members who were originally planned to arrive later did not arrive in Yan'an until August 7.

When the U.S. military observation group arrived in Yan'an, Chairman Mao not only hosted a banquet in person, but also extensively revised the editorial "Welcome Comrades of the U.S. Army Observation Group", specifically adding the words "comrades", and published it in 1944 In Yan'an's "Liberation Daily" on August 15, 2015.

Referring to the US military observation group as comrades shows Chairman Mao's intention and attention.

As the editorial said, "The arrival of the comrades from the US military observation group in Yan'an is of great significance for the victory of the Anti-Japanese War."

Because during this period, the Kuomintang troops on the front battlefield were defeated one after another, and our party The base areas behind enemy lines led by the Communist Party of China became the most important battlefield in China's anti-war war. However, due to the Kuomintang's strict encirclement and blockade of the base areas, the international community was unable to truly understand the situation of the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Army's resistance war.

The arrival of the US military observation team is an important opportunity to break the blockade, let the outside world understand the CCP's anti-Japanese propositions and the actual anti-Japanese situation, and strive for victory in the Anti-Japanese War.

During its inspection in Yan'an and various base areas, the US military observation team had in-depth conversations with leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and others. Leaders of the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army such as Peng Dehuai, Chen Yi introduced our army's history and results of the Anti-Japanese War.

The US military observation team also held several special discussions with relevant personnel and visited the military, factories, schools, hospitals, etc.

The US military observation team wrote a large number of reports based on its own on-the-spot inspections and analysis and thinking. In the reports, it almost unanimously gave full affirmation to the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Anti-Japanese Armed Forces led by it.

In addition to inspecting Yan'an, some members of the US military observation group also conducted inspections in Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and other base areas behind enemy lines.

During the inspection, the US military observation team gained a new understanding of the Chinese Communist Party and the base areas behind enemy lines, and believed: "To save China, it must be the power of the Communist Party."

Chairman Mao, Zhu De and members of the US military observation team

Explosion expert Captain Gao Lin expressed their views on Yan'an Mine left a deep impression.

A kind of stone mine made by Yan'an is not only powerful, but also cannot be detected by mine detectors. It is really an amazing invention.

The Eighth Route Army "used a technique similar to that used by ivory and jade carvers to carve balls within balls, to create stone mines from hard stone. They hollowed out the center of the two-foot-diameter stone... When I used my metal detector When the detector was used to test this mine, the detector showed no response."

This surprised Gao Lin, and Gao Lin also brought advanced weapons that surprised the Eighth Route Army.

When Gao Lin came to Yan'an from Chongqing, he brought with him blasting equipment with modern technical level that could be used for timed blasting, including clam blasters, explosive boxes, timers, etc.

Yan'an arranged for Gao Lin to hold four blasting demonstration performances. Each time, thousands of people watched, which was an eye-opener for the Eighth Route Army officers and soldiers.

But something unexpected happened during a performance.

On that day, when Gao Lin was performing a 0.22 (inch) caliber assassination pistol, it accidentally discharged and almost hit Zhou Enlai who was standing directly in front.

This assassination pistol is quite sensitive.

Gao Lin usually opens the gun after a performance, takes out the bullet clip inside, and puts it aside.

Unexpectedly, this time the assistant inserted the bullet clip into the bolt. Gao Lin accidentally touched it, the bolt snapped shut, and the bullets were shot out at the same time.

The misfired bullet flew past Zhou Enlai's ear.

Everyone present was stunned.

Gao Lin felt that his mind went blank and he thought he would be arrested or even shot.

Due to the subtle relationship between the US military observation group and Yan'an, it was originally unclear whether it was a fire or murder.

At this time, Zhou Enlai, who had experienced hundreds of battles, showed the demeanor of a general. He just smiled and said "what a risk" and the matter passed.

Gao Lin's heart quietly returned to its original place and he continued to perform.

So, was this incident a fire incident or murder? Of course I can't explain

clearly.

However, I can see it clearly.

As an expert in secret service, Zhou Enlai could tell whether it was an accident or murder at a glance.

Besides, those who enter the Dixie Mission are strictly selected and undergo "political review."

Just as an accident occurred when the US military observation group aircraft first arrived in Yan'an, this incident was also an accident.

Therefore, Zhou Enlai took it lightly.

Zhou Enlai (right) with members of the US military observation team

Gao Lin's demonstration performance left a deep impression on the Eighth Route Army, hoping to obtain military equipment for the performance, but members of the Dixie Mission replied that this is a complicated issue .

Bao Ruide believed that Chiang Kai-shek would not be able to pass this test if the Communist Party was equipped with American weapons.

Even when the Dixie Mission went to Yan'an, President Roosevelt had to do Chiang Kai-shek's ideological work many times. It was very difficult for weapons to reach Yan'an.

However, Bo Ruide, who personally observed the combat effectiveness and effective guerrilla tactics of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, still included in the report the suggestion of assisting the Communist army with a small number of rifles, machines and some light artillery.

There is no doubt that this kind of report is useless.

In fact, the mission of the "Dick Two West Mission" basically ended in December 1944, although it remained as a formality until 1945.

It is said that the reason is that the United States is about to develop the nuclear weapon-the atomic bomb that will defeat Japan. As long as Chiang Kai-shek does not surrender to Japan, it is okay, and there is no need to cooperate with the CCP.

The Trump administration chose to "withdraw from the group" for the sake of its own interests. The Biden administration chose to "join the group" for the sake of its own interests. This conflict coincided with the U.S. government's dispatch of the "Dick and West Mission" during the War of Resistance and the end of its mission. , how similar.

Every bustle in the world is for profit, and all the hustle and bustle in the world is for profit ("Historical Records·Biography of Huozhi").

One day in December 1944, Gao Lin returned home with a comprehensive inspection report of the Dixie Mission. As soon as he arrived in Washington, he was ordered to report the situation to General Donovan, Director of the Strategic Intelligence Service.

Golin later recalled that "Donovan was the only senior official in Washington who wanted to know about the 'Dixie Mission'", but the final result was still nothing.

In May 1945, Gao Lin was sent to China again and served as the deputy army attaché of the U.S. Embassy in China in Chongqing, where he continued to perform the task of reporting on the activities of the Chinese Communist guerrillas.

html In August, Hurley went to Yan'an again to invite Chairman Mao to Chongqing for peace talks with Chiang Kai-shek. When Chairman Mao arrived in Chongqing accompanied by Hurley, Gao Lin arrived at the scene as a deputy military attaché and took a large number of color photos to record this important historical moment.

Later, Captain John Gowling wrote a memoir called "The Spirit of Yan'an".

In the postscript to his memoirs, Gao Lin wrote:

We were ordered to examine the potential of the Communists. We completed the task and established friendship with the Chinese revolutionary leaders.

It was politics that sent us to Yan'an, and it was politics that ultimately killed our reporting of what we learned.

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