Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Battle of Shanghai" in English language version.
In 1934 the Chinese Air Force ordered 10 Boeing P-26 Model 281 'Peashooters'. Due to funding problems the Model "248s", as the Chinese knew them, weren't delivered until 1936. The aircraft were delivered to 17th Pursuit Squadron (5th PG), which was commanded by Chinese-American Captain John Wong Pan-Yang, to be used against Japanese aircraft over Nanking in 1937. In August 1937 the 17th PS was based at the Jurong (Chuyung) Airfield at Nanking.
Although the pilots were ordered not to fly over Shanghai's international settlement, Idzumo was berthed right in front of it. Two 1,100-pound bombs fell on Nanking Road, in a crowded shopping area. One failed to explode, but the other killed 950 Chinese and foreigners
Seven Boeing 281s, led by Cmdr. Huang Pan-yang, 17th SQ, 3rd PG, took off from Jurong to escort airborne Curtiss Hawks. While approaching Wusongkou, these Boeing 281s encountered hostile aircraft, and knocked down 2 of them and damaged one. On the other hand, #1704 was seriously damaged, while Qin Jia-zhu perished along with his #1702, which involved in a tense dogfight over Wusongkou.
When did World War II begin? Americans might say December 7, 1941 ... The day the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For Europeans, it was September 1, 1939 ... When Nazi Germany invaded Poland. But in China, people will tell you a different date. August 13, 1937.
the air battles between the Chinese and Japanese pilots above the sky of China was considered by Westerners a forgotten war, it was too important for the people to deny. For the Japanese pilots, those were their first chance to earn experiences about fighting other pilots in the air ... for the Americans, it was their only chance to observe and learn about the planes and tactics used by their future enemy in the Pacific Theater ... the Battle of Shanghai marked the first time Chinese Central Army enjoyed close air support from the Chinese Air Force.
