Yen Hai-Wen
Yen Hai-Wen (Chinese: 閻海文; 1916–August 17, 1937) was a Chinese pilot in the Air Force of the Nationalist Government.
Yen Hai-Wen was born Beizhen, Liaoning.[1] He faced financial hardships, often having to interrupt his education. In the summer of 1934, he applied to both the Central Army Officers' School and the Central Aviation School, and he was accepted to both.[2] In pursuit of becoming an outstanding pilot, he chose the Central Aviation School.
After graduating from aviation school, Yen Hai-Wen served as a second lieutenant pilot in the 5th Squadron.[3] Following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, he was stationed in Yangzhou and defending Nanjing's airspace.
On August 17, 1937, while conducting a bombing mission over the Japanese Army Command Headquarters in Shanghai, Yen Hai-Wen's plane was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire, causing it to catch fire.[4] When he parachuted out, he landed in the vicinity of the Japanese positions due to wind deviations. He was surrounded and pursued by Japanese soldiers, and in the face of their attempts to convince him to surrender, Yen Hai-Wen shouted, "The Chinese Air Force never surrenders!" He then used his last bullet to commit suicide.[5] His bravery is recorded in Japan, and Japanese military personnel also respected his integrity, burying him and erecting a monument called the "Chinese Air Force Hero's Grave."[6] The Nationalist Government posthumously promoted him to the rank of second lieutenant, and he was laid to rest in the Aviation Martyrs Cemetery.