Echoes of Valor: A Son’s Mission to Preserve History
As the Chinese Air Force commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3, 2025, the staggering scale of wartime sacrifices came into sharp focus. Historical records reveal pilots flew 21,597 sorties, destroying 1,226 enemy aircraft at the cost of 6,164 lives and 2,468 planes lost. Behind these numbers lies a deeply human story of courage – one kept alive by He Ping, son of martyr He Xin, who shared his father’s final letters and wartime experiences with CGTN.
‘We Fly So the Next Generation Doesn’t Have To’
He Xin, among the 6,164 fallen airmen, wrote passionately about defending China’s sovereignty through aerial combat. His letters describe harrowing dogfights and the camaraderie of pilots who ‘became brothers in steel birds.’ He Ping, now 68, has digitized over 300 pages of diaries and photographs, stating: ‘These aren’t relics – they’re proof that ordinary people shaped history through extraordinary choices.’
Legacy Beyond Statistics
While the anniversary highlighted military achievements, He Ping emphasizes the human dimension: ‘Every lost aircraft in the records carried someone’s son, someone’s dreams. Remembering their stories matters as much as counting victories.’ His ongoing work with aviation museums has helped preserve 43 personal accounts of Resistance War pilots, offering researchers and families new insights into this pivotal chapter of Asian history.
