Jiang Wenhao

Who is Jiang Wenhao?

Jiang Wenhao was a PLAAF pilot who defected to Taiwan. Jiang the first Chinese pilot who successfully defected after the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989, and he was also the first Chinese pilot who defected to Taiwan after the Taiwanese reward for such defection was greatly reduced. Jiang was also the first Chinese pilot who successfully defected with the defection prevention system onboard his jet.

Jiang Wenhao was born in Leshan and was a graduate of the 13th Aviation School. At the time of his defection, he had totaled 600 hours of flying and he left behind his parents, maternal grandmother and a younger sister. On September 6, 1989, Jiang Wenhao, the 23-year old PLAAF lieutenant of the 2nd wing of the 145th regiment of the 49th division flew a Shenyang J-6 numbered 40307 from Longxi airport, Zhangzhou, Fujian to Shangyi airport in Kinmen. Utilizing the blind spot of radars, Jiang made a speedy dive near the sea level after climbing to 300 metres and was not detected by radars on either side. However, once he was climbed back to 300 metres near the coast of Kinmen, he was discovered by an air defense observer Gan Lin on the ground when he was above Kinmen who immediately reported the anti-aircraft artillery command and the whole Kinmen island was put on alert. Shots were fired at Jiang, including 5 rounds from Bofors 40 mm gun, 56 rounds of 12.7 mm from 50 calibre heavy machine gun. Jiang immediately put down the landing gear and pitched the wings, and the ground fire stopped. Shortly after, Jiang discovered the Shangyi airport in Kinmen, and landed safely. The island was then no longer on alert, which lasted 14 minutes.