The story of Qian Xuesen's return to China

US Undersecretary of the Navy: I'd rather shoot him than let him go home.

1one day in June, 950, a visit from China made Kimball, then US Deputy Secretary of Defense, feel uneasy.

As soon as the visitor left the office, Jin Beier immediately called the Justice Department: "He knows all the core secrets of the American missile project, which is worth five marines. I'd rather shoot this guy than let him go back to Red China! "

This China native is Qian Xuesen.

1934 In the summer vacation, Qian Xuesen was admitted to study abroad at public expense in Tsinghua University. From 1936 to 10, Qian Xuesen transferred from MIT to California Institute of Technology, where he followed Professor von Carmen, a master mechanic.

1in the autumn of 937, Qian Xuesen and his classmates formed a technical team to study rockets and then participated in the design of the first military long-range rocket in the United States; In addition, Qian Xuesen and his mentor von Carmen participated in the research and development of the top secret "Manhattan Project" missile nuclear weapons in the United States at that time, and were awarded the rank of colonel.

1949 10 10/day, New China was founded, and Qian Xuesen and his family living in the United States could not help but feel excited. With the dream of returning to China,1One day in June, 950, Qian Xuesen approached Jin Beier, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, and put forward the idea of returning to China.

In the island detention center: detained for 15 days, lost 15 kg.

1950 On August 29th, Qian Xuesen and his wife Jiang Ying bought a boat ticket, but the Los Angeles Customs told them not to leave the country because his luggage contained nearly 800kg of sketches, notes and photos, all of which were "top secret documents".

1950 On August 30th, the door of Qian Xuesen's house was knocked down, and two immigration inspectors with handcuffs and pistols stood in front of his house. Qian Xuesen kissed his wife and children, was caught in the middle by two Americans and left.

Subsequently, he was sent to the detention center in Temina Island. The detention center is on an obscure island in the Pacific Ocean. During the day, he was interrogated endlessly. At night, every ten minutes, the keeper turns on the light in his cell and uses strong light to * * * his eyes to prevent him from sleeping.

Jiang Ying recalled, "When I went to pick him up, he didn't say a word. When you ask him something, he nods and shakes his head ... he can't talk. He lost weight in 15 days 15 kg. "

In those difficult years, Qian Xuesen always set up three light boxes at home so as to leave for home at any time.

A basket of vegetables brings inspiration: the cigarette case is made of paper, and the distress letter is sent out.

1955 In May, the owner of a food store in China City sent a basket of vegetables to Qian Xuesen's family. Under the vegetables, there was a China Pictorial with a photo of founding ceremony. Qian Xuesen and his wife met Chen Shutong, the mentor of two parents. A plan to go home was born.

1one day in June, 955, Qian Xuesen and his wife sneaked into a cafe to avoid stalking. Jiang Ying asked the students to use cigarette boxes as paper and wrote a short letter: We look forward to returning to the motherland after liberation day and night, but now we are imprisoned by the United States and can't do it. She copied the children's handwriting and wrote an envelope and sent it to her sister in Belgium. After tossing and turning, Chen Shutong received the letter and immediately handed it to Zhou Enlai.

After receiving the distress letter, Zhou Enlai ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hand it over to Wang Bingnan, who was negotiating in Geneva, and instructed: "This is irrefutable evidence."

In the face of facts, the representative of the United States was speechless. In August 1955 and 1, China and the United States reached an important agreement on the return of personnel from the two countries.

The next day, Qian Xuesen was informed that he was allowed to return to China. At the same time, 1 1 the released American pilot arrived in Hawaii.

1955 17 In September, Qian Xuesen boarded the "President Cleveland" with his wife and a pair of young children and embarked on the road to return home.

Qian Xuesen