Photo: PLA Air Force — Public domainSource
Yao Xian
- April 27, 1927
- March 3, 2018
- 90 years
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About Yao Xian
Yao Xian, 90, Chinese general, commander of the Beijing Military Region Air Force.
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Full Biography
|Yao Xian (Chinese: 耀先; 27 April 1927 – 3 March 2018) was a Chinese fighter pilot and lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). He fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Korean War, and later served as Deputy Commander of the Lanzhou Military Region Air Force and then concurrently as Commander of the Beijing Military Region Air Force and Deputy Commander of the Beijing MR.
Early life
Yao Xian was born on 27 April 1927 to a peasant family in Zhuguantun Village (朱官屯), Yutian County, Hebei Province. His original name was Wei Yaoxian (魏耀先). He went to school at the age of seven, but joined the local resistance force when he was 13 after the Japanese invasion of China.
Career
He joined the Chinese Communist Party in June 1945, and was selected to undergo pilot training at the Northeast People's Liberation Army Aviation School (a predecessor of the PLA Air Force Aviation University) in April 1948. He was deployed in the newly established 7th Mixed Brigade after graduating in June 1950, just before the Korean War broke out.
In 1951, Yao's unit, the PLAAF 4th Fighter Aviation Division (reorganized from the 7th Mixed Brigade) was deployed to fight in North Korea. Yao participated in his first air battle on 2 October 1951, as a wingman of the squadron leader Zou Yan, in the airspace above Anju, South Pyongan.
He served as a deputy squadron commander, later promoted to commander. On 17 May 1953, in an air battle north of Pyongyang, Yao Xian's squadron shot down four American F-86 Sabre fighters, while losing two MiG-15s. During the war he was credited with shooting down one American F-86 jet and damaging two others, and awarded the First-Grade Merit.
After the Korean War, Yao was successively promoted to regiment commander, division commander, and deputy corps commander. In 1978, he was appointed deputy commander of the Lanzhou Military Region Air Force. He was transferred to the Beijing Military Region Air Force (MRAF) in 1987, and promoted to Commander of the Beijing MRAF and concurrently Deputy Commander of the Beijing Military Region in 1990. He was awarded the rank of lieutenant general in 1988. He retired in January 1993.
Personal life
In 1956, Yao Xian married Mao Yufang (毛玉芳), a textile worker from Liaoyang, who first saw him on the cover of the Hangkong (Aviation) magazine and met him when he went to her factory to give a speech. She had already been admitted to Qingdao Textile Institute, but gave up the opportunity to attend university to marry him.
Death
Yao Xian died in the morning of 3 March 2018, on the same day as his friend and colleague, fellow Korean War veteran and PLAAF lieutenant general Lin Hu. They were born in the same year and graduated from the same aviation school.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yao_Xian_(general)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 14 questions
Questions drawn from Yao Xian's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Yao Xian born?
- A.17 May 1953
- B.27 April 1927correct
- C.1 June 1945
- D.3 March 2018
Yao Xian was born on 27 April 1927 in Zhuguantun Village.
Source: early life section
2.What was the original name of Yao Xian?
- A.Wei Yaoxiancorrect
- B.Lin Hu
- C.Zou Yan
- D.Mao Yufang
Yao Xian's original name before he became a military leader was Wei Yaoxian.
Source: early life section
3.In what year did Yao Xian join the Chinese Communist Party?
- A.1945correct
- B.1950
- C.1948
- D.1951
Yao Xian became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in June 1945.
Source: career section
4.Where did Yao Xian undergo pilot training?
- A.Qingdao Textile Institute
- B.Lanzhou Aviation Training Center
- C.Northeast People's Liberation Army Aviation Schoolcorrect
- D.Beijing Military Academy
Yao Xian was selected for pilot training at the Northeast People's Liberation Army Aviation School in April 1948.
Source: career section
5.On what date did Yao Xian participate in his first air battle?
- A.2 October 1951correct
- B.17 May 1953
- C.3 March 2018
- D.1 June 1950
Yao Xian's first air battle took place on 2 October 1951 in the airspace above Anju.
Source: career section
6.Who was the squadron leader that Yao Xian flew as a wingman for during his first air battle?
- A.Lin Hu
- B.Zou Yancorrect
- C.Mao Yufang
- D.Wei Yaoxian
During his first combat mission on 2 October 1951, Yao Xian served as the wingman for Zou Yan.
Source: career section
7.What military award did Yao Xian receive for his performance during the Korean War?
- A.First-Grade Meritcorrect
- B.Second-Grade Honor
- C.Distinguished Flying Cross
- D.Commander's Medal
Yao Xian was credited with shooting down one American F-86 jet and damaging two others, earning him the First-Grade Merit.
Source: career section
8.What was the profession of Mao Yufang, the wife of Yao Xian?
- A.Textile workercorrect
- B.Aviation instructor
- C.University professor
- D.Resistance fighter
Mao Yufang was a textile worker from Liaoyang who met Yao Xian at her factory.
Source: personal life section
9.Which educational institution did Mao Yufang give up attending to marry Yao Xian?
- A.Northeast Aviation School
- B.Beijing Military Academy
- C.Liaoyang Technical University
- D.Qingdao Textile Institutecorrect
Mao Yufang had been admitted to Qingdao Textile Institute but declined the opportunity to marry Yao Xian.
Source: personal life section
10.In what year was Yao Xian promoted to the rank of lieutenant general?
- A.1978
- B.1987
- C.1988correct
- D.1990
Yao Xian was awarded the rank of lieutenant general in 1988.
Source: career section
11.When did Yao Xian retire from the People's Liberation Army Air Force?
- A.December 1993
- B.March 2018
- C.January 1990
- D.January 1993correct
After serving as the Commander of the Beijing MRAF, Yao Xian retired in January 1993.
Source: career section
12.In which city or province was Yao Xian born?
- A.Anju
- B.Pyongyang
- C.Liaoyang
- D.Hebei Provincecorrect
Yao Xian was born in Zhuguantun Village, Yutian County, Hebei Province.
Source: early life section
13.What was the final major military position held by Yao Xian before retirement?
- A.Deputy Commander of the Lanzhou Military Region
- B.Commander of the Beijing Military Region Air Forcecorrect
- C.Division Commander of the 7th Mixed Brigade
- D.Lieutenant General of the Northeast Aviation School
Yao Xian served as Commander of the Beijing MRAF and Deputy Commander of the Beijing Military Region until his retirement.
Source: career section
14.How did Mao Yufang first see Yao Xian before they met in person?
- A.In a military parade
- B.At the Northeast Aviation School graduation
- C.On the cover of the Hangkong magazinecorrect
- D.At the Qingdao Textile Institute
Mao Yufang first saw Yao Xian when he appeared on the cover of the Hangkong (Aviation) magazine.
Source: personal life section
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