Wu Faxian

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wu.

Wu Faxian (Chinese: 吴法宪; 1915–2004) was a Chinese Communist revolutionary and lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army. In 1930 he became a soldier of Chinese Red Army, two years later he joined the Chinese Communist Party. He participated in five Counter-Encirclement Campaigns, Long March, Battle of Pingxingguan, Liaoshen Campaign and Pingjin Campaign.

Wu Faxian
吴法宪
Wu Faxian in 1955
2nd Commander of the PLA Air Force
In office May 1965 – September 1971
Preceded by	Liu Yalou
Succeeded by	Ma Ning (vacant until 1973)
2nd Political Commissar of the PLA Air Force
In office 1957–1965
Preceded by	Xiao Hua
Succeeded by	Yu Lijin
Personal details
Born	(1915-08-25)25 August 1915 Yongfeng County, Jiangxi, China
Died	October 17, 2004(2004-10-17) (aged 89) Jinan, Shandong, China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party
Military service
Allegiance	China
Branch/service	Chinese Red Army  People's Liberation Army Ground Force  People's Liberation Army Air Force
Years of service	1930–1971
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese Civil War

In 1955 he was granted the military rank of lieutenant general. Wu was a subordinate of Lin Biao, in 1965 he became the commander of People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). After the failed coup by Lin Biao supporters, Wu was imprisoned as part of the post-Lin purges. In 1973, he was stripped of all titles and Party membership. In 1981 he was declared guilty as a member of the Lin Biao group and sentenced to 17 years in prison. However, due to good behavior and his past meritorious service, as well as ailing health, he was released later the same year when he was given a house, car and a monthly pension as his party membership and titles were restored. He was given a state funeral when he died in 2004 which was attended by many former subordinates as well as representatives from the PLA.^[1]

During the Cultural Revolution, Wu's closeness with Lin Biao resulted in suspicions among Chinese leadership as to the political loyalties of the PLAAF.^[2]: 182