Cao Shuangming

Cao Shuangming (; August 1929 – 23 July 2019) was a fighter pilot and general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). He fought in the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, and the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, and served as commander of the PLAAF from 1992 to 1994.

Early life and Civil War Cao was born in August 1929 in Linzhou, Henan, Republic of China. He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in 1946 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in the same year. During the Chinese Civil War, he fought in the Huaihai campaign, the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, and other battles.

Upon graduation, Cao was appointed a squadron leader in the 16th Air Force Division. In 1953, he was dispatched with his division to North Korea to fight in the Korean War.

Second Taiwan Strait Crisis During the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, Cao served as deputy commander of the 48th Regiment of the 16th Division, based at Jinjiang Air Base. On 3 October 1958, he led a group of four fighter jets, with himself piloting a MiG-17, to intercept a group of 24 Taiwanese US-made C-46 transporters that were supplying the island of Kinmen. When the PLA restored its military ranks in 1988, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general. and was promoted to full general in 1993. and replaced by Yu Zhenwu in November 1994.

Cao was a member of the 14th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He was a delegate to the 6th, 7th, and 9th National People's Congresses.

Cao died on 23 July 2019 in Beijing, at the age of 89.