 The engine of the fighter wouldn't start and with the bombs falling closer, the ground crew, deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, left the aircraft to take cover.Chasing after them, Gao brought them back at the point of his service revolver to help him start the engine but lost his life when a bomb exploded alongside the aircraft.At the time of his death, Gao had claimed 4 biplane victories, these being claimed while flying the Curtiss Hawk III.