Despite their retreat to Taiwan, the ROC Air Force (ROCAF) continued to launch bombings on Shanghai, leading to severe civilian casualties and the disruption of industrial activities.

The most devastating incident during this bombing campaign took place on 6 February 1950, when the ROC Air Force dispatched 14 bombers and 3 fighter planes to carry out an attack on Shanghai.

[2] This led to the suspension of operations at several factories and the destruction of key infrastructure, including the Yangshupu Power Plant and Shanghai Tramways.

The ROC government decided to prioritise the security of Taiwan and withdrew its forces from the Zhoushan Archipelago, losing its base for bombing operations against Shanghai.

The ROC army retreated to the Zhoushan Archipelago and other southeastern coastal islands, using its superior naval and air forces to launch frequent counterattacks against the mainland.

[6] The blockade policy implemented by the ROC government effectively sealed off the Yangtze River estuary, preventing production materials from entering Shanghai and plunging the city's economy into distress.

With the blockade proving effective and reducing the threat posed by the PLA to Taiwan, the ROCAF expanded the Zhoushan airfield and gathered aircraft in preparation for bombing raids on Shanghai and other eastern coastal cities.

[4] At this time, although the Third Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, comprising four regiments, had been deployed in Shanghai, the city's overall air defense capability remained weak.

[8]: 89  Prior to the air raid, the Yangshupu Power Plant was operating at full capacity with an output of 96,369 kilowatts,[8]: 91  accounting for over 80% of the total electricity supply within Shanghai.

Previously, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the facility had been occupied by Japanese forces and sold off cheaply under Wang Jingwei's administration, making it one of the most heavily plundered units in Shanghai.

[14]: 115–116  Although the primary targets of the air raid were power plants, the surrounding civilian population was severely affected, especially in the Songshan, Luwan, and Penglai districts.

Shanghai was plunged into darkness, and blackout measures restricted each household to just half an hour of electricity per day, allowing only one light bulb to be used.

In response, the Shanghai Municipal Government quickly implemented emergency measures to safeguard critical resources and ensure the safety of citizens.

Efforts were made to repair the damaged power infrastructure, and after 42 hours and 5 minutes of emergency work, the city was able to restore basic electricity supply.

[18][19] Due to the relatively weaker PLA Air Force compared to ROCAF at the time, the PRC government requested aerial support from the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union agreed to provide air defence assistance to Shanghai, but only under the condition that PRC sign a supplementary agreement to the treaty.

[20] In March 1950, at PRC invitation, a mixed air force group was established under the leadership of Soviet commanders Pavel Batitsky.

During the period from March to May of that year, four air battles occurred, in which Soviet aircraft shot down six ROCAF planes, forcing the ROC government to cease further attacks on Shanghai.

With no nearby airports for takeoff and landing, the ROC air force was no longer able to conduct large-scale airstrikes or harassments over Shanghai, marking the end of the larger-scale aerial battle for the city's airspace.

[22] Due to the need for ROCAF bombers to fly at high altitudes to avoid anti-aircraft fire, their bombing accuracy was generally low.

However, due to the blockade of maritime routes, the turbine had to be transported overland through the Soviet Union, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, taking over a month to complete its repairs before returning to Shanghai.

[31]: 3  During the Korean War, the front of the monument featured the words "Resist America, Aid Korea, Protect the Homeland," while the back carried a 300-character inscription commemorating the victims of the bombing.