Guchakov didn't know that there was a bomber brigade stationed in the field airport that they destroyed. The flight brigade was originally scheduled to bomb the Derrensky factory after dawn. Unexpectedly, when the ground crew was still adding fuel and bombs to the bomber, they were unexpectedly attacked by rockets. The pilots living in the wooden house next to the runway, including a brigade and three squadron leaders, none of them survived.
The German troops, who were on guard nearby, rushed to rescue when they saw the airport attack and caught fire. However, because the fire was too fierce, they could not get close at all. They could only watch everything at the airport turned into ashes while reporting the attack on the airport to the Fourth Air Force Command.
Taflin, sitting on the armored vehicle, looked at the raging fire in the distance, and said excitedly to Guchakov: "Comrade Lieutenant, we should have killed all the planes in the enemy's airport, right?"
"That's right." Although he couldn't get close to the airport to count the results, Guchakov knew very well that all the planes parked at the airport must be done. He ordered the operator to sit next to him: "Send a report to the division headquarters that we successfully attacked a German airport behind the enemy and successfully destroyed more than 30 enemy planes parked next to the runway."
When Cidolin received the telegram, he looked at it for a moment and was shocked. He was afraid that he would read the wrong ones, so he quickly read the contents of the telegram twice. After confirming it, he quickly walked to Sokov and handed the telegram to him, while excitedly saying: "Comrade Commander, good news, Lieutenant Guchakov's squad attacked a field airport of the German army with rockets and destroyed all enemy planes in the airport."
After Sokov quickly browsed the contents of the telegram, he also smiled on his face: "Chief of Staff, this is really good news. He killed more than 30 German aircraft in an instant. It seems that the number of enemy aircraft bombing the factory area today will be greatly reduced." After saying that, he handed the telegram in his hand to Ivanov who was looking forward to it.
"Comrade Commander, this is an amazing result." Ivanov said excitedly after reading the telegram: "I suggest reporting to the Army Command immediately so that the commanders and the others will be happy."
Speaking of reporting the results of the battle to his superiors, Sidorin was silent. Seeing this, Sokov hurriedly asked: "Chief of Staff, what's wrong?"
"Realistically speaking, such a great result should be reported to the superior immediately." Cidolin said with some embarrassment: "But it is because the result is too great. If you want to report, you may need to verify first..."
"Verify, how to verify?" Ivanov immediately retorted unhappily when he heard Sidolin say this: "You know that the German field airport was nearly 100 kilometers behind the enemy. Even if we immediately sent people, it would take at least two days to get there. Moreover, whether the scouts we sent successfully through the enemy's defense zone during the day is still a big question."
"Comrade instructor," Sidolin did not want to have a dispute with Ivanov over this matter, so he could only turn his attention to Sokov: "Tell me, do we need to send someone to verify the results?"
"Although we have no troops except Guchakov's squad in that direction, it does not mean that other troops do not have one." Sokov said thoughtfully: "Maybe there will be a reconnaissance team directly under the Army Command that is active there. After we report, we can entrust them to complete the verification of the results."
"But what if there was no reconnaissance team from our army in that area?" Cidolin continued to ask.
"Even if there is no reconnaissance team, there are still guerrillas." Sokov said calmly: "I believe that the guerrillas operating behind enemy lines may have contact with the Army Command, and they can also help verify the results."
Hearing Sokov say this, Cidolin no longer insists on his opinion but asks tentatively: "Comrade Commander, who will report to the headquarters?"
"I'll do it." Sokov raised his hand and looked at the watch. It was already seven o'clock in the morning. Cuikov and Krelov should have started working. Moreover, the battle in the factory area had not started yet. The communications in the headquarters would not be too busy. It was the best time to report. Thinking of this, he asked the communications soldiers to help him answer the headquarters' phone number.
After the phone was connected, Krelov's slightly hoarse voice came from inside: "I am Krelov, where are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov quickly replied: "I am Colonel Sokov. I have important information and need to report to you and the commander immediately."
"Oh, important information?" Krelov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard Sokov say this, and then asked with interest: "Col. Sokov, do you have any good news to tell me?"
Trekov, who was lying on the table, heard Krekov say good news, and suddenly sat up straight, his eyes staring like a copper bell and said to Krekov: "Chief of Staff, ask him what good news is?"
Not only Cuikov was anxious, but Krelov was also anxious. The situation is getting worse and worse day by day. Everyone hopes to hear an exciting good news. He hurriedly urged into the microphone: "Col. Sokov, have you heard the commander's voice? He was eager to know what kind of good news you have brought us."
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a calm tone: "A few minutes ago, I received a telegram from Lieutenant Guchakov, saying that they had attacked a field airport behind enemy lines with rockets and successfully destroyed more than thirty planes parked in the airport..."
Krelov heard that the enemy-behind team destroyed more than 30 German planes, and his breathing immediately became rapid. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he couldn't wait to ask: "Col. Sokov, has the results of the battle been verified?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, after completing the attack mission, in order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, Lieutenant Guchakov immediately led his troops to transfer and was unable to count the results of the battle for the time being." Although Sokov knew in his heart that such a result was real, it was not recognized before being verified by his superiors. Therefore, he said cautiously: "I call you in the hope that you can send someone to verify the results of the battle."
"I'll send someone to verify the results?" Krelov said unhappily: "Where can we find someone to verify the results you have achieved?"
"Chief of Staff, give me the microphone." Trikov took the microphone from Krelov's hand and asked Sokov: "Col. I understand what you mean. You may think that there is a reconnaissance team we sent to be active in that area, right?"
After receiving Sokov's affirmative answer, Cui Kov continued: "It's a pity that several reconnaissance teams we operated behind enemy lines were all lost due to the enemy's encirclement. Therefore, we cannot send people to verify such results."
Cuikov's words made Sokov's heart sank suddenly. He thought that if the headquarters could not send someone to verify the results, then the results achieved by Guchakov and others might not be recognized. Once the results are not recognized, it may affect the morale of the team.
Just when he was frustrated, he heard Cuikov say rationally: "Col. Sokov, I believe you and your subordinates. I believe they will not make such a great result and deceive us. In this way, I will send someone to monitor the German communications to see if they have such a report of war damage. If so, I will admit this result as soon as possible; even if not, I will also want to send someone to verify it."
What Cuikov said later was equivalent to giving Sokov a reassurance. He nodded and said, "I understand, Comrade Commander, I'm waiting for your good news."
Trekov had just put down the phone and before he could speak, he saw that Krelov had called Colonel Yulin, the director of the communications corps. He grinned silently, and then ordered Yulin: "Comrade Colonel, we have just received a call from Colonel Sokov, the commander of the 41st Division of the Guards. He said that the squad he sent attacked the enemy's field airport behind the enemy and destroyed more than 30 enemy planes. You can arrange personnel immediately to monitor the German telecommunications and confirm whether there are any relevant telegrams."
"I understand." Yulin agreed, turned around and returned to the radio operator, and organized the personnel to monitor.
Looking at Yulin's busy back in the distance, Krelov lit a cigarette and asked Cui Koff: "Comrade Commander, do you think the results of Colonel Sokov reported are reliable?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I have just said on the phone. I believe Colonel Sokov and his subordinates, they will never make false claims on such a big deal." Cuikov reached out to take out a cigarette box from Krelov's pocket, took out one and held it in his mouth. He did not ignite it immediately, but continued to say: "A few days ago, this squad once attacked Gumlak Station, destroying a large amount of German military supplies, causing the enemy attacking the factory area to slow down the attack speed due to shortage of supplies. It is precisely because of this that I feel that the result of this battle may not be true."
Two hours later, just as Trekov and Krelov were busy, Colonel Yulin, with a happy face, appeared in front of them and reported excitedly: "The commander, chief of staff, has just intercepted a telegram from the German army about an attack on the airport."
Cui Kov, who was on the phone, didn't even have time to put down the microphone, so he reached out to Yulin and said repeatedly: "Hurry up and show me the telegram."
He received the telegram and quickly checked the contents above. It turned out that the German Fourth Air Force sent it to Paulus Command, saying that a field airport was attacked by the Russians this morning. Forty Ju87 dive bombers parked on the airport were destroyed. Ninety-three pilots, including a captain and three squadron captains, were all killed in the attack. The ground crews in the airport, except for a few who went out, were all killed.
Seeing the telegram, Cuikov put down his microphone, slapped the table suddenly, and said excitedly: "Chief of Staff, the results of the battle have been verified. The team sent by Sokov destroyed forty enemy planes and eliminated 93 German pilots during the attack. It was a great victory."
Since it was an intercepted German telegram, the content on it could not be fake. Krelov picked up the telegram and read it twice, then looked up and asked Cui Kefu for instructions: "Comrade Commander, this is an amazing victory. You see, do we need to report to the Front Command immediately?"
"Is this a big deal? Of course I will report it immediately."
While Krelov was waiting for the communications soldiers to connect the line, Cuikov was excitedly walking back and forth indoors. He tapped his palms from time to time and said, "If you can achieve such a great victory, the commanders and fighters involved in the attack should definitely be commended. I remember Sokov once reported to me that the commanders and Lieutenant Guchakov and Lieutenant Samoilov were commanded. They should not only receive a Red Flag Medal, but also have also been promoted..."
"I think I can give them one level of promotion..." Krelov's phone call was answered as soon as he was halfway through his words. He quickly said to the microphone: "I am Krelov, the Chief of Staff of the 62nd Army. Please help me find the commander. I have important information and I need to report to him immediately."
After a brief wait, Yelemenko's low voice came from the earpiece: "Hey, General Krelov, is there something bad happening in Stalingrad?"
"No, Comrade Commander." With good news like attacking the German airport at the bottom, Krelov was more confident in speaking: "I have good news to report to you."
"Good news?" Krelov's words surprised Yelemenko, and he hurriedly urged: "Let me quickly and listen."
"The team sent by Colonel Sokov attacked the German field airport more than 100 kilometers away." Krelov reported proudly: "Destroyed forty aircraft from a German Ju87 dive bomber brigade, eliminated 93 pilots, and killed ground crews on duty in the airport..."
Destroy forty German aircraft at one time and eliminated nearly a hundred pilots. Such a result is an amazing victory no matter what the circumstances are. After listening to Krelov's report, Yelemenko was silent for a long time before asking in surprise: "General Krelov, you just said that destroying the enemy's field airport and eliminating the troops of forty aircraft and ninety-three pilots is just a small team sent by Colonel Sokov?"
"That's right." Although Krelov knew that Yelemenko could not see it, he nodded vigorously and replied in a positive tone: "It was a small team sent by Colonel Sokov, with only thirty people. However, they carried a large number of new rockets, and they used rockets to carry out long-range attacks on the airport."
Yeliaomenko was silent for a moment again, then asked: "Have the results of the war been verified?"
Chapter completed!