The Soviet Union unified time across the country, and Moscow time was the only time.
Because of the time zone difference, Moscow can see the sun one hour earlier than Minsk.
Gorizodubova led her troops to take off at four o'clock in the morning, when the sun had already broken through the horizon. More than forty planes took off from Tula Airport, carrying a large amount of supplies, mainly ammunition, towards Lechica, Belarus.
direction, fly straight over.
"Attention, captains, we will fly to the combat zone in half an hour. Now, each aircraft will climb to 6,000 meters."
Gorizodubova was not actually worried about the German ground firepower, but this batch of supplies was so important to the friendly forces that any mistakes should not happen.
The pilots looked through the portholes affectionately at the earth six thousand meters below. The place more than two hundred kilometers west of Moscow was actually a war zone. The Soviet Union and Germany were at odds with each other, and there were hundreds of small-scale battles every day.
Both sides were temporarily unable to break through their opponents' defenses. Gorizodubova had no idea how long the Great Patriotic War would last.
Although the country has begun to mass-produce many new weapons and a large number of new troops have entered the battlefield, to achieve final victory, it must go through arduous battles.
This is more difficult than winning during the Soviet-Russian Civil War!
Gorizodubova was flying high in the sky, and she thought that she would sacrifice her life for the motherland in some way. If she could choose, the best way to die would be to shed blood in the sky and sacrifice her life for the country in the way of a pilot.
She is not afraid of sacrifice and is more concerned about the transportation of goods than her own life.
When the fleet arrived at the Soviet-German front, she finally received a telegram from friendly forces.
"101st Long Range Aviation Regiment, I am the 404th Fighter Regiment, answer received! Answer received!"
"I have received it. I am the 101st Long Range Aviation Regiment."
"Received! Our department has been ordered to participate in the escort. Our department will immediately meet with yours."
"Received! Our department agrees. Comrade, thank you for fighting side by side with you."
After a conversation, Gorizodubova, who was sitting in the lead plane, paid attention to the portholes on both sides. The fleet was just a lot of black spots in the sky. She could actually lead her troops to fly higher, in order to let the friendly forces discover and attack them earlier.
After reuniting, we only flew to an altitude of 6,000 meters.
Everything went very smoothly. Three squadrons, with a total of 36 La-5 fighter jets, successfully found her. The three squadrons presented a Z-shaped structure, distributed in the three corners of bombers and transport aircraft. A huge fleet of up to 82 aircraft,
With an unstoppable momentum, he headed towards Lechicha.
This operation is the largest military operation that Gorizodubova has undertaken since she became the commander of the regiment. Not only were there many escort fighters, but the total weight of the materials transported was also as high as 80 tons. The fleet could have carried more materials.
For the airdrop, considering the range of this operation, each crew carried a considerable amount of spare fuel, and the cargo load did not reach the limit.
As for the escort fighter La-5, they must also perform a long-distance escort for fighter jets.
The 404th Fighter Regiment received the facts about the presence of the German frontline airport in Gomel and some combat aircraft. For the safety of the bombers in this operation, the regiment made relatively full preparations.
The ammunition of each aircraft is quite sufficient, and a huge auxiliary fuel tank is also installed. Therefore, even if it is intercepted by the Germans, many fighters will have enough fuel to fight the enemy for at least 20 minutes! Of course, there is a possibility of being shot down in the battle.
.All pilots were told that once the plane was hit and could not be saved, they should fly towards the hinterland of the swamp and choose an opportunity to make an emergency landing or parachute. Because that was a guerrilla republic, a land that had never been occupied.
Therefore, the Soviet Army has already made plans to deal with the worst situation. All personnel in the entire fleet will even encounter enemy aircraft as a highly probable event.
However, the development of the war situation is always unexpected.
Our perspective shifts to the German army.
Thinking that it was an emergency air raid on the evening of July 19, Lechica was bombed into thick smoke, and the fire even dyed the western sky red. All the German defenders staying in Gomel could see this astonishing sight with their naked eyes.
scene.
At the same time, the German Koch Air Group was not immersed in the joy of the bombing victory.
"Gentlemen, we cannot defeat the enemy with bombs alone. After dawn tomorrow, we will continue to carry out air strikes. According to orders from our superiors, we will fight until the inventory of aerial bombs is used up."
Many pilots looked eager to try, and Koch's urging even made some militant guys impatient.
Because, up to this point in this battle, the counterattacking Soviet army has become the protagonist. In the city of Gomel, the Soviet guerrillas have already reached the city, and the troops have withdrawn their defense. There are even three battalions of officers and soldiers of the 722nd Division guarding the airport.
Everyone still cannot forget the tragedy that the airport was attacked by a small group of enemies, the fighter planes that ran aboard were massively damaged, and the pilots fled barefoot in pajamas. At first, everyone lacked confidence in the defenders of only three battalions, until
The air raid was successful and all doubts in my mind were gone.
The entire German army is shrinking tactically and seems helpless against the guerrillas that appear everywhere. The occupied Lechica has become a "bandit den". Who can annihilate the enemy on a large scale in this difficult situation? Of course it is the air force!
Koch believed that his troops seriously lacked excellent pilots, and if they were to engage in large-scale aerial dogfights with the enemy, they would be at a disadvantage.
Paul, currently the best pilot under his command, escaped to the defense line with a narrow escape and was quickly sent to Gomel. He suffered serious internal injuries, and it was a miracle that he survived. The city of Gomel was still quite safe, so he
He was just recuperating in the city. Regardless of whether he wanted to or not, he would never want to fly again for a long time. Except for some special moments.
The loss of a general made Koch a little depressed, but the troops simply carried out close-range air raid missions, which did not require pilots to make many complicated movements, as long as they dropped bombs.
Will we encounter Soviet fighter jets? How is it possible? The distance is too far!
As a result, the German army was preparing for an air raid at dawn at night, and their take-off time was set at five o'clock in the morning Belarusian time.
It was these five points that led to an encounter between the Soviet and German air forces in the air twenty kilometers west of Lechica!
The German army dispatched thirty fighter planes for this air strike, including twenty Junkers 87 dive bombers and ten FW190 fighter jets.
They were performing a bombing mission. The airborne machine guns were equipped with bullets, and the number was at a minimum. Including fighter jets, two 100kg aerial bombs were mounted in parallel on the belly mounting points, and the Junkers 87 carried even more.
The German fighter plane was carrying a heavy load, so it was a bit slow to take off.
Koch also got up very early. He and all the ground crew members personally supervised the takeoff of the aircraft under his command, looking forward to their triumphant return. His mood was actually very good. He even fantasized about the triumphant return of the fighter planes. He was in the air command headquarters.
, I also received congratulatory messages from my superiors and friendly forces, and I couldn't help but feel happy.
However, only twenty minutes after all the fighter planes took off, the air defense troops at the base suddenly noticed the commotion in the sky.
Koch's base has three anti-aircraft gun positions, each equipped with an air telescope. The anti-aircraft gunners with keen ears heard the low noise. They aimed their telescopes at the source of the noise and saw a lot of black spots!
After adjusting the focus again, they saw that it was nothing else but a large fleet of aircraft.
The entire aviation base sounded the alarm, and Koch, who was severely frightened by the sound of the alarm, hurriedly rushed outdoors.
"Who is it? Who sounded the alarm? Why did the alarm sound?!"
He questioned the left and right, and soon the deputy hurriedly reported: "Captain, it's the Soviet Air Force! They!" The deputy pointed to the sky, "Listen carefully. In addition to the sirens, there are also the roars of planes."
"It's...what a hell!"
Koch stamped his feet several times and led everyone into the air command center.
Because the distance is very close, the signals are extremely clear when communicating with our own fleet in plain language.
However, by the time Koch grabbed the walkie-talkie and issued a warning to his squadron commanders about enemy aircraft, it was already too late.
The Soviet aircraft group flew high, but the overall speed was relatively slow. As it was about to arrive at Lechica, Gorizodubova had already issued an order for each aircraft to slowly lower its altitude, so that the aircraft group finally reached an altitude of only about two thousand meters in the city.
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At this moment, Lechicha was still filled with thick smoke, and the black smoke became the most obvious target. All the Soviet pilots were shocked by the sight before them, and even worried that there were no more people alive in the city.
Suddenly, everyone no longer had to worry about whether there were live people to receive the airdropped supplies. The captain of the escort fighter fleet sent Gorizodubova the alarm she least wanted to hear: "At seven o'clock below, over three thousand
meters, the German aircraft fleet was discovered. Our troops immediately launched an attack!"
Before Gorizodubova could react, thirty-six La-5s entered the battle formation and dived at an angle of 45 degrees.
The position of the German aircraft group was in front of the Soviet army, and the La-5's swooping attack gave them a preemptive advantage.
Unlike the German army, 60% of the pilots in the Soviet 404th Fighter Aviation Regiment had combat experience. No matter how many German fighter planes they shot down, at least they all successfully performed dogfights and survived.
During World War II, many pilots lost their lives due to various reasons when they first participated in the war. This was especially true for the Soviet Union's pilots!
However, the pilots of these La-5 fighter jets have two 20mm cannons that provide powerful firepower, but the aircraft is more difficult to control than the previous La-3.
The Soviet pilots were condescending and fired first with their aircraft cannons.
In the first round alone, which was also the most critical first round, five of the thirty German fighter planes were hit and fell down in thick smoke!
Gorizodubova paid attention to the battle situation below, and she was shocked.
"This...this is the real air battle!"
The captain of the lead plane was focused on the airdrop mission: "Captain, we are about to arrive at Lechica, please prepare."
"Okay! Bombardier, prepare to open the magazine. Others, check the packaged parachute one last time."
Afterwards, Gorizo Dubo picked up the intercom: "Captains, check all equipment and prepare to release cargo!"
The Soviet transport aircraft group did not encounter any obstruction. In the dogfight on the other side of the battlefield, the Soviet fighter pilots quickly realized that the German fighter planes they discovered were not directed at the transport aircraft at all.
Some people with keen eyes noticed the bitten Junkers 87, especially the pile of bombs mounted on its belly.
Therefore, the pilots of the 404th Fighter Regiment could be sure that this group of German troops was actually carrying out a bombing mission against Lechica.
"Comrades, we are really in luck! The Germans are going to bomb Lechica, let us completely annihilate them!"
The commander of the 404th Regiment issued an order for all-out combat. Each fighter jet abandoned its auxiliary fuel tanks and started a dogfight.
As far away as the Leningrad region, the Soviet army equipped with the first batch of La-5s had already started a battle with the German Air Force in early July. Their opponent was the main force of the German army, FW190. In that battle, the two sides were evenly matched.
However, today's battle is the first encounter between the two fighter jets in Belarus.
After all, the Germans were almost unprepared for dogfights in the air, and once the battle started, the comparison between the two armies became thirty-six Soviets versus twenty-five Germans. Not to mention that more than half of the Germans were dive bombers who were not good at dogfights.
The war situation was unfavorable for the German army from the beginning.
The three German squadron captains shouted angrily to their superiors: "We have suffered heavy losses! A large number of our fighter planes have crashed. Please return! Please return!"
Koch heard the lamentations of a large number of frontline pilots, and their attitudes were surprisingly unanimous - return home quickly.
The German Air Force stipulates that fighter jets can actively avoid combat when they think it is unfavorable. Due to the unexpected situation encountered by the troops, Koch quickly issued an order to cancel the mission and urgently ordered all fighter jets to return home.
Of course, what Koch had to do was not just this. Immediately afterwards, the entire base was mobilized, including the garrison infantry. Even the rifles had to be pointed in the air. He knew that the emergency return of the fighter plane would attract wolves into the house, so he must be prepared for air defense.
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However, it is a pity that the order was already a little late.
After only ten minutes of fierce fighting, the Koch Air Group was on the verge of being destroyed in name only. All the Junkers 87s that took off were like a slow-flying powder keg because of their slow speed and the large number of bombs they carried.
Three Junkers 87s were actually destroyed by La-5s, and their mounted bombs exploded, turning them into huge and spectacular fireworks in the sky.
All Junkers 87s were shot down, and the Germans retreated with only eight FW190s.
Of course, the Soviet army also lost three fighter planes. They were hit by FW190 and crashed on the ground. The pilots died heroically.
In any case, the air battle lasted for fifteen minutes, and the commander of the 404th Fighter Aviation Regiment took the initiative to order a halt to the battle after considering the fuel problem.
The wonderful dogfight air battle has basically come to an end. The battle lasted only fifteen minutes. To be honest, there were not many exciting scenes of the pilots of both sides showing off their flying skills. The sky was filled with dazzling smoke trails caused by the water vapor disturbed by the wingtip airflow.
, to swear that an air battle once took place here.
"Notice! The 101st Long Range Aviation Regiment, our unit has defeated the invading German army. However, the fuel reserves are insufficient. Our unit will return early. Complete."
"Received. On behalf of everyone in the 101st Long Range Aviation Regiment, I would like to pay tribute to the 404th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Next, our unit will carry out its mission effectively. Thank you for your escort! Goodbye!"
In fact, Gorizodubova still hopes that they can continue to escort, and she is also very aware of the contradiction between fuel and range. Her fleet has arrived over Lechica, and the bomb bays or hatches of each aircraft have been opened, waiting for her
The release order has been issued.
"Finally, I'm here. Comrade Berekov, please accept my gift. I hope the comrades on the ground can hold on to Lechica for a long time and don't let the city be taken away by the German army."
Gorizodubova breathed a sigh of relief. She regained her serious expression and commanded all the captains on the intercom: "Now! Release!"