Chapter 1647 Flying proudly towards Homnic Airport
The paratroopers were arranged to a warehouse. They leaned on mountains of winter cotton-padded clothes and wrapped themselves in the stalls they brought, and slept until two o'clock in the morning.
Only the company commander named Semyonov, Gorizodubova had a strong curiosity about him and his troops.
"Sit down, this is my temporary command office, please don't mind."
The company commander really didn't mind. He was in Tula at the moment, and his mind had already flown to Belarus. Among the combat troops of the 4th Brigade, only Semyonov's battalion did not participate in the Rzhev infiltration operation. In this case, survival was a disadvantage.
It's a shame, because the 4th Brigade should be a whole. If our comrades are caught in a hail of bullets, how can the people in the rear feel at ease?
Finally, the situation changed significantly.
Semyonov sat down, drank a glass of hot water, and felt much calmer.
Gorizodubova leaned forward and said solemnly: "I just learned that your troops are going to Belarus. It's amazing that your entire company will be sitting in the cabin."
"Specifically, the mission we received was for all the officers and men of the 4th Parachute Brigade to be stationed in the Partisan Republic in the Pripet Swamp, just like our friendly Parachute Brigade."
"Oh, I never thought it would be like this." Gorizodubova's eyes widened, "Maybe, after I send you to your destination, I will continue to send people away until you are a group, well, it should be
There are two thousand people, send them all."
"No! There should be only a thousand people. Perhaps you don't know that our 4th Brigade suffered heavy casualties in the battle in July. On the contrary, the brigade that landed early made many achievements in the battle in July. My superiors adjusted the strategy. It seems that
The Second Army of the Airborne Army to which we belong will land on a large scale in the Guerrilla Republic and will be under the command of the local 6th Army. To be honest, I am full of expectations for the future."
Gorizodubova saw only excitement on this man's face, as if he was not going to fight, but on vacation.
Maybe this is the spirit of fearlessness? Or are they born adventurers?
"You...are you really not afraid of death?"
"Death?" Semenov shook his head, "Everyone will die. Whether it is to live quietly until old age, or to die vigorously for a great cause, of course I choose to sacrifice for the country. Besides, paratroopers are born to be surrounded.
Since we have become paratroopers, we have to go into the most dangerous situations. Haha, I think the enemy should be careful about their necks, our daggers are extremely sharp."
"Okay, I hope you will always be optimistic. But my first task is to bring back Lieutenant General Berekov, the commander of the 6th Army who has won many battles."
"I know this man!" Semyonov raised his head excitedly, "I really envy the guys in the brigade. They have been winning battles under the leadership of a tactical genius. I also know that General Berekov is still
An inventor, my company is equipped with some rocket-propelled grenades that he improved."
After all, the essence of RPG is a recoilless rifle, which is a super-caliber recoilless rifle that has been modified by magic. Throughout the 1930s, the Soviet Union's research in this area was still in the exploratory stage. The sudden appearance of Yang Mingzhi instantly solved many problems that troubled scientists.
By the second half of 1944, because RPGs had excellent tactical advantages in street fighting, their production began to increase significantly and they were directly used in street fighting in Stalingrad.
But after all, Yang Mingzhi is a foreigner who became a citizen of the Soviet Union. In terms of propaganda, various departments deliberately ignored this point. On this issue, they only explained that "this weapon was improved by General Berekov of the Guards Division." Only
Some elite troops knew what kind of strange person Berekov was.
"To be honest, I am very curious about General Berekov! And you, the well-known heroic pilot comrade."
"Are you talking about me?" Gorizodubova couldn't help but blink her big eyes. What woman wouldn't be happy to be praised by a handsome man?
"Yes, it's you. I'm very honored to join your team. You have flown to Pripet Swamp many times, and only you can safely perform this mission."
"Of course, it's my job to carry out long-distance flights across the front lines."
The two chatted for a while and got to know each other better. They were Red Army soldiers from different branches, and they all fought for this war.
Can flying across the battlefield and reaching the target really avoid any possible interception by enemy aircraft? Gorizodubova was not completely sure. Looking at the confident look of the company commander, she did not say a word of unlucky words.
But in her heart, she couldn't help imagining a terrifying scene, in which a fleet of aircraft flew in formation like wild geese to the Pripet Swamp where migratory birds overwintered. They were intercepted by the Germans on the way, and a transport plane crashed with black smoke.
Although the soldiers in the cabin were all paratroopers, this time they did not bring parachutes at all, and there was no possibility of their survival when they stalled and fell!
Really, only the bravest people will participate in this "Operation Wild Goose".
The agreed departure time was four in the morning, and at two in the morning, the entire military airport began to sound the assembly signal.
There are quite a few personnel at the airport who are not involved in this operation, not even the ground handling services. But they have to wake up, not because of the noisy horn, but because of the roar of the plane taking off later, and no one can sleep peacefully.
All the crew members and paratroopers on the mission got up early, got dressed quickly, and rushed to the airport canteen to have their last meal before the operation.
"Perhaps, this is my last supper? Any action is risky, but I hope I can be safe."
Gorizodubova closed her eyes, clasped her hands in her fists, and prayed silently in her heart. Her strange look happened to be seen by Semyonov, who was full of self-confidence.
Semyonov came over with pieces of bread and said with his tongue: "I don't think you still believe in God? I was baptized by a priest when I was born, but now I think that is just superstition."
"I'm really praying that we won't encounter enemy aircraft during the operation, and that we'll be lucky enough."
Semyonov shrugged: "As psychological comfort, your prayers are somewhat necessary. But I believe even more that the rotatable turret on the top of your transport plane can destroy the enemy plane with just one hit of the cannon, while any aircraft has
Two aircraft cannons. So armed, I’m not worried.”
…
So, Semyonov was really not worried? Bah! His company was suddenly transferred to the military airport in Tula, and he crammed in some information.
In the past, air operations in support of the swamps have always resulted in aircraft being destroyed.
As a man, it is natural that he should show his bravery and strength in front of women, even if it is just pretending. Moreover, this Gorizodubova is a hero of the Soviet Union. Due to his inferiority complex, Semyonov deliberately acted a little conceited.
When he boarded a transport plane, he gave strict orders to the soldiers who were fully armed and neatly sitting on both sides of the cabin. He changed his confident look and directly described a terrifying scene to his subordinates, that is, Gorizodubova was also very
Worrying fall.
"Comrades, we did not bring parachutes on this trip, and we are not performing an airborne mission. Wish us good luck! We will not encounter enemy planes and land safely."
"Ula!"
The soldiers roared to boost their morale. Immediately afterwards, the two huge transport planes started to make a deafening roar. Even if they roared loudly, they would be drowned by the noise.
It is already four o'clock in the morning, the sky is gradually turning blue, and the sun is about to rise.
The morning was chilly, in stark contrast to the scorching heat of the aircraft engines.
Ten transport planes lined up in two columns, all engines roared collectively, and with the lead plane of the team leader Gorizodubova taking the lead in taking off, the action began.
They formed a "wild goose" formation and flew toward the southwest. Because they had to fly back and forth with a heavy load, flying in the "wild goose" formation was a good way to save fuel. And because they were going from the north to the relatively warm south, they really looked like migratory birds.
of migration.
However, creatures like wild geese must always keep an eye on the attack of eagles when flying. They have to go higher to avoid them, so the fleet has been climbing crazily after taking off, and stabilized at an altitude of nearly 6,000 meters.
When they flew to the Soviet front line in Vyazma, a radio message that kept repeating reached Gorizodubova's ears.
"Dayan! Dayan! I am a golden eagle! Repeat! I am a golden eagle! Repeat!"
"I am a wild goose! I am a wild goose! Repeat!"
"Golden eagle received! Attention geese! Three aviation squadrons have seen you, stay calm! Repeat!"
The Soviet army did not dare to allow ten-mile transport planes to cross the battle line in a grand manner. Perhaps the appearance of one plane did not require the Germans to mobilize to stop it. But there were as many as ten planes, which was already a large number. The Germans were not stupid, although they did not know that the Soviet army
What the hell, let such a large number of enemies fly overhead, the Germans wouldn't do that.
The most dangerous part of the voyage was crossing the front line of the fiercest fighting between the Soviet Union and Germany!
During the Battle of Gomel, the 404th Aviation Regiment provided good support to the 101st Long-Range Aviation Regiment in its support operations against the Lechica garrison. A large number of La-5 fighter jets even fought with the German Air Force garrison in Gomel.
The air battle can be described as a massacre of the German army!
The main job of the 404th Aviation Regiment is to join the brutal battle with the German Air Force for air supremacy. Large-scale ground operations have basically been suspended, but the air combat is still fierce. The three squadrons of the regiment, namely thirty-six brand-new La5
The fighter jets, with their huge auxiliary fuel tanks, began to join the "Goose" operation.
Starting from Vyazma, Gorizodubova no longer walks alone, and the fighter jets will continue to escort them until everyone can see the Dnieper River. The fighter jets all return.
Including fighter jets, the Soviet army's mighty air force reached a total of forty-six military aircraft!
This is not a small number. Since the German frontline troops did not have radar, they still used the huge ear-shaped equipment invented during World War I to detect aircraft noise in the air.
The German officers and soldiers who got up early entered the front-line trenches to hold on as usual, and anti-aircraft artillery units entered the positions one after another. As the air scouts cleaned their ears, they could still hear terrifying noises, and the air raid warning was directly transmitted to Model's rear headquarters.
The German army reacted quickly. Fighters from two squadrons took off first and flew towards the direction of the noise.
The ground anti-aircraft firepower also began to fire at the approximate location, firing 88 rounds at a time in the air.
These cannonballs cut through the air rapidly, and the strong pressure compressed the water vapor in the air into mist. The cannonballs were so fast that they were invisible to the naked eye, but the mist turned into a faint wake.
The anti-aircraft range of the 88 gun can reach 10,000 meters, so Gorizodubova's formation is still very dangerous when flying at 6,000 meters.
She calmly picked up the walkie-talkie: "Attention all crews, immediately raise the altitude to 7,000 meters!"
For an aircraft like this, it is most practical to cruise in an airspace of 6,000 meters. It is possible to continue climbing, but because the air becomes thinner, the fuel cannot be fully burned, which is a waste of precious fuel.
In order to save her life, she no longer cares about so much and must take risks temporarily!
It was really cold at an altitude of 7,000 meters. Semenov, who was sitting calmly, felt chills and began to find it difficult to breathe again. He saw that the crew members had already put on oxygen masks. Poor
The paratroopers had to continue to endure.
Through the crazy climb of Soviet transport planes, even the excellent 88mm anti-aircraft guns of the German army were unable to hit a target seven thousand meters away by using shells with pure inertia.
In the airspace of 3,000 to 4,000 meters, the great drama of the battle between the La5 and the F190 was staged. The German army sent two squadrons to participate in the battle, and the Soviet army also had two squadrons. However, the battlefield was not far from the Soviet defense line. When the intelligence of the exchange of fire
Reached the 404th Aviation Regiment headquarters, it triggered a chain reaction.
The sky was full of strange clouds like cotton threads. They were clouds and mist created by the airflow at the wing tips. The dogfight between the two sides was extremely fierce. Countless clouds and mist gathered together to form an extremely huge ball of thread.
The improved F190 has a faster speed, and its armament has also increased. The German air combat capabilities have been strengthened, and the Soviet army is by no means a weakling. Especially in the three-thousand-meter dog fight, the technical performance of the La5 is at its peak!
Twenty-four La-5 fighters from two more squadrons were rushing to assist. Taking advantage of the stalemate in the decentralized airspace, the transport aircraft formation flew away from the war zone under the escort of the only fighter jet.
Gorizodubova breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of her prayer a few hours ago.
"I hope not to encounter enemy planes, but encounters are almost inevitable. That person is right. In this case, I should trust the heavy machine gun in the top turret."
She calmed herself down and tried to calm her racing heart.
She picked up the walkie-talkie again and asked each crew about the casualties. Fortunately, all crews were unscathed.
What's even more amazing is that she even heard Semyonov's voice in the earphones.
"Oh, dear comrade, we just seemed to be standing on the roof of the world. Not only is it cold there, but the air is also very thin! You are truly a hero who flew to Kamchatka. You actually flew the transport plane to the ultimate height of seven thousand meters. You are so
Does the desire have to be higher?”
The man still looked proud and proud, but judging from his trembling tone, he put many paratroopers through a lot of trouble during the ten minutes of cruising at 7,000 meters.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud. Since the guy was speaking on the same frequency, ten crew members could hear it, so she followed suit and said with a smile: "Yes! We are the Air Force! Fly high! Fly high! Fly higher!"
Immediately afterwards, many captains heard their superiors singing the famous "Stalin Air Force March". The appeal of the song was unparalleled. Everyone believed that it was because they had to be higher to fly continuously at high altitudes, mocking the German air defense.
The inferiority of the cannon.
Even when the captain of the LA-5 fighter squadron who was the only one accompanying him turned on the radio again, what he heard was Gorizodubova's beautiful singing voice and her praise for the Air Force.
They sang songs and flew proudly towards Homnage Airport. (To be continued)