Iron Cross

Helen and the sergeant exchanged positions. Now she was the main guide. She quickly adjusted her breathing, suppressed her excitement, and began to give orders in a calm tone: "Attention, No. 5 aircraft, the enemy aircraft is heading 170... Now heading 160, the target altitude is 4700 meters."

"Huh?" The other party was a little surprised that the female voice suddenly changed to guide. He was stunned for a moment, and then replied "Received" after hesitating for a moment. Originally, the pilot's voice could only be heard by the guidance team through headphones to avoid mutual interference, but Colonel William, who fully understood what Hoffman was going to do, quickly asked the communication office to spread the sound through the radio. Now the whole hall could hear Captain Becker's answer, in addition to the roar of the engine and the noise of the electric current. Speer felt that it sounded a little uncomfortable, but the military-born entourage was. Marshal Keitel quietly gave the colonel a thumbs up and appreciated his cleverness. Colonel William, who received the signal, was flattered. He was in his forties, but he was as excited as a private who had just joined the army yesterday.

"Turn left 15 degrees."

"Got it." Captain Becker's answer was very straightforward, and the adjustment was completed immediately. Hoffman looked more carefully. After a moment, the route representing the blue light spot on the chart gradually shifted, forming an angle with the enemy's track.

"Turn left 10 degrees."

"Got it, asking for the target distance."

"8 kilometers."

"Okay."

"Turn left 10 degrees, maximum speed."

"Got it."

"Distance 6 kilometers."

"Slow down." Seeing that the enemy plane's speed had dropped a little, Helen glanced at the instructor's hand-drawn track map and realized that maintaining the original speed might allow the interceptor to rush in front of the bomber, so she decisively gave the deceleration order.

"Received."

"Continue to slow down, the target is 5 kilometers away."

"Received."

"Turn on the airborne radar, the target is 4 kilometers away."

"Received." Becker notified the navigator on the same plane in time, and then there was a sound of keys and electricity, and the airborne radar was finally turned on.

Through Kamhubel's introduction, Hoffman and others learned that night fighters are generally equipped with airborne radars called "Akashi" B/C. This radar was promoted and used with the support of Major General Maldini, the head of the Air Force Communications Department (who has no substantial relationship with the Italian Maldini football family). Its operating frequency is 409MHz, the maximum detection distance is 4KM, and the minimum detection distance is 200M; the antenna consists of 4 antenna poles on the nose of the aircraft, each with an "X"-shaped frame antenna at the top, forming 4 vertical double dipoles, and there is also a small fairing at the top of the antenna pole for protection. In the cockpit, the radar provides the pilot with 3 ray tubes, which can read the distance, approximate direction and altitude of the enemy aircraft respectively. It looks very simple and its use range is pitifully small, but it represents the latest achievement of the Third Reich in the field of electronics.

"The target is 4,600 meters high and 3 kilometers away."

"Received."

"The target is 1.5 kilometers away. Make sure you are behind the target, heading in the same direction, with a height difference of 100 meters." Through constant route and speed adjustments, Helen always ensures that Captain Becker's interceptor follows the track of the bomber formation.

"Received, the radar of this machine has also intercepted the target." Kamhubel was greatly relieved after hearing this news. It is the most difficult to detect enemy aircraft at night. Now not only the ground radar, but also the airborne radar has captured the target, which basically means that the British can't run away.

"I have found the target visually, 4 large aircraft... 4 launches... It seems to be Lancaster." Becker is now close to the position 350 meters behind the Robinson formation. At this distance, the enemy aircraft can basically be observed with the naked eye by moonlight, and the enemy aircraft does not seem to have observed him, and his tone is gradually getting excited.

"Launch an attack immediately!" Helen's order is very clear and decisive.

"Please wait!" Becker answered very straightforwardly, and made a climbing action in the pilot's plane, raising the nose upward, and approaching the distance to about 250 meters. "Bang, bang, bang!" The four MK

151 aircraft cannons began to roar, and continuous 20mm ammunition mixed with tracer bullets from the four 7.92mm machine guns on the nose poured out. Although the 7.92mm machine guns had little deterrent power against the Lancaster, the synchronous firing of tracer bullets could effectively indicate the shooting target.

The sound of shooting was particularly clear on the radio, and the whole hall was filled with the roar of machine guns or machine guns. Although they didn't know what the battle situation was, everyone's attention was focused on it. Time was passing by minute by minute. Although only 30 seconds had passed, everyone felt as if it was more than 2 hours, and they were anxiously waiting for the battle results. Colonel William and Lieutenant General Kamhuber's faces were flushed, and they couldn't help cheering for Captain Becker in their hearts.

"Hit... hit!" Becker's ecstatic voice suddenly came over the radio, "An enemy plane is crashing."

As if to verify his words, the radar controller simultaneously reported the news: "A target has left the formation, and the altitude is rapidly decreasing, 4,500 meters, 4,000 meters..."

Garland smiled and nodded to Hoffman, expressing his approval of Becker's statement - this kind of rapid falling data is by no means a normal dive, and it must have fallen. There was warm applause in the hall, and even Hoffman was applauding. Colonel William and Lieutenant General Kamhuber clapped especially hard. It was not easy, but we finally achieved results in one night. Although General Jeshunek smiled reservedly, he was thinking in his heart that when the captain who saved face fell to the ground, he must be rewarded well.

It only took a short minute to shoot down the first enemy plane. Captain Becker, who was still not satisfied, seized the opportunity to attack the second plane. Now that Robinson and others had reacted, they called on the formation members to increase their speed to the maximum and carry out the attack. While making crazy evasive maneuvers, they launched a fierce counterattack. The three Lancasters' rear-firing machine guns fired dense bullets and fiercely rushed towards the night fighter. If you could stand on the ground and observe at this time, you could see a line of bullets. Lightning filled the sky.

As an ace pilot with 29 kill records and a Knight's Cross medal, Captain Becker obviously would not be intimidated by this level of counterattack firepower. He calmly observed that two of the three enemy planes were It was diving downwards, but one of them actually chose to climb upwards, either because the action had not been completed yet or because it was in a hurry and chose the wrong response. This was obviously an inexperienced novice, and a trademark smile appeared on his lips, which is the expression he often has after catching prey. "It's you." He climbed up without hesitation, and opened fire with short bursts of machine gun fire. Past experience told him that this kind of firepower was useless against Lancaster, but it could exert sufficient damage on the opponent. Mental pressure successfully interfered with its maneuvers. As expected, the climbing Lancaster was probably in a panic. In order to avoid the incoming machine gun fire, it actually dared to rock left and right to escape while climbing.

This fatal move announced the end of him. When he mistakenly thought he had escaped the pursuit and tried to level off, Becker waited for the opportunity to get close and shoot, instantly hitting the fuel tank on the right wing of the opponent's aircraft. This huge Lan aircraft The Kester immediately burst into flames, becoming the brightest torch in Berlin's night sky. By the light of the fire, Becker discovered that the crew members were parachuting one after another. He did not frantically attack the enemies who had parachuted. This was an extremely unchivalrous act. After he was convinced that the enemy plane was out of control, he simply informed the ground. : "Hit the second enemy plane, which is on fire. The crew successfully parachuted out and can go to capture the prisoners."

After the news came out, there was thunderous cheers in the hall, and everyone was beaming with joy. Kamhuber, who had been tortured by the anti-aircraft gun emplacement all night, showed a look of relief and waved his fist fiercely.

"The remaining targets were lost." When Becker turned back to look for the other two planes, he found that they could not be found. The navigator told him that the Akashi radar on the plane could not receive any information, but he firmly believed that the two planes had escaped. No.

"Target 1: Altitude 3,900 meters, heading 285, distance 10 kilometers; Target 2: Altitude 3,500 meters, heading 195, distance 9 kilometers." In her anxiety, Helen promptly transmitted the ground radar information.

Becker frowned as he listened to the enemies who were obviously running away in two directions. This basically meant that he could only choose one target to track. He thought for a moment before responding, "Copy that, I'm chasing target 2."

"Target 1 is handed over to Unit 3." Seeing that Kamhuber was still immersed in joy, Colonel William immediately deployed the follow-up command. At the same time, in order to prevent the two conductors from interfering, the other conductor's signal was not connected. The hall broadcast. This order was approved by the lieutenant general and was quickly implemented.