Red Moscow

The next day just after dawn, the commander in charge of the airport in the north of the city called the headquarters and reported to Sameko who answered the phone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the roar of aircraft engines is coming from the air in the northeast direction. It should be that our fighter plane has arrived."

After listening to the other party's report, Sameko secretly rejoiced, but still maintained enough vigilance: "Comrade Captain, immediately order the security forces at the airport to enter the air defense state and be ready to fire at any time."

When the captain on the phone heard Sameko's order, he couldn't help being stunned: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it's our plane coming, why do we need to prepare for air defense?"

"Comrade Captain, you only heard the roar of the plane's engine, but you didn't see the plane." Sameko said with a solemn expression: "How do you know if the plane coming is from our army or the Germans? In a word In other words, it never hurts to be more vigilant."

"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." The captain replied loudly: "I will immediately issue an air defense alarm and let everyone enter their combat positions."

"Comrade Captain," Sameko was very satisfied with the captain's reaction, and finally said: "If it is confirmed that it is our army's fighter plane, guide them to land."

Regarding Sameko's cautiousness, Sokov did not say anything. Although the probability of enemy planes coming from the northeast is very low, it cannot be taken lightly. Fighter planes coming in from the northeast may cause considerable damage to the ground troops.

Seeing that Sameko was about to put down the phone, Sokov hurriedly said: "Chief of Staff, ask him to call us again after our plane lands smoothly."

"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sameko agreed, and then said to the commander at the airport: "After the plane lands smoothly, remember to call us."

After Managarov learned of the arrival of the plane, he also told him in his heart. He discussed with Sokov: "General Sokov, if the Germans attack the positions of the mechanized army again today, can you see if the air force can attack? Teach the Germans a lesson." He was afraid that Sokov would reject his proposal, and he added specifically, "Even if only a four-aircraft formation is dispatched, it can leave an unforgettable lesson for the Germans."

Sokov knew very well in his heart that although Konev put the 1st Solomatin Mechanized Army under his command, it was only temporary after all. Sooner or later they would return to the organizational system of the 53rd Army, so Managarov said It makes perfect sense to be nervous about them.

"Don't worry, Comrade General." Sokov didn't tell the truth, and replied with a smile: "Now the 1st Mechanized Army is my subordinate, and I will never let them suffer."

Ten minutes later, the airport commander called Sameko again. He said excitedly on the phone: "Reporting to Comrade Chief of Staff, the two squadrons sent by the Air Force have successfully landed at the airport."

"A smooth landing? That's really great." Sameko asked, "How many planes are there and what type of plane are they?"

The airport commander hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I'm not familiar with the planes, and I really can't name their models. But there are eight planes just arrived, four for attack planes and four for bombers."

"I see." Sameko nodded and told the airport commander: "Comrade Captain, let your people take good care of the pilot. At the same time, send someone to disguise the plane so that it will not be discovered by the German reconnaissance plane. "

"Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff." The airport commander replied: "We have arranged for the pilots to rest in a semi-underground shelter. As for the camouflage of the aircraft, I have also arranged for manpower to carry out."

"Good job, Comrade Captain." Sameko said into the microphone: "Protect the planes and don't let them suffer any damage. I will personally award you the medal as soon as the battle is over."

Knowing that Sameko would personally award him the honor, the airport commander couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Chief of Staff, I will definitely not disappoint your trust."

After putting down the phone, Sameko immediately reported to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, the airport commander reports that the two aircraft squadrons that have just arrived have a total of eight aircraft, including four attack aircraft and four bombers."

"Eight planes?!" Knowing that there were as many as eight new planes, Managarov couldn't help glancing at his eyes, and said to Sokov, "General Sukov, we have so many planes. , but you don’t have to worry about the enemy’s attack anymore.”

"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov nodded and said, "When the enemy starts shelling our positions, you can order the bombers to bomb the German artillery positions; when the Germans start their ground attack, the attack planes can attack the enemy again. tanks and armored vehicles, thereby weakening the enemy's offensive capabilities."

"Comrade Commander," Sameko asked tentatively after Sokov finished speaking, "Look, whether to send attack aircraft to patrol the air, so that we can attack the enemy in time after we find them."

"It's not necessary." Sokov shook his head and rejected Sameko's proposal, explaining to him: "The airport in the north of the city is no more than 40 kilometers away from the southernmost position of the landing site on the right bank. Wait for the enemy's offensive to start, and then let the air force Attack, there is still time."

"I think General Sokov is right." After Sokov finished speaking, Derevyanko echoed in time: "A fighter plane patrolling in the air needs to consume a lot of fuel, and it may also be attacked when the enemy appears. , just in case they ran out of fuel. Therefore, I think it’s better to let the plane stay on standby at the airport, anyway, it doesn’t take much time to rush from the airport to the battlefield.”

Seeing that Sokov and Derevyanko agreed, Sameko no longer insisted on his own opinion, but nodded and said: "Okay, Comrade Commander, then I will notify the airport later and let the Air Force fighters Stand by at the airport, and when the enemy starts to attack, it will not be too late to attack."

The German army didn't know that the Soviet army had fighter planes stationed in Klemenchug. Before the offensive began, they bombarded the Soviet army's positions with fierce artillery fire, trying to destroy the fortifications on the positions and consume more defenders.

Solomatin learned that his defense area was bombarded by German artillery, and immediately called Sokov for help: "Comrade Commander, the enemy's artillery is shelling our army's forward positions. I request artillery support. Artillery support." !"

"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Sokov said politely to Solomatin: "My artillery division is still in the Merefa Fortress, and I can't make it in a short time. I can't provide you with artillery support for the time being."

"Then what should we do?" Solomatin, who was rejected by Sokov, said desperately: "Our artillery is not as strong as the enemy's, and we will be suppressed by the enemy's artillery fire as soon as we fire. If it really doesn't work, I can only order tanks The brigade sorties out to clear the German artillery positions."

"Comrade General, I think the Germans have been guarding against you for a long time. Maybe your tank brigade will be bombarded by overwhelming shells as soon as it is dispatched." Sokov reminded Solomatin cautiously: "Before you get close to the enemy I’m afraid more than half of the artillery positions have already been killed. The remaining tanks, the Germans only need to dispatch a group of anti-tank fighters to destroy them.”

Just when Solomatin felt that he was speechless, he suddenly heard Sokov say: "But Comrade General, please rest assured that I will never watch the enemy bombard you without taking any action. I I will immediately order the air force to attack and let them bomb the enemy's artillery positions to relieve your pressure."

"Great, this is really great." Solomatin couldn't help being overjoyed when he learned that there was an air force to assist in the battle. After applauding repeatedly, he tentatively asked Sokov: "Do you need ground troops to command the attack target?"

"It's not necessary, Comrade General." Sokov replied carelessly: "Our pilots will find the German artillery positions."

After finishing the call with Solomatin, Sokov asked Sameko to notify the two squadrons to take off to attack the enemy's artillery positions and reduce the pressure on the mechanized army.

The artillery bombarding the position of the 21st Mechanized Brigade was the 150mm howitzer with the highest output in the German army. When a shell fell, it formed a crater about ten meters wide.

When the brigade commander saw this situation in his command post, his eyes were red with anger, and he kept cursing the damned German artillery, saying in his mouth: If I had a plane, I would blow up all your damned heavy artillery! Lose.

The whining brigade knew that the eight Soviet fighter planes parked at the airport on the north side of Klemenchug had already taken off one after another and were re-forming in the air, preparing to bomb the German artillery positions.

It took only a few minutes for the two flying squadrons to come over the German artillery position.

The first to dive is the attack squadron, which uses machine guns to shoot at the artillery on the position; then the slower bombers dive, and their attack target is the artillery that is firing.

The sky was clear at this moment, and in the eyes of the pilots with excellent eyesight, the German artillery on the ground was simply a target. There is no enemy plane intercepting in the air, and no anti-aircraft fire on the ground. Today's attack is no different from a target training. For these combat-experienced pilots, it is simply too easy to hit targets on the ground.

Aerial bombs landed on the artillery positions and exploded, smashing the cannons to pieces, throwing up the remains of the artillerymen, and scattered them like heavenly maidens into the mist woven of mud and smoke. . The trucks loaded with ammunition burst into flames under the machine guns of the assault aircraft, and the shock waves and shrapnel from the explosion tore apart the soldiers near the blast point.

Not long ago, the German artillery who were still bullying the commanders and fighters of the mechanized army suddenly became the fish on the cutting board of the Soviet Air Force and was slaughtered.

When the attack planes and bombers had run out of ammunition, the artillery positions on the ground had turned into a sea of ​​flames, and there was hardly a single moving figure. Seeing this scene, the pilots who completed the mission turned around and returned.

After receiving a report from the airport commander and learning that the air force had completely destroyed the German artillery positions, Sameko said excitedly. After the mood stabilized a bit, he asked tentatively: "Comrade Captain, you can ask the commander of the air force, can they dispatch again?"

"I'm sorry, Comrade Chief of Staff." Unexpectedly, the airport commander was silent for a few seconds after hearing this, and then replied, "I think they may not be able to attack for the time being."

"Why?"

"Comrade Chief of Staff, I just asked the commander of the air force." The airport commander replied: "Although they did not consume much fuel in the battle that just ended, all the ammunition they carried with them has been used up. They won't be able to strike again until new ammunition is resupplied."

"It turned out to be like this, and that's really a pity."

When Sokov learned that the air force was unable to attack again due to lack of ammunition, he was full of regret. He waited for Sameko to put down the phone, and quickly told him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please contact the logistics immediately and ask them to find a way to transport a batch of fuel and ammunition needed by the Air Force first."

After Sokov ordered Sameko, he turned his head to Managarov and others who were sitting at another table and said, "The air strike that just ended, let us understand that as long as we have the air supremacy on the battlefield, A party without air supremacy, no matter how powerful the ground forces are, can only be passively beaten."

"It's a pity that our troops are insufficient, and the number of fighter planes is too small." Derevyanko said with emotion: "If all the troops are in place and there are enough fighter planes to support us, we can launch a counterattack against the Germans. If If we're lucky, we might be able to expand the area of ​​the landing site."

"General Derevyanko," Sokov said with a smile to Derevyanko's statement, "Even if we have the ability to launch an offensive at this moment, we cannot blindly expand the landing field."

Sokov's words made Derevyanko puzzled: "Why, General Sokov?"

"The reason is very simple." Sokov said to Derevyanko: "If we expand the area of ​​​​the landing field, it means that we have to use more troops to hold it. But at present, our troops on the right bank, compared with the enemy , No matter in terms of strength or equipment, they are at an absolute disadvantage. If the strength of the troops is further dispersed, it is tantamount to restraining one's own hands and feet, unable to take the initiative to attack the enemy, and can only stay in the position and passively defend."

Seeing that Derevyanko seemed to want to argue with Sokov, Managarov raised his hand to stop him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Sokov is right. Under the current circumstances, even if we have the ability to expand the landing field We cannot take any action for the time being, otherwise the troops in our hands will become weak due to scattered defenses. If the Germans launch a fierce attack on us under such circumstances, do you think we can stop them?"

Derevyanko still respected Managarov very much. Hearing what he said, he replied in a low voice: "That must not be able to stop the enemy." After finishing speaking, he obediently closed his mouth and looked down. map in front of him to hide his embarrassment.

"General Sokov," Managarov suggested to Sokov, having tasted the sweetness of victory from the air raid that ended not long ago: "Look, can I ask General Goryunov to let He's sending more planes over so we can secure air superiority over the right bank landing field. If the Germans dare to attack, we can give them a hard time."