When I think of the "tragic experience" that almost cost me my life, I can't help but shake my head.
At the beginning of the war, Rudel, who was just starting out and had never had any actual experience in ground attack, was just like the young German pilot in front of him. He had an extremely contemptuous attitude towards the inferior Soviets claimed by the German propaganda agency.
But there are some things that can only be repented of and repented of after one has personally experienced them.
Nowadays, Rudel no longer dares to neglect the ground anti-aircraft firepower of his opponent Soviet Army. Rudel, who has personally experienced death passing by him, firmly believes that the goddess of fate will never favor the same person all the time. He can only face himself.
Only the opponent's true strength can ultimately survive this cruel war. Rudel himself is convinced of this conclusion.
Looking at the young pilot in front of him who still had a playful smile on his face and didn't take the battle seriously at all, he couldn't help but shook his head. Rudel, who was usually a talkative, laughing and joking person in his free time, was now about to fight with someone like him.
At the critical moment when the Soviets clashed again, they couldn't laugh no matter what.
Rudel, who did not want the mistakes he had made and everything he had experienced to happen again to his comrades, took a step forward with a sigh.
"Felix, don't despise those Soviets too much. Although I don't look down on their ideology and the crappy Bolshevik regime, these Russians are indeed better than what we have experienced before.
Any opponent is too strong."
"If you don't want to die in the Russian sky, you'd better put away your self-righteousness. I don't want to attend your memorial ceremony after the mission is over. Do you still remember how Ebel died last month? The entire plane
When it hits the ground, it won't even destroy the parachute, but it will turn into a ball of fire along with the bomb. I don't think you are expecting this kind of result, right?"
Rudel's proactive persuasion was obviously unexpected and a bit unexpected. The young pilot was smacking his lips and moving up and down, but still didn't know how to respond. He was stunned for a long time and was speechless.
Reminiscent of the scene in Rudel's mouth of the German pilot named Ebel, who plunged his plane into the Soviet position and turned into a fireball. At that time, he was flying his plane soaring in the low altitude of 800 meters.
Witnessing all this with his own eyes, the young pilot couldn't help feeling frightened and swallowed his saliva.
"I thought...I thought it was because Ebel's own driving skills were not up to par. Didn't everyone always say that he was a skipper who sneaked out of the aviation school? Is it really because of the Soviets?"
The idiotic words spoken by the young pilot whom Rudel called Felix were obviously very unpleasant to listen to.
A group of German pilots who were laughing and chatting around them immediately stopped talking after hearing this. Second Lieutenant Eber, who graduated from the aviation school among the top ten in the same period, was definitely considered an elite even if he was not an ace.
The tragedy of being torn down by the barrage of Soviet anti-aircraft machine guns due to his carelessness was something that no one expected. The only thing they didn't expect was that Felix, a little idiot, actually gave him the nickname he usually used as a joke.
Seriously.
"It's better to stop using dead people as teaching materials, Rudel. Even if it is to teach novices, it seems inappropriate."
Faced with the sudden reminder from his comrade, Rudel, who knew that the words he had just spoken were indeed somewhat disrespectful to the deceased, immediately nodded in response.
"I understand, but I don't want this kid to make the same mistake as Abel again. It would be too easy for those Russians to die like this. Am I right? Felix."
"Well...."
Compared to Rudel, who already had proficient combat experience, he was just a fledgling rookie. Felix, who had just been transferred from the rear in Germany to the front line as a reserve pilot to fill the shortage, had only flown single-digit sorties.
Even including those Soviet tanks that had been abandoned, they only achieved less than ten results. The average number of Soviet tanks destroyed in one sortie was really unimpressive among the powerful German Air Force.
Top skewers.
Reminiscing about the embarrassing and unusual achievements and repeated bad mistakes in his past experience, Felix realized that he was not in the same dimension as Rudel, who had already made great achievements in battles, and immediately lowered his head in shame.
"I know where I made my mistake, Lieutenant Rudel, and I promise not to make the same mistake again, not in the future, ever."
"Um......."
Rudel patted the shoulder to encourage the young pilot in front of him like a child who had done something wrong. Rudel, who was about to say something again, was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A man who had just finished eradicating
The ground staff, who was tired and out of breath after running all the way after heavy accumulation of snow, then spoke.
"Captain Brücker, the snow clearing and de-icing work on the runway has been completed. You and your group can take off at any time. Dukeman has already pushed all your aircraft out of the hangar and is ready.
"
The officer named Captain Brücker was the commander of the 3rd Group of the 2nd Ground Attack Wing where Rudel served. This man had been driving a Stuka to spread the scream of death since the beginning of the German blitzkrieg in Poland.
The captain who arrived in Warsaw was already a seasoned ground attack veteran with very high qualifications and experience. Rudel, who had only officially piloted a Stuka on ground attack missions since the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, learned a lot from him.
"I understand. Thank you for your busy work, Sergeant Doppler. Remember to come to my dormitory when you get back from this sortie. I will bring Rudel and treat you to a drink."
After hearing this, the ground sergeant smiled as expected. Sergeant Doppler, who had already formed a tacit understanding with Captain Brücker, could not remember how many times he had heard this.
Such farewell words.
"It's still the same, Captain Brücker, good Munich beer and Bavarian weisswurst. You can only get these good things from here. Remember to prepare double portions for me when the time comes."
Captain Brücker, who had already formed a tacit understanding, smiled slightly after hearing this. The Luftwaffe, which has high-quality supply quotas and an exclusive air supply line between Germany and the front line, has never lacked these rare hometown flavors.
"Of course, I may prepare two bottles of French wine for you. You should also change your taste that has not changed for several years."