Guchakov didn't know that there was a bomber brigade stationed at the field airport they destroyed. This flying brigade was originally scheduled to bomb the Dzerzhinsky factory after dawn. Who knew that the ground crew was still adding fuel to the bombers?
While fighting aerial bombs, they were unexpectedly attacked by rockets. Nearly a hundred pilots, including a group captain and three squadron leaders, who lived in a wooden house next to the runway, all survived.
The nearby German troops on guard saw the airport on fire and rushed to rescue them. However, because the fire was too fierce, they could not get close at all. They could only watch everything at the airport reduced to ashes while attacking the Fourth Air Force.
Headquarters reported the attack on the airport.
Sitting on the armored vehicle, Tavlin looked at the blazing fire in the distance and said excitedly to Guchakov: "Comrade Lieutenant, we should have killed all the planes at the enemy airport, right?"
"That's right." Although he couldn't get close to the airport to count the results, Guchakov knew very well that all the planes parked at the airport must have been destroyed. He ordered the radio operator sitting next to him: "Send a report to the division headquarters and say that we are here
A German airfield was successfully attacked behind enemy lines and more than thirty enemy aircraft parked next to the runway were destroyed."
When Sidorin received the telegram, he only glanced at it and was stunned. He was deeply afraid that he had read it wrong, so he quickly read the contents of the telegram twice. After confirming that it was correct, he quickly walked to the cable car.
While handing the telegram to him, he said excitedly: "Comrade division commander, good news. Lieutenant Guchakov's team attacked a German field airport with rockets and destroyed all the enemy forces in the airport."
machine."
After quickly reading the contents of the telegram, Sokov also showed a smile on his face: "Chief of Staff, this is really good news. More than 30 German aircraft were killed in one go. It seems that the number of enemy aircraft that bombed the factory area today is...
It will be greatly reduced." After saying that, he handed the telegram in his hand to Ivanov, who was looking forward to it.
"Comrade Division Commander, this is an amazing result." Ivanov said with equal excitement after reading the telegram: "I suggest reporting to the Army Headquarters immediately so that the commander and others will be happy as well."
When it came to reporting the results to his superiors, Sidorin became silent. Seeing this, Sokov quickly asked: "Chief of Staff, what's wrong?"
"Logically speaking, such a big result should be reported to the superior immediately." Sidorin said with some embarrassment: "But just because the result is so large, if it is to be reported, I am afraid it needs to be verified first..."
"Verification, how to verify?" Hearing what Sidorin said, Ivanov immediately retorted unhappily: "You know, the German field airport is nearly a hundred kilometers deep behind enemy lines. Even if we send out manpower immediately, it will take at least two days.
It will take several days to get there. And whether the scouts we sent can successfully pass through the enemy's defense zone during the day is still a big problem."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin did not want to argue with Ivanov over this matter, so he could only turn to Sokov for help: "Tell me, do we need to send someone to verify the results of the battle?"
"Although we don't have any troops in that direction except Guchakov's detachment, it doesn't mean that there are no other troops." Sokov said thoughtfully: "Maybe there is a reconnaissance team directly under the group army headquarters.
After we report on the activities there, we can entrust them with the task of verifying the results."
"But what should we do if there is no reconnaissance team of our army in that area?" Sidorin continued to ask.
"Even if there is no reconnaissance team, there are still guerrillas." Sokov said calmly: "I believe that the guerrillas operating behind enemy lines may have contact with the army headquarters, and they can also help verify the results of the battle.
"
After hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin did not continue to insist on his opinion but asked tentatively: "Comrade division commander, who will report to the headquarters?"
"I'll do it." Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was already seven o'clock in the morning. Chuikov and Krylov should have started working. Moreover, the battle in the factory area had not yet started. At this time, the people in the headquarters
Communication would not be too busy, so it was the best time to report. Thinking of this, he asked the communications soldier to help him get through to the headquarters.
After the call was connected, Krylov's slightly hoarse voice came out: "I am Krylov, where are you?"
"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov quickly replied: "I am Colonel Sokov. I have important information that I need to report to you and the commander immediately."
"Oh, important information?" Krylov couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard what Sokov said, and then asked with interest: "Colonel Sokov, do you have any good news to tell me?
?”
Chuikov, who was lying on the table and taking a nap, suddenly sat up straight when he heard Krylov said there was good news. His eyes were as wide as bells and he said to Krylov: "Chief of Staff, please ask.
What good news is he?"
Not only Chuikov was anxious, Krylov was also anxious. The situation was getting worse day by day. Everyone wanted to hear exciting good news. He quickly urged into the microphone: "Colonel Sokov, listen.
Have you heard the commander's voice? He is eager to know what kind of good news you have brought us."
"That's it, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov tried his best to say in a calm tone: "A few minutes ago, I received a telegram from Lieutenant Guchakov. He said that they attacked the enemy's rear with rockets.
At a field airport, we successfully destroyed more than 30 enemy aircraft parked at the airport..."
Krylov heard that the squad behind enemy lines had destroyed more than thirty German aircraft, and his breathing immediately became rapid. He waited for Sokov to finish speaking, and then asked impatiently: "Colonel Sokov, have the results been verified?
?”
"Comrade Chief of Staff, after completing the attack mission, in order to avoid being discovered by the enemy, Lieutenant Guchakov immediately led his troops to move, and the results of the battle cannot be calculated for the time being." Although Sokov knew in his heart that such results were real, but without him
It will not be recognized until it is verified by superiors. So he said cautiously: "I am calling you because I hope you can send someone to verify the results."
"Should I send someone to verify the results of the battle?!" Krylov said displeasedly: "Where can we find people to verify the results of the battle you have achieved?"
"Chief of Staff, give me the microphone." Chuikov took the microphone from Krylov's hand and asked Sokov: "Colonel, I understand what you mean. You may think that there is a reconnaissance team sent by us in that area.
Active, right?"
After receiving Sokov's affirmative answer, Chuikov continued: "Unfortunately, several of our reconnaissance groups operating behind enemy lines were all lost due to the enemy's encirclement and suppression. Therefore, we cannot send people to verify this
The results of the battle."
Chuikov's words made Sokov's heart sink suddenly. He secretly thought that if the headquarters could not send someone to verify the results, then the results obtained by Guchakov and the others might not be recognized. Once this result
Not being recognized may affect the morale of the team.
Just when he was frustrated, he heard Chuikov say reasonably: "Colonel Sokov, I believe in you and your subordinates. I believe they will not fabricate such a significant victory to deceive us. So,
I will send someone to monitor the German communications to see if they have such a battle damage report. If so, I will acknowledge the result as soon as possible; even if not, I will try to send someone to verify it."
What Chuikov said next was a reassurance for Sokov. He nodded and said, "I understand, Comrade Commander, I'm waiting for your good news."
Chuikov had just put down the phone, and before he had time to speak, he saw that Krylov had called Colonel Yulin, the director of the communications corps. He grinned silently, and then told Yulin: "Comrade Colonel, we just received the call
Received a call from Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division. He said that a small team he sent attacked the enemy's field airport behind enemy lines and destroyed more than 30 enemy aircraft. You immediately arranged for manpower to monitor the German communications.
, confirm whether there are relevant messages."
"Understood." Yulin agreed, turned around and returned to the operator to organize people to monitor.
Looking at Yulin's busy back in the distance, Krylov lit a cigarette and asked Chuikov: "Comrade Commander, do you think the battle results reported by Colonel Sokov are reliable?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, I just said on the phone that I believe in Colonel Sokov and his subordinates. They will never lie on such a big matter." Chuikov reached out and took his hand from Krylov's pocket.
He took out his cigarette case, took one out and held it in his mouth. He did not light it immediately, but continued: "A few days ago, this small team attacked Gumlak Station and destroyed a large number of German military equipment.
The enemy attacking the factory area had to slow down their attack due to a shortage of supplies. It is precisely because of this that I feel that the results of this battle may not be true."
Two hours later, when Chuikov and Krylov were busy, Colonel Yulin appeared in front of them with a happy face and reported excitedly: "Commander, Chief of Staff, just intercepted the German
A telegram about an attack on the airport."
Chuikov, who was on the phone, didn't even have time to put down the phone. He stretched out his hand to Yulin and said repeatedly: "Hurry up and show me the telegram."
He took the telegram and quickly checked its contents. It turned out that it was sent by the German Fourth Air Force to the Paulus Command, saying that a field airport was attacked by the Russians this morning, and that there were forty Ju87s parked at the airport.
The dive bomber was destroyed, and all ninety-three pilots, including one group leader and three squadron leaders, were killed in the attack. All the ground staff at the airport, except for a few who went out, were also killed.
After seeing the telegram, Chuikov put down the microphone in his hand, slapped his hands on the table, and said excitedly: "Chief of Staff, the results of the battle have been verified. The squad sent by Sokov destroyed forty enemy planes during the attack.
It was a great victory, killing ninety-three German pilots."
Since it was an intercepted German military telegram, the content above could not be false. After Krylov picked up the telegram and read it twice, he raised his head and asked Chuikov for instructions: "Comrade Commander, this is a great victory.
You see, do we need to report to the front army headquarters immediately?"
"Needless to say, of course I reported it immediately."
While Krylov was waiting for the communications troops to connect the line, Chuikov walked back and forth excitedly in the room. From time to time he struck his palms with his fists and said: "For such a great victory to be achieved, the commanders and fighters involved in the attack must be punished."
Commendation. I remember Sokov once reported to me that the detachment was led by Lieutenant Guchakov and Second Lieutenant Samoylov. They not only deserved a Red Banner Order, but also were promoted in rank..."
"I think we can promote them to one level each..." Krylov had just finished speaking when the phone was connected. He quickly said into the phone: "I am Krylov, Chief of Staff of the 62nd Army.
Please help me find Comrade Commander, I have important information and I need to report it to him immediately."
After a short wait, Yereomenko's deep voice came from the receiver: "Hey, General Krylov, is there something bad going on in Stalingrad?"
"No, Comrade Commander." With the good news about the attack on the German airport, Krylov spoke with much more confidence: "I have good news to report to you."
"Good news?!" Krylov's words surprised Yeremenko, and he quickly urged: "Hurry up and tell me."
"The small team sent by Colonel Sokov attacked the German field airfield more than 100 kilometers away." Krylov reported with some pride: "Forty aircraft of a German Ju87 dive bomber group were destroyed.
Ninety-three pilots also killed the ground staff on duty at the airport..."
Forty German aircraft were destroyed at one time and nearly a hundred pilots were killed. Such a result was considered a great victory no matter what the circumstances. After listening to Krylov's report, Yeremenko was silent for a long time before speaking.
He asked in surprise: "General Krylov, you just said that the force that destroyed the enemy's field airport and wiped out forty aircraft and ninety-three pilots was just a small detachment sent by Colonel Sokov?"
"That's right." Although he knew that Yereomenko couldn't see it, Krylov nodded vigorously and replied in a positive tone: "It's a small team sent by Colonel Sokov, with only thirty people.
.But they carry a large number of new rockets, and they use rockets to carry out long-distance attacks on the airport."
Yeremenko was silent for a moment again, and then asked: "Have the results been verified?"
"We received a report from Colonel Sokov two hours ago. Because the results of the battle have not been verified, we did not report to you." Krylov quickly reported: "We have just intercepted a telegram from the German army.
There is information about the battle damage to the airport that was attacked. It was only after reading this telegram that we knew that the results achieved by the team were real, so we reported to you."