"Bang..."
Zhou Zhihan fired a burst, and the sound of the Spitfire's unique "Hispano-Susa" 404 20mm cannon instantly penetrated the 7055 pilot's eardrums. This was the last music he heard in his life.
Spitfire No. 214 succeeded in one blow and then pulled up. There was an explosion behind him. Zhou Zhihan didn't have to look back. From the rearview mirror, he could see several large groups of flames falling to the ground.
Spitfire No. 214 quickly entered high altitude. The transparent helmet showed that the bomber group ahead continued to move forward unimpeded and at full speed. No German fighter planes were found within 80 kilometers in front of the group.
But 70 kilometers behind, four Messerschmitts reinforced by the German army circled over the place where 7033 fell, and they would soon start tracking.
The top speed of the Bf 109E4 and 5 is close to 600 kilometers, while the speed of the SB-2 bomber is up to 400 kilometers. During this period, it must slow down to avoid overheating of the engine. The 70 kilometers distance between the two sides is not safe. Once the German aircraft determines the exact location of the Soviet bomber group route, they will soon catch up, and by then the group will be attacked from both sides.
At this time, the fleet is still 480 kilometers away from Moscow.
Zhou Zhihan knew that the biggest test would come soon. The experience of the German Air Force was unparalleled. They would soon be able to deduce the whereabouts of the bomber group from the location of the two downed Mei-types, and then send out reconnaissance planes to determine the Soviet Union's The interception was carried out after the specific position of the aircraft group was determined.
The Germans will soon determine that there must be amazing secrets on the two Soviet bombers, otherwise the Soviets would not be able to send fighter planes from Moscow to escort them over a long distance.
Because at this time, there were no Soviet fighter-bomber groups in the two areas of Puslav and Leningrad. What was there were at most a few bombers that were hidden and reserved for senior commanders to use when escaping.
Prior to this, the commanders of several Soviet armies were either captured or killed, so the Soviet commanders had a backup force and retained one or two bombers in case of emergencies.
Fortunately, at this time, Germany was not yet able to deploy radar base stations in the Soviet Union, nor was it able to set up strict lookout posts on the ground. The German fighter group in front did not have that many troops to set up an ambush before it could not determine the specific movement of the Soviet aircraft group. Interception.
The Soviet Union was a vast territory, not the English Channel.
Spitfire No. 214 used the cover of clouds to jump forward without leaving any clues to the pursuers behind it. It quickly caught up with the fleet and used hand signals to tell the team members that the danger in the rear was temporarily lifted.
After flying forward for a few more minutes, the pilots saw more and more battlefields on the ground where they had fought. There were craters everywhere, and countless destroyed Soviet and German tanks, artillery, and tanks were still shooting off fireworks. , more than a dozen fighter planes crashed on the ground, and the wreckage fell everywhere.
If you look carefully enough, you will see large gray things suddenly dancing on the white frost on the ground from time to time. They are flies lying on the corpses and being frightened by wild dogs. This shows that the fierce fighting took place within these two days and there were no corpses. They had time to clean and bury them, which also meant that their whereabouts would soon be discovered by German ground troops.
More than a dozen fighter-bombers, even flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters, could be heard by the Germans on the ground.
After flying forward for a few more minutes, Bryansk, once a graveyard for tanks from both sides, was already left behind by the fleet.
Then, German tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry fighting vehicles with artillery appeared on the ground ahead. They were like matchboxes and beetles, driving on the fields and roads everywhere.
This is Guderian's tank unit. They started their offensive on September 26. In less than three days, they captured Orel, 200 kilometers behind the Bryansk front, cut off the Bryansk-Orel road, and then attacked along the way. The route breaks into the Warsaw Highway and points directly to Moscow.
Along the way, the Soviet tanks were beaten to pieces, and it was difficult to organize an effective defense line to block the rolling iron flow of the German army.
Looking down from the air, based on the wreckage of tanks and vehicles left by the Soviet army, you can deeply understand what it means to collapse thousands of miles.
At this time, the Soviet army was defeated as fast as a torrent.
Zhou Zhihan pushed the throttle, sped up and flew to the front of the fleet. He used hand signals to signal the five Spitfires behind and above the fleet to rise to 11,000 meters and move forward quickly. After passing the German tank corps, they slowed down and were on alert to wait for the fleet.
The remaining fighter planes lowered their altitude and flew over Guderian's tank army.
Then he made two more gestures - 3000 altitude - and then raised after flying for 2 minutes.
At this time, the call remains silent.
Although the short call may not be detected by the Germans, what if it happens?
Seeing Zhou Zhihan making a gesture to lower the flight altitude in front, the Soviet pilots immediately wondered, wouldn't they be completely exposed if they were to lower the altitude at this time?
We have kept the call silent, and now we are descending. What’s the point of silence?
But Zhou Zhihan is the commander, and everyone must obey orders.
After a while, everyone gave Zhou Zhihan a thumbs up.
They finally understood Zhou Zhihan's intention. The bombers led the 9 Spitfires down to altitude. It seemed that they appeared on their own initiative, but in fact they hid their strength, making the Germans think that the 9 Spitfires were escorting them.
A Soviet fighter squadron had exactly 9 fighter planes.
Seeing that everyone understood his intention, Zhou Zhihan also gave everyone a thumbs up.
Just when he was flying next to the bombers, Zhou Zhihan's sharp eyes saw a middle-aged man sitting in the position of the navigator and bombardier to the right of the pilot of one of the bombers.
This middle-aged man is not angry and intimidating, and he will never be a bombardier.
Who could he be?
The bombers and eight fighters descended to an altitude of 3,000 meters.
No. 214 breathed fire even more fiercely. In one dive, it almost flew over the antennas of several tanks.
Hearing the rumble of fighter jets coming from behind and above their heads, the marching German tank crew looked up. After seven or eight seconds, they were sure it was a Soviet fighter plane. After staying for a few seconds, their eyes widened:
"Hidden...it's the Russian fleet..."
Immediately, the German tank group on the ground was in chaos. The commander ordered the tanks to disperse. The anti-aircraft machine gun companies accompanying the army deployed defenses. The infantry following the tanks hurriedly rolled to the ditches on both sides. The soldiers who were napping on the tanks jumped. Rolling and crawling on the ground.
The German tanks advanced with overwhelming force, never dreaming that a group of Soviet fighter-bombers would suddenly appear behind them.
However, the German soldiers lying on the ground did not hear the roaring bombs dropped by the Soviet bombers. They only heard the sound of the engines of the bombers and fighter jets getting farther and farther away.
"Damn Russians..."
The German soldiers were confused. Seeing that the danger was over, they got up one by one and cursed loudly. They didn't understand what these Russian straw bags flying over their heads wanted to do, but it didn't matter. The important thing was that these big straw bags were not thrown away. bomb.
The German commander immediately reported to the Air Force Headquarters: A Soviet aircraft group, 2 bombers and 9 Spitfire fighters, was found in the direction of Bryansk.
The time goes back to 10 minutes ago.
"Call 7033, the tower calls 7033..."
no answer.
"Call 7055, the tower calls 7055..."
no answer.
"Tower calls 7013, calls 7016."
"7013 received."
"7016 received."
"Both 7033 and 7055 have lost their signals. 7013 leads 7014 to track the track of 7033, and 7016 leads 7017 to track the track of 7055..."
"7013 received!"
"7016 received!"
Two minutes later.
"7013 called the tower... and found a crash site. Based on the tracking of the FuG Vii radio, it was determined that the crash ahead was 7033."
"Tower received, please report the specific location to 7013..."
7013: "..."
"7016 called the tower... According to the tracking feedback from the FuG Vii radio, 7055 has crashed. It is determined to have been shot down and the pilot was killed. The crash location is..."
Tower: "Stay alert and stay where you are!"
"..."
"..."
Soon, the tower received a call from Air Force Headquarters.
Then the tower called 7013: "Received a telegram from the tank unit under Marshal Guderian, and discovered a fleet of Soviet aircraft 15 kilometers south of Bryansk, flying towards Moscow.
Order, 7013 leads 7014, 7016, and 7017 to pursue at full speed in the direction of Bryansk. The enemy plane may fly to Moscow via there, and your reinforcements will arrive soon. "
"7013 received!"
…
Tver.
The base of the JG51 Fighter Wing.
"Jingle Bell……"
The phone on Major Commander Friedrich Beck's desk rang.
Friedrich Beck reached out and picked up the phone: "JG51 Wing."
"Major Friedrich Beck, I am Marshal Kesselring!"
Friedrich Beck stood up with a snap: "Marshal!" He knew that Marshal Katherine personally called, and the matter was not trivial.
"There are two Soviet bombers, escorted by nine Spitfire fighter jets, flying towards the defense area of your JG51 wing. Please send fighter jets to intercept them immediately. There are very likely important people or top-secret documents in the Soviet bombers."
Friedrich Beck stood at attention: "Yes. Marshal!"
