Guchakov did not know that there was a bomber brigade stationed in the field airport that they destroyed. This flying brigade was originally scheduled to bomb the Dzerzhinsky factory after dawn. Unexpectedly, while the ground crew was still adding fuel and bombs to the bombers, they were unexpectedly attacked by rockets. The pilots, including nearly a hundred people who lived in the wooden house next to the runway, including a group captain and three squadron leaders, were killed. A lifetime to return.
German troops on guard duty nearby saw the airport being attacked and on fire and rushed to the rescue. But 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 reporting the attack on the airport to the Fourth Air Force headquarters.
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 in 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, saying that we successfully attacked a German airport behind enemy lines and successfully destroyed more than 30 enemy planes parked next to the runway."
Sidorin received the telegram and was stunned after just one glance. 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 Sokov, handed the telegram to him, and said excitedly: "Division Commander" Good news, comrade, Lieutenant Guchakov's detachment attacked a German field airfield with rockets, destroying all enemy aircraft in the airfield."
After quickly reading the contents of the telegram, Sokov also had 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 remained 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 big, 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 takes 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 started yet. The people in the headquarters Communication would not be too busy and 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 from inside: "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 taking a nap on the table, 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, but 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. Did you hear 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. As soon as Sokov finished speaking, he couldn't wait to ask: "Colonel Sokov, have the results of the battle 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. It is temporarily impossible to calculate the results." Although Sokov knew in his heart that such results were real, but in the absence of It will not be recognized until 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?!" Krylov said displeasedly: "Where can we find people to verify the results 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 results."
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 victory is not recognized, it 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 be it, 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 just put down the phone and before he could 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 a call from Colonel Sokov, commander of the 41st Guards Division. He said that his small team attacked the enemy's field airport behind enemy lines. , destroying more than 30 enemy planes. You immediately arrange for manpower to monitor the German military's communications to confirm whether there are relevant messages."
"Understood." Yulin agreed, turned around and returned to the operator to organize personnel to conduct monitoring.
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 about 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. Materials caused the enemy who attacked the factory area to slow down their attack due to a shortage of materials. 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 read its contents. It turned out that the German Fourth Air Force sent it to the Paulus Command, saying that a field airfield was attacked by the Russians this morning. Forty Ju87 dive bombers parked on the airfield were destroyed, including a group leader and three All ninety-three pilots, including the squadron leader, were killed in the attack. Except for a few who went out, all the ground staff at the airport died.
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 we should report it immediately."
While Krylov waited 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 had their military ranks promoted..."
"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 squad sent by Colonel Sokov attacked a German field airfield more than a hundred 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, and then asked in surprise: "General Krylov, you just said that the enemy's field airport was destroyed and forty aircraft and ninety-three aircraft were destroyed. The unit of pilots is 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 got 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 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 it to you."
