Chapter 636 Bombing
At noon the next day, the 98th and 99th bomber squadrons of the Americans flew to Latvia.
Because there was no airport in Latvia that could accommodate so many bombers at the same time, the 98th and 99th bomber squadrons could only land at two secret airports respectively.
The last commander of the 98th bomber squadron, Colonel Kane, who climbed down from the cockpit of the bomber, saw that there were only about a hundred people around and asked casually. "Where are the others?"
"They all followed the translator back to the dormitory."
Colonel Kane couldn't help but wonder. "Then why don't you go? There are combat missions in the evening. You should rest and replenish your physical strength. Do you need me to teach you this kind of thing?"
One of the pilots laughed. "Captain, it's less than 700 kilometers from here to Berlin one way, and it's at most 1,500 kilometers round trip. There's no need to rest. Captain, can we go out and experience the customs and folkways here?"
Colonel Kane certainly knew what these guys were up to, and they were all in the world's first socialist country for the first time and were full of curiosity about it.
Although he also wanted to go out, he knew the importance of this mission. "We must not be careless in this mission. I heard that the 305th bomber squadron that went to Baku to bomb the oil fields yesterday was intercepted by German fighters and was completely wiped out."
"What?!" Everyone was shocked. "Didn't they say that the German fighters could not rise to an altitude of 11,000 meters?"
"It is obvious that the intelligence department's intelligence is wrong. The German fighters can climb more than 12,000 meters. So we chose night bombing this time. But no one can guarantee that night bombing is safe. Maybe we will be intercepted by German night fighters, and the intelligence department knows nothing about German night fighters."
Seeing that everyone looked a little nervous, Colonel Kane smiled and said. "Now everyone go back and rest, get enough energy, and I will ask my superiors after completing this mission. At that time..."
Before he finished speaking, a shrill air defense alarm suddenly sounded over the base. Colonel Kane's face suddenly changed wildly. "Fuck! These Soviets are doing this kind of secret security work?!" What else do you say that this is a secret airport that no one knows about? ! The Germans not only knew the exact location of the airport, but also timed it so accurately. Their bombers swooped over as soon as they landed. This is obviously a leak of intelligence! !
"What should we do?" The pilots around were also panicked. What is this? They haven't even gone to bomb others yet, but they are bombed first.
"So fast!" Colonel Kane looked in the direction of the roar and saw a large fleet of aircraft flying towards them in the distance. The speed of the fleet was estimated to be at least 500 kilometers per hour. Is it a fighter or a bomber? !
Looking at the bombers whose engines were turned off, Colonel Kane stomped his feet. "Quick! Enter the air-raid shelter!!" At this time, don't think about saving the plane. It's important to save your life first. These are clearly stipulated in the regulations. Save the pilots first when there is danger.
But the problem is that they just arrived here and are unfamiliar with the place. How can they know where the air-raid shelter is? Colonel Kane grabbed the Soviet soldier who ran by and asked loudly. "Where is the air-raid shelter here?!"
The Soviet soldier obviously didn't understand English and looked at him blankly.
"Fuck! This idiot!" After cursing, Colonel Kane pointed to the fleet in the distance and gestured twice above his head, indicating that they needed to hide. The Soviet soldier nodded in sudden realization, made a gesture to catch up, and ran forward.
"Come on!"
A group of people followed the Soviet soldiers and ran to the anti-aircraft...artillery position!
The anti-aircraft artillery position commander, who was nervously directing the air defense work, was stunned when he saw so many Americans running to the air defense position. "Ivan, what are you doing with these American comrades?" The superiors issued a document that these Americans were American friends who came to fight side by side with them to defeat Germany, not imperialist running dogs, and they should be more friendly to them. Although it felt strange, they still obeyed the orders of their superiors unconditionally.
The soldier named Ivan saluted. "Report, these American comrades want to help us fight the Germans, so I brought them here."
"These American comrades are quite enthusiastic! But can they operate our anti-aircraft guns? And we are not short of manpower here, so they can't help much." Colonel Kane was almost mad when the company commander was grumbling in embarrassment! "Fuck! Is this bastard going to kill us?! We want to go into the air-raid shelter, go into the air-raid shelter! What the hell did you bring us here for?!"
Looking at Colonel Kane pointing at the German aircraft group getting closer and closer and shouting, the company commander asked Ivan. "What is he saying?"
Ivan didn't know what he was saying, so he could only guess according to his thoughts. "Are you unhappy because you don't let them help?"
The company commander opened his mouth in astonishment. Do these American friends hate the Germans so deeply? They are not happy if they are not allowed to help, and they feel like they are going to hit people. "Then, Ivan, you take them to the ammunition depot to move ammunition."
"Yes!" Ivan saluted and waved to Colonel Kane and the others. "Come with me."
"Did this guy understand?" Although he was a little skeptical, Colonel Kane didn't care and ran after Ivan.
After running for a while, he still didn't see the air-raid shelter, but saw the sign of the ammunition depot. Although it was different from the sign used by the US military, Colonel Kane still saw that this was an ammunition depot.
"This bastard!" Colonel Kane was almost crazy!
But looking at the bomber group that was already close at hand, he could only grit his teeth and give a loud order. "Quick, hurry and hide in the ammunition depot!"
"Captain, this is not good!" They might not be in trouble if they just found a pit outside, but if they hid in this ammunition depot, if a German bomb was not smart enough and hit them, all of them would be packed up and written off.
"..." If possible, Colonel Kane didn't want to enter this damn ammunition depot, but those anti-aircraft positions had already started shooting into the sky, and if he hesitated, he might really be bombed. "There's no time! Are we going to find an air-raid shelter? I hope the Soviet ammunition depot is built strong enough."
Without help, everyone could only hide in this damn ammunition depot.
The attacker this time was the upgraded and improved Mosquito bomber, Type VIII. The new engine burning 150 octane fuel has an emergency boost of +25psi, with a power of over 2,000 horsepower. The high-altitude power is over 1,500 horsepower at 4,572 meters and over 1,300 horsepower at 7,010 meters. This VIII model can fly to an altitude of 12,200 meters and a maximum speed of 695 kilometers per hour. The weapons are equipped with 4 20mm cannons and 4 62-caliber machine guns, which can lick the ground in addition to bombing missions.
Relying on speed and altitude, the bomber formation easily flew over the Soviet anti-aircraft artillery positions. On the leading Mosquito fighter, the formation commander issued an order. "Hans, take your team to bomb the small hill 10 kilometers away, yes, the small hill with a big tree. It seems to be an air-raid shelter there, and I just saw a lot of people running in."
The remaining Mosquito bombers flew over the airport. In order to make room for these American bombers, the fighters in the base were moved to a corner, and now it was impossible for them to take off and fight.
The German aircraft dropped several cluster bombs over the runway, and with the successive explosions, the runway was filled with large and small holes.