Chapter 1183： Flares (1/2)
This improved shipborne radar has an effective detection range of 300 kilometers, while the two bombing forces of the Soviets are separated by about 300 kilometers when taking off. Moreover, after take-off, due to the speed of the Pe-8 bomber behind Be quick, the distance between them is constantly shrinking, and it is now as small as about 200 kilometers, so that the bomber units behind are also discovered.
More than one group of Soviet bombers were dispatched! At this time, Franz faced a difficult choice. What should I do?
Should we continue to chase this batch of bombers or intercept the next batch? For him, he only has this aircraft, and the tasks he can accomplish are limited. For him, of course, the most important thing is to be able to grasp the enemy's whereabouts.
Yes, continue to intercept!
However, he couldn't let go of these planes, he said to his machine gunner: ”Throw a flare!”
Hearing what he said, the gunner took out a flare from the cockpit and threw it down.
One or two small flares can turn a dark night into daylight.
During World War I, flares have been widely used, and various flares appeared. Now, the Stuka bombers are not equipped with flares, just a few hand-held lighting grenades.
The machine gunner opened the safety of the flare and threw it out.
The flares flew tens of meters ahead with the speed of the airplane. Then, the projectile inside began to ignite. With a bang, the gas pressure generated by the projectile throws the illuminator and the parachute out of the bomb, and the parachute is in air resistance. Under the action, it opens and hangs the lighting box below.
In the lighting box, the illuminating agent was ignited, and the magnesium powder and aluminum powder inside were burnt up with the aid of barium nitrate, and a high temperature of several thousand degrees was instantly generated.
At the same time, it emitted an extremely dazzling light, lighting up the entire night sky.
The night turned into day, and the front DB-3 torpedo bomber unit instantly appeared in the dark night sky.
”Damn it, what's the matter?” Colonel Yekinni-Przyblaczynski was also surprised when he heard the cursing one after another in the headphones.
The flares that appeared suddenly made them invisible in the sky. Does this mean that they have been discovered? So what's next? What should they do?
Give up the mission and return home immediately? Of course not, there always seems to be something missing?
”Oh, no!” Colonel Yejinni shouted suddenly.
A DB-3 bomber on the inside of the formation was obviously stimulated by the flares. The pilot subconsciously pushed the joystick, seeming to want to enter the dark night sky to hide, but, perhaps, the sudden flares made the pilot appear. After a brief period of blindness, his hands also moved.
In short, this bomber changed its original trajectory. Although they used a long-distance formation in order to prevent collisions, they still could not guarantee absolute safety.
For example, now, the change of the course of this bomber made it impossible for another bomber on the back right side of its flight path to avoid it. As a result, its wing and the nose of the other aircraft had close contact.
An air strike, this is something no one wants to happen. The wooden wing suddenly broke a large piece, and the other plane was even more terrifying. The wing was like a saw that swept across the nose. The position of the navigator and bombardier under the head has been completely cut apart, and the broken glass is blood red.
”Keep the current formation, continue flying, machine gunner, pay attention to our surroundings.” Ye Jinni shouted loudly on the radio.
As a member of the bomber force, it is really shameful that he is not even prepared for this.