Memoirs of a fighter pilot Asgat Nuriahmetovich Valeev (part 2)

Memoirs of a fighter pilot Asgat Nuriahmetovich Valeev (part 2)

In battle, among other things, characters fight. And character is will, self-control, initiative, and finally, audacity. Many of us have missed it so much in the beginning. And the one who, already in fierce battles, managed to develop the necessary qualities, survived. Basically, pilots after several air battles, if they were not shot down, acquired these qualities, and then, having overcome fear, feeling at least a little confidence that you yourself could shoot down the enemy, they already became experienced fighters.
While escorting bombers (9 B-3 Boston aircraft), we were attacked by 8 FV-190 aircraft. When repulsing their attacks, my wingman D. Shilkov could not stay in the group and I was left alone … Full throttle, with a decrease I pick up speed. I abruptly throw the plane into a “combat turn”. The eyes are dark from overload. At the top point, I move the car to the horizon, and then “coup over the wing” and dive at an angle of 90 degrees. Behind me is a Fokker, I turn the plane along the longitudinal axis by 180 degrees and take it out of a dive with a large overload near the ground. FV-190 repeats all the evolutions, the ground is nearby, and the fritz does not have time to bring the plane to a horizontal position, it crashes into the ground and an explosion. Heading east and home!
All the guys and bombers returned without loss.
We arrived at the airfield, landed, taxied the plane to the parking lot, opened the cockpit canopy, it was quiet all around, I sat motionless for some time. So tired that there is no strength to get out of the cab. Before my eyes there are pictures of the battle just carried out: again, as if in reality, I see circles of propellers, yellow coca, painted fuselages with aces, kings (playing cards), etc.
A sense of self-preservation, a sharp, sometimes unconscious feeling, is inherent in every person. The pilot is also a person, he is also subject to fear. But we will overcome fear.
Yes, not only fatigue and fear come after returning to the airfield, on the ground. Dimka has a tick – the lower eyelid of his right eye is trembling, Ivan wrinkles his gloves for about five minutes, Anatoly Volodin nervously picks the ground with his toe of his boot, and my knees tremble, I feel my teeth chatter.

In the photo (1945): Volodin A.I. is sitting on the left, Shchukin I.F. is on the right, Valeev A.N. is on the left, Shilkov D.I. is on the right.

Kishkunlatskhaza airfield (Hungary). December 11, 1944.

In combat, a fighter pilot performs several actions at the same time because he is alone in the plane. He controls it, he is a navigator, a radio operator, and a gunner. Therefore, he needs not only to instantly cover the entire created environment, but also to be able to distribute attention. The head is on hinges. Don't be late to see the enemy. Who is lazy to inspect the air, he pays dearly for it.
In the region of mountains.Sekereshfehervar at us at once two Messerschmitt aircraft falls on us. We are taken by surprise. I, like crazy, take a pen of myself. The car shudders terribly, but fortunately, does not break into a corkscrew. The Fritz line passes fifteen meters from me. Lighting on a share of seconds with a maneuver, the German would send me to the next world.
In a spacious sky, a deadly duel began, a frantic carousel spun. The planes entered the circle (turn), one into the tail to the other.
Opponents try to repent each other. Woe to the one who cannot withstand the accepted pace, who will break off the group, who will turn aside, a cannon or machine -gun queue will be a punishment for this oversight. In such a fantastic cycle at maximum speeds, everyone is waiting for the mistake of their opponent. Sooner or later, it should happen, and she is not forgiven. On the turn I manage to go into the tail and he seeks to get out with diving. We are rapidly rushing to the ground … The “thin” is all gray, except for the ominous cross and a spider -like swastika against the backdrop of the red circle, it leaves the peak, I pursue it. A meter after a meter I am approaching him. It increases, grows before our eyes. I catch him in the sight. A thin stream of black smoke is separated from the fuselage. It is tilted, shudders. Then the finale: “Messer”, turning in the air, crashes into the ground, shrouded in flames and smoke, raising clouds of snow and earth.
The face of the pilot who flew after the battle can be seen how much he experienced a short time that he stayed in the air. Especially if you lose combat friends in battle. Each nervous tension was expressed in their own way. Some guys lost their appetite, thirsty tormented (apparently dehydration occurred), slept poorly. During sleep, air battles seemed to continue, screaming, teams, swearing, mat … are heard all night …

Tecel airfield (near Budapest). February 20, 1945

The Hitler command, trying to eliminate the breakthrough at all costs, made desperate attempts to throw our troops back, introducing a large number of tanks, self -propelled guns, armored personnel carriers and other equipment into battle. In the reflection of these counterattacks, our attack aircraft played an important role, who inflicted a number of powerful blows to the enemy tanks.
On December 26, battles for Estherg began. The troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front reached the Danube north and southwest of Budapest. The environment of the group, numbering 188 thousand people, was completed.
On February 13, the liquidation of the Budapest group was completed.
On March sixth, the last counterattack of the Nazi troops and the last defensive operation of the Soviet troops, which was called the Balaton defensive operation, began in the war.
The German command calculated the offensive in Hungary to close the path to the Soviet troops to Austria and South Germany, where the German military industry was concentrated, which produced planes, tanks and ammunition.
The German command sought at all costs to stop the Soviet troops crossing the Danube, to defeat them and drop them into the river. To this end, they every day increased the blows of their aviation along our front edge, on the upcoming mobile formations. Air battles did not stop in the sky. Fascist planes in large groups went to the front line. The fighter aircraft of our army faced the task of preventing the influence of Nazi attack aircraft in ground forces.
In order to achieve superiority in forces, the Hitler click without hesitation exposed the Western Front, where the allies stomped on the spot for a long time, and in December 1944 suffered a cruel defeat in the Ardennes. From there, from Ardenn, the 6th SS Panzer Army was transferred to Hungary. A number of fascist formations arrived in the area of ​​Lake Balaton from Italy. Now almost all combat -ready tank formations and several aviation units of the Wehrmacht were pulled to the banks of the Danube and Lake Balaton. The situation at the front reached the highest intensity. There was a stubborn battle on the ground, the fights in the air did not stop.

We accompany the IL-2 group (12 aircraft) to storm the accumulation of tanks in the area of ​​Lake Balaton and Velents. There are 6 La-5 aircraft, I am the senior group.
They came to the goal, the attack aircraft form a circle and begin to work on tanks. I am with the driven dm. Shilkov remains in the immediate vicinity of the attack aircraft, in the gaps of anti -aircraft shells. A group of four aircraft is headed by Ivan Schukin (Sasha Ivanov, Viktor Puzyarenko, Vasily Larichev). Their task is to cover us from enemy fighters.
Typically, attack aircraft come to the goal of the system of bearing or wedge. Having thrown off the bombs, they are rebuilt into a circle (one chain into the tail to another) to protect the back hemisphere of the front aircraft. They repeat several visits, storming the equipment and infantry of the enemy from guns (ptabs on tanks and armored vehicles).
The most crucial moment for attack aircraft and for escort fighters is a way out of the circle, when Ilyushin’s “Ilyushin” from enemy fighters are least protected.
The attack aircraft worked out, the circle opened, the leading head is east. And the Messers seemed to be waiting for this moment. The eight of the Me-109 falls out from the side of the sun, and in pairs rushes to the last link of the Ilyushin.
Shilkov and I rushed across and opened fire, the messenians hastily left the attack and soared up. What is the matter, because our four should be above us: she had to certainly connect them with battle and prevent them from attack aircraft. But, looking up, I did not find my La-5, where are they?
The Messers again fall on the attack aircraft from a height. The two of us rush from one group to another, fearing the attacks of enemy fighters, here is one of the “thin” (we called them that) stake went to the ground. The rest immediately dumped to the side, leaving us alone. Apparently the presenter became a victim.Shilkov and I are spraying over the attack aircraft, it seems, everyone is intact.
It turns out that the whole group we protected together: it cost us incredible tension of nerves and labor …
We reached their airfield, sit down, and the pair of I. Shchukin and A. Ivanov is already sitting at the airfield. It turns out that the pair of V. Puzyrenko and V. Larchev moved away from the couple of I. Shchukin with a set of heights and chased at one bomber. And a couple of “messengers” constrained a couple of Schukin, so they could not help us.
And Puzarenko and Larichev, having shifted behind the “easy prey,” were shot down by themselves, Larichev saved in parachute (landed in Austria), the plane of Puzarenko exploded (from the story of the returning V. Larchev).

Photo: Fighter La-5 Hero of the Soviet Union Kostyleva G.D. In the museum on Poklonnaya Gora.

Budaarsh airfield. March 1945. The escort of B-3 Boston bombers in the city of Estherg (on the Danube).

Bombers in the combat year. German fighters appeared from the sun, but we noticed them late.
The group conducts a fierce battle, and I am again alone. I try to go into the tail of the FV-190, I can’t. I am leaving the combat turn, I go to the attack on the frontal lines, we are approaching, shooting from the cannons at each other, when there were tens of meters before the collision, the German could not stand it and went to the side. But one shell, however, got into my motor.
In the air, the pilot feels the work of the motor in the same way as his own heart. Hearing immediately caught interruptions in his work. I looked at the devices – the revolutions are falling. I take a course to the east. Will I be able to go away from the location of the enemy troops, reach the Danube or will I have to sit here on the “belly”? And here the area is mountainous. Will I reach my airfield?!
When the Budaarsh (on the right bank of the Danube) approached the airfield no longer pulled, the hydraulic system did not work, the chassis and flaps released emergency, the oil from under the hood, floods the windshield of the lantern, and I see poorly the boarding lane. When landing, the motor stopped (jammed), landed. The plane was touched to the parking lot.
After landing, the pilots confirmed that the German pilot went down, and the FV-190 crashed uphill, which means that my shells got it.

* * *
Tell, i.e. Writing about what was and what he experienced is very difficult. With written cases, real events, living people, many details, details are clearly arguing. At one time, this was perceived not by mind, but by feeling, with a special mood. Now you won’t remember everything … Time smooths out sharp corners. The wounds healed, the pain of memories subsides. And talking about those terrible days is becoming easier … One cannot forget about one thing – about the fallen comrades. Small fleeting strokes subsequently merge into one concept – in about …

* * *
In early March 1945, at the head of the group, together with N. Lyadov, I. Shchukin and D. Shilkov, was instructed to accompany 9 IL-2 aircraft to the area northwest of Budapest.
The attack aircraft found the target and started the attack.At this time, a mixed group of four FV-190 aircraft and two Me-109 aircraft attacked us, trying to break through to the attack aircraft.
The battle began. Gray “Fokkers”, “Messers” with yellow and white stripes on fuselages and mores, black truncated crosses flashes. It is hot in the cab. Hot air from the motor burned, the gloves were wet, the skin was stuck, from the overload of the battle in the mouth dry …
Airplanes, then suddenly soared with candles, then stitched the air from top to bottom. The battle took place vertically and at maximum speeds at the highest pace.
At this pace of the battle, my driven Nikolai Lyadov could not resist the ranks. I was left alone, and in my tail FV-190. He opened fire from a long distance. I easily tolerated any sharp maneuver, pulled the car until completely darkened in my eyes, slipped away from a possible aiming fire, Fokker slipped out of my sight with the same sharp maneuver. I decided to leave with a set of heights, pulled an oxygen mask. Fokker also climbs to a height, but remains much lower. The motor of our La-5 was more powerful. I, taking advantage of the superiority of the height, quickly turned around and went to the frontal attack. The cars came together with lightning speed, it seems that no one can turn it away. But at the last moment, the German could not stand it, rushed the car up, and my fiery track from two guns Svak got into Fokker.
I just managed to see the falling torch; Apparently gas troops exploded. The rest of the enemy aircraft with a decrease and at high speed went beyond the Danube. N. Lyadov died in this air battle. Schukin and Shilkov confirmed how Lyadov’s plane burned and crashed uphill.
Gathered the group, took off the mask and home …
Our attack aircraft had no losses from enemy fighters and completed a combat mission.

Aerodromes of Bad-Olyu, Fishemendorf (Vienna). April-May 1945

So, the end of the war is coming. After the Budapest operation, airfields were changed: Sekereshfehervar, Vespre, dad, Kenyri, Winer-Naustadt. From the Fishemendorf airfield, together with the attack aircraft, they worked in retreating German troops in Czechoslovakia.
On May 9, they flew to their main airfield of Bad-Olyu. Suddenly a team arrived to prepare planes for combat departure. The fact is that under the highways of Austria, some parts of the 8th and 6th fascist armies did not recognize their weapons and did not recognize the surrender of the surrender.
It was necessary to prevent the enemy from taking away the combat equipment and get away from the well -deserved retaliation.
So the city of St. Pölten, from it to the west (towards the city of Linz), a fascist group went away.
Our attack aircraft with steep planning, almost dive, went on the attack. On the ground, cars, tanks with fuel flashed with a bright flame. The column stopped. The attack aircraft repeated the attack on the attack.
Our group of four La-7 aircraft (Valeev, Levchenko, Shilkov and Yakimchuk) met with four “fokkers” (FV-190).
I will attack the leading pair with the leading N. Revechenko, I go to the FV-190e (the last modification) into the “tail”, I open aimed fire from close range (less than 100 m), my shells fall exactly along the right wing and motor.Black metal sheets of structures scattered. I go out of the attack with a “fighting turn” for a second attack and see that the “Fokker” falls and crashes into the mountain (on the spurs of the Alps). Only a little later they saw a descending paratrooper.
The remaining three Fokkers, pursued by D. Shilkov and A. Yakimchuk, hurriedly go west.
This was my last combat flight and the last shot down aircraft of the enemy.

From the military-historical essay 17th Air Army in battles from Stalingrad to Vienna:
“After these battles, N. Komorokhov had two more shot down by Nazi aircraft. His combat comrades V. Kalashonok, B. Gorkov, A. Valeev, V. Shchelkanov, N. Mozgov destroyed one FV-190. ”

About 250 enemy aircraft were shot down in air battles in air battles.
Our losses are 185 aircraft, 54 pilots.
Only from half of the 1943 we lost in air battles: Art. l-te Igor Balakin, Captain Nikolai Grekhovodov, Art. L-Ta Kolya Kuptsov, Kolya Gritsenko, Boris Shilov, Yura Fadin, Alyosha Kimstach, Kolya Lyadova, Zhenya Emets, Fedya Mikhalev, Viktor Puzirenko and others.
Seventeen pilots of our division were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, and one twice – Skomorokhov N.M.; Of these, six died in air battles.

What wonderful people – our techniques and other aircraft specialists!

They leave the airfield last, and always come here the first, even before dawn. Always – both in peacetime and in the days of the war – the work of technicians is extremely responsible. And when we fly a lot and almost every time we return with holes and damage, or comments on the work of the motor and other units, they have especially many worries and experiences.
All personnel, technicians, mechanics, motorists, armament masters, radio mechanics, etc. The fighters of the pilots did not depart from the aircraft until they put them into operation. Sometimes they did not sleep for days to quickly restore planes. I had to remove the motor over the night and put a new one. All this is not in the hangar, but at the ordinary field airfield, and in the rain, and in the snow.
Having conducted the pilot on the task, the technician until his return finds rest. He peers at the sky in vigor, he listens the most to the work of the motor of his car.
Weapons, devices, parachutes that we put on, flying out on a combat mission, were entrusted to soldiers and sergeants. There were girls among them (there were 32 girls in our regiment).
Few work – remove the gun from the plane, which weighs several tens of kilograms, carefully clean, put in place and charge with shells or hang bombs (100, 150, 200 kg). And in winter, in a cold, hands are wandered from ice metal, gasoline. But the girls skillfully coped with work, kept the guns in an exemplary order. The weapon worked flawlessly.
And at night, after dangerous and hard work, they had to guard the parking lots of aircraft, warehouses and other military property, and a hostel of personnel.Indeed, at any time, enemy aviation raids could be expected.
Our glorious girls entered a lot of heroic pages in the history of the army: air arrows and gunsmiths, motorized cars and mechanics, parachute stackers and signalmen, doctors, nurses, warriors of many other specialties.

We express our gratitude to Dmitry Parygin (LLC “UAC – Center for Complexation”) and Roman Danilov (Central Research Institute of the Russian Air Force of the Ministry of Defense of Russia) for the material provided.