Događaji iz Aprilskog rata 1941.

r.i.s.t.a.

Nedavno sam nabavio knjigu Borisa Todorovića "Last words". Autor ima živopisnu biografiju: bio je aktivni oficir - kapetan u Vojsci Kraljevine Jugoslavije; aprilski rat je dočekao kao komandir druge baterije u 662. protivavionskom divizionu u Kraljevu, tu je pao u zarobljeništvo. Beži iz logora 1942. godine i preko Francuske, Španije i Gibraltara dospeva u London. Iz Londona dospeva u Kairo gde završava padobranski kurs i 1943. godine se vraća u Jugoslaviju, u JVuO. 1944. godine preko Cavtata prelazi u Italiju, odlazi u Vašington i postaje pomoćnik vojnog izaslanika u ambasadi Jugoslavije. Volontira za povratak u domovinu 1945. godine, ali biva zadržan u Bariju na zahtev Engleza, i tu dočekuje kraj rata. Ostaje u emigraciji.

Tek sam na početku ove knjige koja obećava. Ono što mi je privuklo pažnju jesu dve epizode iz aprilskog rata. Todorović je služio na Škodinim protivavionskim topovima M.28, kalibra 76,5 mm. Tekst knjige je na engleskom, pa ga prenosim bez prevoda.

Strana 5.

"New twilight of April 8, I was working in my office when I heard a commotion outside. 'A German plane, a German plane!" somebody shouted. I smiled. A German plane could not have penetrated this far without detection.
When I heard a growling engine noise, though, I ran outside. To my shock, I saw a Messerschmitt fly over my head and descend peaceably to the Kraljevo airfield. Nobody, including my unit, had fired a shot.
I never learned why the plane landed. It was small consolation that the crew was taken prisoner and the plane itself repainted with Royal Yugoslav markings and added to the air corps. Theincident was disgrace for us and for every air defence watchpost from the border on. Mitigating circumstances didn't matter. The battalion was rightly held accountable, and stung by the humiliation, I had to order stricter watches."

Ja do sada nisam čuo da je nemački meseršmit zaplenjen i uvršten u jugoslovensko vazduhoplovstvo u toku aprilskog rata! Da li je moguće da se zapravo radi o Me-110 koji je pre rata zabunom sleteo u Jugoslaviji? Autor pre ove zgode opisuje događaje 6. i 7. aprila, nije mi lako da poverujem da se tako zbunio oko datuma događaja. Teško je pomešati mirnodopsko i ratno vreme. No, sve je moguće.

Drugi događaj koji mi je zanimljiv se zbio narednog dana, 9. aprila.

"Working in my room in the morning, I was interruprted by Corporal Lukić. 'Enemy aicraft patrol spotted, sir, headed up from Kruševac." I picked up my field glasses and revolver and sprinted outside to the guns.
Everyone was set. The spotters began reading off the coordinates of the oncoming planes. They were closing in fast, very fast. It wasn't anything like practice. With my field glasses, I recognised the Italian make (a type flown by the Germans and our own air force) but I couldn't distinguish the markings on either the wings or bodies.
A terrible strugle raged inside me. If I waited until the markings were absolutely clear, the bombers would be on top of us. It would be too late to fire. Lieutenant Veljković, in charge of the platoon on the big antiaircraft guns, was at my side.
I checked off facts in my mind. The approaching planes didn't give the current signals for 'friendlies'. They weren't flying at the prescribed altitude. None of our aircraft were officialy scheduled to arrive.
'Shall we shoot them, Captain? They're in the best position now', Lieutenant Veljković whispered.
This was it. 'Ready!' The lieutenant signaled to the gunners. 'Fire!' I shouted. Bullets went instantly tearing through the air. The battery rang with deafening noise.
One of the bombers faltered. 'It's a hit! It's a hit!' the men yelled happily. The crippled plane dropped steadily, almost out of control. The rest veered away sharply.
Our elation was brief. In half hour I had the official story. The planes were indeed ours.
The crew of the downed bomber had fortunately escaped unhurt. I felt regret and disappointment but refused to second-guess my decision. My action was correct. If it had been the enemy attacking, delay might have proved fatal, the consequences disastrous."

Koji je VVKJ bombarder oboren od strane sopstvene protivavionske artiljerije 9. aprila kod Kraljeva? Ne znam da su Nemci u 1941. godini imali u svom naoružanju neki italijanski avion, autor očigledno greši; u igri su SM-79 i Caproni 310 i 311.

Na žalost lavovski deo moje biblioteke mi nije na dohvat ruke, ne mogu sam da napravim ukrštanje podataka iz literature, pa zato puno zapitkujem Smile