The case took place in Belarus. Summer 1944. Through the burnt village, stepping on the heels of the advancing army, an MZA battery was walking. 37-mm anti-aircraft guns then held the most dangerous range of heights - 2, 0 - 3, 0 km, reliably covering crossings, airfields and other important objects.
A short rest on the ruins of the village. Thank God - the well is intact. Time - barely to collect flasks and rewind footcloths. The only living soul squinted in the sun at the remains of a burnt log. And this soul was a ginger kitten. People either died long ago, or left, out of harm's way …
The elderly foreman, smoking a cigarette, looked at the kitten for a long time, and then took him and put him on the irradiation. He fed the rest of the dinner, named the cat Ryzhik and declared him the seventh fighter of the crew. With a hint of the future glory of a murderer of mice and other obscenities in locations, and especially in dugouts. The beardless lieutenant did not mind either, so Ryzhik took root on the battery. By winter, he grew up into a healthy red cat.
During the raids of enemy aircraft, Ryzhik disappeared, it is not known where and was born only when the cannons were sheathed. At the same time, a particularly valuable feature was noted for the cat. And this feature was noticed by our foreman - half a minute before the raid (and before leaving) Ryzhik roared dully in the direction from which the enemy planes would appear. Everything turned out so that his house was bombed by German aircraft by mistake or purposefully. And the sound, bringing death, he remembered forever.
This rumor was appreciated by the entire battery. The effectiveness of the rebuff of the thinning attacks of the enemy increased by an order of magnitude, exactly like Ryzhik's reputation. The regiment's signalman immediately got in the face and tried to kick the animal with his boot, which was tangled under his feet.
During the war, it never occurred to anyone to send an inspector for the cleanliness of collars and greenness of the grass to the operating unit, for this reason Ryzhik lived until April 45, before his finest hour.
At the end of April, the battery was resting. The war died down and was coming to an end. There was a real hunt for the last Fritz in the air, therefore, the battery of the MZA air defense simply enjoyed the spring sun and Ryzhik was sleeping in the fresh air, excluding the legal time of eating.
But now, ain seconds, and Ryzhik wakes up, gives his hair on end, demands attention and growls unkindly strictly to the east. An incredible situation: Moscow and other rear areas in the East. But the people are service-oriented and trust the instinct of self-preservation. 37-millimeter paper can be brought into a combat position from a traveling position in 25-30 seconds. And in this static case - in 5-6 seconds.
Silence, the trunks, just in case, pointed to the east. We believe the cat and wait … Our hawk appears with a smoky trail. Hanging behind it, at a minimum distance - FW-190. The battery was wedged in with a double burst and Foker, without unnecessary gestures, stuck into the ground 500-700 m from our positions. At the turn, the hawk swung from wing to wing and went to land, fortunately, here all the bases are nearby - 10-15 km.
The next day, a car full of guests came and brought the pilot - chest in medals, a confused look and a suitcase with gifts. On the face it is written - to whom to thank? Says - how did you guess that I need help, but so quickly? Yes, so exactly on target? I have brought you, in gratitude, alcohol, bacon, a cigarette case and other gifts.
We nod at Ryzhik - thank him! The pilot thinks he is being played. And the foreman tells a long version of the story, you've already read it.
To his credit, the next day the pilot returned with two kg of fresh liver for Ryzhik. This pilot even thought that the cat's name was Radar, but no - his name was already Ryzhik, they did not rename it.
In June 1945, the unit was disbanded, everyone went home. And the cat was taken with him to the village by the foreman-Belarusian, rightly judging that since the cat was picked up in Belarus, then he would live there after the war. They say in the village, where the foreman was from, the descendants of this cat still live - all fiery red….
