Encouraged by their first success, the enemy persisted in pressing from all sides on Petrov's group of seven fighters. The German fighters tried to break up the Soviets' combat formation so that they could chase them down singly. It is far easier to engage individual aircraft or small groups. The tracer fire at times reached such a high density that it would seem to eliminate any free space in which to maneuver. In this vortex of death our air crews did not lose their heads, they did not abandon their courage or resolve. Skillfully employing the maneuverability of their P-39s, just in time they careened out of the danger zone that just a few seconds later was filled with merciless lead projectiles.

Studying the archival documents and recollections of the veterans of this battle, one cannot but be amazed. How did Senior Lieutenant Petrov manage to maintain an unbroken combat formation, not to give up, to continue firmly to guide his subordinates? Without a doubt, his considerable front-line experience (Mikhail Petrov had been fighting since the first days of the war) played an enormous role here. It should also be stated that the group he was leading was composed of several veteran pilots: Boris Glinka, Ivan Babak, Nikolay Kudrya, and Dmitriy Koval. These pilots were pair leaders. After a brief time, the group leader and all of these men would be officially recognized as aces of the 45th Regiment.

The battle continued in unbelievable gyrations of the aircraft of both sides. The air was torn by the churning of powerful motors, the continuous rattling of machine guns, and the basso voice of cannons. The first Bf-109 dropped to the earth like a stone. Soon a second Messerschmitt was set on fire. Apparently, a burst from an Airacobra had penetrated its fuel cell. The pilot put his aircraft into a dive, thinking in vain that he might in this manner extinguish the flames. He was finished!

Suddenly the alarming words of Glinka sounded across the radio: "I am wounded, disengaging!" An enemy round had struck the cockpit of his aircraft. The lieutenant guided his P-39 into a descent in an effort to break away from the fight more quickly. Four Bf-109s were already rushing down behind him to finish off his damaged Airacobra. Young pilot Sergeant Nikolay Kudryashov—Boris's wingman—skillfully fended off the first, second, and third attacks of the enemy ships. The German pilots understood that they would not penetrate to their selected target and instead turned all of their firepower against Kudryashov's Airacobra.

After several passes the enemy managed to set it on fire. Nikolay reported by radio: "BB (BB- initials of Boris Borisovich Glinka), I am on fire, cannot cover you any longer!" He placed the aircraft up on its wing and began to pull away, perhaps hoping to distract the attacking Messerschmitts to himself. They did not go after him, considering him already defeated.

The sergeant began to gain altitude as if in preparation for a parachute jump from his burning aircraft. At that same time, the Messerschmitt closed in on Boris Glinka's Airacobra. His life now hung by a thread.

In a flash, in view of all the group's pilots, Kudryashov's aircraft turned and bore down like a burning comet on the Bf-109 that was closing in on his commander's P-39. In just a few seconds Glinka's ship would be cut by deadly cannon fire. The bright flash that accompanied the collision of Kudryashov's Airacobra with the Bf-109 lit up the heavens. Pieces from both fighters flew off in all directions.

--- To be continued