I would like to share a miraculous case of saving a signalman soldier from imminent death or at least severe burns.
It happened in May 1978 at the headquarters of an anti-aircraft missile brigade stationed in the Polish People's Republic in the town of Tshcheben (25 kilometers from the city of Legnica). I was then chief of the eighth section of the brigade headquarters.
Once, during a park and business day, a signalman soldier was repairing a flabby electric heater in the box (closed body of the headquarters GAZ-66). The kung consisted of two compartments: the operational headquarters and directly the control room, where the radio and classified communications equipment were located. Since the equipment is secret, the kung is also equipped in accordance with all security parameters. In particular, all its windows were covered with small metal bars.
The internal compartments were divided by a plywood bulkhead with a rectangular window above the table for transferring documents. The size of this miniature window, if memory serves (after all, so many years have passed!), Was about 24 by 17 centimeters. The completed radiotelegram forms were transmitted through it. And, of course, they simply threw phrases from one compartment to another.
While working in the headquarters compartment, a signalman inadvertently pushed a bucket of gasoline. It splashed out onto a running heater motor. The flame immediately engulfed the spreading gasoline, so the fighter could not jump out of the box through the back door - the path to salvation was cut off for him.
The count went on for seconds. Fleeing from the fire, the signalman, climbing onto the table, literally jumped like a fish through the mini-window of the bulkhead and jumped out through the side door of the equipment compartment. This moment was observed by many military personnel - both soldiers and officers. I was also right next to the car and saw how, as soon as the fighter jumped out, thick black smoke poured out of the rear door of the kunga.
Somehow by joint efforts, the soldiers and officers still put out the fire in the kunga. The car with the secret equipment was saved, although, of course, it required repair. The front door and the inner lining of the operational staff compartment were burned.
The culprit of the fire - a signalman soldier (by the way, very well-fed), slightly moving away from the experienced stress, told how exactly everything happened.
Promotional video:
But in the army, of course, you can't get off with one explanatory note. An investigative experiment was carried out on the spot. However, here's what's surprising. The soldier repeatedly tried not only to slip through, but at least to squeeze through the window, but only failed to stick his head in there.
How he managed to slip through this tiny hole in a couple of seconds (and this is in uniform!) Remained a mystery to us. Apparently, he did have strong guardian angels. If not for them, the fighter would have been burned alive or suffocated.
Vladimir Leonidovich DUBROVIN, Belogorsk, Amur Region
