Originally, Drachenko's squadron hadn't noticed the artillery positions on the ground.
Yes, they had been given photographs before takeoff, and everyone had looked at them many times, but these photos were taken from above, and the squadron was preoccupied with looking directly downward, so they completely missed that the target was right ahead.
As a result, the moment the ground forces opened fire, a pilot immediately noticed: "There's something firing from the ground ahead!"
Drachenko quickly adjusted his wings, tilting the aircraft to the side, then looked toward the front and below. Sure enough, he saw the smoke from the firing. He judged by experience that it was anti-aircraft artillery.
"Anti-aircraft guns are firing, follow my maneuvers!"
He gently pulled the joystick, starting a left bank turn, and at the same time, he stepped on the rudder to correct for the shift caused by the plane's circling.