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in The most productive and FURIOUS PILOT of the century: twice a Hero in the sky and Stenka Razin on the ground ...
Nikolai Gulaev was born on February 26, 1918 in the village of Aksayskaya, which has now become the city of Aksay, Rostov Region.
Don daring freemen was in the blood and character of Nicholas from the first days to the end of his bright life.
He ended up at the front in August 1942 and immediately demonstrated both the talent of a combat pilot and the wayward, frantic character of a native of the Don steppes.
The first episode: Gulaev did not have a permit for night flights, and when on August 3, 1942, Nazi planes appeared in the area of responsibility of the regiment where the young pilot served, experienced pilots went into the sky.
But then the mechanic urged Nikolai: What are you waiting for? The plane is ready, fly!
The 24-year-old guy, having decided to prove that he was no worse than the “old men”, jumped into the cockpit and took off - in the very first battle, without experience, without the help of searchlights, he destroyed a German bomber!
When Gulaev returned to the airfield, the general who arrived said: “For the fact that I flew out without permission, I announce a reprimand, but for the fact that I shot down an enemy plane, I increase my rank and present for a reward” - this became the code of our hero’s life.
The second episode, much later: a slap in the face to a Romanian diplomat who dared to insult the hero.
There were many such episodes, and therefore life path furious flier was not smooth...
Furious Gulaev. The history of the most effective pilot of the Second World War
One of the best Soviet aces, Nikolai Gulaev, was not afraid of enemies, bosses, or foreign diplomats.
The names of the Soviet aces of the Great Patriotic War Ivan Kozhedub and Alexander Pokryshkin are known to everyone who is at least superficially familiar with Russian history.
Kozhedub and Pokryshkin are the most productive Soviet fighter pilots. On account of the first 64 enemy aircraft shot down personally, on account of the second - 59 personal victories, and he shot down 6 more aircraft in the group.
The name of the third most successful Soviet pilot is known only to aviation lovers. Nikolai Gulaev during the war years destroyed 57 enemy aircraft personally and 4 in the group.
An interesting detail - Kozhedub needed 330 sorties and 120 air battles to achieve his result, Pokryshkin - 650 sorties and 156 air battles. Gulaev, on the other hand, achieved his result by carrying out 290 sorties and conducting 69 air battles.
Moreover, according to award documents, in his first 42 air battles, he destroyed 42 enemy aircraft, that is, on average, each battle ended for Gulaev with a destroyed enemy machine.
Fans of military statistics have calculated that the efficiency ratio, that is, the ratio of air battles and victories, Nikolai Gulaev was 0.82. For comparison, it was 0.51 for Ivan Kozhedub, and for Hitler's ace Erich Hartman, who officially shot down the most aircraft during the Second world war, — 0,4.
At the same time, people who knew Gulaev and fought with him claimed that he generously recorded many of his victories on the followers, helping them receive orders and money - Soviet pilots were paid for each downed enemy aircraft. Some believe that total number aircraft shot down by Gulaev could reach 90, which, however, today cannot be confirmed or denied.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union pilot Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev
Heroes of the Soviet Union pilots Alexander Pokryshkin (second from left), Grigory Rechkalov (center) and Nikolai Gulaev (right) on Red Square
Nugget
His star shone especially brightly during the battles on Kursk Bulge. On May 14, 1943, repelling a raid on the Grushka airfield, he single-handedly entered into battle with three Yu-87 bombers, covered by four Me-109s. Having shot down two "Junkers", Gulaev tried to attack the third, but the cartridges ran out. Without hesitating for a second, the pilot went to ram, shooting down another bomber. Gulaev's uncontrolled "Yak" went into a tailspin. The pilot managed to level the plane and land it at the front edge, but on its own territory. Arriving at the regiment, Gulaev again flew on a combat mission on another plane.
In early July 1943, Gulaev, as part of four Soviet fighters, using the surprise factor, attacked the German armada of 100 aircraft. Having upset the battle formation, shooting down 4 bombers and 2 fighters, all four returned safely to the airfield. On this day, Gulaev's link made several sorties and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft.
July 1943 was generally extremely productive for Nikolai Gulaev. Here is what is recorded in his flight book: "July 5 - 6 sorties, 4 victories, July 6 - Focke-Wulf 190 was shot down, July 7 - three enemy aircraft were shot down as part of the group, July 8 - Me-109 was shot down" July 12 - two Yu-87s were shot down.
Hero of the Soviet Union Fyodor Arkhipenko, who happened to command the squadron where Gulaev served, wrote about him: “He was a nugget pilot, one of the top ten aces of the country. He never hesitated, he quickly assessed the situation, his sudden and effective attack created panic and destroyed the enemy’s battle formation, which disrupted his targeted bombing of our troops. He was very brave and decisive, often came to the rescue, sometimes he felt the real excitement of a hunter.
Flying Stenka Razin
On September 28, 1943, Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
In early 1944, Gulaev was appointed squadron commander. His not too rapid career growth is explained by the fact that the ace's methods of educating subordinates were not quite ordinary. So, one of the pilots of his squadron, who was afraid to get close to the Nazis at close range, he cured of fear of the enemy, giving a burst of airborne weapons next to the cockpit of the wingman. The fear of the subordinate was taken away as if by hand ...
The same Fyodor Arkhipenko in his memoirs described another characteristic episode related to Gulaev: “Flying up to the airfield, I immediately saw from the air that Gulaev’s plane was empty ... After landing, I was informed that all six of Gulaev were shot down! Nikolai himself, wounded, sat down at the airfield with attack aircraft, and nothing is known about the rest of the pilots. Some time later, they reported from the front line: two jumped out of planes and landed at the location of our troops, the fate of three more is unknown ... And today, many years later, major mistake Gulaev, admitted then, I see in the fact that he took with him on a sortie at once three young, not at all shelled pilots, who were shot down in their very first battle. True, Gulaev himself scored 4 air victories that day at once, shooting down 2 Me-109, Yu-87 and Henschel.
He was not afraid to risk himself, but he risked his subordinates with the same ease, which at times looked completely unjustified. The pilot Gulaev did not look like the “air Kutuzov”, but rather like the dashing Stenka Razin, who mastered the combat fighter.
But at the same time he achieved amazing results. In one of the battles over the Prut River, at the head of six P-39 Aircobra fighters, Nikolai Gulaev attacked 27 enemy bombers, accompanied by 8 fighters. In 4 minutes, 11 enemy vehicles were destroyed, 5 of them personally by Gulaev.
In March 1944, the pilot received a short leave home. From this trip to the Don, he returned closed, taciturn, bitter. He rushed into battle furiously, with some transcendent fury. During a trip home, Nikolai learned that during the occupation, his father was executed by the Nazis ...
Soviet ace almost killed by a pig
On July 1, 1944, Guard Captain Nikolai Gulaev was awarded the second star of the Hero of the Soviet Union for 125 sorties, 42 air battles, in which he shot down 42 enemy aircraft personally and 3 in a group.
And then another episode occurs, about which Gulaev frankly told his friends after the war, an episode that perfectly shows his violent nature, a native of the Don.
The fact that he became twice Hero of the Soviet Union, the pilot learned after the next flight. Brother-soldiers have already gathered at the airfield, who said: the award should be “washed”, there is alcohol, but there are problems with the snack.
Gulaev remembered that when he returned to the airfield, he saw grazing pigs. With the words "there will be a snack," the ace boards the plane again and, after a few minutes, puts it near the barns, to the amazement of the owner of the pigs.
As already mentioned, the pilots were paid for downed planes, so Nikolai had no problems with cash. The owner willingly agreed to sell the boar, which was loaded with difficulty into the fighting vehicle.
By some miracle, the pilot took off from a very small platform along with a boar distraught with horror. A combat aircraft is not designed for the fact that a plump pig will dance inside it. Gulaev had difficulty keeping the plane in the air...
If a catastrophe had happened that day, it would probably have been the most ridiculous case of the death of a twice Hero of the Soviet Union in history.
Thank God, Gulaev made it to the airfield, and the regiment cheerfully celebrated the hero's award.
Another anecdotal case is related to the appearance of the Soviet ace. Once in battle, he managed to shoot down a reconnaissance aircraft piloted by a Hitlerite colonel, holder of four Iron Crosses. The German pilot wanted to meet the one who managed to interrupt his brilliant career. Apparently, the German expected to see a stately handsome man, a “Russian bear”, who is not shameful to lose ... But instead, a young, short, overweight captain Gulaev came, who, by the way, in the regiment did not have the heroic nickname “Kolobok” at all. The disappointment of the Germans knew no bounds...
Fight with political overtones
Summer 1944 Soviet command decides to recall the best Soviet pilots from the front. The war is coming to a victorious end, and the leadership of the USSR begins to think about the future. Those who proved themselves in the Great Patriotic War must graduate from the Air Force Academy in order to then take leadership positions in the Air Force and Air Defense.
Gulaev was among those who were called to Moscow. He himself did not rush to the academy, he asked to be left in active army but got rejected. On August 12, 1944, Nikolai Gulaev shot down his last Focke-Wulf 190.
Medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Heroic story. The first Hero of the USSR was a pilot, and the last - a diver
There are at least three versions of what happened, which combine two words - "brawl" and "foreigners". Let's focus on the one that occurs most often.
According to her, Nikolai Gulaev, by that time already a major, was called to Moscow not only to study at the academy, but also to receive the third star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Given the combat achievements of the pilot, this version does not look implausible. In the company of Gulaev, there were other honored aces who were waiting for the award.
The day before the ceremony in the Kremlin, Gulaev went to the restaurant of the Moskva Hotel, where his fellow pilots were relaxing. However, the restaurant was full, and the administrator said: "Comrade, there is no place for you!".
It was not worth it at all to say something like that to Gulaev with his explosive character, but then, unfortunately, he also came across the Romanian military, who at that moment were also relaxing in the restaurant. Shortly before this, Romania, which had been an ally of Germany since the beginning of the war, went over to the side of the anti-Hitler coalition.
The enraged Gulaev said loudly: “Is it that there is no place for the Hero of the Soviet Union, but are there enemies?”
The words of the pilot were heard by the Romanians, and one of them issued an insulting phrase in Russian to Gulaev. A second later, the Soviet ace was near the Romanian and relish hit him in the face.
Less than a minute later, a fight broke out in the restaurant between Romanians and Soviet pilots.
When the fighters were separated, it turned out that the pilots had beaten the members of the official Romanian military delegation. The scandal reached Stalin himself, who decided: to cancel the awarding of the third star of the Hero.
If it were not about the Romanians, but about the British or Americans, most likely, the case for Gulaev would have ended quite badly. But the leader of all peoples did not break the life of his ace because of yesterday's opponents. Gulaev was simply sent to a unit, away from the front, the Romanians and, in general, any attention. But how true this version is is unknown.
General who was friends with Vysotsky
Despite everything, in 1950 Nikolai Gulaev graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy, and five years later - from the Academy of the General Staff.
He commanded the 133rd Aviation Fighter Division, located in Yaroslavl, the 32nd Air Defense Corps in Rzhev, the 10th Air Defense Army in Arkhangelsk, which covered the northern borders of the Soviet Union.
Nikolai Dmitrievich had a wonderful family, he adored his granddaughter Ira, was a passionate fisherman, loved to treat guests with personally salted watermelons...
He also visited pioneer camps, participated in various veteran events, but still there was a feeling that an order had been given from above, saying modern language, do not promote his persona too much.
Actually, there were reasons for this even at a time when Gulaev was already wearing the general's shoulder straps. For example, he could use his power to invite Vladimir Vysotsky to a speech at the House of Officers in Arkhangelsk, ignoring the timid protests of the local party leadership. By the way, there is a version that some of Vysotsky's songs about pilots were born after his meetings with Nikolai Gulaev.
Norwegian complaint
Colonel-General Gulaev retired in 1979. And there is a version that one of the reasons for this was a new conflict with foreigners, but this time not with the Romanians, but with the Norwegians.
Allegedly, General Gulaev organized a hunt for polar bears using helicopters near the border with Norway. The Norwegian border guards appealed to the Soviet authorities with a complaint about the actions of the general. After that, the general was transferred to a headquarters position away from Norway, and then sent to a well-deserved rest.
It is impossible to say with certainty that this hunt took place, although such a plot fits very well into the vivid biography of Nikolai Gulaev.
Be that as it may, the resignation had a bad effect on the health of the old pilot, who could not imagine himself without service, to which his whole life was devoted.
http://www.aif.ru/society/people/neistovyy_gulaev_istoriya_samogo_effektivnogo_letchika_vtoroy_mirovoy_voyny
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Even among the far from ordinary fighter pilots, the figure of Nikolai Gulaev stands out for his colorfulness. Only he, a man of unparalleled courage, managed to hold 10 super-successful battles, 2 of his victories were won by a ram. His modesty in public and in self-esteem was dissonant with an exceptionally persistent, aggressive manner of air combat, and he carried honesty and openness with boyish spontaneity throughout his life, retaining to the end some youthful prejudices. In March 1942, Nikolai Gulaev, among the 10 best pilots, was sent to the defense of Borisoglebsk. There, the main enemy air raids were at night, and he had to retrain for night work. In June 1942, Gulaev was transferred to the 487th air regiment, where soon, on August 3, 1942, he took his first battle. He won his first victory without an order, taking off for the first time in his life at night, under the howl of an air raid alarm and encouraging replicas of mechanics. He got lucky. Against the background of the moonlit sky, he saw silhouettes familiar from tables and diagrams - "Heinkels". Forcing the engine of his "Yak", he approached the enemy car so that the flaming engine exhausts became clearly visible, and pressed the triggers. The queue turned out to be successful: the track sparkled with fast red arrows, which suddenly blossomed into a growing fiery tail in the night. The bomber glided onto the wing, spewing crimson clubs of burning fuel and, randomly spinning, rushed to the ground ... The reaction of the commander to his victory was extraordinary: Nikolai was announced about the penalty and presented for the award. Thus began one of the brightest military destinies in our aviation. The battle days went by. Gulaev gained experience. Now he acted more competently, boldly and decisively. Once a group of fighters under the command of Gulaev flew out on patrol and met more than 20 Ju-87s, marching without cover to attack our troops. In the ensuing battle, Nikolai shot down the leader of the enemy group, and his pilots shot down 2 more aircraft. The rest began to hastily flee behind the front line, randomly dropping bombs. A little later appeared a new group Ju-87 - 36 aircraft, now under guard 18 Me-109. Despite the huge superiority of the enemy in forces, our pilots attacked them, crashed into the Ju-87 formation and shot down 5 enemy aircraft, forcing the rest to flee. In February 1943, after completing the courses for flight commanders, Lieutenant N. D. Gulaev was sent to the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment. As part of this regiment, he lived his "star" year, shooting down more than 50 enemy vehicles in the air, "creating" a dozen aces, becoming twice a Hero of the Soviet Union. Pilot of the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment (205th Fighter Aviation Division, 2nd Air Army, Voronezh Front) Senior Lieutenant N. D. Gulaev especially distinguished himself on the Kursk Bulge in the Belgorod region. the day before Battle of Kursk The Luftwaffe concentrated about 1,000 aircraft there to support its 4th Panzer Army, General Hoth, and Task Force Kempf. Along with the novelties of armored vehicles, the Wehrmacht for the first time widely used here the latest FW-190 A-4, A-5 and A-6 fighters, which, as a rule, carried 4-6 cannons and 2 machine guns. In the first skirmish on May 14, 1943, repulsing a raid on the Grushka airfield, Nikolai single-handedly engaged in battle with 3 Ju-87 bombers, covered by 4 Me-109s. Having dispersed the plane at low altitude, Nikolai made a "slide" and, approaching the lead bomber, shot him down from the very first turn. Infantrymen of the 52nd rifle division- witnesses of this heroic feat - they carried the pilot out of the cockpit in their arms, thinking that he was wounded. But the brave fighter did not receive a single scratch. In their car, they delivered the pilot to the airfield. Arriving at the regiment, Nikolai Dmitrievich did not say a single word about the accomplished feat. Only a few hours later, from the report of the infantrymen, the aviators learned about his courage. At the rally dedicated to this event, Gulaev did not say much: The commander immediately ordered the pilot to be given a new car, and on the same day he again participated in the battle ... For this feat, N. D. Gulaev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. The consciousness of his own authority not only strengthened his confidence, but significantly increased his internal discipline and self-control, increased his demands on himself. He carefully studied the literature that fell into his hands, if time allowed, he could spend hours discussing the ups and downs of air battles conducted or being presented. Now he wins in every second of his interceptions: on May 22 he shoots down Ju-88, on the 29th - Ju-87, on June 8 and 25 - 2 Me-109. One day, the four fighters, led by Gulaev, had a very successful battle. Suddenly and boldly they attacked a large group of 100 enemy aircraft. Having upset the order of battle, shooting down 4 bombers and 2 fighters, all four returned safely to their airfield. On the same day, Gulaev's link made several sorties and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft. July 9, in the Belgorod region, Nikolai Gulaev made his second ram and again landed safely by parachute. In total, on the Kursk Bulge, he destroyed 17 enemy aircraft. On August 9, 1943, after a brief briefing, he made his first flight in the Aerocobra. In the very first sortie on a new machine, Nikolai destroyed another Laptezhnik, two days later he shot down a Ju-88 with a powerful burst on the cockpit, the next day - 2 Me-109, October 29 - another Messer and ended the month by shooting down a modified Ne- 111 with enhanced armament and armor. Note that Gulaev won all his victories by no means in the "free hunting" mode: most of his sorties are recorded as covering ground troops, less often - airfields or crossings, his official account also has up to 10 interceptions and reconnaissance. In one of them he wrote: Do not rest on what has been achieved, constantly and persistently improve - Nikolai Gulaev called his comrades for this. And he himself served as a model of a creatively thinking master of air combat. In November 1943, from the Zelyonaya airfield, not far from Pyatikhatki, he managed to destroy 2 reconnaissance aircraft, the FW-189 spotter, the “frames”, which were especially hated by the soldiers, and on the last day of the month, shoot down his 3rd Heinkel-111. In the New Year's battles for Kirovograd, Gulaev scored 3 double victories and shot down another Ju-88. Having assessed the situation, Gulaev made a daring decision: to attack the bombers himself in two pairs, and to pair Pyotr Nikiforov to tie up the cover fighters in battle, thereby facilitating the fulfillment of the main task - the destruction of the bombers. In this battle, in 4 minutes of the battle, our pilots destroyed 11 enemy vehicles, 5 of them personally by Gulaev. The main task - to prevent the enemy from dropping bombs on our troops - was successfully completed. During the Korsun - Shevchenko operation and near Uman, he shot down Me-109, FW-189 and transport Ju-52. In March 1944, Captain N. D. Gulaev of the Guards was granted leave to travel to his homeland ... His mother and sister survived the occupation, but his father, who was always quiet and busy with household chores, was hanged by the Nazis. Gloomy and unsociable, the previously cheerful and mischievous commander returned to the unit. In April 1944, he was especially indomitable, never before with such persistence and fury had he sought meetings with the enemy, and never - neither before nor after this period - did he manage to shoot down 10 enemy aircraft in 2 weeks. At the same time, he spent 2 of his super-productive battles: on April 18, covering ground troops in the Sher area, he shot down 2 Ju-87s and Me-109s, and on the 25th near Dubossary he pretty much pinched the Fokkers, destroying 4 enemy vehicles. Here is how Gulaev himself recalled this fight a year later: N. D. Gulaev near his "Aircobra". Having made two circles and passing with a course of 260 - 270 °, I found a group of aircraft flying under the clouds with a course of 90 °, at an altitude of 2000 to 2500 meters in the formation of a column consisting of three nines. The battle formation of the nines was a wedge. Above and behind were, apparently, with a delay 8 Me-109. Having leveled on a collision course, I attacked one group with two pairs with a right turn under the angle of 2 / 4 from a distance of 150 - 200 meters and shot down one FW-190. When exiting the attack with a combat turn to the right, I again attacked the FW-190, which caught fire and went to the ground in a steep dive. Due to the surprise of the attack, the first nine lost 4 FW-190s: I shot down 2 and Lieutenant Bookchin, my wingman, and Senior Lieutenant Kozlov, one each. The enemy, seeing the burning planes, began to leave with a right turn with a course of 230 - 250 °. When turning around, one plane set my stomach up, I opened fire with lightning speed and shot down the 3rd FW-190 ... At the same time, I saw a burning Me-109 shot down by Captain Nikiforov. Soon, scattered aircraft and pairs of the enemy began to approach the place of air combat again. But the enemy, apparently, had little confidence in his own strength, since the FW-190 aircraft had 37-mm caliber suspended cannons, which made it impossible for them to fight on the verticals, but forced them to take up defense. The actions of the German pilots were uncertain, fire was opened from long distances. When reading the passage, there is a feeling of organic ease with which Gulaev conducts an air battle. Everything flows as if by itself: “one plane set my stomach up”, another “fell down from the clouds, substituting its tail”, it is possible to get out of the impact of a pair of Me-109s “with a quick movement of the rudders”. This external lightness is probably a manifestation of the highest skill, art, whether it is air combat, a piece of music or a sports duel. Gulaev was constantly looking for new methods of air combat, fought bravely, imposing his will on the enemy. Often he took risks based on a solid knowledge of technology and tactics, accurate calculation. Many times he happened to accompany groups of our bombers flying on missions to the deep enemy rear.
It is not customary to talk about the "school" of Gulaev, however, his special, inspired and risky, outwardly completely devoid of any practicality, manner of fighting makes him at least a "symbol" of the romantic trend in the art of aerial duel. Like no one else, he knew how to be productive: on May 30, 1944, he shot down 5 aircraft; twice (07/05/1943, 04/25/1944) he won 4 victories a day, three more times (07/07/1943, 07/12/1943, 04/18/1944) he destroyed 3 aircraft and in 6 battles (05/14/1943, 10/24/1943, 10/28/1943, 12/15/1943, 12/17/1943, 01/08/1944) did a double. He has 8 twin-engine bombers (5 He-111 and 4 Ju-88), 3 "frames" - FW-189 spotters, 14 "Pieces" - Ju-87 dive bombers. Such a significant distribution of trophies is not typical for front-line aviation pilots, whose list of victories was mainly fighters.
The gunner of the second "Junkers" opened fire on him. Then Gulaev shot him down too. The third one tried to attack, but the cartridges ran out, and then Nikolai decided to ram him. With the left wing of his Yak-1, he hit the right plane of the Junkers and it fell apart. The unguided fighter went into a tailspin. After several attempts, Gulaev managed to level the plane and land it at the front edge.
- In my place, each of you would have done exactly the same. It’s a pity that he remained “horseless” ...
The day of the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, which became the bloodiest day of the Second World War, Gulaev marked 4 personal victories won in 6 sorties to cover airfields. The next day, Gulaev shot down FW-190s, on July 7th - Ju-87s, as well as Hs-126s and FW-189s, recorded as group victories, on the 8th - Me-109s, on the 12th - 2 Ju-87s. On July 12, Nikolai Gulaev made his "double", already being appointed commander of the 2nd squadron of the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
By mid-July, when the greatly depleted regiment was withdrawn from the front for replenishment and rearmament, its flight record indicated that by that time it had made 147 landings on the Yak-1 and 4 landings on the Yak-7.
On September 28, 1943, for the courage and courage shown in battles with enemies, Nikolai Dmitrievich Gulaev was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By that time, he already had 27 downed enemy aircraft on his account. At a rally in the regiment, Hero promised his comrades to double this number. In the front-line newspaper Wings of Victory, Nikolai published a series of articles on best practices.
"Although you have won several victories, do not think that you have already reached perfection, that you have become a first-class fighter pilot. While you are sitting and self-confidently counting your victories, the enemy will overtake you, he will find something new that you have missed due to your arrogance, and in the next duel will catch you in a cunning maneuver."
In early 1944, Gulaev became a squadron commander and took part in the liberation of the Right-Bank Ukraine. On January 8, four fighters under his command, covering ground troops, attacked a large group of enemy bombers and fighters (up to 50 vehicles). Using cloudiness, our pilots suddenly shot down 4 German aircraft from the very first attack. In this short-lived battle, Nikolai Gulaev destroyed 2 enemy vehicles.
A remarkable battle was carried out by him in the spring of 1944. In those days the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian front crossed the Prut River and created a bridgehead on its western bank. On March 5, six "Aircobras" under the command of Gulaev flew to cover our ground troops. Soon the pilots discovered a large group of enemy aircraft. The bombers marched in three nines in wedge formation, guarded by 8 fighters. A command was received from the ground: "To intercept the enemy and in no case allow it to reach our line of defense."
Yes, it was a risk, but a sober risk, based on the exact calculation and confidence of the squadron commander N. D. Gulaev in the skill of his subordinates, in their courage.
The task assigned to the leader of the pair, Nikiforov, was especially difficult. The success of the planned battle depended on how it was carried out. But Gulaev perfectly knew Nikiforov's skill and hoped for him. And not in vain. This couple did great. She boldly attacked the enemy fighters and tied them up in battle. The enemy quickly became unable to cover the wards of the bombers.
In the meantime, Gulaev with his wingmen quickly crashed into the combat formations of the bombers and, one after another, set fire to 3 enemy aircraft. Leaving the attack, Nikolai saw how the enemy in a panic threw bombs anywhere and turned back. Taking advantage of the confusion of the enemy, the four made a second call on the outgoing aircraft.
"At 15:30, 6 Airacobra aircraft flew under my command to cover ground troops in the area of the bridgehead. Having gained a height of about 4000 meters along the route, I came to a given area and established contact with a guidance radio station. When completing the task, I walked with the right around, deepening into enemy territory for 10 kilometers.
Still having superiority in height and speed, we continued to fight, despite the near exhaustion of fuel and ammunition. Junior Lieutenant Gurov attacked the Me-109 on a collision course in the forehead; as a result of the attack, the plane banked sharply, began to smoke, went into a steep dive and crashed into the ground not far from our radio station. At this time, I was attacked by 2 Me-109s from above - from behind; but thanks to my wingman, who warned me in time, I managed to get out of the blow with a quick movement of the rudders. When leaving in the direction of cloudiness, one FW-190 fell on me from the clouds, substituting its tail, as a result of which it was shot down. Thus, on my account there was one more downed plane - the fourth.
The battle flared up. Senior Lieutenant Kozlov, with an energetic turn, managed to get the Me-109 into the tail and from a distance of 100 - 150 meters ignite it in a short burst. Junior Lieutenant Akinshin, led by Captain Nikiforov, on a turn, from a distance of 50 - 70 meters, shot down one Me-109. In view of the end of fuel and ammunition, I asked the corps commander for help. The commander, who was at the guidance radio station, lifted 18 Airacobra aircraft into the air from the nearest airfield. In less than 3-4 minutes, these planes entered the battle, which eased the position of our six.
My ammunition load was completely used up, but I did not leave the battle, but made false attacks, frightening the German pilots. My wingman succeeded in one such false attack, following me, to shoot down another FW-190. Our six returned to their airfield without losses or significant damage ... In this air battle, 7 FW-190s and 4 Me-109s were shot down.
Short in stature, strong (athleticism had an effect), with golden eyes, agile "like mercury", quick for a sharp word and always ready for daring youth, Nikolai Gulaev was a born air fighter. His exceptional talent was all the more fully manifested in a highly organized and strong regiment, which was the 129th Sandomierz Order of Alexander Nevsky and Bogdan Khmelnitsky Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The pilots of the regiment shot down about 500 enemy aircraft in air battles, among them 13 Heroes of the Soviet Union. The regiment was commanded by well-known aces - V. I. Bobrov, and from February 1944 - V. A. Figichev.
... The aviation regiment was located at the field airfield of the Right-Bank Ukraine. It was warm spring days. One morning over the airfield appeared german fighter. As soon as our planes took off, he flew away without accepting a fight. And the next day, at the same time, he reappeared. And again quickly flew away, seeing our planes. This went on for 3-4 days. At the same time, the German pilot always appeared with particular accuracy: at exactly 11 o'clock.
The regimental commander summoned Gulaev to him and demanded that the German pilot stop his morning walks. Nikolai decided to bring him down at all costs. In the morning I went to my plane and at 10:50 I started the engine. He took off, gained altitude and, moving a little to the side, began to wait.
Exactly at 11:00 an uninvited guest appeared over the airfield. Gulaev rushed at the enemy, sending the car straight in the forehead. The distance was rapidly shrinking. The enemy was the first to tremble - he turned sharply to the side, but did not retreat. Having sharply turned around, Gulaev tried to take an advantageous position and go into the tail of the enemy. Failed. Skillfully performing various maneuvers, he left from under the blow. Chasing each other, the planes soared up like a candle, then entered into a dive.
Finally, Gulaev managed to build his maneuver in such a way that he ended up in the tail of the enemy. The "Ace of Spades" painted on the side of the enemy aircraft appeared in the crosshairs of the sight. Fire! And the enemy plane, sharply nodding, fell down. But the pilot, almost at the very ground, managed to jump out with a parachute. Nikolai circled over him until he landed. It was 11:14 am.
After some time, the German pilot was taken to headquarters. It turned out to be the Colonel, on whose tunic there were four Iron Cross. He turned out to be quite talkative: "I was in France, Italy. I was lucky everywhere, but here, on the Russian front, I was shot down. I would like to see the one who did it ..." They called Gulaev. The German ace expected to see a giant, a kind of "Russian bear", and in front of him stood a young, not very tall man ...
On May 30, 1944, over Skuleni, N. D. Gulaev shot down 5 enemy aircraft in one day: Hs-126, 2 Me-109, Ju-88 and Ju-87. At the same time, he shot down the Ju-87 and Me-109 in one attack with his "signature move": sharply turning the Cobra after a deadly burst on the Junkers towards the attacking fighter. He himself was seriously wounded in right hand; having concentrated all his strength and will, he managed to bring the fighter to his airfield, taxied to the parking lot and lost consciousness. He came to his senses only in the hospital, after the operation. Here I learned about conferring on him the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
Nikolai Gulaev performed his last combat sortie from the Turbia airfield in Poland on August 14, 1944, already being a Major of the Guards, navigator of the 129th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The day before, 3 days in a row - August 10, 11, 12, he shot down one aircraft in battles.
https://topwar.ru/28299-gulaev-nikolay-dmitrievich.html
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About Alexander Pokryshkin and Ivan Kozhedub, three times Heroes of the Soviet Union, air marshals, many books have been written, many films have been shot.
Nikolai Gulaev, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, was close to the third "Gold Star", but he never received it and did not go to the marshals, remaining a colonel general. And in general, if post-war years Pokryshkin and Kozhedub were always in sight, engaged in patriotic education young people, then Gulaev, who was practically in no way inferior to his colleagues, remained in the shadow all the time, not receiving well-deserved honors to the extent that his colleagues did.
Perhaps the point is that both military and post-war biography The Soviet ace was rich in episodes that do not fit too well into the image of an ideal hero.
But what a Russian man of a broad soul he was, this short, imperfect, frantic and unsurpassed pilot-hero, Nikolai Gulaev.
Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko (September 27 (October 10), 1912, the village of Golubovka, Yekaterinoslav province - February 23, 1943, the village of Sinyavino, Leningrad region) - lieutenant general of aviation, ace pilot. Together with S. I. Gritsevets, the first twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1939). Born on September 27 (October 10), 1912 in the village of Golubovka, Novomoskovsk district, Yekaterinoslav province (now Novomoskovskiy district Dnepropetrovsk region) in the family of a poor peasant. Ukrainian In 1930 he graduated from the school of peasant youth and entered the Perm Land Management College, which was soon transferred to Moscow. After the first year of the Moscow Land Management College in 1931, he was drafted into the Red Army. In the same year he joined the CPSU (b). In aviation When the appeal of the IX Congress of the Komsomol was published in the winter of 1931 with the appeal "Komsomolets - on the plane!", The answer of the Soviet youth was unanimous "Let's give 100,000 pilots!". Grigory took the call as personally addressed to him and filed an application with a request to send him to aviation. According to the special recruitment of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in May 1931, he was sent to the 1st Military School of Pilots. comrade Myasnikov in Kacha. At the aviation school, he mastered the U-1 and R-1 aircraft. curriculum persistent and disciplined cadet passed in 11 months. In 1932, after graduating from the Kachin Military Aviation School named after A.F. Myasnikov, he remained there to work as an instructor pilot. In 1933-1934. served in the 403rd IAB, commanded by brigade commander P. I. Pumpur. He quickly mastered the I-3, I-4, I-5 fighters. From 1934 he served near Moscow in the 116th Fighter Squadron. special purpose under the command of Colonel Thomas Susie. Was a squad leader. The squadron performed special missions of the Air Force Research Institute. Participated in tests of dynamo-reactive aircraft guns of the Kurchevsky agro-industrial complex 4-bis on I-Z aircraft(N 13535). For success in service, he was awarded on May 25, 1936 with the Order of the Badge of Honor. In August 1936, he was awarded a diploma of the Central Committee of the Komsomol and the Central Council of the Osoaviakhim of the USSR for excellent work in preparing and holding an aviation festival held on August 24, 1936. Participation in the fighting in China and at Khalkhin Gol Senior Lieutenant Kravchenko took part in the fighting in China from March 13 to August 24, 1938. He flew on the I-16 (76 hours of combat flight). On April 29, he shot down 2 bombers, but was shot down himself, with difficulty he landed the car on an emergency one and spent more than a day getting to his airfield in Nanchang. On July 4, covering Anton Gubenko, who had ejected with a parachute, he pressed the Japanese fighter so hard that it crashed into the ground. After the group flew to Canton, Kravchenko participated in a raid on an enemy airfield. May 31, 1938 destroyed 2 aircraft while repulsing an enemy raid on Hanhou. A few days later, in one battle, he destroyed 3 enemy fighters at once, but he himself was shot down. In the summer of 1938, he won the last victory over Hanhou - he shot down a bomber. In total, in China, he shot down about 10 enemy aircraft, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. At the end of December 1938, Kravchenko was awarded an extraordinary military rank major. He continued flight test work at the Air Force Research Institute in the Stefanovsky detachment. Conducted state tests of fighters: I-16 type 10 with the "M" wing (December 1938 - January 1939), I-16 type 17 (February-March 1939). Carried out a number of test work on the I-153 and DI-6 fighters. On February 22, 1939, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin. After the establishment of the sign of special distinction "Golden Star", he was awarded medal No. 120.29 May from the Central Airfield. Frunze, a group of 48 pilots and engineers who had combat experience, led by the deputy head of the Air Force Directorate, Corporal Commander Ya. units participating in the Soviet-Japanese conflict near the Khalkhin-Gol River. To see them off came K. E. Voroshilov, who banned the flight until parachutes were delivered for everyone. On June 2, 1939, Kravchenko arrived in Mongolia and was appointed as an adviser to the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment (based at Tamsag-Bulak). After the death in battle of the regiment commander, Major N. G. Glazykin, and then the commander of the regiment, Captain A. I. Balashev, he was appointed commander of the regiment. The pilots of the regiment destroyed more than 100 enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground. Kravchenko himself from June 22 to July 29 conducted 8 air battles, shot down 3 aircraft personally and 4 in a group, including famous ace Major Marimoto. Participated in 2 assault strikes on enemy airfields, in which, under his command, 32 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and in the air. On August 10, for courage in battles with aggressors, the Presidium of the Small Khural of the MPR awarded Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko with the Order of the Red Banner for military valor. The order was presented by Marshal of the MPR Khorlogiyin Choibalsan.
Marshal of Mongolia People's Republic Khorlogiin Choibalsan with Soviet pilots awarded for participation in the battles at Khalkhin Gol, 1939.
Marshal of the Mongolian People's Republic Khorlogiin Choibalsan. On August 29, 1939, Major Kravchenko Grigory Panteleevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time (medal No. 1/II). G. P. Kravchenko and S. I. Gritsevets became the first twice Heroes of the Soviet Union. In addition to Kravchenko himself, another 13 pilots of the 22nd IAP were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, 285 people were awarded orders and medals, and the regiment became Red Banner. On September 12, 1939, a group of Heroes of the Soviet Union on 2 transport planes flew from the area of the Khalkhin-Gol River to Moscow. In Ulaanbaatar, Soviet pilots were greeted by Marshal Choibalsan. A dinner was given in their honor. On September 14, 1939, representatives of the Air Force General Staff and relatives met the heroes of Khalkhin Gol in Moscow. A gala dinner was held at the Central House of the Red Army. On September 15, 1939, he left for the Kyiv military district to participate in the liberation operation. western regions Ukraine as an adviser to the aviation division. On October 2, 1939, Major G.P. Kravchenko was recalled from the Kyiv Military District and appointed head of the fighter aviation department of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force. Kravchenko was allocated an apartment in Moscow on Bolshaya Kaluzhskaya Street (now Leninsky Prospekt). Parents, younger brother and sister moved in with him. On November 4, 1939, for the first time in the country, the Gold Star medals were awarded to the Heroes of the Soviet Union. The first in the country and two Gold Star medals at once, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin, attached Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko to his tunic. On November 7, 1939, he was the leader of the five fighters and opened the air parade over Red Square. In November 1939, Kravchenko was nominated as a candidate for the Moscow Regional Council of Working People's Deputies (he was elected in December). Soviet-Finnish war Member of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Initially, the Kravchenko air group (or Special Air Group) consisted of two regiments - SB bombers and I-153 fighters and was stationed on the island of Ezel (Dago) in Estonia, but gradually increased to 6 air regiments (71st Fighter, 35th, 50th and the 73rd high-speed bomber, 53rd long-range bomber and 80th mixed air regiments). In operational terms, the brigade was subordinate to the head of the Red Army Air Force, Commander J. Smushkevich. During the fighting, this brigade often helped the 10th mixed air brigade of the KBF Air Force in organizing joint attacks on Finnish ports and battleships. The distribution of targets between the brigades was as follows: the 10th brigade bombed the ports of the western and southwestern coasts of Finland, as well as enemy transports and warships at sea, and the Kravchenko group - settlements in central and southern Finland. He was awarded the second Order of the Red Banner. On February 19, 1940, he was awarded the rank of brigade commander, in April he was awarded the rank of division commander. In the summer of 1940 he participated in the annexation of Estonia. In May-July 1940, he was the head of the fighter aviation department of the Flight Technical Inspectorate of the Red Army Air Force. By the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of June 4, 1940, Kravchenko G.P. was awarded the military rank of Lieutenant General of Aviation. From July 19 to November 1940 - Commander of the Air Force of the Baltic Special Military District. Since November 23, 1940 - a student of advanced training courses for commanding staff at the Academy of the General Staff. In March 1941, after graduating from KUVNAS, he was appointed commander of the 64th Iad of the Kyiv Special Military District (12th, 149th, 166th, 246th and 247th IAP), which he commanded until the beginning of the Great Patriotic war.
Great Patriotic War With the beginning of the war with Germany after the death of the leadership of the 11th mixed aviation division Western Front June 22, 1941 he was appointed commander of this air division, in July-August 1941 he participated in the battle of Smolensk (the 11th air division was attached to the 13th army of the Central, then the Bryansk front). From November 22, 1941 to March 1942 - Commander of the Air Force of the 3rd Army of the Bryansk Front. Then, in March-May 1942, he was commander of the 8th shock aviation group of the Stavka Supreme High Command(Bryansk Front). From May 1942 he formed the 215th Fighter Aviation Division, and as its commander he participated in battles on the Kalinin (November 1942 - January 1943) and Volkhov (since January 1943) fronts. On February 23, 1943, in an air battle, Kravchenko shot down a Focke-Wulf 190, but his La-5 aircraft caught fire. Having flown over the front line, Kravchenko could not reach his airfield and was forced to leave the plane, but the parachute did not open, the exhaust cable, with which the parachute satchel was opened, was broken by shrapnel, and he died. The urn with the ashes was buried in a columbarium in the Kremlin wall on February 28, 1943. The total number of victories won by G. P. Kravchenko is not given in any of the sources (with the exception of P. M. Stefanovsky’s book “300 Unknowns”, which indicates 19 victories won in battles with the Japanese. Perhaps these figures reflect his total result of combat activity). According to some memoir sources, in his last battle he won 4 victories at once (he shot down 3 planes with cannon fire, another one he drove into the ground with a skillful maneuver). Some Western sources point to 20 victories won in 4 wars.
Probably the most important factor in the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War was mass heroism. About 500 Soviet pilots used in air combat ramming. Dozens of crews, like Captain N. Gastello, sent their burning aircraft to the concentrations of the enemy's combat force. Today we will talk about some of the heroes - the pilots of the Great Patriotic War, who forever entered their name in this heroic list.
1. Popkov Vitaly Ivanovich (05/01/1922 - 02/06/2010)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, ace pilot, flight commander of the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 207th Fighter Aviation Division. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
By February 1945, he made 325 sorties, in 83 air battles he personally shot down 41 and in group 1 enemy aircraft. Participant in the Victory Parade on June 24, 1945 in Moscow.
The facts of the biography of Vitaly Ivanovich formed the basis of the film by Leonid Bykov “Only “old men” go into battle”.
2. Gulaev Nikolai Dmitrievich (02/26/1918 - 09/27/1985)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, fighter pilot, Colonel General of Aviation. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the war he made 250 sorties. In 49 air battles personally shot down 55 enemy planes and 5 - in a group.
3. Rechkalov Grigory Andreevich (02/09/1918 (or 1920)- 20.12.1990)
In total, during the war, Rechkalov made 450 sorties, 122 air battles. Data on downed aircraft vary. According to one source, 56 planes were shot down personally and 6 - in a group.
4. Golovachev Pavel Yakovlevich (12/15/1917 - 07/02/1972)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, ace pilot, major general of aviation, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
During the war, he made 457 sorties, in 125 air battles he shot down 31 personally and in a group - 1 enemy aircraft. He won his last victory on April 25, 1945 in the sky over Berlin.
5. Borovykh Andrey Egorovich (10/30/1921 - 11/07/1989)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Colonel-General of Aviation, Commander of Aviation of the Air Defense Forces of the USSR (1969-1977), twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the war years, he made more than 470 sorties, conducted over 130 air battles, shot down 32 personally and 14 enemy aircraft in a group.
6. Evstigneev Kirill Alekseevich (02/04(17), 1917 - 08/29/1996)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, fighter pilot, ace, Major General of Aviation, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
By the spring of 1945, he made about 300 sorties, participated in 120 air battles, shot down 53 enemy aircraft personally, 3 - in a group; in addition, one bomber was not credited to him.
7. Koldunov Alexander Ivanovich (09/20/1923- 07.06.1992)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet military and statesman, Chief Air Marshal of the USSR, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU, deputy of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
In total, during the war years, he made 412 sorties, conducted 96 air battles, during which he personally shot down 46 enemy aircraft and 1 as part of a group.
8. Skomorokhov Nikolai Mikhailovich (05/19/1920- 14.10.1994)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, fighter pilot, air marshal, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Honored Military Pilot of the USSR. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
In total, during the Great Patriotic War, he made 605 sorties, conducted more than 130 air battles, personally shot down 46 fascist aircraft and 8 aircraft in a group, and also destroyed 3 enemy bombers on the ground. Skomorokhov himself was never wounded, his plane did not burn, was not shot down. He had the call sign "Skomorokh". The Nazis warned their pilots about his presence in the sky as a serious danger.
9. Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich (02/06/1923- 31.08.2012)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Honored Military Pilot of the USSR, Air Marshal. Member of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the war years, he made 288 sorties on the Il-2 attack aircraft, during which he personally and as part of a group destroyed 85 enemy aircraft at airfields (which is the highest achievement among Soviet pilots of all branches of aviation) and 8 aircraft were shot down in air battles, destroyed a large number of manpower and equipment of the enemy.
10. Klubov Alexander Fedorovich (01/18/1918- 01.11.1944)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, fighter pilot, Soviet ace, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the war years, he made 457 sorties. He personally shot down 31 enemy aircraft and 19 more in the group. Alexander Klubov died on November 1, 1944 during a training flight on the latest La-7 fighter.
11. Nedbaylo Anatoly Konstantinovich (01/28/1923 - 05/13/2008)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, squadron commander of the 75th Guards Aviation Regiment of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Division of the 1st Air Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front, Lieutenant General of Aviation, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
Captain Anatoly Nedbaylo made 209 sorties, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in manpower and equipment.
12. Safonov Boris Feoktistovich (13 (26) 08.1915- 30.05.1942)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, the first twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the hostilities, Boris Safonov made 234 sorties, personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft.
On May 30, 1942, Lieutenant Colonel B.F. Safonov, already the commander of the 2nd Guards Mixed Red Banner Aviation Regiment of the Northern Fleet Air Force, flew out at the head of a fighter unit to cover a caravan of PQ-16 ships going to Murmansk. During the battle with superior enemy forces, Boris Safonov died.
13. Vorozheykin Arseniy Vasilyevich (15 (28) 10.1912- 23.05.2001)
Participant in the battles at Khalkhin Gol, the Soviet-Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars, fighter pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, First Deputy Air Defense Commander Black Sea Fleet USSR, Major General of Aviation.
In total, the fighter pilot accounted for about 400 sorties, 52 personally shot down enemy aircraft (6 at Khalkhin Gol) and 14 in a group.
14. Grizodubova Valentina Stepanovna (14 (27) 04.1909- 28.04.1993)
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet pilot, colonel. The first woman - Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Socialist Labor, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
During the Great Patriotic War, from March 1942 to October 1943, she commanded the 101st long-range aviation regiment. She personally made about 200 sorties (including 132 night ones) on a Li-2 aircraft to bombard enemy targets, to deliver ammunition and military supplies to the front line and to maintain communications with partisan detachments.
15. Pavlov Ivan Fomich (06/25/1922- 12.10.1950)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, commander of the 6th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment of the 3rd Air Army of the Kalinin Front, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, major.
In total, during the war he made 237 sorties on the Il-2 attack aircraft. He participated in the Rzhev-Sychevsk, Velikoluksky and Smolensk operations, in the liberation of Belarus and the Baltic states.
16. Glinka Boris Borisovich (14(27).09.1914- 11.05.1967)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, colonel.
In total, during the war he shot down 30 aircraft personally and 1 in a group.
17. Odintsov Mikhail Petrovich (11/18/1921- 12.12.2011)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet military pilot of bomber and attack aircraft, military leader. Honored Military Pilot of the USSR, Colonel-General of Aviation, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
During the war, he shot down 14 enemy aircraft in air battles, which is the highest achievement among attack pilots.
By the end of the war, he made 215 sorties, ended the war with the rank of Major Guard.
18. Pokryshev Pyotr Afanasyevich (08/24/1914- 22.08.1967)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, ace pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation.
By August 1943, he made 282 sorties, participated in 50 air battles and had 22 downed enemy aircraft on his personal account and 7 in the group.
19. Dolina Maria Ivanovna (12/18/1920- 03.03.2010)
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union.
She completed 72 sorties on a Pe-2 aircraft, dropped 45,000 kilograms of bombs. In six air battles, her crew shot down 3 enemy fighters in the group.
20. Maresyev Alexey Petrovich (07 (20) 05.1916- 18.05.2001)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet military pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union.
In total, during the war he made 86 sorties, shot down 10 enemy aircraft. On April 5, 1942, Maresyev's plane was shot down. For 18 days the pilot made his way to his own. As a result, doctors were forced to amputate both of the pilot's frostbitten legs.
While still in the hospital, Alexey Maresyev began to train, preparing to fly with prostheses.
In February 1943 he made the first test flight. Got sent to the front. In June 1943 he arrived in the 63rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
On July 20, 1943, during an air battle with superior enemy forces, Alexei Maresyev saved the lives of two Soviet pilots and immediately shot down 2 enemy Fw-190 fighters covering Ju-87 bombers.
21. Pokryshkin Alexander Ivanovich (06 (19) 03.1913- 13.11.1985)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet military leader, air marshal, ace pilot, the first three times Hero of the Soviet Union. Candidate member of the Central Committee of the CPSU, member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
In the Soviet Union, it was officially believed that during the war years Pokryshkin made 650 sorties, conducted 156 air battles, shot down 59 enemy aircraft personally and 6 in a group.
22. Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich (06/08/1920- 08.08.1991)
Member of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet military leader, air marshal, ace pilot. Three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, People's Deputy of the USSR.
By the end of the war, Ivan Kozhedub, by that time a major in the guard, flew the La-7, made 330 sorties, shot down 62 enemy aircraft in 120 air battles.
Nikolai Mikhailovich Skomorokhov, Soviet ace, fighter pilot of the Great Patriotic War, air marshal, twice Hero of the Soviet Union
Nikolai Skorokhodov. Made 605 sorties. Personally shot down 46 enemy aircraft.
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Nikolai Mikhailovich was born on May 19, 1920, on the Volga, in the village of Lapot (now the village of Belogorskoye) in the Saratov province. He was barely 10 years old when the family moved to Astrakhan in search of work. Here he graduated from the FZU, worked at the plant named after the III International. When he received a 7-grade education at evening school, he was admitted to the library technical school, and soon to the Astrakhan flying club. Here, in December 1940, the young man was drafted into the army and received a referral to the Bataysk Military Aviation School. Immediately after graduating from the flight school, junior sergeant Skomorokhov was sent to the 164th IAP, armed with LaGG-3 aircraft.
Nikolai Skomorokhov only got to the front in November 1942, when there were fierce battles on the Volga near Stalingrad and in the Caucasus mountains. He made his first sorties over the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, when the 164th Fighter Aviation Regiment (295th Fighter Aviation Division under the command of Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Balanov) was based at the Adler airfield.
On the combat operations experienced pilots were sent, and he, a novice, most often had to make reconnaissance flights together with someone. And although they were also responsible combat missions, Nikolai wanted a real job. In one of the sorties, he almost died when his fighter was cut off from a group of his planes and the Messers were squeezed. Only the exceptional natural talent of Skomorokhov as a pilot allowed him then to escape from his pursuers. The most pronounced was his ability to spatial orientation, based on the special stability of the vestibular apparatus and the optimal vasomotor response of the body in critical conditions.
Nikolai opened his combat account in January 1943, one of the sorties over the mountains north of Lazarevskaya. Above the front line, Skomorokhov discovered the FW-189 reconnaissance and attacked him from above. It seemed that a long line riddled "Rama". But when Nikolai turned around to follow the fall of the enemy machine, he was surprised to notice that it was staying in the air and even maneuvering, dodging another attack. The duel lasted several minutes. Finally, Skomorokhov, aiming his LaGG-3 at the forehead of the enemy, shot him. As it seemed to him then, he found the key to victory.
Soon, Nikolai was appointed flight commander, began to fly as the leader of the group. The very first task at the head of the four La-5 Skomorokhov performed brilliantly. Here is what is recorded about this sortie in the personal file of the hero:
"December 4, 1943. He carried out the task of escorting the IL-2 group. In the target area, the attack aircraft were attacked by 8 Me-109 aircraft. Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, Skomorokhov boldly entered the battle. With daring attacks, with great risk to his life, he upset combat formations of enemy fighters, frustrated their plan and enabled the "Ilyushins" to fully complete the combat mission. In an air battle, Skomorokhov personally shot down 2 "Messers", forcing the rest to leave the battlefield. Pilots of the 951st assault aviation regiment, returning to the airfield, arranged a solemn meeting for Senior Lieutenant Skomorokhov.
In the battles over the Dnieper and in Zaporozhye, Skomorokhov continued the list of Messers and Fokkers shot down by him, won his 13th victory.
At the beginning of 1944, a "squadron of hunters" was created from the best pilots of the 295th IAD, and Nikolai Skomorokhov was appointed its deputy commander (Nikolai Krasnov). The squadron included such aces as V. Kirilyuk, O. Smirnov, A. Volodin. The squadron was based on the same airfield as the 31st IAP, closely interacting in the air with its pilots. During the 3 months of its existence, the squadron destroyed several dozen enemy aircraft in air battles, but was disbanded, since the regiments that sent the best fighters there suffered heavy losses in battles, and the commanders insisted on the return of their "eagles". Skomorokhov was transferred to the post of commander of the first squadron in the 31st IAP, commanded by Onufrienko.
In the Yassy-Kishinev operation, Senior Lieutenant Skomorokhov shot down several Me-109s. At the end of August, he was instructed to accompany the Li-2, where Marshal Zhukov was flying. Skomorokhov already had experience of such flights: earlier he accompanied Vasilevsky's plane and even decisively fired on the Yak, which made an attempt to approach him. Zhukov expressed displeasure appearance worn-out aces, reproached for the lack of a cover plan ...
In the battles for the liberation of Ukraine and Donbas, in the skies of Moldova and in the Balkans, he makes hundreds of sorties, in dozens of air battles he hones his combat skills. He is trusted personally and at the head of the group to conduct aerial reconnaissance. Here, his organizational talent and tactical skill were fully manifested.
At the end of 1944, Skomorokhov participated in the liberation of Romania and Bulgaria. In November, in the skies of Yugoslavia, the La-5 four under the command of Skomorokhov received the task of covering the advancing ground forces in the Apatin area. In front of thousands of fighters ground forces"Lavochkin" rushed to the armada of fighter-bombers FW-190. Within 10 seconds, Skomorokhov shot down 2 of them, mixing the formation and disrupting the bombing. For this battle, he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.
Especially successful were his battles in Hungary, where the intensity of air battles can be compared with the intensity of the fighting in the Kuban, the Kursk Bulge, over the Dnieper. In December 1944, in a battle over Szekesfehervar, in a long exhausting duel with a Me-109 piloted by a German ace, at an altitude of more than 9000 meters in the 3rd frontal attack, he shot down a Messer, his pilot escaped with a parachute and was captured. A few days later, in the very first sortie on the first in the La-7 division, N. Skomorokhov and his wingman I. Filippov, sequentially attacking 3 Focke-Wulf groups, shot down 5 of them ...
By the end of December 1944, the squadron commander of the 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain N. M. Skomorokhov, already had 25 enemy aircraft shot down by him personally, and 8 - as part of a group. The fearless ace by this time wore 3 orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree ...
Soon, Nikolai Skomorokhov had to conduct an air battle, which the history of the Great Patriotic War does not know. On January 16, 1945, Captain Skomorokhov flew out in pairs on a free hunt. In the Tariai area, northwest of Budapest, the pilots met in the air 3 groups of Ju-52 transport aircraft (16 vehicles) and 38 Me-109 cover fighters. Two against 54! As a result of bold attacks, the leader personally shot down 2 Ju-52s and one fighter, and his wingman destroyed 2 more cars.
Later, in the battles for Budapest, Skomorokhov shot down 16, and for Vienna - another 9 enemy aircraft.
Accompanied by attack aircraft to attack enemy tanks and motorized infantry, Nikolai and his subordinates fought many brilliant battles and returned to their airfield without loss. Thus, while accompanying the Ilov group to the area north of Budapest, Captain Skomorokhov, at the head of the six Lavochkins, entered into battle with a group of enemy fighters. In a short but stubborn struggle on the verticals, our pilots shot down 8 enemy vehicles without losing a single one. At the same time, Nikolai Skomorokhov personally drove 3 aircraft into the ground.
Describing Skomorokhov, the commander of the 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel G. D. Onufrienko, wrote: “In air battles, Nikolai Mikhailovich is unhurried, but decisive, prudent and cold-blooded. Demanding of himself and his subordinates. Enjoys exceptional authority among everything personnel a shelf. In combat work, he does not know fatigue ... "
In the fighting Skomorokhov was a lot of new, original. He was a zealous champion of the new battle formations of fighters, the basis of which was not a link of 3 aircraft, but a pair and a link of 4 vehicles. His squadron was the first in the regiment to move to combat formations, echeloned in height and dispersed along the front. The famous rule: "a fighter defends itself only by attack" - was the law in the combat work of the Soviet ace and his pupils.
On January 14, 1945, the commander of the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union Tolbukhin, and a member of the Military Council, Colonel General Zheltov, approved the submission of the command of the 17th Air Army on the assignment to Captain N. M. Skomorokhov highest sign military prowess - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. February 22, 1945, for the skillful command of the squadron, courage and bravery shown in battle, this title was awarded to him.
By March 1945, Captain N. M. Skomorokhov, while in the same regiment, made 520 sorties, conducted 119 air battles, personally shot down 35 enemy aircraft.
On April 10, 1945, already in the battle over the Austrian Alps, the ace attacked several dense groups of FW-190s. Two "Fokkers" Skomorokhov "dumped" in the first attack within a few seconds: the first - on the move from behind - from above, the second - by sharply changing the flight path, from below. Continuing to attack the fighter-bombers, the pilot shot down another plane. Although the dominance of Soviet aviation in the air was unconditional, the battles were extremely stubborn and bloody. In one of them, Skomorokhov's wingman, junior lieutenant Filippov, died. Nikolai himself hardly managed to land his car, which was damaged by anti-aircraft guns and became a priest at the end of the run.
The last Fokker was shot down by Skomorokhov in the Brno region, in Czechoslovakia, during a "carry" flight, when, having demonstrated a masterful attack to young pilots, he then carried out " practical lesson"bringing the rookie to effective fire range...
Twice the Hero returned to his native land, summer 1945
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During the war, Nikolai Skomorokhov went through all the stages of aviation - he was a pilot, chief pilot, flight commander, deputy commander and squadron commander. He fought on the Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Southwestern and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. During this time, he made more than 605 sorties, conducted 143 air battles, shot down 46 personally and in a group of 8 enemy aircraft, and also destroyed 3 bombers on the ground. Incredibly, Skomorokhov himself was never wounded, his plane did not burn, was not shot down, and did not receive a single hole during the entire war.
On August 18, 1945, for military merits shown during the liberation of Hungary and Austria, he was awarded the second Gold Star medal.
after the war, N. M. Skomorokhov graduated military academy named after M.V. Frunze. He commanded aviation units and formations. flew on different types combat jet aircraft. In 1958 he graduated from the Military Academy General Staff. At the age of 39 he became a General. In 1973 he was appointed head of the Air Force Academy. He defended his doctoral dissertation in military sciences. In 1981, N. M. Skomorokhov was awarded the title of Air Marshal. Honored Military Pilot of the USSR. Author of many books - memoirs. Tragically died in a car accident on October 16, 1994
Many boys after the end of World War II dreamed of becoming pilots. No one really thought about how difficult it is to fly in the sky. It seemed to the guys that the pilots were romantics who got great pleasure from the flight.
How did the first Hero pilots get their ranks?
For the first time the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded in 1934, although since the founding Soviet state there were no wars until 1939, that is, the pilots did not carry out combat missions. Note that it was the pilots who became the first Heroes of the Soviet Union. These names are not as well known as the names of some aviators of the WWII period. Let's remember who these first pilots are - the Heroes of the Soviet Union.
As you know, in 1934 there was an operation to rescue the Chelyuskinites. Without the participation of aircraft, it was not possible to save people. At the same time, the technology at that time was still poorly developed, and the rescue mission could only get a positive result thanks to the high professionalism and heroism of the pilots.
The first Heroes by name
Nikolai Kamanin received the Gold Star of Hero No. 1 at the age of 25. He made 9 sorties over the Arctic, while saving 34 people (on the sunken icebreaker "Chelyuskin" the crew consisted of 104 people). In the photo below, Kamanin is shown on the left.
The complexity of the mission to rescue the sailors was that the area was insufficiently studied at that time. Also, the pilots did not have complete confidence in the reliability of the engines, because at that time they practically did not fly at such long distances.
Mikhail Vodopyanov made three difficult sorties, during which he was able to save more than 10 people. The uniqueness of this pilot's participation in the rescue operation lies in the fact that a few months earlier he had received severe injuries and was treated for a long time. The authorities did not want to allow him to the operation, but he insisted.
Also such pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union, as Ivan Doronin, Sigismund Levanevsky, Vasily Molokov, Mauritius Slepnev took part in this operation. Each pilot made a huge contribution to saving people in the Arctic Ocean.
War and great pilots
Analyzing orders to confer the titles of Heroes of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War, we find an interesting trend: more than 50% of the marked legendary warriors who defended our Motherland from invaders are pilots. Of course, fighting on the ground is also not easy, but air battles are much more difficult than ground ones. The level of courage and endurance of Soviet pilots is simply amazing. WWII pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union made a huge contribution to the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany.
In this section, it is worth mentioning about Alexei Maresyev and Peter Shemendyuk. These heroes, even despite severe physical injuries, continued to serve in aviation.
For example, Maresyev is a well-known hero of B. Polevoy's work "The Tale of a Real Man".
His plane was shot down over the territory controlled by the Germans at that time. The pilot could not eject. Fell to the ground along with the car. It so happened that during the impact on the ground he was thrown out of the cab. For 18 days, the hero crawled to the front line. Discovered by Soviet children in the Novgorod region. After that, he was treated for some time in the Novgorod village. After a long treatment and amputation of both legs, he was able to return to service and made more than one sortie.
Fighter pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union often returned to the front after being wounded. According to verified but little-known information, about 20 Soviet pilots fought against the Nazis with amputated legs, arms or other severe limb injuries.
It is worth noting that for many pilots the Second World War was not the first combat experience. Everyone knows that many Soviet military took part in the hostilities in Spain ( Civil War). For example, Sergei Gritsevets is considered one of the aces pilots of the 1930s. Belarusian by nationality, he was born in 1909 in the Grodno province. He came to aviation on a Komsomol ticket in 1931. The track record of the pilot, according to official information, is 40 downed aircraft.
The development of military aviation of the USSR
Pilots - Heroes of the Soviet Union showed themselves perfectly during the Second World War. Although initially the technical level of German aircraft exceeded the equipment and quality of Soviet aircraft, but the level of skill of the "red" pilots, some time after the start of the war, more than compensated for all the shortcomings in technology.
The improvement of Soviet military aviation actually took place already during the war. The fact is that in the first days of hostilities, most Soviet aircraft were destroyed at airfields during Nazi bombing. According to many experts, this is even better. If the wooden planes had entered into battle with the Junkers or other fighters, then they would not have had a single chance to win in an air battle. Such decisiveness of the Nazis saved the lives of many Soviet pilots.
During the war years, according to approximate estimates, the aces shot down more than 4,000 of the best German aircraft. The rating of Soviet aces is determined primarily by the number of Junkers shot down. Let's talk about each of the best separately.
The legendary Ivan Kozhedub was born in 1920 on the territory of the Shostka region of modern Ukraine. After graduating from school in 1934, he entered the chemical-technological technical school. Aviation for a long time was nothing more than a hobby for him. Kozhedub's path in aviation began with military service in 1940. He got to the front at the end of 1942 after working as an instructor at an aviation school. By the way, the first battle in the air for the legendary pilot could also be the last one, because first his plane was shot down by the Germans, and then by "our own". Kozhedub passed this test and was able to land his car. In the photo below, it is shown on the right.
Such pilots - three times Heroes of the Soviet Union, like Ivan Kozhedub, quickly become professionals in their field. They don't need much time to prepare. So, for some time after this accident, Kozhedub did not fly. The stellar time of the pilot came during the Battle of Kursk. For several sorties in July 1943, he managed to shoot down 4 Junkers. Until the beginning of 1944 in track record the hero had already several dozen victories. Until the end of the war, he was able to shoot down 18 aircraft of this brand.
Semyon Vorozheikin and other twice Heroes of the USSR
This result was not surpassed by anyone, and only Vorozheikin Arseniy Aleksandrovich could repeat. This pilot was awarded the Star of the Hero twice. The total combat result of Vorozheykin is 46 enemy aircraft shot down. In addition to him, the pilots - twice - are:
- Alekseenko Vladimir Avramovich;
- Alelyuhin Alexey Vasilievich;
- Amet Khan Sultan;
- Andrianov Vasily;
- Yakubekovich;
- Trouble Leonid Ignatievich;
- Beregovoy Georgy Timofeevich;
- Gulaev Nikolay Dmitrievich;
- Sergei Prokofievich Denisov.
For the successful use of aviation technology, it must pass flight tests. That's what test pilots are for. Very often they risk their lives, because no one has flown before them on the aircraft model being tested. Many were awarded the Star of the Hero of the USSR. by the most outstanding tester aviation technology of the Soviet period is considered
Crews under the leadership of Chkalov made 2 record air flights for their time (Moscow-Vancouver via North Pole and Moscow-Far East). The length of the route to Vancouver was 8504 km.
Other Soviet test pilots include Stepan Mikoyan, Vladimir Averyanov, Mikhail Gromov, Ivan Dziuba, Nikolai Zamyatin and Mikhail Ivanov. Most of these pilots did not have a technical education at first, but the entire aviation elite is united by one feature: they underwent theoretical training in the system of aviation clubs developed at that time. Such peculiar schools enabled the students to receive theoretical and practical training at a fairly high level.
Assault aircraft of the USSR during the Second World War
Attack pilots, Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war years, take pride of place in the lists of people marked state awards for exploits during the air battles of 1941-1945. According to historical data, more than 2,200 pilots received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Moreover, it is the attack aircraft that can be found on the list most of all (860 names).
There are also many representatives of this type of aviation in the lists of twice Heroes of the Union. As you know, two heroic Golden Stars had 65 pilots in their assets. In this list, attack aircraft also occupy the first place (27 people).
Who could get the title of Hero three times?
Alexander Pokryshkin and Ivan Kozhedub - these pilots, three times Heroes of the Soviet Union, inscribed their names in golden letters in the annals of the Second World War.
The fact is that three times the state marked such high rank only three people. In addition to two pilots, this is Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny, a military man known since the revolution. Pokryshkin received his awards by orders of May 24 and August 24, 1943, and also on August 19, 1944. Ivan Kozhedub was marked by orders of the Commander-in-Chief of February 4 and August 19, 1944, as well as after the end of hostilities in August 1945.
The contribution of Soviet pilots to the victory over the enemy is simply invaluable!