Military Figure. He was a Soviet Union pilot, who flew during World War II a total of 210 missions, mainly attack missions. Born into a Ukrainian peasant family, he was drafted in 1939 into the Red Army. He graduated in 1942 from Tambov Military Aviation Pilot School. He began flying missions in the Ilyushin Il-2 attack aircraft as a pilot and a commander. His first battle under fire came in 1943 at the battles of Kursk and the same year, he joined the Communist Party of Soviet Union. Two years later in 1945 he distinguished himself at the Battle of Berlin by leading two flights of Il-2s attack aircraft. Under his command, they managed to destroy four artillery batteries on April 24th. According to him and military records, he managed to destroy and damage a total of 38 enemy tanks and armored personnel carriers, 54 vehicles, 7 fuel tanks, 1 ammunition train and 6 anti-aircraft artillery batteries during the war. He was credited with having shot down 1 aircraft during this time. On June 27, 1945 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for his exemplary performance of the command's during combat missions. After serving for 37 years, from 1939 to 1967, he retired from military service and became a design engineer at the A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau until the late 1980's. He died at the age of 101.
Military Figure. He was a Soviet Union pilot, who flew during World War II a total of 210 missions, mainly attack missions. Born into a Ukrainian peasant family, he was drafted in 1939 into the Red Army. He graduated in 1942 from Tambov Military Aviation Pilot School. He began flying missions in the Ilyushin Il-2 attack aircraft as a pilot and a commander. His first battle under fire came in 1943 at the battles of Kursk and the same year, he joined the Communist Party of Soviet Union. Two years later in 1945 he distinguished himself at the Battle of Berlin by leading two flights of Il-2s attack aircraft. Under his command, they managed to destroy four artillery batteries on April 24th. According to him and military records, he managed to destroy and damage a total of 38 enemy tanks and armored personnel carriers, 54 vehicles, 7 fuel tanks, 1 ammunition train and 6 anti-aircraft artillery batteries during the war. He was credited with having shot down 1 aircraft during this time. On June 27, 1945 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for his exemplary performance of the command's during combat missions. After serving for 37 years, from 1939 to 1967, he retired from military service and became a design engineer at the A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau until the late 1980's. He died at the age of 101.
Bio by: Alan
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