Ivan Kozhedub - three times hero of the Soviet Union. Ace pilot Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich - three times hero of the USSR

The famous military pilot, three times Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920. In the village of Obrazhievka (now Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a church elder.

Having received secondary education, in 1934 he entered the chemical-technological technical school of the city of Shostok, where a flying club was formed, which interested the young student. It was with him that the flying biography of the hero began, who glorified the country with numerous exploits.

In the fall of 1940, Ivan Kozhedub joined the Red Army and at the same time graduated from the military aviation school of pilots in Chuguevo, and then remained there to work as an instructor.

The Great Patriotic War began and Ivan Nikitovich, as a member of the aviation school, was evacuated to Kazakhstan and was soon awarded the rank of senior sergeant.

The hero’s front-line biography began in November 1942, when he was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, located in Ivanovo. From there, in March 1943, Kozhedub was sent to the Voronezh Front.

The very first combat flight of Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was not very successful, since the La-5 fighter of the future hero first fired a cannon burst at the German Messerschmitt, and then (by mistake) at the Soviet anti-aircraft gunners (two shells hit). Despite the heavy damage, Kozhedub managed to land his aircraft, although the plane could not be fully restored after that.

Military exploits of Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub.

Ivan Kozhedub accomplished his first feat in the summer of 1943, as a squadron commander on the Kursk Bulge - he shot down a fascist bomber. The next day he destroyed another plane, and literally a few days later - two more! For these and subsequent exploits, in February 1944, senior lieutenant Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. At that moment, it combat biography totaled 20 destroyed German aircraft in 146 sorties.

In August 1944, the hero was awarded a second Gold Star medal for 48 downed enemy vehicles and 256 sorties. And by the end of the Second World War, Guard Major Ivan Kozhedub already had 62 enemy destroyed in the air. Among them are two bombers, three attack aircraft, one jet fighter and 17 dive bombers.

The last feat of his heroic biography in the Second World War occurred over Berlin in April 1945, when another Nazi plane was shot down. During the entire war, the Germans did not manage to shoot it down even once, although Kozhedub’s car was also hit, the fighter, unharmed, landed the ship on the ground. In the same month, Ivan Nikitovich received another Gold Star medal, becoming three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

In his personal autobiography, I.N. Kozhedub claimed that in 1945 he had to destroy two more American planes when they attacked him, mistaking him for a German.

In 1946, the hero continued his studies in the Air Force three times. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy, mastered the jet MiG-15. Despite the peacetime in the USSR, his exploits did not end there - during the Korean War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub led the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. Under his leadership, the pilots scored 216 victories in the sky with losses of nine people and 27 aircraft.

In the period from 1964 -1971. was the deputy commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1978, he was a member of the general inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. For services to the country and numerous exploits, in 1985 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal. Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub died on August 8, 1991.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was never shot down during the Great Patriotic War, and although he was shot down, he always landed his plane. Kozhedub also has the world's first jet fighter, the German Me-262. In total, he flew 330 combat missions during the war. In these sorties, 64 enemy aircraft were destroyed. He is three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

Each ace pilot has his own handwriting in the sky, unique to him alone. Ivan Kozhedub also had it, a man whose character harmoniously combined courage, bravery and exceptional composure. He knew how to accurately and quickly weigh the situation and instantly find the only correct move in the current situation.

He was a master of the car and could drive it even with his eyes closed.

All his flights were a cascade of all kinds of maneuvers - turns and snakes, slides and dives. It was not easy for everyone who had to fly with Kozhedub as a wingman to stay in the air behind their commander. Kozhedub always sought to find the enemy first. But at the same time, don’t “expose yourself” yourself. After all, in 120 air battles he was never shot down!

Childhood and youth

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich was born into a large peasant family in Ukraine in the village of Obrazhievka, Chernigov province. He was the most youngest child, had three older brothers and a sister. The date of birth is officially considered to be June 8, 1920, but, as you know, he added two years to himself, which were needed to enroll in a technical school. The real date of birth of Ivan Kozhedub is July 6, 1922. His father farmed and worked in a factory, but found time for books and even wrote poetry himself. He raised his children in strictness, trying to instill in them such qualities as perseverance, hard work and diligence.

When Vanya went to school, he already knew how to write and read. He studied well, but attended school intermittently, because after completing his first year academic year his father sent him to a neighboring village to work as a shepherd. Before entering the Chemical Technology College in 1934, Ivan Nikitovich managed to work in the library. 1938 became a turning point in the young man’s fate - then he began to attend the flying club.

In the spring of 1939, his first flight took place, which left a great impression. Already in 1940, having decided to become a fighter pilot, he entered the military flight school, after which he is left as an instructor here.

After the start of the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub and the entire school were transferred to Kazakhstan, but after numerous reports, in the fall of 1942 he was sent to Moscow. Here he ends up in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment under the command of Ignatius Soldatenko. Ivan Nikitovich took off for his first combat mission in March 1943, but after coming under fire, he was miraculously able to land almost unharmed. Before the future great pilot About a month passed before I boarded my new La-5 plane.

Ivan Kozhedub opened his personal combat account in July 1943, during Battle of Kursk. This was his fortieth combat mission. Within a few days, 4 victories were already on the list. On August 6, 1943, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub received his first award - the Order of the Red Banner of Battle. At the same time, he himself began to command the squadron. In the fall of 1943, he was sent to the rear; hot, heavy battles lay ahead, and he needed to recuperate.

After returning to the front, he decides to change his tactics, settling on low-level flight, which required courage and great skill. For military services, at the beginning of February 1944, the young promising fighter pilot was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By August 1944, Kozhedub received the second Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, at which time he personally shot down 48 enemy aircraft in 246 sorties. For the first time autumn month In 1944, a group of pilots led by Kozhedub was sent to the Baltic states.

Here, in just a few days, under his command, 12 German planes were shot down, they lost only 2 of their own. After such a victory, the enemy abandoned active operations in this territory. Another significant air battle took place in the winter, in February 1945. Then 8 enemy aircraft were shot down and 1 aircraft was destroyed Soviet army. A significant personal achievement for Ivan Kozhedub was the destruction of the Me-262 jet, which was significantly faster than his Lavochkin. In April 1945, the great fighter pilot shot down his last 2 enemy aircraft.

By the end of the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub was already a major; he had 62 downed aircraft and 330 sorties and 120 air combats. In August 1945, for the third time he was named Hero of the Soviet Union.

Post-war years

After the end of the war, he decided to continue his service. At the end of 1945, Ivan Nikitovich met his future wife. In their marriage they had two children: a son and a daughter. He also continued to study, graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1949, and in 1956 Military Academy General Staff. He took part in hostilities in Korea, under his command was the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. In 1985, Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the high rank of Air Marshal.

Also in his biography it is necessary to note his social activities. He was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, as well as a people's deputy of the USSR. Ivan Kozhedub died at his dacha on August 8, 1991.

The end of 1946 brought changes to the personal life of Ivan Kozhedub. Returning in the evening to Monino near Moscow by train, Ivan met tenth-grader Veronica, who soon became his wife, a faithful and patient companion throughout his life, chief adjutant and assistant, as Ivan Nikitovich himself called her. Little is known about Kozhedub’s personal life, and there is an explanation for this: his true personal life, according to his loved ones, was and remained aviation. But something can be learned from the stories of the son of the famous pilot, Nikita Ivanovich, captain 1st rank in the reserves. So it became known that the first acquaintance on the train could be the last for both young people. Veronica did not like the young officer at first; he seemed unattractive due to his short stature and Ukrainian accent. But, having parted coolly, the young people met again after some time on the same train. Ivan took the initiative into his own hands and persuaded Veronica to go dancing with him at the garrison club.

It was winter, just before New Year. Kozhedub met Veronica in a flight raglan, worn over his jacket. While they walked through the territory of the unit towards the club, the girl was surprised that all the officers, even those of higher rank, saluted Ivan. I thought: what kind of major is he if even the colonels salute him and stand at attention? The point is that saluting and following the command “Attention!” Even senior ranks were bound by the military rules established by Joseph Stalin (under Khrushchev, these rules were abolished) before the Hero of the Soviet Union. But Ivan did not admit to her what the secret was until they entered the club.

When he took off the raglan, the girl saw three Hero Stars, a bunch of medal strips - and was speechless

After the dances there was a feast where Kozhedub, according to the established tradition, introduced his chosen one to the officers. Then he told Veronica how his comrades came up to him and whispered in his ear: “Well, Ivan, I approve of the choice.” The young people had already celebrated the New Year of 1947 together. And on the morning of January 1, in the Monino village council, they were quickly signed, without witnesses. Since then, the Kozhedubs have lived in perfect harmony for almost fifty years.

The main driving force of the Kozhedub family has always been only love.

Children did not remember their parents ever offending each other

But they remembered that from every trip dad always brought gifts not only to them, but also to mom. In all household chores, Ivan Nikitovich relied on his wife and diligently hid from her the dangers of his professional life - he took care of his wife.

In 1947, daughter Natalya was born, and in 1953, son Nikita (Captain 3rd Rank in the USSR Navy) was born.

Planes on which Ivan Kozhedub flew

La-5. The Hero of the Soviet Union carried out his first combat mission on March 26, the flight ended unsuccessfully: his first combat fighter La-5 (airborne number 75) was damaged in battle, and upon returning to the airfield it was also fired upon by its own anti-aircraft artillery. With great difficulty, the pilot was able to bring the car to the airfield and land. After that, I flew old fighters for about a month until I received the new La-5 again. It was an excellent lightweight fighter with the number “14” and inscriptions written in white with a red border: on the left side - “In the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel G.N. Konev”, on the right - “From the collective farmer Vasily Viktorovich Konev”. La-5 is a single-engine wooden low-wing aircraft. The main structural material used in the aircraft's airframe was pine. Delta wood was used to produce some of the wing frames and spars. The fighter's armament consisted of two synchronized 20-mm ShVAK cannons with pneumatic and mechanical reloading. The total ammunition was 340 shells. The PBP-la collimator sight was used to aim at the target.

La-7. At the end of June 1944, the Soviet ace was transferred as deputy commander to the famous 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. This connection is the first in Soviet Air Force, in August 1944 received the latest La-7 fighters. It became a further modernization of the La-5 fighter and one of the best production aircraft of the end of World War II. This fighter had excellent flight characteristics, high maneuverability and good weapons. At low and medium altitudes, it had an advantage over the last piston fighters of Germany and the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. The La-7, on which Kozhedub ended the war, is currently in the Central Museum of the Russian Air Force in the village of Monino.

It's time to write about a hero who became famous in the Great Patriotic War for his feats of arms. After all, such people forged victory. Ivan Kozhedub became a hero Soviet Union three times in a row! In the history of the country, such an honor was given only to three people: actually, Kozhedub, Marshal and Minister of Defense Semyon Budyonny and pilot Alexander Pokryshkin. The hero of this article was the most effective among the pilots of the Soviet Union and the pilots of the Allied forces in the Second World War. He has 64 victories in air battles. Ivan Nikitovich received his first hero star almost 70 years ago - on February 4, 1944. At that time he was 24 years old. Three times the hero of the Soviet Union showed by his example that one in the field can be a warrior.

Born in a village into a poor family of a church elder, Ivan Nikitovich was the youngest of five children. The boy was born after a terrible famine. Vanya's father was a surprisingly educated and intelligent man for his low origin. In between hard work, he read books to the children and even wrote poetry. But not only a good education at home was given to his son by the pious church elder. The father kept the boy strict, but within reason. At the age of five, Vanya was already guarding the garden from thieves, without closing his eyes all night. This seemed a strange act: thieves were rare guests at that time. At a more conscious age, Kozhedub asked his father why he sent him to guard the garden, which no one really needed. The headman replied that this was only to instill in his son resistance to trials.

After graduating from school, the future hero entered the Chemical Technology College, and at the same time he worked part-time in the library. Ivan Kozhedub, like , treated aviation as a hobby. Just like the first man in space, he went to a flying club, where he showed himself to be a promising pilot. Service in the army finally gave Ivan confidence in choosing a future profession. He graduates with honors from flight school and, as one of the best cadets, was offered to remain as an instructor pilot. At that time he flew UT-2 and I-16.

During the war, the young pilot was evacuated along with his entire flight school to Kazakhstan. Kozhedub passionately asked the command to send him to the front to beat the Germans. The request was granted only in 1942. In November of the same year, Ivan Nikitovich arrived in Ivanovo, where the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division was being formed. Six months later, Kozhedub flew to the war, to the Voronezh front.

The first air battle was rather unsuccessful for the future ace. He was shot down by a burst of fire from a Messerschmitt-109, and to top it all off, Soviet anti-aircraft guns accidentally hit his La-5. With great difficulty, Kozhedub landed the plane, but the combat vehicle could not be restored. They even wanted to remove the famous pilot from flying, transferring him to a warning post. The squadron commander stood up for the young talent. The pilot did not betray the trust of his superiors, and in the summer Ivan was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant, and a little later he became deputy commander. On July 6, 1943, on the Kursk Bulge, Kozhedub shot down his first German plane. It was a Junkers Ju-87 bomber. The next day, Ivan repeated his feat, and on July 9 he shot down two fighters at once. In August 1943, the great pilot was appointed squadron commander.

On September 30, 1943, Ivan accompanied the crossing of troops across the Dnieper. The young pilot, left in the air without cover, noticed German Junkers in the distance. Even if it was reckless, Kozhedub directed his plane into their slender wedge. The future famous ace managed to invade enemy units. The German bombers were rather confused, stopped bombing the column of troops and regrouped for the attack. Having gathered in time, the pilot noticed a Yu-87 straying from the “flock” of Junkers, which he shot down. The bombers had to retreat. After the battle, Ivan Nikitovich said a phrase that he repeated quite often: “They fight not with numbers, but with skill!”

But after just three days, Ivan had a really hard time. Kozhedub, together with his colleagues, covered the bridgehead on the river bank in nine La-5 aircraft (the pilots called them “Lavochkins”). A column of Junkers-87 bombers of nine aircraft, covered by six Me-109 fighters, appeared in the sky. Kozhedub and his comrades were not at a loss and attacked significant enemy forces, who did not expect such agility. Two bombers were shot down, the column turned back, losing combat units. By October 1943, the squadron commander had flown 146 combat missions and personally shot down 20 German aircraft.

On February 4, 1944, for the courage and military valor shown in battles with the invaders, Ivan Nikitovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Despite frequent shelling by enemy forces, Kozhedub managed to survive in any conditions. After another destruction of the combat vehicle, a hybrid aircraft was built with the money of a local collective farmer-beekeeper, which the ace has been flying since May 1944. This continued until August, when the hero was allocated a new La-7 fighter. On August 19, for exceptional discipline and military skill, the command awarded Kozhedub the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time. He was credited with 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft.

In mid-February 1945, Ivan Kozhedub was attacked by an unknown aircraft at that time. It was the newest German Luftwaffe fighter-bomber or Me-262. The combat vehicle was almost the most advanced miracle of the military industry of that time due to its impressive speed. But she too was shot down during a long battle by our famous pilot, who was accustomed to attacking from a long distance.

In April 1945, a rather strange story happened to Ivan. While driving German fighters away from Allied planes, Kozhedub was attacked by American combat vehicles, which confused him with a German. Ivan shot down two planes that actually belonged to the US Air Force.

On August 18, 1945, for exceptional skill, Kozhedub received the third “Golden Star” of the Hero of the Soviet Union. During his entire flying career, the ace was shot down many times, but he always tried to land the plane, which he succeeded in doing. Distinguished by exceptional skill, superhuman precision and the ability to perform the most complex aerobatic maneuvers, Kozhedub rarely went into close combat, trying to hit from a long distance. In 1985, he received the rank of air marshal. The hero died on August 8, 1991.

Ivan Kozhedub short biography military pilot is described in this article.

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich short biography

Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazhievka (now Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a church elder.

Having received secondary education, in 1934 he entered the chemical-technological technical school of the city of Shostok, which had a flying club, which the young man joined.

The Great Patriotic War began and Ivan Nikitovich, as a member of the aviation school, was evacuated to Kazakhstan and was soon awarded the rank of senior sergeant.

In November 1942, he was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, located in Ivanovo. From there, in March 1943, Kozhedub was sent to the Voronezh Front.

Ivan Kozhedub’s first combat mission was not very successful, since his La-5 fighter first fired at the German Messerschmitt with a cannon burst, and then (by mistake) at the Soviet anti-aircraft gunners (two shells hit). Despite the damage, Kozhedub managed to land the fighter.

Until February 1944, he flew 146 missions and destroyed 20 German aircraft. For this he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In August 1944, the hero was awarded a second Gold Star medal for 48 downed enemy vehicles and 256 sorties. And by the end of the war he already had 62 enemy kills in the air.

His last exploit occurred over Berlin in April 1945, when another Nazi plane was shot down. During the war, the Germans failed to shoot it down even once. In the same month, Ivan Nikitovich received another Gold Star medal, becoming three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1946, the hero continued his studies in the Air Force three times. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy and mastered the MiG-15 jet. Despite the peacetime in the USSR, his exploits did not end there - during the Korean War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub led the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. Under his leadership, the pilots won 216 victories in the sky with losses of nine people and 27 aircraft.

From 1964 to 1971 he was deputy commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1978, he was a member of the general inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. For services to the country and numerous exploits, in 1985 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal.

Ivan Kozhedub interesting facts

What plane did Ivan Kozhedub fly on? During the war, Kozhedub replaced 6 Lavochkins (La-5), and not a single plane let him down. And he did not lose a single car, although it happened that it was on fire, caused holes, landed on airfields dotted with craters...

Ivan Kozhedub performed during the Great Patriotic War 330 sorties, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft.

Kozhedub was never shot down himself, although he repeatedly brought a damaged fighter to the airfield.

Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich is the most successful military pilot of the Great Patriotic War. Subsequently, he was an air marshal, three times Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded 14 Soviet and 6 foreign orders, Soviet and foreign medals. During the Great Patriotic War, he made 330 combat missions, conducted 120 air battles, and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft. According to official data I.N. Kozhedub - the most successful Soviet fighter pilot.

The future pilot was born on July 6, 1922 in the village of Obrazheevka, Sumy region, becoming the fifth child in a poor peasant family. Graduated from the workers' department of the Shostinsky Chemical-Technological College. In 1938 he joined the flying club, where in April 1939 he made his first flight. Then, at the beginning of 1940, he entered the Chuguev Military Aviation School, after which he remained there to work as an instructor. Since the beginning of the war, I.N. Kozhedub repeatedly wrote reports about being sent to the front, but his requests were granted only in the fall of 1942, when I.N. Kozhedub was sent to Moscow, and then to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was armed with the latest La-5 fighters.

At the beginning of his military career, Ivan Nikitovich was plagued by failures; the pilot was almost transferred to a warning post. Only the intercession of the regiment commander, Major I. Soldatenko, helped him stay in the regiment.

The pilot won his first victory during his 40th combat mission, shooting down a German dive bomber. Subsequently, I.N. Kozhedub proved himself to be a brave and skillful pilot, in whom audacity was combined with prudence, initiative with diligence. Kozhedub sometimes treated his combat vehicle like a living creature , for him the plane was a friend, and the fighter responded in kind: during the war years the pilot never had to jump with a parachute.

In September 1944, Kozhedub was transferred to the 176th “Marshal” Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, where many famous military pilots were gathered. As part of this regiment he ended the war. Among many types of German aircraft, Ivan Nikitovich’s account includes the Me-262 jet fighter, which he shot down on April 19, 1945 over the Oder.

After the war I.N. Kozhedub graduated from the Air Force Academy and was appointed to command the 326th Fighter Aviation Division. During the Korean War from March 1951 to February 1952. Kozhedub's division scored 215 victories, losing 52 aircraft and 10 pilots. True, Kozhedub himself did not participate in combat missions due to a strict command ban. Upon returning home, Kozhedub graduated from the General Staff Academy and held a number of high command positions in the Air Force, including command of aviation in the Moscow Military District. In 1985 N.I. Kozhedub was awarded the rank of air marshal.