An excerpt characterizing Kozhedub, Ivan Nikitovich

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This letter had not yet been submitted to the sovereign when Barclay conveyed to Bolkonsky at dinner that the sovereign personally wanted to see Prince Andrei in order to ask him about Turkey, and that Prince Andrei had to appear at Bennigsen's apartment at six o'clock in the evening.
On the same day, in the apartment of the sovereign, news was received about Napoleon's new movement, which could be dangerous for the army - news that later turned out to be unfair. And on the same morning, Colonel Michaud, circling the fortifications of Drissa with the sovereign, argued to the sovereign that this fortified camp, set up by Pful and still considered a chef d "? Uvr" of tactics, was supposed to destroy Napoleon - that this camp was absurdity and destruction Russian army.
Prince Andrew arrived at the apartment of General Bennigsen, who occupied a small manor house on the very bank of the river. Neither Bennigsen nor the sovereign was there, but Chernyshev, the sovereign's aide-de-camp, received Bolkonsky and announced to him that the sovereign had gone with General Bennigsen and the Marquis Paulucci another time this day to bypass the fortifications of the Drissa camp, the convenience of which was beginning to be greatly doubted.
Chernyshev was sitting with a book of a French novel at the window of the first room. This room was probably formerly a hall; there was still an organ in it, on which some carpets were piled, and in one corner stood the folding bed of Bennigsen's adjutant. This adjutant was here. He, evidently tortured by a feast or business, sat on a rolled-up bed and dozed. Two doors led from the hall: one directly into the former living room, the other to the right into the study. From the first door, voices were heard speaking in German and occasionally in French. There, in the former drawing-room, at the request of the sovereign, were gathered not a council of war (the sovereign loved uncertainty), but some persons whom he wished to know about the impending difficulties. It was not a council of war, but like a council of the elect to clarify some issues for the emperor personally. To this half-council were invited: Swedish General Armfeld, Adjutant General Wolzogen, Winzingerode, whom Napoleon called a fugitive French subject, Michaud, Toll, not a military man at all - Count Stein and, finally, Pful himself, who, as Prince Andrew heard, was la cheville ouvriere [the basis] of the whole matter. Prince Andrew had the opportunity to examine him well, since Pful arrived soon after him and walked into the drawing-room, stopping for a minute to talk with Chernyshev.
Pful at first glance, in his Russian general's badly sewn uniform, which was sitting awkwardly, as if dressed, seemed to Prince Andrey as if familiar, although he had never seen him. It included Weyrother, Mack, and Schmidt, and many other German theoreticians of generals whom Prince Andrew managed to see in 1805; but he was more typical of all of them. Prince Andrew had never seen such a German theoretician, who combined in himself everything that was in those Germans.
Pful was short, very thin, but broad-boned, rough, healthy build, with a wide pelvis and bony shoulder blades. His face was very wrinkled, with deeply inserted eyes. His hair in front of the temples, obviously, was hastily smoothed with a brush, behind it naively sticking out with tassels. He, restlessly and angrily looking around, entered the room, as if he was afraid of everything in the large room where he entered. Holding his sword with an awkward movement, he turned to Chernyshev, asking in German where the sovereign was. He evidently wanted to go through the rooms as soon as possible, finish bows and greetings and sit down to work in front of the map, where he felt at home. He hastily nodded his head at the words of Chernyshev and smiled ironically, listening to his words that the sovereign was examining the fortifications that he, Pful himself, had laid according to his theory. He's something bassist and cool, as self-confident Germans say, grumbled to himself: Dummkopf ... or: zu Grunde die ganze Geschichte ... or: s "wird was gescheites d" raus werden ... [nonsense ... to hell with the whole thing ... (German) ] Prince Andrey did not hear and wanted to go through, but Chernyshev introduced Prince Andrey to Pful, noting that Prince Andrey had come from Turkey, where the war had ended so happily. Pful slightly glanced not so much at Prince Andrew as through him, and said laughing: "Da muss ein schoner taktischcr Krieg gewesen sein." ["That must have been the right tactical war." (German)] - And, laughing contemptuously, went into the room, from which voices were heard.
It can be seen that Pful, already always ready for ironic irritation, was now especially excited by the fact that they dared to inspect his camp and judge him without him. From one short meeting with Pful, Prince Andrew, thanks to his Austerlitz memoirs, compiled a clear description of this man. Pful was one of those hopelessly, unchanging, before the martyrdom of self-confident people that only Germans are, and precisely because only Germans are self-confident on the basis of an abstract idea - science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of perfect truth. A Frenchman is self-confident because he reveres himself personally, both in mind and in body, irresistibly charming for both men and women. The Englishman is self-confident on the grounds that he is a citizen of the most prosperous state in the world, and therefore, as an Englishman, he always knows what he needs to do, and knows that everything he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly good. The Italian is self-confident because he is agitated and easily forgets himself and others. The Russian is self-confident precisely because he does not know anything and does not want to know, because he does not believe that one could fully know anything. The German is self-confident worst of all, and hardest of all, and the most disgusting of all, because he imagines that he knows the truth, a science that he himself invented, but which for him is absolute truth. Such, obviously, was Pful. He had a science - the theory of the oblique movement, which he deduced from the history of the wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he encountered in the modern history of the wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he encountered in modern military history, seemed to him nonsense, barbarism, an ugly clash. in which so many mistakes were made on both sides that these wars could not be called wars: they did not fit the theory and could not serve as the subject of science.
In 1806, Pful was one of the drafters of the plan for the war that ended with Jena and Auerstet; but in the outcome of this war he did not see the slightest proof of the incorrectness of his theory. On the contrary, the deviations from his theory, in his opinion, were the only reason for all the failure, and he said with his characteristic joyful irony: "Ich sagte ja, daji die ganze Geschichte zum Teufel gehen wird." [After all, I said that the whole thing would go to hell (German)] Pful was one of those theoreticians who love their theory so much that they forget the purpose of theory - its application to practice; in love for theory, he hated all practice and did not want to know it. He even rejoiced at the failure, because the failure that resulted from deviating from theory in practice proved to him only the validity of his theory.
He said a few words with Prince Andrey and Chernyshev about a real war with the expression of a man who knows ahead of time that everything will be bad and that he is not even dissatisfied with it. The unkempt tassels of hair sticking out at the back of the head and the hastily slicked temples especially eloquently confirmed this.
He went into another room, and from there the bass and grumbling sounds of his voice were immediately heard.

Before Prince Andrey had time to see Pful with his eyes, Count Bennigsen hurriedly entered the room and, nodding his head to Bolkonsky, without stopping, went into the office, giving some orders to his adjutant. The Emperor followed him, and Bennigsen hurried forward to prepare something and have time to meet the Emperor. Chernyshev and Prince Andrey went out onto the porch. The Emperor dismounted with a tired look. The Marquis Paulucci said something to the Emperor. The Emperor, bowing his head to the left, listened with an air of displeasure to Paulucci, who spoke with particular fervor. The Tsar moved forward, apparently wanting to end the conversation, but the flushed, agitated Italian, forgetting decency, followed him, continuing to speak:
- Quant a celui qui a conseille ce camp, le camp de Drissa, [As for the one who advised the Driss camp,] - Paulucci said, while the sovereign, entering the steps and noticing Prince Andrew, peered into an unfamiliar face ...
- Quant a celui. Sire, - Paulucci continued with despair, as if he could not resist, - qui a conseille le camp de Drissa, je ne vois pas d "autre alternative que la maison jaune ou le gibet. [As for, sir, before that man , who advised the camp at Drysey, then, in my opinion, there are only two places for him: a yellow house or a gallows.] - Without listening to the end and as if not hearing the words of the Italian, the Emperor, recognizing Bolkonsky, kindly turned to him:
- I am very glad to see you, go to where they are gathered and wait for me. - The sovereign went into the office. Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky, Baron Stein, followed him, and the doors closed behind them. Prince Andrew, taking advantage of the sovereign's permission, went with Paulucci, whom he knew back in Turkey, into the drawing-room, where the council had met.
Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky served as the chief of staff of the sovereign. Volkonsky left the study and, bringing the cards into the drawing room and spreading them out on the table, he handed over the questions to which he wished to hear the opinion of the assembled gentlemen. The fact was that on the night news was received (which later turned out to be false) about the movement of the French around the Drissa camp.
The first began to speak, General Armfeld, unexpectedly, in order to avoid the presented difficulty, proposing a completely new, by nothing (except the desire to show that he, too, may have an opinion), inexplicable position aside from the Petersburg and Moscow roads, on which, in his opinion, the army had, having united, await the enemy. It was evident that this plan had long been drawn up by Armfeld, and that he now outlined it not so much with the aim of answering the proposed questions to which this plan did not answer, but with the aim of taking advantage of the opportunity to express it. It was one of the millions of assumptions that could be made, as well as others, without knowing what character the war would take. Some challenged his opinion, some defended him. The young Colonel Toll, hotter than others, disputed the opinion of the Swedish general, and during the dispute he took out a written notebook from his side pocket, which he asked permission to read. In a lengthy note, Toll proposed another - completely contrary to both Armfeld's and Pfuel's plan - a campaign plan. Paulucci, opposing Tol, proposed a plan for moving forward and attacking, which alone, he said, could lead us out of the unknown and the trap, as he called the Drissa camp, in which we were. Pful during these disputes and his translator Wolzogen (his bridge in the court relation) were silent. Pful only snorted and turned away, showing that he would never stoop to protest against the rubbish he now hears. But when Prince Volkonsky, who was leading the debate, summoned him to express his opinion, he only said:
- What should I ask? General Armfeld proposed an excellent position with an open rear. Or the attack of von diesem italienischen Herrn, sehr schon! [this Italian gentleman, very good! (German)] Or retreat. Auch gut. [Also good (German)] Why ask me? - he said. “After all, you yourself know everything better than me. - But when Volkonsky, frowning, said that he was asking his opinion on behalf of the sovereign, Pful stood up and, suddenly animated, began to say:
- They ruined everything, confused everything, everyone wanted to know better than me, and now they came to me: how to fix it? There is nothing to correct. We must do everything exactly according to the reasons I have outlined, ”he said, knocking his bony fingers on the table. - What is the difficulty? Nonsense, Kinder spiel. [children's toys (German)] - He went up to the map and began to speak quickly, poking a dry finger on the map and proving that no chance can change the expediency of the Drissa camp, that everything is foreseen and that if the enemy really goes around, then the enemy must inevitably be destroyed.
Paulucci, who did not know German, began to ask him in French. Wolzogen came to the aid of his principal, who spoke poor French, and began to translate his words, barely keeping up with Pful, who quickly argued that everything, everything, not only what happened, but everything that could happen, everything was foreseen in his plan, and that if there were now difficulties, the only fault was that not everything was fulfilled exactly. He incessantly laughed ironically, argued, and, finally, contemptuously gave up proving how a mathematician abandons verifying in various ways the once proven correctness of a problem. Wolzogen replaced him, continuing to expound his thoughts in French and occasionally saying to Pfuel: "Nicht wahr, Exellenz?" [Isn't it, your excellency? (German)] Pful, as in battle a heated man strikes his own people, angrily shouted at Wolzogen:
- Nun ja, was soll denn da noch expliziert werden? [Well, yes, what else is there to interpret? (German)] - Paulucci and Michaud in two voices attacked Wolzogen in French. Armfeld spoke to Pfuel in German. Tol explained in Russian to Prince Volkonsky. Prince Andrew silently listened and watched.
Of all these persons, the embittered, decisive and stupidly self-confident Pful was the most excited to participate in Prince Andrew. He was one of all those present here, apparently, did not want anything for himself, did not harbor enmity towards anyone, and only wanted one thing - to put into action a plan drawn up according to the theory he had developed over the years. He was ridiculous, he was unpleasant for his irony, but at the same time he inspired an involuntary respect for his boundless devotion to the idea. In addition, in all the speeches of all the speakers, with the exception of Pfuel, there was one common feature that was not at the military council in 1805 - it was now, although hidden, but a panic fear of the genius of Napoleon, a fear that was expressed in each objection. They assumed everything possible for Napoleon, they waited for him from all sides and his terrible name destroyed the assumptions of each other. Pfuel alone, it seemed, and he, Napoleon, considered the same barbarian, like all opponents of his theory. But, in addition to a sense of respect, Pful inspired Prince Andrey with a sense of pity. From the tone with which the courtiers treated him, from what Paulucci allowed himself to say to the emperor, but most importantly, from a certain desperation in Pful's expression, it was clear that others knew and he himself felt that his fall was near. And, despite his self-confidence and German grumpy irony, he was pathetic with his slicked hair on the temples and tassels sticking out at the back of his head. Apparently, although he was hiding it under the guise of irritation and contempt, he was in despair because the only opportunity now to test on vast experience and prove to the whole world the correctness of his theory was eluding him.
The debate went on for a long time, and the longer it went on, the more disputes flared up, reaching shouts and personalities, and the less it was possible to deduce any general conclusion from all that was said. Prince Andrew, listening to this multilingual dialect and these assumptions, plans and refutations and shouts, was only surprised at what they all said. Those thoughts that had come to him for a long time and often during his military activity that there is and cannot be any military science and therefore there cannot be any so-called military genius, now received for him a perfect evidence of the truth. “What theory and science could be in a matter in which conditions and circumstances are unknown and cannot be determined, in which the strength of the war leaders can be even less determined? No one could and cannot know what the position of our and the enemy's army will be in a day, and no one can know what the strength of this or that detachment is. Sometimes, when there is no coward in front, who will shout: “We are cut off! - and will run, but there is a cheerful, brave man in front, who will shout: “Hurray! - a detachment of five thousand is worth thirty thousand, as at Shepgraben, and sometimes fifty thousand flee before eight, as at Austerlitz. What kind of science can be in such a matter in which, as in any practical matter, nothing can be determined and everything depends on countless conditions, the meaning of which is determined in one minute, about which no one knows when it will come. Armfeld says that our army is cut off, and Paulucci says that we have put the French army between two fires; Michaud says that the inadequacy of the Drissa camp is that the river is behind, and Pful says that this is his strength. Toll proposes one plan, Armfeld proposes another; and all are good and all are bad, and the benefits of any position can be evident only at the moment when the event takes place. And why does everyone say: a military genius? Is a genius the person who in time will have time to order to give a lift to the biscuits and go to the right, to the left? Just because the military people are clothed with splendor and power and the masses of scoundrels flatter the authorities, giving it unusual qualities of a genius, they are called geniuses. On the contrary, the best generals I have known are stupid or absent-minded people. The best Bagration, - Napoleon himself admitted it. And Bonaparte himself! I remember his smug and narrow-minded face on the Austerlitz field. Not only genius and some special qualities are not needed by a good commander, but, on the contrary, he needs the absence of the best higher, human qualities - love, poetry, tenderness, philosophical inquiring doubt. He must be limited, firmly convinced that what he is doing is very important (otherwise he will not have the patience), and only then will he be a brave leader. God forbid, if he is a man, he loves someone, regrets, thinks about what is fair and what is not. It is clear that from time immemorial the theory of geniuses was forged for them, because they are power. The merit in the success of military affairs does not depend on them, but on the person who shouts in the ranks: disappeared, or shouts: hurray! And only in these ranks can you serve with the confidence that you are useful! "
Prince Andrew thought so, listening to the talk, and woke up only when Paulucci called him and everyone was already leaving.
The next day, at the inspection, the sovereign asked Prince Andrei where he wanted to serve, and Prince Andrei lost himself forever in the court world, not asking to stay with the sovereign's person, but asking permission to serve in the army.

Before the opening of the campaign, Rostov received a letter from his parents, in which, briefly informing him about Natasha's illness and the break with Prince Andrei (this breakup was explained to him by Natasha's refusal), they again asked him to resign and come home. Nikolai, having received this letter, did not try to ask for vacation or retirement, but wrote to his parents that he was very sorry about Natasha's illness and breakup with her fiancé and that he would do everything possible to fulfill their desire. He wrote to Sonya separately.
“The adored friend of my soul,” he wrote. “Nothing but honor could keep me from returning to the village. But now, before the opening of the campaign, I would consider myself dishonorable, not only to all my comrades, but also to myself, if I preferred my happiness to my duty and love for my country. But this is the last parting. Believe that immediately after the war, if I am alive and you love everything, I will drop everything and come to you to hold you forever to my fiery chest. "
Indeed, only the opening of the campaign delayed Rostov and prevented him from coming - as he had promised - and marrying Sonya. Autumn in Otradno with hunting and winter with Christmastide and love Sonya opened to him the prospect of quiet noble joys and tranquility, which he did not know before and which now beckoned him to him. “Glorious wife, children, a good flock of hounds, dashing ten or twelve packs of greyhounds, household, neighbors, election service! He thought. But now there was a campaign, and it was necessary to stay in the regiment. And since this was necessary, Nikolai Rostov, by his nature, was also pleased with the life he led in the regiment, and managed to make this life pleasant for himself.
Arriving from vacation, happily greeted by his comrades, Nikolai sent for repairs and from Little Russia brought excellent horses that delighted him and earned him praise from his superiors. In his absence, he was promoted to captain, and when the regiment was put on martial law with an increased complement, he again received his old squadron.
A campaign began, the regiment was moved to Poland, a double salary was given, new officers, new people, horses arrived; and, most importantly, that excitedly cheerful mood that accompanies the beginning of the war spread; and Rostov, realizing his advantageous position in the regiment, devoted himself entirely to the pleasures and interests of military service, although he knew that sooner or later he would have to leave them.

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

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

He owned the car masterly, 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 wingman to stay in the air for their commander. Kozhedub always tried to find the enemy first. But at the same time, do not "substitute" yourself. Indeed, 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 youngest child with three older brothers and a sister. The date of birth is officially considered June 08, 1920, but, as you know, he added himself two years, which were needed to enroll in a technical school. The real date of birth of Ivan Kozhedub is July 06, 1922. His father worked in the land and worked in a factory, but found time for books and even wrote poetry himself. He brought up children in severity, tried 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 at the end of the first academic year, his father sent him to a neighboring village to work as a shepherd. Before entering the Chemical-Technological College in 1934, Ivan Nikitovich managed to work in the library. 1938 was a turning point in the fate of the young man - then he began to visit the flying club.

In the spring of 1939, his first flight took place, which leaves a great impression. Already in 1940, having made the decision to become a fighter, he entered a military flight school, after which he was 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 falls into the 240 fighter aviation regiment under the command of Ignatius Soldatenko. On the first combat mission, Ivan Nikitovich flew out in March 1943, but when he got under fire, he just miraculously managed to land almost unharmed. It took about a month before the future great pilot got into his new La-5 aircraft.

Ivan Kozhedub opened his personal battle account in July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk. This was his forty sortie. Within a few days, the list already included 4 victories. 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 begins to command the squadron. In the fall of 1943, he was sent to the rear, hot heavy battles were ahead, it was necessary to recuperate.

After returning to the front, he decides to change his tactics, stopping at low level flight, which required courage and great skill. For military merits in early February 1944, a 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 this time he personally shot down 48 enemy aircraft in 246 sorties. In the first autumn month of 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 aircraft were shot down, they lost only 2. 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 planes were shot down, and 1 plane of the Soviet army was destroyed. A significant personal achievement for Ivan Kozhedub was the destruction of the Me-262 jet, which was much faster than his Lavochkin. In April 1945, his last 2 enemy aircraft were shot down by the great fighter pilot.

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 battles on his account. In August 1945, for the third time, he was a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Postwar 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 the marriage they had two children: a son and a daughter. He also continued to study, in 1949 he graduated from the Air Force Academy, and in 1956 from the Military Academy of the General Staff. He took part in military operations 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, social activities should be noted. 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 made changes to the personal life of Ivan Kozhedub. Returning in the evening to Monino near Moscow by train, Ivan met the tenth grader Veronica, who soon became his wife, a faithful and patient companion of 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 relatives, was and remains aviation. But something can be learned from the stories of the son of the famous pilot, Nikita Ivanovich, captain of the 1st rank in reserve. So it became known that the first acquaintance on the train could be the last for both young people. At first, Veronica did not like the young officer, he seemed unsightly because of his short stature and Ukrainian accent. But, coolly parting, the young people after a while met again in the same train. Ivan took the initiative into his own hands and persuaded Veronica to go dances with him at the garrison club.

It was in winter, on New Year's Eve. Kozhedub met Veronica in a flying raglan, worn over a tunic. While they walked through the territory of the unit to the club, the girl was surprised that all the officers, even older in rank, saluted Ivan. I thought: what kind of major is he, if even the colonels salute him and stretch out to attention. The point is that to salute and execute the command "Attention!" before the Hero of the Soviet Union, even senior officials were obliged by military rules established by Joseph Stalin (under Khrushchev, these rules were canceled). 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 Stars of the Hero, a bunch of plaques of orders - 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 approached him and whispered in his ear: "Well, Ivan, I approve of the choice." New, 1947, young people have already met together. And on the morning of January 1 in the village council of Monino, they quickly, without witnesses, were painted. 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.

The children did not remember that their parents had offended each other at least once.

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 the dangers of his professional life from her - he took care of his wife.

In 1947, a daughter, Natalya, was born, and in 1953, a son, Nikita (captain of the 3rd rank of the USSR Navy).

The planes that Ivan Kozhedub flew

La-5. The Hero of the Soviet Union spent his first combat sortie on March 26, the sortie ended unsuccessfully: his first combat fighter La-5 (side number 75) was damaged in battle, and upon returning to the airfield was in addition fired upon by his anti-aircraft artillery. With great difficulty, the pilot was able to bring the car to the airfield and land. After that, he flew on old fighters for about a month, until he again received a new La-5. It was an excellent lightweight fighter with the number "14" and the inscriptions in white with red edging: on the left side - "In the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant Colonel GN Konev", on the right - "From the collective farmer Vasily Viktorovich Konev." La-5 is a single-engine wooden low-wing aircraft. Pine was the main structural material used in the airframe. For the production of some frames and wing spars, delta wood was used. The fighter's armament consisted of 2 synchronous 20-mm ShVAK cannons with pneumatic and mechanical reloading. The total ammunition was 340 shells. A PBP-la collimator sight was used for aiming at the target.

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

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub is a renowned ace pilot of the Second World War, the most effective fighter pilot in the Allied aviation (64 personal victories). Three times hero of the Soviet Union. Participated in hostilities from 1943 to 1945, all of his combat missions made them on fighters designed by Lavochkin - La-5 and La-7. During the entire war, he was never shot down. At the end of the war, he continued to serve in the Air Force, remaining an active pilot and having mastered the MiG-15 jet fighter. He graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy, in 1985 the pilot was awarded the military rank of Air Marshal.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 into a peasant family in the small Ukrainian village of Obrazhievka, Shostkinsky district, Sumy region. Later he graduated from the chemical-technological technical school and the Shostka flying club. He got into the Red Army in 1940. In 1941, he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, where he served as an instructor. With the beginning of World War II, Ivan Kozhedub, together with the aviation school, was evacuated to Central Asia. After filing numerous reports with a request to send him to the front, his desire was granted. In November 1942, Sergeant Ivan Kozhedub arrived at the disposal of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment (IAP) of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division being formed. In March 1943, units of the division were sent to the Voronezh front.

The future ace and Hero of the Soviet Union spent his first combat sortie on March 26, the sortie ended unsuccessfully: his La-5 fighter (side number 75) was damaged in battle, and upon returning to the airfield was in addition fired upon by his anti-aircraft artillery. With great difficulty, the pilot was able to bring the car to the airfield and land. After that, he flew on old fighters for about a month, until he again received a new La-5.

The ace pilot opened the battle score for his victories on July 6, 1943 at the Kursk Bulge, shooting down a Ju-87 dive bomber. The very next day Kozhedub won a second air victory, shooting down another Ju-87, and in an air battle on July 9 he was able to shoot down 2 German Me-109 fighters at once. Already in August 1943, Ivan Kozhedub became the squadron commander. The first rank of Hero of the Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal, the squadron commander of the 240th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Kozhedub received on February 4, 1944 for 146 sorties, in which he shot down 20 German aircraft.

Since May 1944, Kozhedub fought on a new modification of Lavochkin's fighter - La-5FN (side number 14), which was built with the money of the collective farmer of the Stalingrad region V.V. Konev. A few days after receiving it, he knocks down a Ju-87 on it. Over the next six days, the ace pilot writes down 7 more enemy aircraft to his account. At the end of June, he hands over his fighter to K.A. Evstigneev (later twice Hero of the Soviet Union), and he himself transferred to a training regiment. But already in August, Ivan Kozhedub was appointed deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment of the IAP. At the same time, the regiment is undergoing a rearmament procedure, receiving new La-7 fighters. The ace pilot got the plane with tail number 27. Ivan Kozhedub will fly on it until the very end of the war.

Captain Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal of the Guard on August 19, 1944 for 256 sorties, in which he personally shot down 48 German aircraft. Once, during an air battle on a La-7 fighter that was passing over enemy territory, Kozhedub's plane was shot down. The engine stalled on the car and Ivan Kozhedub, in order not to surrender to the Germans, chose a target for himself on the ground and began to dive at it. When there was very little left to the ground, the fighter's engine suddenly started working again and Kozhedub was able to take the car out of the dive and returned safely to the airfield.

On February 12, 1945, Ivan Kozhedub, paired with his wingman lieutenant V.A. Gromakovsky patrolled the space above the front edge, being in the "free hunt" mode. Finding a group of 13 FW-190 fighters, the Soviet pilots immediately attacked them, shooting down 5 German fighters. Three of them were chalked up by Ivan Kozhedub, two - by Gromakovsky. On February 15, 1945, in flight over the Oder, Kozhedub was able to shoot down a German Me-262 jet fighter, which was controlled by non-commissioned officer K. Lyange from I./KG(J)54.

By the end of the Great Patriotic War, Guards Major Ivan Kozhedub performed 330 sorties and conducted 120 air battles, shooting down 64 enemy aircraft. This number does not include 2 American P-51 Mustang fighters, which were shot down by the Soviet ace in the spring of 1945. At the same time, the Americans were the first to attack the La-7 fighter, which was controlled by the Soviet pilot. According to an American pilot who survived this air battle, they confused the La-7 Kozhedub with the German FW-190 fighter and attacked it. The third "Gold Star" Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub received after the war for high military skill, personal courage and courage.

Among the enemy aircraft shot down by Ivan Kozhedub were:

21 FW-190 fighters;
18 Me-109 fighters;
18 Ju-87 bombers;
3 attack aircraft Hs-129;
2 bombers He-111;
1 PZL P-24 fighter (Romanian);
1 jet aircraft Ме-262.

La-5 and La-5FN

La-5 is a single-engine wooden low-wing aircraft. Like the LaGG-3 fighter, pine was the main structural material used in the airframe. For the production of some frames and wing spars, delta wood was used. The wooden parts of the aircraft skin were glued together using a special carbamide KM-1 or VIAM-B-3 resin glue.

The wing of the aircraft, recruited from the profiles NACA-23016 and NACA-23010, was technologically subdivided into a center section and 2 two-spar consoles, which had a plywood sheathing. The main landing gear was attached to a metal pipe using an end rib. Between the side members of the center section there were caissons for gas tanks, glued from plywood, and domes for the wheels of the chassis were located in the bow.
The aircraft spars were made of wood with special shelves made of delta-wood (metal spars were mounted on La-5FN fighters since 1944.) Automatic slats, Fries-type ailerons with a duralumin frame, sheathed with percale and flaps-flaps of the "Shrenk" type. The left aileron had a trim tab.

The fuselage of the fighter consisted of a wooden monocoque made as one piece with the keel and a front metal truss. The frame consisted of 15 frames and 4 spars. The fighter fuselage was tightly fastened to the center section with 4 steel assemblies. The pilot's cockpit was closed with a plexiglass movable canopy, which could be locked in the closed and open positions. On the frame behind the back of the pilot's seat was an armor plate 8.5 mm thick.

Stabilizer - two-spar, completely wooden with plywood sheathing, tail - cantilever. The stabilizer of the machine consists of 2 halves, which were attached to the power elements of the tail of the machine. The elevator with a trim tab had a duralumin frame, which was sheathed with canvas and, like the stabilizer, consisted of two halves. Control of the fighter was mixed: elevators and rudders using cables, ailerons using rigid rods. The release and retraction of the flap shutters was carried out using a hydraulic drive.

The landing gear of the fighter was retractable, two-bearing with a tail wheel. The main landing gear had oil-pneumatic shock absorbers. The main wheels of the La-5 had dimensions of 650x200 mm and were equipped with air-chamber brakes. The freely orientable tail support was also retracted into the fuselage and had a wheel measuring 300 x 125 mm.

The power plant of the fighter consisted of an M-82 air-cooled radial engine, which had a maximum power of 1,850 hp. and a three-blade variable pitch propeller VISH-105V with a diameter of 3.1 meters. The exhaust pipes were combined into 2 reactive manifolds. To regulate the engine temperature, frontal louvers were used, which were located on the front ring of the hood, as well as 2 flaps on the sides of the hood behind the engine. The aircraft engine was started using compressed air. An oil tank with a capacity of 59 liters was located at the junction of the metal truss and the wooden part of the fuselage. Fuel with a volume of 539 liters was in 5 tanks: 3 center sections and 2 cantilevers.

The fighter's armament consisted of 2 synchronous 20-mm ShVAK cannons with pneumatic and mechanical reloading. The total ammunition was 340 shells. A PBP-la collimator sight was used for aiming at the target. On the La-5FN aircraft, wing bomb racks were additionally installed, which were designed to carry bombs weighing up to 100 kg.

In addition to the standard set of monitoring and flight-navigation devices, the fighter's equipment included an oxygen device, a short-wave radio station RSI-4 and a landing headlight. The oxygen supply was enough for 1.5 hours of flight at an altitude of 8000 m.

The letters FN in the La-5FN labeling stood for Forced Direct Fuel Injection and referred to the engine. This aircraft began to enter the troops in March 1943. Its ASh-82FN engine developed a maximum power of 1850 hp. and could withstand forced mode for 10 minutes of flight. This version of the La-5 fighter was the fastest. At the ground, the car accelerated to 593 km / h, and at an altitude of 6250 meters it could reach a speed of 648 km / h. In April 1943, a series of air battles between the La-5FN and the captured Bf.109G-2 fighter took place in Lyubertsy near Moscow. The training battles demonstrated the overwhelming superiority of the La-5 in speed at low and medium altitudes, which were the main ones for the air battles of the Eastern Front.

La-7 became a further modernization of the La-5 fighter and one of the best production vehicles of the end of World War II. This fighter had excellent flight qualities, high maneuverability and good armament. At low and medium altitudes, it had an advantage over the latest piston fighters in Germany and the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. La-7, on which Kozhedub ended the war, is currently in the Central Museum of the Russian Air Force in the village of Monino.

In appearance and size, the fighter was very slightly different from the La-5. One of the significant differences was the spars, which, as in the last series of La-5FN, were made of metal. At the same time, the skin and ribs of the aircraft remained unchanged. The cross-sectional dimensions of the side members have been reduced to provide additional space for the fuel tanks. The mass of the fighter's spars has decreased by 100 kg. The aerodynamics of the fighter was significantly improved, this was achieved, in particular, by transferring and improving the shape of the radiator. Also, the internal sealing of the aircraft has undergone improvements by completely eliminating the gaps between the pipes and the holes for them in the fire bulkhead and the slots in the hood. All these improvements allowed the La-7 to gain an advantage over the La-5 in flight speed, climb rate and maximum ceiling. The maximum speed of the La-7 was 680 km / h.

As weapons on the La-7, two 20-mm ShVAK cannons or 3 20-mm B-20 cannons could be installed. The guns had hydromechanical synchronizers, which prevented shells from entering the propeller blades. Most of the La-7, like the La-5, was armed with two ShVAK cannons, which had an ammunition capacity of 200 rounds per barrel. The fighter's ammunition included armor-piercing incendiary and fragmentation-incendiary projectiles weighing 96 grams. Armor-piercing incendiary projectiles at a distance of 100 meters pierced the normal armor up to 20 mm thick. bombs weighing up to 100 kg could be suspended on two underwing units of the fighter.

Sources used:
www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id\u003d403
www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/la5.html
www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/la7.html
Materials of the free Internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia"

Ivan Kozhedub - Soviet pilot, hero of the Soviet Union, who fought during the Great Patriotic War, took part in the conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazhievka, located on the territory of present-day Ukraine. His childhood fell on the years of the Civil War, he lived in an ordinary peasant family. The boy was no different from the rest of the guys of that period, he spent all his time on the street with his friends. After graduating from a local school, Ivan went to the city of Shostka to enroll in a chemical-technological college. During his studies, he was in the flying club, where he was instilled in a love of aviation. After graduating from college, he continued to pursue his hobby. He became a student of the Chuguev Military Aviation School, where he studied until the beginning of the 40s. After graduation, Ivan remained to work in it as a teacher.

The turning point for Kozhedub was his entry into the ranks of the Red Army. Then he realized that he wanted to devote himself to military affairs. The Great Patriotic War began. Ivan and the rest of the teaching staff were evacuated to Kazakhstan. There the pilot received the rank of senior sergeant. A few months later he was sent to the front as part of the 240 Fighter Regiment. His first aircraft was the LA-5 model, the pilot proudly called him "Lopakhin". Unfortunately, Kozhedub's first flight failed, he was knocked out. Nevertheless, he heroically planted the damaged machine. In 1943 he became a junior lieutenant.

The battle on the Kursk Bulge brought him fame. There he was able to shoot down several enemy fighters. For his courage he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1944, Kozhedub was given a captain. He becomes the pilot of the new La-7 aircraft. During the offensive operation to liberate Eastern Europe, he shot down several dozen enemy bombers. He met the victory in Berlin, where he received the second "Gold Star". At the end of the war, Kozhedub clashed with two American pilots, who accidentally perceived him as an enemy. Ivan, defending himself, shot down planes, which may have played a role in the aggravation of relations.

After the war, he entered the Red Banner Air Force Academy, where he graduated. In parallel, the great pilot was testing new aircraft models. But the military service did not leave him. Ivan was directly involved in the Korean War. Thanks to his skill, many battles were won with minimal losses. After returning to civilian life, he served as an Air Force commander. For the next 10 years he worked as an inspector of the Ministry of Defense. Only in 1985, having become Marshal of Aviation, Ivan decided to change the vector of his activities. He became a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, where he worked until his death. He died on August 8, 1991, from a heart attack. Even after 30 years, everyone continues to honor the exploits of Ivan Kozhedub, which speaks of his undoubted contribution to the development of aviation, he was a real patriot of his country.

Biography 2

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub became one of the most famous Soviet aces who participated in the Great Patriotic War. His biography reflected the peculiarities of the era.

He was born in a simple Ukrainian village in 1920. The future Air Marshal was not quite lucky with a social background, which was then paid much more attention than now. However, the son of the village church elder, like many of his peers, became seriously interested in aviation. At the chemical-technological college, where he entered after leaving school, there was an flying club, where the young man entered.

At the beginning of the war, Kozhedub was sent to evacuation to Kazakhstan, to complete his studies as a military pilot, and in 1942 he was released into a fighter aviation regiment, with the rank of sergeant. The following year, Ivan Nikitovich takes part in the battles on the Voronezh Front, piloting a La-5 fighter. The debut was not very successful - the plane was damaged, being fired upon by its own Soviet anti-aircraft gunners. However, not at that time, and then throughout the war, the pilot was not shot down even once, although his combat vehicle was repeatedly seriously damaged.

At the end of the war, Kozhedub shot down sixty-two enemy aircraft, having made three hundred and thirty sorties. The latter he shot down in the sky over the capital of Germany in April 1945, at the same time he received the Hero of the Soviet Union for the third time.

After the victory, the honored pilot remained in military aviation, studied at the Air Force Academy, while mastering new types of aircraft.

During the Korean War, where Soviet pilots fought the Americans and their allies, he commanded an air division. Having lost only twenty-seven aircraft, his subordinates shot down 216 enemy aircraft.

In 1964-71. Ivan Nikitovich served as Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Subsequently, he was part of the group of inspectors general of the Ministry of Defense. It was not customary to dismiss the highest military leaders, so they formally held a high position, but did not really command.