Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, Shostkinsky district, Sumy region, in the family of a simple rural worker.

Father raised little Ivan in severity, from childhood he taught him to work. Brothers Jacob, Alexander and Gregory, worked for wealthy people, bringing home meager pennies and food at the end of the season. Yes, and Ivan himself was forced to earn money in childhood, when his father gave him a henchman. Fate was favorable to him from childhood and kept him throughout his life.

Even as a child, as Ivan Nikitovich himself recalled, in his book "Loyalty to the Fatherland",

could have died by drowning in the Desna. The guys in flood went by boat to a distant island and in the evening, with a strong wind, they returned to the village. A gust of wind turned the boat across the wave and overturned. Once in cold water, the children swam to a nearby tree and climbed onto the branches. By nightfall, the survivors began to freeze and Vanya's friend Andreika drowned. Yes, and Vanya himself was blown off the branch by the wind, when, exhausted, he could not hold on. Falling into the water, Vanya immediately went to the bottom.

The miracle of his salvation was that at that time help came up on the launch, where Vanya's brother Alexander would be. He managed to notice where the future Soviet air sniper fell and, diving, rescued him. On that day, little Ivan experienced the first bereavement in his life. And how much more fate was preparing for him ...

Since childhood, Vanya was fond of sports, this includes exercises on the horizontal bar and weightlifting - kettlebell lifting. Father often scolded Ivan for the yard pitted with weights. As a result of these studies, the future defender of the Fatherland developed an excellent vestibular apparatus and endurance.

At school, Vanya was fond of drawing and drew a lot, which developed an eye, visual memory of the future ace. I tried to paint in oils.

Like everything in life, childhood flew by imperceptibly. After finishing the seven-year school, Ivan entered the school for working youth, where, working as a librarian, he avidly read not only fiction books, but also technical literature. Two more years passed and, on the advice of his father, Ivan entered the Shostka technical school, the chemical-technological department. It was a long way to go home, and Kozhedub moved to a hostel at the technical school. Only the mother did not want to part with her youngest son.

One weekend with a heavy feeling on his soul, Ivan returned home from college for the weekend. On the threshold of the house he was met by his father. Ivan's mother, who undermined her strength in hard work in people, fell seriously ill and refused all persuasions to go to the hospital. It's time to go back to college. Ivan did not want to go, apparently anticipating trouble, but his mother persuaded him to return. Until late at night, Kozhedub sat reading books, reproaching himself for not insisting that his mother go to the hospital, and at dawn he was awakened by his brother Yakov. Seeing the tear-stained face of his older brother, Ivan immediately understood everything.

Having become a widow, Nikita Kozhedub also moved to Shostka, to a hostel at the plant and often came to visit his son.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub himself will tell better about his first meeting with the plane:

“... one afternoon, while playing bowling pins, I heard the roar of an engine: an airplane was flying at low altitude. This was the first time I saw him so close. The two passengers in the back waved their hands to us. The car quickly disappeared over the hill.

That would be to climb, look from above the Desna, at our spacious edges.

Just before departure, I learned that it was possible to fly: passengers were rolled for a fee, but it was already too late. And the plane, frankly, inspired me not only curiosity, but also shyness. I even admitted to myself that, perhaps, I would not dare to fly. And I decided to myself that it was difficult to learn flying, and the pilots must be fabulously brave people: just think - they rise into the air, make such flights! And not for a second then did I have the idea to devote my life to aviation. "
(Ivan Kozhedub. "Loyalty to the Fatherland").

Ivan took the next step towards his destiny after the war at Lake Khasan, in the summer of 1938. It was then that Ivan remembered his recent meeting with the students of the technical school, who entered the flying club. They came to the technical school to train on sports equipment. At a subsequent meeting with them, Ivan asked how to submit documents to the flying club, to which he received a little encouraging answer, the documents were to be submitted late, the classes had already begun. But Ivan nevertheless took a chance and entered the flying club, having given his word to catch up with fellow students in theory, before the start of flight practice. He caught up with the group, moreover, he was one of the first counts in the group.

It was difficult for the future hero to keep up everywhere. Ivan studied at the flying club, not forgetting about the technical school, because he had not decided to fly all his life.

At first I had to hide from my father. Kozhedub recalls how he once asked: "What, a tattoo, if I learned to fly?" ("tattoo" means "dad" in Ukrainian).

To which the father waved his hands: "Where are you chasing a crane in the sky ?!"

But Ivan could only hide until summer holidays at the technical school. A little light was going to Shostka at the airfield, for flights. So the father found out about his son's hobby, but, having already got used to his independence, he did not flog the hero.

In the same 1939, Kozhedub decided to link his fate with fighter aircraft, having met his fellow countryman, who came on home leave. Young pilots enthusiastically listened to the stories of a graduate of their flying club, looking with envy military uniform... Of course, in those days, pilots had a special chic uniform. All military officers wore tunics, and the pilots wore shirts with ties and a tunic.

In January 1940, Kozhedub was summoned to the Chuguev school of military pilots. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR SK Timoshenko No. 0362 dated December 22, 1940 "On changing the order of service by the junior and middle commanding personnel of the Red Army Air Force", Ivan Kozhedub successfully completed in the fall of 1940. He was expecting distribution. Like all his classmates, he was preparing to serve on the western border, where the entire graduation of that year was sent, but the command ordered otherwise. As one of the best cadets, Sergeant Kozhedub was left as an instructor at the school.

The war found Ivan Nikitovich as an instructor. From the first days of the war, Kozhedub has been bombarding the authorities with reports asking them to be sent to the front, but the authorities are adamant. “Your duty is to train pilots for the Red Army. The front suffers heavy losses. "

At the end of 1941, the school was transferred to the city of Chimkent, Kazakhstan. There, shots for the front were forged in an accelerated mode. Kozhedub continues to besiege the authorities with reports, to which he receives negative answers and even scolding. Continues to train pilots for the front.

Newspapers from the front reached them and in some of them there were notes about the exploits of their comrades, former cadets, instructors from the school. The modest workers of the rear airfield were jealous of their friends, who beat the enemy over the expanses of the Motherland.

Finally, in the fall of 1942, Ivan Nikitovich was sent to the front. In Moscow, Ivan learned that one of his best cadets, Vyacheslav Bashkirov, had been awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union... Kozhedub is proud of his student and, perhaps, happy for himself. If the student has surpassed the teacher - the best mark for the teacher as a professional.

Kozhedub was enlisted in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, commanded by Major Soldatenko. The regiment suffered heavy losses in the battles at Stalingrad and was on staffing. In Gorky, the regiment was retraining for the new La-5 fighters. New aircraft have just begun to arrive at the front and have already gained fame in the Battle of Stalingrad.

In the reserve regiment, Ivan continues to study, studies new material, undergoes training flights, studies captured Me-109s, sketching their silhouettes and studying vulnerabilities.

Finally, in January 1943, Kozhedub received a new La-5, number 75 from the Valery Chkalov squadron. But he is not happy with the first car. The aircraft is equipped with five tanks - somewhat heavy.

In March 1943, Kozhedub conducted his first air battle. Together with his leader, Kozhedub was supposed to guard his airfield. From the very beginning, everything went awry. During takeoff, Kozhedub lost sight of the leader's plane and remained alone in the air. Having made several circles, Ivan saw approaching planes, similar in silhouette to Pe-2 bombers.

Ivan remembered the fighter's rule in time - If you don't recognize the plane, consider it an enemy plane. Explosions on the ground convinced Kozhedub of the exactness of the rules.

The trouble was that while he was figuring out who was in front of him, the Me-110 began to attack the airfield. Kozhedub prepared to attack the enemy, removed the cannons from the fuses, but then he remembered one more rule - "before the attack, make sure that you are not being attacked." I looked around - an airplane with a white spinner was approaching him. While he was thinking who it was, his own or someone else's, the "white cook" opened fire. There was a cracking sound from behind, and there was a smell of burning in the cockpit. Ivan was saved by the fact that a high-explosive fragmentation projectile, and not an armor-piercing one, got into the cockpit. The Me-109s sat on it tightly, they were about to finish off, but then anti-aircraft artillery opened fire and the Messers rolled off. La-5 Kozheduba also came under fire from his own people and received several more holes. Ivan had a lot of work to land the riddled plane. After landing, more than fifty holes were counted.

Now Ivan flew from time to time.

After the first unsuccessful battle, they generally wanted to transfer him to ground service. He lost the leader, allowed the enemy to bomb the airfield, he almost died and the plane was repaired for a long time. Car number 75 was repaired for a long time.

Two tanks were removed from her, he was not suitable for battle, and Ivan sometimes flew as a liaison. All the time he learned to beat the enemy, drew schemes, studied the experience of renowned pilots such as A.I. Pokryshkin.

Pokryshkin's battle formula: "Height - speed - maneuver - fire", Ivan wrote down in his front-line notebook. In the same place, he drew diagrams, silhouettes of enemy aircraft, so as not to waste time in the future identifying the aircraft. He learned well the lesson the Germans taught him.

There were "local battles", but in these battles the regiment was losing people. The leader of Kozhedub, Vano Gabunia, was killed by ramming an enemy plane, squadron commander Gavrish. On April 14, 1943, during the raid, the commander of the regiment, Major Soldatenko, was killed.

Replenishment arrived in the regiment by summer. Kozhedub was appointed deputy squadron commander. Vasily Mukhin was assigned to him.

The new couple took their first battle in July 1943 at the Kursk Bulge on July 6, 1943. The regiment received orders to cover the ground forces. Above the forward edge, the group, which included the Kozhedub-Mukhin pair, met with a large group of Ju-87 bombers.

A fierce battle ensued. Our planes and those of others were mixed in the air. With a burst of cannons, Ivan forced the Me-109 to turn the squadron commander Semyonov away from the plane.

The bombers formed a defensive circle. Several minutes passed and Kozhedub went to the line of fire. The cannons started working, but the “lapteacher” does not fall. Ivan continues to shoot. Junkers began to maneuver. Forgetting everything, Ivan continues the attack, deciding that if he does not shoot down the enemy, he will ram, as his deceased leader Vano Gabunia did. Almost point blank Kozhedub thrust a long burst into the enemy. The plane burst into flames and fell.

To celebrate, Ivan shouted to the follower: “Vasya! He kicked one! "

He looked around, and saw how the "Messer" was rolling away from him, after which Mukhin was chasing.

Command of the squadron commander "Gathering". But Kozhedub sees another group of Junkers, reports to the commander, but he continues to collect the group. Then Ivan decides to attack the enemy with the forces of his pair. Attached to the tail of the extreme Ju-87, opens fire point-blank, but the cannons are silent. Shooting in long bursts, Ivan shot all his ammunition. Commands Mukhin to attack, he imitates attacks. The Junkers leave, and the steam, at the limit of fuel, returned to their airfield.

Ivan Nikitovich recalled in his book how, during a report on the battle, the squadron commander severely reprimanded him for breaking away from the group.

“Is that so ?! Chasing the downed one. In such an environment, one cannot be intemperate and imprudent. Will be shot down in an instant. Well, nevertheless, congratulations on the first shot down.

Since July 10, Kozhedub has been temporarily acting as a squadron commander, replacing the injured Semyonov.

In September 1943, Ivan received the long-awaited news from home. From his father's letter, he learned that brother Yakov from the first days in the battles, Gregory was taken into slavery by the Nazis, and brother Sashko was working in the rear in the Urals.

The everyday life of war, usual for him, began to flow. Several times a day, our pilots flew out to carry out assignments.

September 30, 1943. Kozhedub's group flew out to cover the ground forces. On the way to the front line, Ivan was attacked by a pair of German hunters. Replacing them in time, he turned sharply, not having time to give the command to his own. In a frontal attack, the Germans opened fire. In the plane, behind, there was a crash and the opponents dispersed on a collision course. Kozhedub's maneuver was so fast that the soldiers of his group, seeing the hunters coming out of the attack, thought that Ivan had been shot down and chased the Germans, eager for revenge. Ivan was left alone in the cover area. There was no reaction to all Ivan's orders by radio. Some time passed and Kozhedub's group returned, but passed by in the direction of their base, without noticing their commander. And then the Germans appeared and Kozhedub alone took the battle. From all sides, at the limit of the car, Ivan attacked the Ju-87. He forced them to stop bombing and put them in a defensive circle. But the Germans did not leave, and the fuel melted away. It was necessary to shoot down at least someone. Ivan finally chose one and shot at point-blank range. Seeing the falling brother engulfed in flames, the "laptezhniki" randomly bombed and began to leave. Kozhedub returned home on fuel vapors.

Another day, which Ivan Nikitovich remembers especially.

For the third time, he then led his squadron to cover the troops. A large group of enemy bombers was met at the front line. Immediately attacked and dispersed, but the order came from the ground to catch up and finish off the enemy. The fighters rushed in pursuit to shoot the defenseless Ju-87.

This fight is better described in the words of Ivan Nikitovich himself.

“I start attacking him from above - he is so pressed to the ground that you cannot approach from below. The shooter fires back fiercely, but machine-gun tracks fly by. Long burst and the bomber breaks out.

Soaring over the flaming bomber. An indistinct sound is heard - you hear any impact on the plane, despite the roar of the engine. I hear Vasya Mukhin's frightened voice: "Dad, you're burning!"

I quickly examine the left plane - everything is in order. I looked to the right - a fiery jet was coming out of the gas tank. A chill ran down my spine: yes, I really am on fire! Before it's too late, you have to jump with a parachute. I quickly open the flashlight. I unfasten my seat belts. And suddenly I remember - the enemy is below. "
(Ivan Kozhedub. "Loyalty to the Fatherland").

Ivan decides to ram a ground target with a flaming plane. But he continues to fight for life - he tries to knock down the flame by sliding. Nothing worked. Below, he noticed a cluster of enemy equipment and, turned the plane into a dive ...

Different sources tell about this case in different ways. Therefore, I think it will be correct to tell the end of this incident in the words of Ivan Nikitovich himself.

“... I am directing the plane directly at them. The earth is growing rapidly. There is still a hope that the flame can be blown out if the nose of the plane is abruptly snatched away. I snatch the plane right over the heads of the dumbfounded Germans. And I hear the joyful voice of the follower:

Dad, the flame has been blown away! We live!
(Ibid.)

On this day, fate spared him, once again.

Having flown over the front line, Kozhedub wanted to leave the plane again, but could not - it was a pity for the car. He loved his planes very much. I have always identified them with living beings. And he never left the car during the whole war.

On February 4, 1944, friends congratulated Ivan on being awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By that time, Kozhedub's personal score exceeded 30 downed enemy vehicles.

In May 1944, when Ivan Kozhedub's regiment was already fighting over Romania, Ivan received an order to overtake a new plane from the city of Balti to his airfield. Arriving at the place, Kozhedub learned that La-5 FN, number 14, named after Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant Colonel N. Konev, the command of the air force decided to transfer it to him.

Collective farmer Konev Vasily Viktorovich - the father of the Hero who died in the battles for the Motherland, bought an airplane with his personal savings and asked to give it to the best pilot. Ivan Kozhedub would be recognized as him.

To fight in such a machine was not only honorable, but also dangerous. The German aces understood perfectly well that not ordinary pilots fly on such airplanes. Very often they attacked Ivan, seeing the inscriptions on the sides, but the faithful wingman always reliably covered the commander. Together with Mukhin, as Ivan Nikitovich recalled, he could not fear for his tail.

And he paid in full for the reliability of the follower. His meager memories are of great respect:

“... I'm looking around. I see that Mukhin is in an advantageous position. I transmit on the radio: “Vasya! Beat him! Covering! .. ".

Or: "... Vasya, we take the extreme in ticks!" (In this battle, the couple shot down the Heinkel-111, which was credited to Mukhin's account).

And he himself was a Hero and gave the opportunity to become Heroes to others.

One day in 1944, a group of planes landed at the airfield of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment. The airfield said: "Pokryshkin, Pokryshkin!" Ivan wanted to come up and meet the famous ace, but he was ashamed, but while hesitated, Pokryshkin's planes flew away. Only after the war did Ivan again see the Glorious Pilot at the Academy. M. V. Frunze. Perhaps he met with him in preparation for the Victory Parade.

In the summer of 1944, Kozhedub was summoned to Moscow. There Kozhedub learned about his new appointment in the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.

All night Ivan did not sleep, he tried to find words so as not to leave his native regiment, but General Shatsky, sympathizing, remained adamant. He expressed his understanding of the situation, but orders from above are not discussed, they are carried out.

At the familiar alternate airfield, where Ivan was still an ignorant, inexperienced pilot, he was recognized and congratulated on his successes. Ivan Nikitovich had to retrain for the new La-7 aircraft. The regiment of air hunters, where he was to fight, flew precisely on these machines.

On August 19, Ivan learned about A. I. Pokryshkin's being awarded the third Gold Star medal. And he himself was congratulated on being awarded the title of Twice Hero. Kozhedub by that time shot down 45 fascist planes.

Since the end of August 1944, Kozhedub takes up the duties of deputy regiment commander. The regiment carries out aerial hunting missions and is staffed by experienced pilots with extensive flight hours and rich combat experience. Gone are the days when our skies were protected by yellow-bellied chicks prepared by crash course take-off landing. Now, young pilots, if the situation allowed, were introduced into battle gradually.

And there were truly experienced pilots in Kozhedub's regiment. The aircraft in the regiment had a special color - gray with a red nose and a white keel. Ivan's car was repainted overnight to match the others. So, in a car with tail number 27, Kozhedub flew until the end of the war.

In his memoirs, Ivan Nikitovich talks very sparingly about his downed ones. It all comes down to simple phrases: "... I see the enemy, I attack, I shoot down ..." and no colorful descriptions. The period of service in the 176th GIAP, Kozhedub describes the exploits of his fellow soldiers more, seeing in his flights ordinary working days.

February 19, 1945. Kozhedub, together with Dmitry Titarenko, flew out to hunt. In the Frankfurt area, at an altitude of 3500 meters, they saw a single plane traveling at high speed. Having squeezed everything to the limit from his "lavochkin", Kozhedub managed to get close to the unknown car. It was a jet Me-262. According to intelligence, with which the pilots were introduced, these aircraft were fundamentally new and dangerous in battle. The German flew, not really caring about safety - he hoped for high speed. The Soviet pair gradually approached the jet fighter.

Knowing the nature of Titarenko, Kozhedub asks: "Dima, take your time!"

But routes flew into the enemy's plane, and the German began to turn away from the line of fire. The distance between Kozhedub and Me-262 was sharply reduced, which allowed the Soviet ace to logically complete the attack. After the marked burst, the Me-262, falling apart, fell to the ground.

The last two fascists were shot down by Kozhedub on April 17 in the Berlin area. They were Focke-Wulf-190. This was his last air battle in that war.

In the late spring of 1945, Ivan Nikitovich, by order of the command, flew to Moscow.

Part 2. The secret life of Ivan Kozhedub.

Recently, many secrecy labels have been removed. Some cases that happened to him in the last period of the war also became unclassified information.

In the foreword by N.G. Bodrikhin to the book by I.N. Kozhedub "Fidelity to the Fatherland" of later editions, cited Interesting Facts about Kozhedub's air combat with the Americans. I will quote:

“As Ivan Nikitovich himself told me, on April 17, 1945, meeting the Flying Fortresses of the allies in the air, he drove off a couple of Messerschmitts from them with a barrage burst, but a second later he was attacked by American cover fighters.

“Fire for whom? Me ?! "- Kozhedub recalled with indignation half a century later. The queue was long, with a long distance of a kilometer, with bright, unlike ours and German, tracer shells. I rolled over and, quickly approaching, attacked the extreme American (by the number of fighters in the escort, I already knew who it was) something exploded in his fuselage, he got very worn out and went down towards our troops. from an inverted position, I attacked the next one, my shells landed very well, the plane exploded in the air.

When the tension of the battle subsided, my mood was not at all victorious, because I had already managed to make out the white stars on the wings and fuselages. "They will arrange for me ... for the first number," I thought, as I put the car down. But nothing happened. In the cockpit of the Mustang, which had landed on our territory, sat a hefty black man. To the question of the guys who came to him in time, who knocked him down (or rather, when they managed to translate this question), he answered: "Focke-Wulf" with a red nose ... I don't think he was playing along; the allies had not yet learned to look both ways ...

When the FKP (photo-machine gun) films were developed, the main moments of the battle were recorded on them very clearly. The film was watched by the command of the regiment, and the division, and the corps. The division commander Savitsky, whom we were under operational control then, said after watching: "These victories are at the expense of a future war." And Pavel Fedorovich Chupikov, our regiment commander, soon gave me these tapes with the words: "Take them for yourself, Ivan, and do not show anyone to anyone."

It was one of several military clashes between Soviet and American aviation that took place in 1944-1945 ... "(Internet newspaper" Centrasia "No. 18 of May 13, 2004.)

Another significant battle was fought by Ivan Nikitovich before the Victory Day on May 6, when a group of "flying fortresses" with cover aircraft entered the Soviet zone. Soviet pilots warned the Americans with tracers, but they continued to fly, responding with machine gun fire. Then Kozhedub's time came. In twenty minutes of battle, he drove three invincible "fortresses" into the ground.

The stars, however, were not allowed to paint even then, but they had to fight the Americans. Now it was in the Far East, where the division of the 64th Air Corps, together with its commander, Major General Kozhedub, fought in Korea. Although, even without the "fuselage stars" it is known that 264 American pilots did not reach their bases there ... (Victor Anisimov. Article "How Kozhedub shot down Americans." Newspaper "Nashe Delo" dated October 13, 2007). Until recently, we could all learn about the combat path of Ivan Kozhedub.

So, during the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub made 330 sorties, conducted 120 air battles, shooting down 62 fascist aircraft. Not a bad score. A quote from the Radiogolos Rossii newspaper: “Historians say that Ivan Kozhedub shot down many more planes than official sources say. The fact is that he did not chalk up an enemy vehicle if he himself did not see how it fell to the ground. "What if he can reach his own?", - explained the pilot to his fellow soldiers ... "(newspaper" Radiogolos Rossii ").

On June 24, 1945, IN Kozhedub carried the banner of one of the regiments in the ranks of the combined regiment of the First Ukrainian Front across Red Square.

In the summer of 1945, after the Victory Parade, Ivan Nikitovich was sent to Military academy them. M. V. Frunze. As Vladimir Lavrinenkov recalls in his book "Without War", Kozhedub "fled" to the Air Force Academy in Monino.

G. Kislovodsk. Late in the evening of November 1950, for Kozhedub, who was resting in a local sanatorium, two MGB officers came and gave him a few minutes to get ready.

In the regional party committee, through government communications, he receives an order from the commander of the air force of the Moscow district, V. I. Stalin, to arrive in Moscow. "There is work, and Vanya is resting ...".

In secrecy, under the name of Krylov, Kozhedub has been in command of the 324th Fighter Air Division in North Korea for 10 months.

On April 12, 1951, the Kozhedubites conducted their first air battle over the Yalu River. Fighters defended a strategically important bridge across the river. On the bridge were 40 American bombers under the cover of about 100 fighters.

Kozhedub flew all 50 MiG-15s. Ile the chest in crosses, or the head in the bushes. Ivan Nikitovich's fellow soldier, Sergei Kramarenko recalls: “In total, 12 bombers and 5 fighters fell to the ground. 120 pilots were captured by the Chinese and Koreans. Kozhedub himself did not participate in this battle.

But could the thrice-gambling Hero of the Soviet Union sit quietly on the ground?

He is strictly prohibited from flying on combat missions. V. I. Stalin told him back in Moscow: "You are good, here to fight with your own methods," says Nikolai Bodrikhin in Sergei Medvedev's film "Secrets of the Century. Two Wars of Ivan Kozhedub ".

The UN Assembly recognized North Korea as an aggressor and any military assistance to it was illegal. If Kozhedub had been shot down, a major international scandal could have happened, and the UN troops could have started fighting against the USSR.

And yet Ivan Nikitovich made several sorties.

I do not want to retell the entire film. I will only end this episode from Kozhedub's life by repeating the words of the film's author Sergei Medvedev: “Later, Ivan Nikitovich's Chinese friends, in great secrecy, told the son of the Soviet ace that he, during his stay in Korea, added 17 more to his“ American account ” enemy aircraft ".

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub died at his dacha on August 8, 1991, from a heart attack. And a few days later, his Fatherland ceased to exist, to which he remained faithful throughout his glorious life.

This plane still remembers the foul smell of Fokkers.

Materials used in this article:

1.I. N. Kozhedub. Loyalty to the Fatherland.

2. Article by Yuri Nersesov "Major Kozhedub's American Account" from the Internet newspaper "Centrasia" No. 18 dated May 13, 2004.

4. The film "Two Wars of Ivan Kozhedub". From the cycle Secrets of the century with Sergei Medvedev.

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 the Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a church head.

Having received his secondary education, in 1934 he entered the chemical-technological technical school of the city of Shostok, at which an aeroclub was formed, which interested the young student. It was with him that the flight biography of the hero began, who glorified the country with numerous feats.

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

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

The frontline biography of the hero began in November 1942, when he was sent to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, located in the city of 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 German Messerschmitt with a cannon burst, and then (by mistake) Soviet anti-aircraft gunners (two shells hit). Despite heavy damage, Kozhedub managed to land his aircraft, although the aircraft was not subject to complete restoration after that.

Military exploits of Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub.

Ivan Kozhedub performed 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 one more 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 time, his combat biography consisted of 20 destroyed German aircraft in 146 sorties.

In August 1944, the hero was awarded the second Gold Star medal for 48 downed enemy vehicles and 256 sorties. And by the end of the Second World War, Guards Major Ivan Kozhedub had already 62 destroyed in the air of the enemy. 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 took place over Berlin in April 1945, when another Hitlerite plane was shot down. Throughout the war, the Germans did not manage to shoot him down even once, although there were hits in Kozhedub's car, the fighter was safe and sound, and 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. In spite of Peaceful time in the USSR, his exploits did not end there - during the Korean War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub headed the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. Under his leadership, the pilots scored 216 victories in the sky with losses - nine people and 27 cars.

In the period from 1964 -1971. served as 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 feats, in 1985 he was awarded the title of Marshal of Aviation. Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub died on August 8, 1991.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, now the Shostkinsky district of the Sumy region, in a peasant family. Graduated incomplete high school and a chemical-technological college. In 1939 he mastered the flying club. Since 1940 in the Red Army. The next year he studied at the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, flew the Ut-2 and I-16. As one of the best cadets, he was retained as an instructor pilot.

Since March 1943, senior sergeant I. N. Kozhedub was in the army. Until September 1944 he served in the 240th IAP (178th Guards IAP); to May 1945 - in the 176th Guards IAP.

By October 1943, the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Senior Lieutenant I.N. Kozhedub, flew 146 sorties and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft.

On February 4, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (No. 1472) for courage and military valor displayed in battles with enemies.

In total, he flew 330 sorties, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft.

After the war he continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1949 he graduated from the Air Force Academy. During the Korean War, 1950-1953, he commanded the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. In 1956 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1971, in the central office of the Air Force, since 1978 - in the General Inspection Group of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Air Marshal, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd - 5th convocations. Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of DOSAAF. Author of books - "Serving the Motherland", "Victory Day", "Loyalty to the Fatherland". He died on August 8, 1991.

He was awarded the orders: Lenin (three times), the Red Banner (seven), Alexander Nevsky, the 1st degree of the Patriotic War, the Red Star (twice), “For service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR "3rd degree; medals.

The most productive pilot of fighter aircraft of the USSR, a master of offensive combat, Ivan Kozhedub performed 330 sorties during the Great Patriotic War, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft. The automatism of his movements in battle was worked out to the limit - an excellent sniper, he hit the target from any position of the aircraft. It should be added that Kozhedub was never shot down himself, although he repeatedly brought the damaged fighter to the airfield.

Coming from a poor peasant family with five children, the famous pilot was born in 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, Sumy district. Vanya was the youngest in the family, an unexpected "last child" born after a great famine. The official date of his birth, June 8, 1920, is inaccurate, the real one is July 6, 1922. He really needed two years to enter the technical school ...

His father was an outstanding person. Torn between factory earnings and peasant labor, he found the strength to read books and even write poetry. A religious man, of a subtle and demanding mind, he was a strict and persistent educator: diversifying his son's duties in the household, he taught him to be industrious, persevering, and diligent. Once the father, in spite of his mother's protests, began to send 5-year-old Ivan to guard the garden at night. Later, the son asked what it was for: thieves were rare then, and even from such a watchman, if something happened, there would be little use. “I taught you to be tested,” was the father's answer. By the age of 6, according to his sister's book, Vanya learned to read and write, and soon he went to school.

After graduating from the 7-year school, he was admitted to the workers' faculty of the Shostka Chemical and Technological College, and in 1938 fate brought him to the flying club. The smart form of registrations played an important role in this decision. Here in April 1939 Kozhedub makes his first flight, having experienced the first flight sensations. Beauty native land, which opened from a height of 1500 meters, made a strong impression on the inquisitive young man.

Ivan Kozhedub was admitted to the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots in early 1940, where he consistently underwent training in UT-2, UTI-4 and I-16. In the autumn of the same year, having completed 2 clean flights on the I-16, he, to his deep disappointment, was left at the school as an instructor.

He flew a lot, experimented, honing his aerobatic skills. “It would be possible, it seems, I would not get out of the plane. The piloting technique itself, the polishing of the figures brought me incomparable joy, ”Ivan Nikitovich later recalled.

At the beginning of the war, Sergeant Kozhedub (ironically, in the "golden edition" of 1941, the pilots were certified sergeants), evacuated together with the school to Central Asia, is even more persistently engaged in "destructive" self-education: he studies tactical issues, outlines descriptions of air battles, draws them schemes. Days, including weekends, are planned by the minute, everything is subordinated to one goal - to become a worthy air fighter. In the late autumn of 1942, after numerous requests and reports, senior sergeant Kozhedub, along with other instructors and graduates of the school, was sent to Moscow to the assembly point for flight and technical personnel, from where he ended up in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, commanded by Spanish veteran Major Ignatiy Soldatenko.

In August 1942, the 240th IAP was among the first to be armed with the latest La-5 fighters at that time. However, the retraining was carried out in a hurry, in 15 days, during the operation of the machines, design and production defects were revealed, and, having suffered heavy losses in the Stalingrad direction, after 10 days the regiment was withdrawn from the front. In addition to the regiment commander, Major I. Soldatenko, only a few pilots remained in the regiment.

The following training and retraining were carried out thoroughly: at the end of December 1942, after an intense month of theoretical training with daily classes, the pilots began flying on new machines.

On one of the training flights, when immediately after takeoff due to engine breakdown, the thrust dropped sharply, Kozhedub decisively turned the plane around and glided to the edge of the airfield. Having hit hard during landing, he was out of action for several days and by the time he was sent to the front he had barely flown 10 hours in a new car. This incident was only the beginning of a long streak of failures that followed the pilot when he entered the military route.

In February 1943, the regiment was finally transferred to conduct military operations in the Southwest direction. The beginning of Kozhedub's career was not very successful. When distributing military equipment, he got a heavier five-tank La-5 of the first series, with an inscription on board "Name of Valery Chkalov" and a side number "75" (a whole squadron of such machines was built with funds collected by the fellow countrymen of the great pilot).

The first plane of Ivan Kozhedub. Spring 1943.

On March 26, 1943, he flew for the first time on a combat mission. The flight was unsuccessful - during an attack on a pair of Me-110, his Lavochkin was damaged by the Messer, and then fired upon by the anti-aircraft artillery of his own air defense. Kozhedub miraculously survived: the armored back protected from the high-explosive projectile of the aircraft cannon, and in fact in the tape a high-explosive projectile, as a rule, alternated with an armor-piercing one after one ...

Kozhedub managed to bring the battered car to the airfield, but its restoration took a long time. He made subsequent flights on old aircraft. Once he was almost taken away from the regiment to the alert post. Only the intercession of Soldatenko, who either saw the future great fighter in the silent-loser, or who took pity on him, saved Ivan Nikitich from re-profiling. Only a month later he received a new La-5 (by that time his damaged machine had been restored, but was already used only as a liaison).

The model of the plane on which Kozhedub flew.

... Kursk Bulge. July 6, 1943. It was then, in his 40th sortie, that the 23-year-old pilot opens a combat account. In that fight, he was armed with, perhaps, only one thing - courage. He could have been hit, he could have died. But joining the squadron in a battle with 12 enemy aircraft, the young pilot wins the first victory - he knocks down a Ju-87 dive bomber. The next day, he won a new victory - he shot down another "Laptopper". On July 9, Ivan Kozhedub destroys 2 Me-109 fighters at once. Despite the missions of covering ground troops and escorting, which the fighters did not like, Kozhedub, fulfilling them, won his first 4 official victories. So the glory of an outstanding Soviet pilot was born, so experience came to him.

In September 1942, Kozhedub had already shot down 8 enemy aircraft on his account, when the Dnieper flared up new stage fierce air battles. On September 30, covering the river crossings, by coincidence, he was left without comrades and was forced to single-handedly reflect the raid of 18 Ju-87s. Luftwaffe bombers began to dive, and some of them even managed to drop bombs.

Attacking the planes from a height of 3500 meters, Kozhedub burst into the enemy's battle formations and threw the enemy into confusion with unexpected and sharp maneuvers. The Junkers stopped bombing and formed a defensive circle. Although there was little fuel left in the tanks of the fighter, the Soviet pilot made another attack and shot one of the enemy vehicles from below at point-blank range. The sight of the Ju-87 falling in the flames made a proper impression, and the rest of the bombers hurriedly left the battlefield.

By October 1943, the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Senior Lieutenant I.N. Kozhedub, flew 146 sorties and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft. He is already fighting on equal terms with the German aces. In his asset - courage, composure, accurate calculation. Kozhedub skillfully combines piloting techniques with firing, but in front of him there is still a wide field of polishing combat techniques.

In the book "People of Immortal Feat" there is such an episode:

“The anthem to courage and skill of Kozhedub was the day of October 2, 1943, when our troops expanded the bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper, repelling the fierce attacks of the enemy. The first time they took off with a nine. Kozhedub was leading the shock five. On the way to the crossing in the Kutsevalovka - Domotkan region, we met a convoy of Ju-87 dive bombers, in which every nine was covered by six Me-109s.

The four covering immediately tied the Messerschmitts in battle. Kozhedub, at the head of the five, attacked the bombers. The enemy rushed about. In less than a minute, two Junkers, engulfed in flames, fell to the ground. The presenter was knocked down by Ivan Kozhedub, another - by Pavel Bryzgalov.

A carousel began in the sky. Following the first nine, the second was dispersed. In the heat of the battle, leading the battle, Kozhedub also managed to shoot down the Me-109. Already five bonfires were blazing in the area of ​​the bridgehead. And from the west the Junkers were again flowing in. But a group of Yakov fighters also approached the battle site from the east. Dominance in aerial combat was assured.

Having shot down 7 enemy aircraft in this battle, the squadron under the command of Kozhedub returned to its airfield. We dined right under the wing of the plane. We did not have time to analyze the battle - and again the flight. This time the four: Kozhedub - Mukhin and Amelin - Puryshev. Fledged combat link, brothers tested in battles. The task is the same - to cover the troops on the battlefield. However, the balance of forces was different: it was necessary to repel a raid of 36, which went under the cover of six Me-109s and a pair of FW-190s.

They fight not by number, but by skill, - Kozhedub encouraged the followers. He knocked down the leader on the move, organized a fight. The rest of the flight pilots also fought bravely. Two more Junkers crashed into the ground. German fighters jammed Amelin. Mukhin rushed to the rescue. Kozhedub covered him and immediately attacked a nearby bomber. Another enemy plane found death in the sky of Ukraine. This was Kozhedub's fourth victory in a day. "

October has become an extremely busy month for Kozhedub. In one of the skirmishes, he came out of the attack so low over the flaming Junkers that he was set on fire by a burst of a German aircraft's onboard gunner. Only a steep dive almost to the very ground helped to knock the flames off the wing of the La-5. Meetings with the "hunters" of the Luftwaffe became more frequent, the purpose of which was to disorganize the Soviet fighter groups, distract them from the area of ​​cover and destroy the leaders. They also attacked single and wrecked aircraft.

The first battle over the Dnieper on a collision course with the German aces left an unpleasant aftertaste in Kozhedub's memory. In a frontal attack, he did not manage to open fire in time, and enemy shells passed only a few centimeters above his head, breaking the radio and interrupting the fighter's rudder thrust. The next day, luck was on the side of Kozhedub - with a long line he managed to flash the leader of a pair of "Messers" who were trying to shoot down those who were lagging behind their formation.

On October 15, the four La-5s, led by Kozhedub, again flew to cover the ground forces. Despite the fact that all the pilots were on their guard, 2 Me-109s were still able to catch the Lavochkins during a turn and were immediately knocked out by a sudden attack on the forehead from the sun 2 planes. Then, taking advantage of the advantage in height, they took Kozhedub's fighter "in the pincers", firing offhand from an inverted position. Attempts to throw the enemy off the tail did not yield results, and in the end Kozhedub decided on a rather unusual maneuver - throwing the La-5 into a sharp turn, he simultaneously performed a half roll. Enemy fighters rushed forward, but immediately made a hill and easily escaped from the fire of the Lavochkin, which had lost speed. In powerlessness, Kozhedub could only threaten them with his fist ...

In the battles for the Dnieper, the pilots of the regiment, in which Kozhedub fought, for the first time met with Goering's aces from the Melders squadron and won the duel. Ivan Kozhedub also increased his score. In just 10 days of intense fighting, he personally shot down 11 enemy aircraft.

In November 1943, the 240th IAP, which had been participating in the most difficult air battles for a long time, was withdrawn to the nearest rear for rest. The pilots used the obtained time for flight training, studying the features of vertical maneuvers and multi-tiered combat formations of fighters. Kozhedub entered all the innovations in his notebook, drawing various tactical schemes on paper. By this time, he had 26 shot down enemy aircraft on his account, for which, on November 7, he was awarded the Certificate of Merit of the Central Committee of the Komsomol.

At the beginning of 1944, the regiment again joined in hostilities, supporting the offensive of Soviet troops in the right-bank Ukraine. In March, units of the Red Army crossed the Southern Bug. Crossings and bridgeheads again needed cover by fighter aircraft, but the Germans, retreating, first of all disabled airfields, and field sites were poorly suited for basing aircraft due to the spring thaw. Therefore, the fighters could not position themselves closer to the front line and operated at the very limit of their flight radius.

The Luftwaffe units were in the best position - in such a situation they flew with almost impunity, without cover, in case of danger, lining up in a defensive circle at low altitude. These days, Kozhedub paid great attention to the development of air combat tactics at low altitudes in conditions of low clouds and gray, uniform terrain without any visible landmarks. He later wrote:

“When we managed to meet with the Junkers, they stood in a defensive circle, pressed to the ground. Fighting off attacks - and not only the arrows, but also the pilots fired from the cannons - they gradually pulled back and went to the area where their anti-aircraft batteries were located. Watching the clouds spreading over the ground, I recalled the battles carried out at low altitudes, and analyzed the tactics of the fighters in order to apply the necessary techniques in the new situation and the fight against the Junkers.

I came to the conclusion that it is possible to break the defensive circle with a surprise attack and that at least one plane must be shot down - then a gap was formed. Jumping in a straight line with small lapels, you need to turn around and attack quickly from another direction, and make attacks in pairs. The experience I have already acquired allowed me to come to this conclusion. "

On February 4, 1944, Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor displayed in battles with enemies.

On March 14, six La-5s flew to the crossings at a distance that was the maximum for this type of fighter. From low-level flight, they attacked the Stuka Nine over the forest. In a frontal attack from below, Kozhedub immediately shot down one bomber. Having dispersed the first group of German cars, the Soviet pilots attacked the next nine. Another Junkers caught fire again - the others, hurriedly dropping their bombs, went back. One of the Lavochkin was also hit.

Lieutenant P. Bryzgalov headed for the nearest airfield abandoned by the Germans. However, when landing, his plane skapoted, turned over "on its back" and trapped the pilot in the cockpit. Under the circumstances, Kozhedub ordered two more pilots to sit down, and he himself set an example by landing on his "stomach" in the liquid mud. By joint efforts, colleagues freed their comrade from an absurd situation.

Demanding and demanding of himself, frantic and tireless in battle, Kozhedub was an ideal air fighter, proactive and executive, daring and prudent, brave and skillful, a knight without fear or reproach. "Precise maneuver, stunning swiftness of the attack and strike from an extremely short distance" - this is how Kozhedub defined the basis of air combat. He was born to fight, lived in battle, thirsty for it. Here is a typical episode noticed by his fellow soldier, another great ace K. A. Evstigneev:

“Somehow Ivan Kozhedub returned from the assignment, heated up by the battle, excited and, perhaps, therefore, unusually talkative:

Here the bastards give! Not otherwise than the "wolves" from the Udet squadron. But we gave them withers - bless you! - Pointing in the direction of the command post, he asked the squadron adjutant hopefully: - How is it? Is nothing more foreseen? "

Kozhedub's attitude to the combat vehicle acquired the features of religion, of the form that is called animatism. “The motor works well. The plane obeys my every movement. I am not alone - a combat friend with me ”- in these lines the ace's attitude to the aircraft. This is not a poetic exaggeration, not a metaphor. Approaching the car before departure, he always found a few kind words for her, while in flight he talked like a friend doing an important part of the work. After all, in addition to flying, it is difficult to find a profession where the fate of a person would be more dependent on the behavior of the machine.

During the war, he replaced 6 Lavochkins, and not a single plane let him down. And he did not lose a single car, although it happened to burn, bring holes, land on airfields strewn with craters ...

In May 1944, the squadron commander, Captain I.N.Kozhedub, who had already had 38 air victories, received a new La-5F - a gift from the collective farmer V.V.Konev. He contributed his money to the Red Army fund and asked to build an airplane named after his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel G. N. Konev, who died at the front. The patriot's request was fulfilled and the car was handed over to Kozhedub.

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."

Another version of the painting of the personalized aircraft La-5 by Ivan Kozhedub. On this plane, Kozhedub shot down 8 enemy aircraft (including 4 FW-190s) within a short time, bringing the score of his victories to 45. He also shot down several famous German aces.

So, a few days after receiving the aircraft, a group of German "hunters" appeared in the regiment's area of ​​action in cars painted with skulls and bones, dragons and other emblems in such a way. Aces flew on them, having won many victories on the Western and Eastern fronts. One pair stood out especially - with skulls and bones on the fuselages. They did not enter into active battle, preferring to act from the side of the sun, usually from behind from above. After completing the attack, as a rule, they quickly disappeared.

In one of the sorties Kozhedub noticed in time a pair of "hunters" approaching from the direction of the sun. Instantly turning 180 degrees, he rushed into the attack. The leader of the enemy pair did not accept a frontal attack and turned upward - in the sun. The wingman, not having time to repeat the maneuver of his commander, late began to make a combat turn and exposed the side of his FW-190 to the attack of the Lavochkin. Instantly inscribing the fuselage of an enemy vehicle with painted skulls and bones into the sight, Ivan shot him in cold blood ...

Ivan Kozhedub in front of his fighter.

After Kozhedub was transferred to another regiment, Kirill Evstigneev fought on his "personal" La-5F first, who ended the war with 53 personal and 3 group victories and became twice Hero of the Soviet Union, and then Pavel Bryzgalov (20 victories), who became by the end of the war Hero of the Soviet Union.

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.

By the middle of 1944, Captain I.N.Kozhedub of the Guard brought the number of combat missions to 256 and downed enemy aircraft to 48.

For exemplary fulfillment of combat missions of the command, courage, courage and heroism shown in the struggle against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 19, 1944, he was awarded the title of the second Gold Star medal.

Having mastered a new fighter, Kozhedub since September 1944, already in Poland, on the left wing of the 1st Belorussian Front, is fighting in the "free hunt" method. First, he received a 3-gun version of the fighter, and then switched to a regular 2-gun version. It is this aircraft with the tail number "27", on which Ivan Kozhedub won 17 last victories, is now an adornment of the collection of the Monino Aviation Museum.

At the end of September 1944, by order of the Air Force Commander Marshal A. A. Novikov, a group of pilots under the command of Kozhedub was sent to the Baltic States to fight the enemy's "hunter" fighters. She was to act against a group of German aces. So the Soviet and German schools of fighters - "hunters" came together against each other. During just a few days of fighting, our pilots shot down 12 enemy aircraft, losing only 2 of their own. Kozhedub chalked up three victories. Having suffered such a crushing defeat, the German "hunters" were forced to stop active flights in this sector of the front.

In the winter of 1945, the regiment continued to conduct intense air battles. On February 12, the Lavochkin six fought an intense battle with 30 enemy fighters. In this fight, our pilots achieved a new victory - they shot down 8 FW-190s, of which 3 were on Kozhedub's account. Our losses were one car (the pilot was killed).

On February 19, 1945, in the battle over the Oder, Kozhedub inscribes an important touch in his biography - he destroys, in the cockpit of which there was a non-commissioned officer Kurt Lange from 1. / KG (J) 54. That day, having taken off in a pair with Dmitry Titorenko, Kozhedub discovered at an altitude of 3500 meters an unknown car flying at the maximum speed for Lavochkin. Two La-7s managed to imperceptibly approach the enemy from behind, and then Kozhedub describes this fight as follows:

"…What? Tracks fly into it: it is clear - my partner is still in a hurry! I am mercilessly scolding the Old Man in my mind; I am sure that my plan of action has been irreparably violated. But his routes unexpectedly - unexpectedly helped me: the German plane began to turn to the left, in my direction. The distance was sharply reduced, and I got closer to the enemy. I open fire with involuntary excitement. And the jet plane, falling apart, falls. "

On April 17, 1945, on the 5th flight of the day, over the capital of Germany, Ivan Kozhedub won his last victories - he shot down 2 FW-190 fighters.

By the end of the war, the Guards Major I.N.Kozhedub made 330 successful combat missions, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 63 enemy aircraft. For high military skill, personal courage and bravery, on August 18, 1945, he was awarded the title 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 it - a man in whose character courage, courage and exceptional composure were harmoniously combined. He knew how to accurately and quickly weigh the situation, instantly find the only right move in the current situation. He mastered the car masterly, he could control 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's 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!

Kozhedub rarely returned from a sortie without a victory. But, being a brightly gifted, talented person, at the same time he invariably showed great modesty. For example, he never chalked up the shot down enemy plane, if he himself did not see how it fell to the ground. Didn't even report.

After all, the German caught fire! We saw everything, - said the pilots after returning to their airfield.

So what ... What if he will reach his own? - objected in response Kozhedub. And it was impossible to argue with him: he stubbornly stood his ground.

Like many of our other pilots, Kozhedub never credited the planes he destroyed together with the newcomers at his own expense. Here is one example of a classic group victory, cited in his book Loyalty to the Fatherland:

“... August 1943. We are ordered to immediately take off to repel a large group of enemy aircraft. Our ten is lifted into the air. Ahead I see at least 40 Ju-87 dive bombers, escorted by the Me-109. Having broken through the fighter barrier, we attack the Junkers. I walk into the tail of one of them, open fire and drive it into the ground ... Soon the Junkers fly away, but a new group is approaching - about 20 He-111 bombers. Together with Mukhin we attack the enemy.

I tell the slave: - We take the extreme to the pincers, - from both sides we go to the bomber. The distance is right. Command - Fire! Our cannons are working. The enemy's plane caught fire, began to fall rapidly, leaving behind a plume of smoke ... "

Upon returning to the airfield, this plane was recorded at the expense of Vasily Mukhin. And there were at least 5 such "handouts" in Kozhedub's assets. Thus, the actual number of enemy aircraft destroyed by him is much greater than officially recorded on his personal account.

Of interest are the lines from the book "Aces against Ases" (Publishing House "Veche", 2007) by OS Smyslov (author of another well-known book - "Vasily Stalin. Portrait without retouching"). Speaking about Kozhedub, he, in particular, writes: “During the period of his participation in the war, Ivan Nikitovich changed 6 fighters, having chalked up 62 official victories (of which only Me-109 - 17, FV-190 - 21 and Ju-87 - 15 ), not counting 29 group«.

Personal victories, as it turns out now, Kozhedub had a little more: M. Yu. Bykov in his research found documentary evidence of 64 personally shot down aircraft. As for group victories, the question remains open. I have not seen more such information anywhere.

To 64 German aircraft shot down by I.N. Kozhedub during the Great Patriotic War, at least 2 more American fighters, destroyed by him at the very end of the war, should be added. In April 1945, Kozhedub drove off a couple of German fighters from the American B-17 with a barrage burst, but was attacked by cover fighters that opened fire from a long distance. With a coup over the wing, Kozhedub swiftly attacked the extreme machine. He started to smoke and went down towards our troops (the pilot of this machine soon jumped out with a parachute and landed safely).

Having completed a combat turn in a half-loop, from an inverted position, Kozhedub also attacked the leader - he exploded in the air. A little later he managed to see white stars on unfamiliar cars - these were "Mustangs". Thanks to the regiment commander P. Chupikov, everything worked out ...

Unfortunately, this battle was not the only one between Soviet and American pilots during the Second World War ...

After the war, the Guards Major I.N.Kozhedub continued to serve in the 176th GvIAP. At the end of 1945, the renowned fighter began his family life - in the Moninsk electric train he met Veronica, a 10-grade student, who soon became his wife, a faithful and patient companion of his whole life, the main "adjutant and assistant".

In 1949, Ivan Nikitovich graduated from the Air Force Academy, received an appointment to the post of division commander near Baku, but V.I. Stalin left him near Moscow, in Kubinka, as deputy, and then commander of the 326th fighter aviation division. Among the first, this division was armed with new MiG-15 jet aircraft and at the end of 1950 was sent to the Far East. There, the famous Soviet pilot had a chance to take part in another one -.

From March 1951 to February 1952, repelling the raids on North Korea, Kozhedub's division won 215 victories, shot down 12 "super-fortresses", losing 52 aircraft and 10 pilots. It was one of the brightest pages combat use jet aviation in the history of the Soviet Air Force.

A strict order of the command forbade the division commander to engage in battle personally, and he did not win any official victories during this period. Although, according to the recollections of some pilots, participants in those old events, several times (unofficially, of course), Ivan Kozhedub nevertheless rose into the air ...

But danger lay in wait for the pilot not only in the sky: in the winter of 1951 he was almost poisoned by a cook: the war was waged by different methods. During his business trip, the Guards Colonel I.N. Kozhedub not only carried out operational leadership of the division, but also took Active participation in the organization, training and rearmament of the PRC Air Force.

In 1952, the 326th IAD was transferred to the air defense system and transferred to Kaluga. With enthusiasm, Ivan Nikitovich took up a new peaceful business for himself of equipping the personnel of the division. In a short time, 150 houses for housing were received and assembled, an airfield and a military town were equipped and expanded. Only the life of the commander himself, who became a major general in the summer of 1953, remained unsettled. His family, with a young son and daughter, huddled either in a makeshift at the airfield, or together with a dozen other families in the "caravanserai" - an old dacha.

A year later, he was sent to study at the Academy of the General Staff. Part of the course was passed as an external student, as due to official reasons he was delayed with the beginning of classes.

After graduating from the academy, Kozhedub was appointed First Deputy Head of the Combat Training Directorate of the country's Air Force, from May 1958 to 1964 he was First Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad and then the Moscow military districts.

Until 1970, Ivan Nikitovich regularly flew fighters, mastered dozens of types of aircraft and helicopters. He made his last flights on the MiG-23. He left flight work himself and immediately ...

The units headed by Kozhedub have always been different low level accidents, and he himself, as a pilot, had no accidents, although "emergency situations", of course, did happen. So, in 1966, during a flight at low altitude, his MiG-21 collided with a flock of rooks; one of the birds got into the air intake and damaged the engine. It took all his flying skills to land the car.

From the post of commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District, Kozhedub returned to the post of First Deputy Head of the Air Force Combat Training Directorate, from where he was transferred almost 20 years ago.

An impeccable air fighter, pilot and commander, an officer selflessly devoted to his work, Kozhedub did not possess "noble" qualities, did not know how and did not consider it necessary to flatter, intrigue, cherish the necessary connections, notice funny and sometimes malicious jealousy for his glory. In 1978 he was transferred to the group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1985 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal.

All this time Kozhedub resignedly carried on a huge social work. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, chairman or president of dozens different societies, committees and federations, he was simple and honest both with the first person of the state and with the provincial truth-seeker. And what efforts were worth hundreds of meetings and trips, thousands of speeches, interviews, autographs ...

The last years of his life, Ivan Nikitovich was seriously ill: the tension of the war years and the difficult service in peacetime affected. He died in his country house of a heart attack on August 8, 1991, two weeks before the collapse of the great state, part of the glory of which he himself was.

The first baptism of fire.

In March 1943, I arrived at the Voronezh Front as an ordinary pilot in a regiment commanded by Major I. Soldatenko. The regiment was armed with La-5 aircraft. From the first day I began to look closely at the combat work of my new comrades. He listened attentively to the analysis of the performance of combat work in a day, studied the tactics of the enemy and tried to combine the theory acquired at school with front-line experience. So, day after day, I prepared myself for a fight with the enemy. It took only a few days, and it seemed to me that my preparation was endlessly delayed. I wanted to fly out with my comrades as soon as possible to meet the enemy.

Photo by Ivan Kozhedub after the war.

The meeting with the enemy happened unexpectedly. It happened like this: on March 26, 1943, I, together with the leading junior lieutenant Gabunia, taxied to the start on duty. Suddenly we were given a signal to take off. Junior Lieutenant Gabunia quickly took to the air.

I was somewhat delayed on takeoff and after the first turn I lost the leader. I was unable to communicate by radio either with the presenter or with the ground. Then I decided to make aerobatics over the airfield. Having gained 1500 meters of altitude, he began piloting.

Suddenly, 800 meters below me, I noticed 6 aircraft that were approaching the airfield with a descent. At first glance, I took them for Pe-2, but after a few seconds I saw explosions of bombs and anti-aircraft guns at our airfield. Then I realized that these were German Me-110 multipurpose aircraft. I remember how my heart beat fast. Before me was the enemy.

I decided to attack the enemy, quickly turning around, at maximum speed went to the approach. There were 500 meters left when the rule of air combat that I had heard from the commander flashed through my mind: "Look back before the attack."

Looking around, I noticed an airplane with a white spinner approaching me with great speed from behind. Before I could recognize whose plane it was, he had already opened fire on me. One shell exploded in my cockpit. By a sharp turn to the left with a slip, I get out of the blow. A pair of Me-109s passed with great speed to my right. Now I realized that they, noticing my attack, dived and attacked me. However, my failed attack made the Me-110 abandon the second bombing run.

In this meeting, I became convinced in practice how important the role of the follower is for covering the leader when attacking the target.

Later, flying in a flying group, I won 63 victories, not knowing defeat.

Air victories of Ivan Kozhedub

№	date	Type of aircraft shot down	Place of fight / fall
1.	06.07.1943	U-87	app. Envy
2.	07.07.1943	U-87	Art. Gostishchevo
3.	09.07.1943	Me-109	Krasnaya Polyana
4.	09.07.1943	Me-109	east Pokrovka
5.	09.08.1943	Me-109	Charming
6.	14.08.1943	Me-109	Spark
7.	14.08.1943	Me-109	Kolomna
8.	16.08.1943	U-87	Rogan
9.	22.08.1943	FV-190	Lyubotin
10.	09.09.1943	Me-109	sowing. Sparks
11.	30.09.1943	U-87	south-west Borodaevka
12.	01.10.1943	U-87	app. Borodaevki
13.	01.10.1943	U-87	app. Borodaevki
14.	02.10.1943	Me-109	Flat
15.	02.10.1943	U-87	Petrovka
16.	02.10.1943	U-87	Yu-z Andreevka
17.	02.10.1943	U-87	Yu-z Andreevka
18.	04.10.1943	Me-109	from-z Borodaevka
19.	05.10.1943	Me-109	south-west of Krasny Kut
20.	05.10.1943	Me-109	app. Kutsevalovki
21.	06.10.1943	Me-109	Borodaevka
22.	10.10.1943	Me-109	Dneprovo-Kamenka
23.	12.10.1943	U-87	sowing. Flat
24.	12.10.1943	Me-109	south Petrovka
25.	12.10.1943	U-87	south Homespun
26.	29.10.1943	U-87	Krivoy Rog
27.	29.10.1943	He-111	app. Budovki
28.	16.01.1944	Me-109	Novo-Zlynka
29.	30.01.1944	Me-109	east Nonchaevki
30.	30.01.1944	U-87	app. Lipovki
31.	14.03.1944	U-87	Osievka
32.	21.03.1944	U-87	Lebedin-Shpola
33.	11.04.1944	PZL-24	Cheese
34.	19.04.1944	He-111	sowing. Iasi
35.	28.04.1944	U-87	y-to Wultura
36.	29.04.1944	Xsh-129	Horlesti
37.	29.04.1944	Xsh-129	Horlesti
38.	03.05.1944	U-87	Targu Frumos-Dumbrevitsa
39.	31.05.1944	FV-190	east Wulturu
40.	01.06.1944	U-87	Alien Water
41.	02.06.1944	Xsh-129	app. Stynka
42.	03.06.1944	FV-190	Radiu-Ului - Teter
43.	03.06.1944	FV-190	Radiu-Ului - Teter
44.	03.06.1944	FV-190	sev-zap. Iasi
45.	07.06.1944	Me-109	Pyrlitsa
46.	08.06.1944	Me-109	Kyrlitsy
47.	22.09.1944	FV-190	from-z Strenci
48.	22.09.1944	FV-190	yu-z Ramnieki-Daksty
49.	25.09.1944	FV-190	north-west Valmiera
50.	16.01.1945	FV-190	south of Studzyan
51.	10.02.1945	FV-190	s-z aerodrome area Maureen
52.	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
53.	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
54.	12.02.1945	FV-190	lake Kitzer See
55.	17.02.1945	Me-190	east Alt-Friedland
56.	19.02.1945	Me-109	sowing. Fürstenfelde
57.	11.03.1945	FV-190	sowing. Brunchen
58.	18.03.1945	FV-190	sowing. Kustrina
59.	18.03.1945	FV-190	with-z Kustrin
60.	22.03.1945	FV-190	sowing. Seelov
61.	22.03.1945	FV-190	east Guzov
62.	23.03.1945	FV-190	Art. Verbig
63.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Writzen
64.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Kinitz
Total shot down: 64 + 0. Combat missions: 330. Air battles: 120. The first 46 victories were won by Kozhedub on, the next - on.

An excellent film about Ivan Kozhedub and his military activities.

Aircraft of Ivan Kozhedub

The plane I.N. Kozhedub - La-7. 176th GvIAP, Germany, May 1945

NOTES:

Ivan Kozhedub - Soviet pilot, hero of the Soviet Union, who fought during the Great Patriotic War, participated 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 was for years 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 stayed 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 was unsuccessful, 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 offensive operation on release of 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 aggravating relations.

After the war, he entered the Red Banner Air Force Academy, where he received higher education... In parallel, the great pilot was testing new models aircraft... But 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 entirely 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 aeroclub, 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, at the same time 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.

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 it - a man in whose character courage, courage and exceptional composure were harmoniously combined. 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, he 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 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 he attended school intermittently, because at the end of the first school 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 was a turning point in the fate of the young man - then he begins 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 opens his personal combat account in July 1943, during Battle of Kursk... This was his forty sortie. In a few days, there were already 4 victories on the list. On August 6, 1943, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub received his first award - the Order of the Red Banner of the 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 services 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 which 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 two 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 planes were shot down, and 1 plane 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, his last 2 enemy aircraft were shot down by the great fighter pilot.

By the end of World War II, Ivan Kozhedub was already a major, he had 62 downed aircraft and 330 sorties and 120 battles in the air 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 participated 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, 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 whole 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 of the 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 the winter, at the very New Year... 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 were painted quickly, 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.

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).

Aircraft 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. The main structural material used in the airframe was pine. 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 vehicles at the end of World War II. This fighter had excellent flight characteristics, high maneuverability and good armament. At low and medium altitudes, it had the advantage over the latest piston fighters in Germany and other countries. 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.