On the eighth of June in the distant and alarming year of one thousand nine hundred and twenty, a hut in Obrazheevka - a village in the Glukhovsky district of the Chernigov province - was filled with the cry of a newborn child. The boy was named Decades will pass, and in the state called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics there will not be a person who does not know where and when the pilot Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born. A short biography of a participant in the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War contains facts that capture the imagination of everyone who is interested in the tactics of conducting air battles of the bloodiest confrontation between countries that ever happened in the 20th century.

In the sky, like at home

Ivan Kozhedub found himself at the front not from the first days of the Great Patriotic War, but in March 1943. However, the pilot managed to show such courage, bravery, and unsurpassed combat skill that he became Thrice. Already in peacetime, the country appreciated the merits of the pilot by awarding the title “Air Marshal” (1985).

Kozhedub I.N. fought the enemy as part of the Allied forces. The most effective WWII pilot rushed to carry out combat missions 366 times, overcame 120 air battles, and eliminated 62 fascist aircraft.

The ace hit targets masterfully, taking advantage of the slightest mistakes of the enemy. Hit the target accurately from any position of the aircraft. At the same time, Kozhedub’s car was invulnerable: even after receiving serious damage, it always remained “on the wing.” His military friends said about him: “in the sky, like at home.”

Two dates of birth

Ivan Kozhedub’s unbending character and his ability to find a way out in any situation were laid down in early childhood. Five children grew up in a family farming the land. The father (former) raised the children strictly and introduced them to work early.

Already at the age of 5, Vanya went to guard the garden at night. The head of the family understood that such protection was of little use, but believed that such tests strengthen character and teach them to overcome difficulties. Later, the boy helped adult shepherds look after the flock (he was a shepherd). He was not afraid of work, he believed that the one who walked would master the road.

In 1934, a 14-year-old boy completed his studies at a rural school. For two years I studied at the workers' faculty (the workers' faculties prepared workers and peasants for studying at higher education). In 1936, he passed the entrance examination to the Chemical Technology College (Shostka).

It is noteworthy: in order to get into technical school, the teenager increased his age by a couple of years. There is information that Kozhedub I.N. was born not on June 8, 1920, but on July 6, 1922. In 1939, the future pilot began training at the Shostka flying club. Mastered the U-2 multi-purpose biplane.

Frontal sky

Kozhedub did not have the chance to complete his studies at the technical school - at the beginning of 1940, the future chemical technologist became a Red Army soldier (a military member of the workers' and peasants' Red Army). Fate sent him along a different path: by the autumn of 1941, Ivan Nikitovich received a “crown” (diploma) from the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots (since March 1941, a pilot school). As the best cadet, he was retained at the educational institution as an instructor pilot to train newcomers.

But on the front line they also needed such responsible fighters as Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub. A short biography says that in 1943 he was sent to the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division, to the Voronezh Front. Thus began his journey as a military idol for many generations of residents of the USSR and the Russian Federation.

In the first battle, his La-5 aircraft was damaged - from the German Messer, and at the same time - from Soviet anti-aircraft gunners fighting. However, Kozhedub was able to land the damaged plane. It seemed that his flying career was over as soon as it began. But the regiment commander supported the newcomer and gave him the opportunity to prove himself in subsequent battles with the enemy.

July 1943

The first fascist plane shot down by Kozhedub was the Yu-87 (Junkers). The battle took place on July 6, 1943 during the fiercest fighting on the Kursk Bulge. Already on July 7, Ivan had another Junkers on his account, and two days later - 2 Bf-109 fighters (Messerschmitt Bf.109, or Me-109).

Military historians identify and describe in detail four main heroic acts that Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub committed. His short biography in these events is as follows. The first heroic deed dates back to the thirtieth of September 1943. On this autumn day, turning the plane around while escorting the crossing of Soviet troops across the Dnieper, Ivan remained completely unprotected (without his own cover), but was not afraid.

Noticing the Junkers, he dived onto Luftwaffe multipurpose aircraft and broke into the enemy flight. Shocked by the courage of the Soviet ace, the Nazis stopped the bombing and went on the defensive. This is what Ivan Kozhedub was counting on, whose feat went down in history. Taking advantage of the fact that one of the Ju-87s broke away from the group, he destroyed it, completely demoralizing the enemy.

October, 1943

On October 3, 1943, nine single-engine La-5 fighters (including Kozhedub’s plane) covered the area of ​​the military operation on the banks of the Dnieper. The pilots saw a column of “laptezhniks” (this is the nickname the Russians gave to the Junkers-87) in the clouds.

Every 9 enemy bombers were covered by six Me-109 fighters. It seemed that they filled the entire sky. Despite the fact that the forces were unequal, Ivan Nikitovich boldly led the attack of five La-5s. The enemy did not expect that the meager number would be able to seriously resist their tough armada, but they miscalculated.

A few minutes after the start of the attack, two Junkers crashed to the ground at once. The other planes of the first nine immediately went into reverse. After a short time, the 2nd nine Ju-87 also retreated. Soviet pilots prevailed not in numbers, but in skill, unsurpassed courage, and dedication.

It was Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub who caught up with the last “runaway” car and turned it into nothing. A short biography of him recorded that he put a “fat end” in that battle with fascist dive bombers.

February, 1945

The second month of winter 1945 was marked by battles on the Oder. How did Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub distinguish himself in the Vistula-Oder operation? The short biography of the hero also contains this information. In the sky over the Oder, the pilot was one of the first in world history to shoot down the newest Me-262 jet. Before him, no one had been able to defeat a Luftwaffe vehicle of the latest design.

It happened like this. On February 19, Kozhedub and his partner D. Titorenko discovered an unknown aircraft at an altitude of three kilometers. He flew at a speed that was even maximum for the new La-7 (at the end of 1944, Kozhedub became deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, which in the last month of summer received a La-7 fighter and several vehicles of the latest design ).

Kozhedub noticed that the German ace relaxed, because his car flies “faster than light” and the space under it can be left without control. The Soviet pilot met an enemy aircraft on an intersecting course, and his La-7 fighter shot the “German” from below, right “in the belly.”

Titarenko then began to shoot too early, but his attack forced the enemy to turn towards the temporarily “silent” Kozhedub, which determined the victorious outcome. When the distance was reduced to the maximum possible, Ivan opened fire, defeating the jet “miracle”.

April, 1945

In the second month of the victorious spring, the allies, the Americans, decided to “scare” Ivan Kozhedub. The unsuspecting pilot Kozhedub protected the American B-17, scaring away two German fighters from it. But almost immediately he survived a powerful long-range attack. In the heat of battle it was unclear who fired. However, two unknown aircraft deliberately went to destroy the Soviet combat vehicle!

Having made a turn, Ivan Nikitovich went sideways to one and knocked him out. Another shot (Kozhedub seemed to be floating in the sky), a shot - and the second winged attacker fell to the ground. As it turned out, the US Air Force Mustangs were defeated. The Allies explained their treacherous act by saying that “a mistake had occurred.”

In fact, comrades in the fight against Nazi fascism decided to test the invincible Kozhedub “for strength.” And Ivan Kozhedub did not disappoint here; the feat of survival even in the most unexpected situation can be regarded as another confirmation that he is truly a hero.

Afterword

So how many planes did Kozhedub shoot down? Together with the “Mustangs” of the allies - 64. Kozhedub I.N. was awarded high awards of his native state: including the Orders of Lenin (4), Red Banner (7), Red Star (2), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War, 1st degree, etc., as well as foreign orders. I.N. died Kozhedub on August 8, 1991. Burial place - Moscow, Novodevichy Cemetery.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, now Shostkinsky district, Sumy region, into a peasant family. He graduated from junior high school and chemical and technological college. In 1939, he mastered it at the flying club. Since 1940 in the Red Army. The next year he studied at the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, flying 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 has been in the active 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 combat missions and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft.

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

In total, he made 330 combat missions, 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 of 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 DOSAAF Central Committee. Author of the books “Serving the Motherland”, “Victory Festival”, “Loyalty to the Fatherland”. Died on August 8, 1991.

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

The most successful fighter pilot of the USSR, a master of offensive combat, Ivan Kozhedub completed 330 combat missions during the Great Patriotic War, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft. The automaticity of his movements in battle was worked out to the limit - he was 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 date is July 6, 1922. He really needed two years to enter the technical school...

His father was an extraordinary man. Torn between factory earnings and peasant labor, he found the strength to read books and even write poetry. A religious man with a subtle and demanding mind, he was a strict and persistent teacher: having diversified his son’s duties around the house, he taught him to be hardworking, persevering, and diligent. One day, the father, despite his mother’s protests, began sending 5-year-old Ivan to guard the garden at night. Later, the son asked what this was for: thieves were rare then, and even such a watchman, if something happened, would be of little use. “I got you accustomed to trials,” was the father’s answer. By the age of 6, Vanya learned to read and write from his sister’s book, and soon 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 elegant uniform of the accounts played an important role in this decision. Here, in April 1939, Kozhedub made his first flight, experiencing his first flight sensations. The beauties of his native land, revealed 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 at the beginning of 1940, where he successively underwent training on the UT-2, UTI-4 and I-16. In the fall 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. “If it were possible, it seems I wouldn’t get out of the plane. The piloting technique itself, polishing the figures gave 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 as sergeants), evacuated with the school to Central Asia, was even more persistently engaged in “fighter” self-education: studying issues of tactics, taking notes on descriptions of air battles, drawing them out scheme. Days, including weekends, are planned minute by 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 a gathering point for flight technical personnel, from where he was assigned to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, commanded by Spanish veteran Major Ignatius 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 hastily, in 15 days; during the operation of the vehicles, design and manufacturing defects were revealed, and, having suffered heavy losses in the Stalingrad direction, after 10 days the regiment was withdrawn from the front. Apart from 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-long theoretical training with daily lessons, the pilots began flying the new machines.

In one of the training flights, when immediately after takeoff the thrust dropped sharply due to an engine failure, Kozhedub decisively turned the plane around and glided to the edge of the airfield. Having been 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 the new machine. This incident was only the beginning of a long streak of failures that haunted the pilot upon entering the military path.

In February 1943, the regiment was finally transferred to conduct military operations in the Southwestern direction. The beginning of Kozhedub’s career was not very successful. When distributing military equipment, he received a heavier five-tank La-5 of the first series, with the inscription on the side “Name of Valery Chkalov” and tail number “75” (a whole squadron of such vehicles was built with funds raised by the great pilot’s fellow countrymen).

The first plane of Ivan Kozhedub. Spring 1943.

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

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

Model of the plane on which Kozhedub flew.

...Kursk Bulge. July 6, 1943. It was then, on his 40th combat mission, that the 23-year-old pilot opened his combat account. In that duel, he had, perhaps, only one thing - courage. He could have been hit, he could have died. But having entered into a battle with 12 enemy aircraft as part of the squadron, the young pilot wins his first victory - he shoots down a Ju-87 dive bomber. The next day he wins a new victory - he shot down another Laptezhnik. July 9, Ivan Kozhedub destroys 2 Me-109 fighters at once. Despite the unloved missions of fighters to cover ground troops and escort, Kozhedub, carrying them out, won his first 4 official victories. This is how the fame of the outstanding Soviet pilot was born, this is how experience came to him.

In September 1942, Kozhedub already had eight enemy aircraft shot down, when a new stage of fierce air battles broke out over the Dnieper. On September 30, while covering river crossings, he, by coincidence, was left without comrades and was forced to single-handedly repel a raid by 18 Ju-87s. Luftwaffe bombers began diving, and some of them even managed to drop bombs.

Having attacked the planes from a height of 3,500 meters, Kozhedub broke into the enemy’s battle formations and, with unexpected and sharp maneuvers, plunged the enemy into confusion. The Junkers stopped bombing and stood in a defensive circle. Although there was little fuel left in the fighter tanks, the Soviet pilot launched another attack and shot one of the enemy vehicles from below at point-blank range. The sight of the Ju-87 falling in flames made a proper impression, and the remaining bombers hastily left the battlefield.

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

In the book “People of Immortal Feat” there is the following episode:

“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, became a hymn to the courage and skill of Kozhedub. The first time we were eliminated as nine. Kozhedub led the striking five. On the approach to the crossing in the Kutsevalovka - Domotkan area, we encountered a column of Ju-87 dive bombers, in which each nine was covered by six Me-109s.

The four covering forces immediately engaged the Messerschmitts in battle. Kozhedub, at the head of the five, attacked the bombers. The enemy began to rush about. Not even a minute had passed before 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 battle, while leading the battle, Kozhedub also managed to shoot down an Me-109. Five fires were already burning in the area of ​​the bridgehead. And the Junkers sailed in from the west again. But a group of Yakov fighters also approached the battlefield from the east. Dominance in air combat was ensured.

Having shot down 7 enemy aircraft in this battle, the squadron under the command of Kozhedub returned to its airfield. We had lunch right under the wing of the plane. We didn’t have time to debrief the battle - and we took off again. This time with four: Kozhedub - Mukhin and Amelin - Puryshev. A well-established combat team, battle-tested brothers-in-arms. The task is the same - covering troops on the battlefield. However, the balance of forces is different: it was necessary to repel the raid of 36, which came under the cover of six Me-109s and a pair of FW-190s.

“They fight not with numbers, but with skill,” Kozhedub encouraged his followers. He immediately knocked down the leader and organized the fight. The rest of the flight pilots also fought bravely. 2 more Junkers crashed into the ground. German fighters pinned down Amelin. Mukhin rushed to the rescue. Kozhedub covered it and immediately attacked the neighboring bomber. Another enemy plane found death in the skies of Ukraine. This was Kozhedub’s fourth victory of the day.”

October became an extremely busy month for Kozhedub. In one of the battles, he came out of the attack so low over the burning Junkers that he was set on fire by the gunner's fire from a German plane. Only a steep dive almost to the ground helped to knock down the flames from the wing of the La-5. Meetings with Luftwaffe “hunters” became more frequent, the purpose of which was to disorganize Soviet fighter groups, distract them from the cover area and destroy the leading ones. They also attacked single and downed aircraft.

The first battle over the Dnieper on a collision course with 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, smashing the radio and interrupting the fighter's rudder. The next day, luck was on Kozhedub’s side - with a long burst, he managed to shoot through the leading pair of Messers, who were trying to shoot down the one lagging behind their formation.

On October 15, four La-5s, led by Kozhedub, again flew out to cover the ground forces. Despite the fact that all the pilots were on guard, 2 Me-109s were still able to catch the Lavochkins during a turn and with a sudden attack head-on from the direction of the sun they immediately knocked out 2 planes. Then, taking advantage of the advantage in height, they pinched Kozhedub’s fighter, 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. The enemy fighters rushed forward, but immediately made a slide and easily escaped from the fire of the Lavochkin, which had lost speed. Powerless, Kozhedub could only shake his fist at them...

In the battles for the Dnieper, the pilots of the regiment in which Kozhedub fought met for the first time with Goering’s aces from the Mölders 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 involved in difficult air battles for a long time, was withdrawn to the nearest rear for rest. The pilots used the resulting time for flight training, studying the features of vertical maneuvers and multi-tiered combat formations of fighters. Kozhedub recorded all the innovations in his notebook, drawing various tactical schemes on paper. By this time, he had 26 downed enemy aircraft, for which, on November 7, he was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Komsomol Central Committee.

At the beginning of 1944, the regiment again became involved in hostilities, supporting the offensive of Soviet troops in right-bank Ukraine. In March, Red Army units crossed the Southern Bug. Crossings and bridgeheads again needed to be covered by fighter aircraft, but the Germans, retreating, first of all disabled the airfields, and the field sites were poorly suitable 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 a better position - in such a situation they flew with almost impunity, without cover, and 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, homogeneous terrain without any visible landmarks. He later wrote:

“When we managed to meet with the Junkers, they stood in a defensive circle and pressed themselves to the ground. Repelling attacks - and not only the riflemen, but also the pilots fired from 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 conducted 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 the defensive circle could be broken with a surprise attack and that at least one plane had to be shot down - then a gap would form. Jumping in a straight line with small turns, you need to turn around and quickly attack from another direction, attacking in pairs. The experience I had already acquired allowed me to come to this conclusion.”

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

On March 14, six La-5s flew to the crossings at a distance limiting for this type of fighter. From a strafing 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 aircraft, the Soviet pilots attacked the next nine. Another Junkers caught fire again - the rest, hastily dropping their bombs, went back. One of the Lavochkins was also hit.

Lieutenant P. Bryzgalov headed to the nearest airfield abandoned by the Germans. However, during landing, his plane crashed, turned over “on its back” and pinned the pilot in the cockpit. Under the circumstances, Kozhedub ordered two more pilots to land, and he himself set an example by landing on his “stomach” in liquid mud. With their joint efforts, the 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 efficient, daring and prudent, brave and skillful, a knight without fear or reproach. “Precise maneuver, stunning swiftness of attack and strike from an extremely short distance,” - this is how Kozhedub defined the basis of air combat. He was born for combat, lived for combat, thirsted for it. Here is a characteristic episode noticed by his fellow soldier, another great ace K. A. Evstigneev:

“Once Ivan Kozhedub returned from a mission, hot from battle, excited and, perhaps, therefore unusually talkative:

Those bastards give! None other than the “wolves” from the “Udet” squadron. But we gave them a hard time - be healthy! - Pointing towards the command post, he hopefully asked the squadron adjutant: - How is it there? Is there anything else in sight?

Kozhedub’s attitude towards the combat vehicle acquired the features of religion, that form of it that is called animatism. “The motor runs smoothly. The plane obeys my every movement. I’m not alone - my fighting friend is with me” - these lines convey the attitude of the ace to the plane. This is not poetic exaggeration, not a metaphor. When approaching the car before takeoff, he always found a few kind words for it, and during the flight he spoke as if he were a comrade doing an important part of the work. After all, besides flying, it is difficult to find a profession where a person’s fate would be more dependent on the behavior of a 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 that it was on fire, caused holes, landed on airfields dotted with craters...

In May 1944, the squadron commander, Captain I.N. Kozhedub, who already had 38 aerial victories, received a new La-5F - a gift from 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 inscriptions written in white with a red border: on the left side - “In the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel G.N. Konev”, on the right - “From the collective farmer Vasily Viktorovich Konev”.

Another color option for Ivan Kozhedub’s personalized La-5 aircraft. On this plane, Kozhedub shot down 8 enemy aircraft (including 4 FW-190) in a short time, bringing his victory count to 45. He also shot down several famous German aces.

So, a few days after receiving the plane, a group of German “hunters” appeared in the regiment’s area of ​​operation in cars painted with skulls and crossbones, dragons and other emblems in a similar form. They were flown by aces who won many victories on the Western and Eastern fronts. One pair in particular stood out - with skulls and crossbones on the fuselages. They did not engage in active combat, preferring to act from the direction of the sun, usually from behind from above. Having carried out the attack, as a rule, they quickly disappeared.

On one of the flights, Kozhedub noticed in time a pair of “hunters” approaching from the direction of the sun. Instantly turning 180 degrees, he rushed to the attack. The leader of the enemy pair did not accept the frontal attack and left with a U-turn - into the sun. The wingman, not having time to repeat the maneuver of his commander, began to make a combat turn late and exposed the side of his FW-190 to the attack of the Lavochkin. Instantly placing the fuselage of an enemy vehicle in his sight, with skulls and bones painted on it, Ivan shot it in cold blood...

Ivan Kozhedub in front of his fighter.

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

At the end of June 1944, the Soviet ace was transferred as deputy commander to the famous 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. This formation, the first in the Soviet Air Force, received the latest La-7 fighters in August 1944.

By mid-1944, Guard Captain I.N. Kozhedub brought the number of combat sorties to 256 and enemy aircraft shot down to 48.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, courage, bravery and heroism shown in the fight 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 the new fighter, Kozhedub, since September 1944, already in Poland, on the left wing of the 1st Belorussian Front, has been fighting using the “free hunt” method. At first he received a 3-gun version of the fighter, and then switched to a regular 2-gun. It is this aircraft with tail number “27”, on which Ivan Kozhedub won his last 17 victories, that now adorns 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 Baltics to fight enemy “hunter” fighters. She had to act against a group of German aces. This is how the Soviet and German schools of fighters - “hunters” - came together against each other. Within 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 on this section of the front.

In the winter of 1945, the regiment continued to conduct intense air battles. On February 12, six Lavochkins had an intense battle with 30 enemy fighters. In this fight, our pilots achieved a new victory - they shot down 8 FW-190s, 3 of them by Kozhedub. Our losses are one car (the pilot died).

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

"…What's happened? Tracks are flying towards him: it’s clear - my partner was in a hurry after all! I silently scold the Old Man mercilessly; I am sure that my plan of action is irreparably violated. But its routes unexpectedly - unexpectedly - helped me: the German plane began to turn to the left, in my direction. The distance decreased sharply, and I got closer to the enemy. With involuntary excitement I open fire. And the jet plane, falling apart, falls.”

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

By the end of the Guard War, 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 of three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

Each ace pilot has his own handwriting in the sky, unique to him alone. Ivan Kozhedub also had it, a man whose character harmoniously combined courage, bravery and exceptional composure. He knew how to accurately and quickly weigh the situation and instantly find the only correct move in the current situation. He mastered the car and could drive it even with his eyes closed. All his flights were a cascade of all kinds of maneuvers - turns and snakes, slides and dives... Everyone who had to fly with Kozhedub as a wingman had a hard time staying in the air behind their commander. Kozhedub always sought to find the enemy first. But at the same time, don’t “expose yourself” yourself. After all, in 120 air battles he was never shot down!

Kozhedub rarely returned from a combat mission without victory. But, being a brightly gifted, talented person, at the same time he invariably showed great modesty. For example, he never took credit for shooting down an enemy plane unless he himself saw it fall to the ground. Didn't even report.

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

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

Like many of our other pilots, Kozhedub never took credit for the planes he destroyed together with the newcomers. Here is one example of a classic group victory, given in his book “Loyalty to the Fatherland”:

“...August 1943. We receive an order to immediately fly out to repel a large group of enemy aircraft. Our ten rises into the air. Ahead I see at least 40 Ju-87 dive bombers escorted by Me-109s. Having broken through the fighter screen, we attack the Junkers. I get behind 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 convey to the wingman: - We take the last one to the pincers, - we approach the bomber from both sides. The distance is appropriate. I command - Fire! Our guns started working. The enemy plane caught fire and began to fall quickly, leaving behind a trail of smoke..."

Upon returning to the airfield, this plane was recorded on the account of Vasily Mukhin. And Kozhedub had at least 5 such “handouts” in his assets. Thus, the real number of enemy aircraft he destroyed was much greater than what was officially listed on his personal account.

The lines from the book “Aces against the Aces” (Publishing House “Veche”, 2007) by O. S. Smyslov (author of another famous book - “Vasily Stalin. Portrait without retouching”) are also of interest. Speaking about Kozhedub, in particular, he writes: “During the period of participation in the war, Ivan Nikitovich changed 6 fighters, chalking up 62 official victories (of which only Me-109 - 17, FV-190 - 21 and Yu-87 - 15 ), not counting 29 group«.

As it now turns out, Kozhedub had slightly more personal victories: 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 never seen such information anywhere else.

To the 64 German planes shot down by I.N. Kozhedub during the Great Patriotic War, we should add at least 2 more American fighters that he destroyed at the very end of the war. In April 1945, Kozhedub drove off a pair of German fighters from an American B-17 with a barrage, but was attacked by covering fighters that opened fire from a long distance. With a flip over the wing, Kozhedub quickly attacked the outer car. It began to smoke and descended towards our troops (the pilot of this vehicle soon jumped out with a parachute and landed safely).

Having performed a combat turn in a half-loop, from an inverted position, Kozhedub attacked the leader - he exploded in the air. A little later, he managed to see the white stars on unfamiliar cars - they 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 Guard War, Major I.N. Kozhedub continued to serve in the 176th GvIAP. At the end of 1945, the famous fighter began family life - on the Monino train he met 10th-grader Veronica, who soon became his wife, a faithful and patient companion throughout his life, the main “adjutant and assistant.”

In 1949, Ivan Nikitovich graduated from the Air Force Academy and was appointed 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. This division was among the first to be armed with new MiG-15 jet aircraft and was sent to the Far East at the end of 1950. There, the famous Soviet pilot had the opportunity to take part in another one -.

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

A strict order from 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 who participated in those long-ago events, several times (unofficially, of course), Ivan Kozhedub still took to the air...

But danger awaited the pilot not only in the sky: in the winter of 1951, he was almost poisoned by a cook: the war was fought using different methods. During his Guard assignment, Colonel I.N. Kozhedub not only exercised operational leadership of the division, but also took an active part 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. Ivan Nikitovich enthusiastically took up the new peaceful task of organizing the division’s personnel. In a short time, 150 houses for housing were received and installed, an airfield and a military camp 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 temporary shelter at the airfield, or together with a dozen other families in a “caravanserai” - an old dacha.

A year later he was sent to study at the General Staff Academy. I took part of the course as an external student, as due to work reasons I was delayed in starting 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 Moscow Military Districts.

Until 1970, Ivan Nikitovich regularly flew fighter planes and mastered dozens of types of airplanes and helicopters. He made his last flights on a MiG-23. He left his flying job on his own and immediately...

The units that Kozhedub led always had a low accident rate, and he himself, as a pilot, had no accidents, although “emergency situations,” of course, did happen. So, in 1966, during a low-altitude flight, his MiG-21 collided with a flock of rooks; one of the birds hit the air intake and damaged the engine. It took all his flying skill 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, officer, selflessly devoted to his work, Kozhedub did not have “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 of his fame. In 1978, he was transferred to the group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1985 he was awarded the rank of Air Marshal.

All this time, Kozhedub meekly carried out enormous public work. A deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, chairman or president of dozens of different societies, committees and federations, he was simple and honest with both the first person of the state and the provincial truth-seeker. And what a lot of effort it took hundreds of meetings and trips, thousands of speeches, interviews, autographs...

In the last years of his life, Ivan Nikitovich was seriously ill: the stress of the war years and difficult service in the peacetime took their toll. He died at his dacha of a heart attack on August 8, 1991, two weeks before the collapse of the great state, of which he himself was a part of the glory.

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 take a closer look at the combat work of my new comrades. I listened carefully to the debriefings of the day's combat work, studied the enemy's tactics and tried to combine the theory acquired at school with front-line experience. So, day after day, I prepared for the battle with the enemy. Only a few days had passed, but it seemed to me that my preparation was dragging on endlessly. I wanted to fly out with my comrades to meet the enemy as soon as possible.

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 line on duty. Suddenly we were given the 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 contact either the presenter or the ground via radio. Then I decided to perform aerobatics over the airfield. Having gained 1500 meters of altitude, he began piloting.

Suddenly, 800 meters below me, I noticed 6 planes that were approaching the airfield in a descent. At first glance, I mistook them for Pe-2s, but a few seconds later I saw bombs exploding and anti-aircraft gun fire at our airfield. Then I realized that these were German multi-purpose Me-110 aircraft. I remember how hard my heart beat. There was an enemy in front of me.

I decided to attack the enemy, quickly turned around, and approached at maximum speed. There were 500 meters left when the air combat rule I heard from the commander flashed into my mind: “Before attacking, look behind you.”

Looking around, I noticed a plane with a white cooker approaching me from behind at high speed. Before I could recognize whose plane it was, he had already opened fire on me. One shell exploded in my cabin. With a sharp turn to the left and sliding I get out from under the blow. A pair of Me-109s passed at high speed to my right. Now I realized that they, noticing my attack, swooped down and attacked me. However, my failed attack forced the Me-110 to abandon a second bombing approach.

In this meeting, I saw in practice how important the role of the follower is to cover the leader when attacking the target.

Later, flying in a flying group, I won 63 victories without knowing defeat.

Air victories of Ivan Kozhedub

№	date	Type of aircraft shot down	Location of battle/fall
1.	06.07.1943	Yu-87	zap. Envy
2.	07.07.1943	Yu-87	Art. Gostishchevo
3.	09.07.1943	Me-109	Krasnaya Polyana
4.	09.07.1943	Me-109	eastern Pokrovki
5.	09.08.1943	Me-109	Charming
6.	14.08.1943	Me-109	Iskrovka
7.	14.08.1943	Me-109	Kolomna
8.	16.08.1943	Yu-87	Rogan
9.	22.08.1943	FV-190	Lyubotin
10.	09.09.1943	Me-109	north Sparks
11.	30.09.1943	Yu-87	SW Borodayevka
12.	01.10.1943	Yu-87	zap. Borodayevka
13.	01.10.1943	Yu-87	zap. Borodayevka
14.	02.10.1943	Me-109	Flat
15.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	Petrovka
16.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	southwest Andreevka
17.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	southwest Andreevka
18.	04.10.1943	Me-109	from Borodayevka
19.	05.10.1943	Me-109	southwest of Krasny Kut
20.	05.10.1943	Me-109	zap. Kutsevalovka
21.	06.10.1943	Me-109	Borodaevka
22.	10.10.1943	Me-109	Dneprovo-Kamenka
23.	12.10.1943	Yu-87	north Flat
24.	12.10.1943	Me-109	south Petrovka
25.	12.10.1943	Yu-87	south Homespun
26.	29.10.1943	Yu-87	Krivoy Rog
27.	29.10.1943	Xe-111	zap. Cottages
28.	16.01.1944	Me-109	Novo-Zlynka
29.	30.01.1944	Me-109	eastern Nechaevki
30.	30.01.1944	Yu-87	zap. Lipovki
31.	14.03.1944	Yu-87	Osievka
32.	21.03.1944	Yu-87	Lebedin-Shpola
33.	11.04.1944	PZL-24	Cheese
34.	19.04.1944	Xe-111	north Iasi
35.	28.04.1944	Yu-87	south to Vultura
36.	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
37.	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
38.	03.05.1944	Yu-87	Targu Frumos-Dumbravitsa
39.	31.05.1944	FV-190	eastern Vultura
40.	01.06.1944	Yu-87	Alien Water
41.	02.06.1944	Khsh-129	zap. 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	north-west Iasi
45.	07.06.1944	Me-109	Pyrlitsa
46.	08.06.1944	Me-109	Kyrlitsy
47.	22.09.1944	FV-190	from Strenchi
48.	22.09.1944	FV-190	southwest Ramnieki-Daksty
49.	25.09.1944	FV-190	from Valmiera
50.	16.01.1945	FV-190	south of Studzian
51.	10.02.1945	FV-190	north-west district of Morin airfield
52.	12.02.1945	FV-190	zap. Kinitz
53.	12.02.1945	FV-190	zap. Kinitz
54.	12.02.1945	FV-190	lake Kitzer See
55.	17.02.1945	Me-190	eastern Alt-Friedland
56.	19.02.1945	Me-109	north Furstenfelde
57.	11.03.1945	FV-190	north Brünchen
58.	18.03.1945	FV-190	north Kustrina
59.	18.03.1945	FV-190	s-w Kustrina
60.	22.03.1945	FV-190	north Seelow
61.	22.03.1945	FV-190	eastern Guzov
62.	23.03.1945	FV-190	Art. Verbig
63.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Vritsen
64.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Kinitz
Total shot down: 64+0. Combat sorties: 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.

Airplanes of Ivan Kozhedub

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Childhood and youth

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

When Vanya went to school, he already knew how to write and read. He studied well, but attended school intermittently, because 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 became a turning point in the young man’s fate - then he began to attend the flying club.

In the spring of 1939, his first flight took place, which left a great impression. Already in 1940, having decided to become a fighter pilot, he entered 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 ends up in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment under the command of Ignatius Soldatenko. Ivan Nikitovich took off for his first combat mission in March 1943, but after coming under fire, he was miraculously able to land almost unharmed. About a month passed before the future great pilot sat down for his new La-5 aircraft.

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

After returning to the front, he decides to change his tactics, settling on low-level flight, which required courage and great skill. For military services, at the beginning of February 1944, the young promising fighter pilot was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By August 1944, Kozhedub received the second Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, at which time he personally shot down 48 enemy aircraft in 246 sorties. 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 planes were shot down, they lost only 2 of their own. After such a victory, the enemy abandoned active operations in this territory. Another significant air battle took place in the winter, in February 1945. Then 8 enemy aircraft were shot down, and 1 Soviet army aircraft was destroyed. A significant personal achievement for Ivan Kozhedub was the destruction of the Me-262 jet, which was significantly faster than his Lavochkin. In April 1945, the great fighter pilot shot down his last 2 enemy aircraft.

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

Post-war years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Children did not remember their parents ever offending each other

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

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

Planes on which Ivan Kozhedub flew

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

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