experienced pilot
Air Marshal Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Mikhailovich Skomorokhov
End of 1944. There is a fierce battle in the sky over Budapest. In mortal combat – two planes. Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Skomorokhov got a serious opponent. The forces are almost equal. But the Russian pilot was stronger. He shot down the Messerschmitt. If not for the case, N. Skomorokhov would never have known who the German ace he shot down was.
Two weeks later, in a series of others – another fight, just as stubborn and hard. Similar handwriting: instant reaction, iron endurance, jewelry skill. But in this battle, Nikolai Skomorokhov emerged victorious. Continue reading
Double, Triple and Quadruple Heroes
The concept of “twice, thrice, four times Hero” today seems somewhat strange, probably it would be more correct to talk about awarding several Gold Star medals. But this is a fact of our history, and it cannot be bypassed.
For the first time, three pilots became Heroes twice for the feats of arms shown in battles with the Japanese interventionists on the Khalkhin Gol River in 1939: Major Sergei Ivanovich Gritsevets and Colonel Grigory Panteleevich Kravchenko (Decree of August 29), as well as commander Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich (Decree dated 17 November). The fate of all three was tragic. Continue reading
Sorcerers rushed into the sky
Koldunov rushed into the sky, into the element of air combat. He submits an application with a request to be admitted to the Kachin flight school. But he was refused – a few years. Alexander went to the military commissar. He just threw up his hands – I can not help. Then the young man wrote a letter personally to K. E. Voroshilov. The People’s Commissar of Defense instructed to send Koldunov to a flight school. So Alexander ended up in glorious Kacha … Continue reading
