Evstigneev Kirill Alekseevich

After a severe wound in the legs in July 1943. escaped from the hospital and in September 1943. returned to his 240 IAP who fought in the Kremenchug region over the Dnieper crossings. The first time I got to the plane on crutches. In October 1943 shot down 13 enemy planes over the Dnieper crossings Fighter pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), Major General of Aviation (1966). He served as an instructor at the Biysk aviation school. Member of the Great Patriotic War since March 1943. Fought in the 240 (178 Guards) Iap. He made more than 300 sorties, in 120 air battles personally shot down 53 aircraft and 3 in the group. After the war, he was in command and staff positions in the Air Force. Author of the book “The Winged Guard”. Evstigneev, Kirill Alekseevich (February 17, 1917-August 29, 1996). Commander of the 178th Guards IAP. He was born on February 17, 1917 in the village of Khokhly, now the Shumikhinsky district of the Kurgan region, in a peasant family. Russian. Member of the CPSU since 1943. He graduated from the 7th grade of the Shumikhinsky secondary school. He entered the Chelyabinsk factory school, where he received the specialty of a turner. He worked at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant and studied at the flying club. In the army since September 1938. He graduated from the Biysk military school of pilots in 1941, was left to work as an instructor pilot. At the end of 1942, he was sent to Moscow to the main headquarters of the Air Force for the distillation of American Airacobra aircraft supplied to the USSR under Lend-Lease from America. In Moscow, after meeting with the famous pilot I. S. Soldatenko, Evstigneev managed to get sent to the front. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War since March 17, 1943. He won his first victory in the sky over the Kursk Bulge. On July 7, 1943, he shot down the leader of ten enemy bombers. The next day he fought against 9 Ju-87 dive bombers and again knocked down the leader. After that, pursuing the outgoing enemy, he drives the second bomber into the ground. On the same day, Kirill shoots down another Junkers. July 9 Evstigneev shoots down Bf-109; July 13 and 16 – again one Messer each. So until August. On August 5, 1943, as part of a group of 8 La-5s, he flew to cover our troops on the outskirts of Belgorod. He was shot down in air combat. Was wounded in both legs. In the medical sambat, he dissuaded the doctor from amputating the foot. On the ninth day at night, he escaped from the hospital on crutches!! He walked thirty-five kilometers to the nearest airfield, from there he was transferred to his unit. A month later, he again went with the squadron on a combat mission. True, at first he got to the plane with crutches. Senior Lieutenant Evstigneev by November 1943 made 144 sorties, shot down 23 and in a group of 3 enemy aircraft. In the Kremenchug region, he fought with I.N. Kozhedub. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal to the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment (302nd Fighter Aviation Division, 4th Fighter Aviation Corps, 5th Air Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front) senior Lieutenant Evstigneev Kirill Alekseevich was awarded August 2, 1944. Guard Captain Evstigneev by October 1944 made another 83 sorties, shot down 20 aircraft. On February 23, 1945, the squadron commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps, 5th Air Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front), Captain Evstigneev K. A. was awarded the second medal “Gold Star”. K. A. Evstigneev ended the war as commander of the 178th Guards IAP. The last battle he fought in the skies of Hungary. In total, during the war years, he made more than 300 sorties, participated in 120 battles, personally shot down 53 and as part of a group – 3 enemy enemy aircraft. In 1949 he graduated from tactical flight courses, in 1955 – the Air Force Academy, in 1960 – the Military Academy of the General Staff. Major General of Aviation (1966). Since 1972 – in reserve. Lived in Moscow. Died August 29, 1996. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, 4 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 3rd class, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st and 2nd class, the Red Star, medals, foreign orders. In the city of Shumikha Kurgan, a bronze bust of the Hero was installed, on the building of school No. 2 – a memorial plaque. If you want to help in creating the museum financially or personally, want to participate in research work, have any information about graduates of the pre-war flying club, about pilots related to Kremenchug, want to transfer any items related to aviation as exhibits.