Ivan Kozhedub
Better than Kozhedub, cooler than Hartman
Better than Kozhedub, cooler than Hartman
The names of the Soviet aces of the Great Patriotic War Ivan Kozhedub and Alexander Pokryshkin are known to everyone who is at least superficially familiar with Russian history.
Kozhedub and Pokryshkin are the most productive Soviet fighter pilots. On account of the first 64 enemy aircraft shot down personally, on account of the second – 59 personal victories, and he shot down 6 more aircraft in the group. Continue reading
What were they like, those “old men” who went into battle?
The war for the twice Hero of the Soviet Union Guard Captain Gulaev quite unexpectedly ended in early September 1944. By decision of the command, he was forcibly sent to study. Colonel-General Gulaev with an inspection in one of the units of the 10th Air Defense Army.
Formally, the reason for the withdrawal from the front of one of the best fighters, the fastest and most successful pilot of World War II was the desire to save the illustrious ace by sending him to study at the N Air Force Engineering Academy E. Zhukovsky. Continue reading
Gulaev, Nikolai Dmitrievich
Born on February 26, 1918 in the village of Aksaiskaya (now the city of Aksai, Rostov Region) in a working class family. Russian.
He graduated from the 7th grade of an incomplete secondary school and the FZU school. For some time he worked as a mechanic at one of the Rostov factories. In the evenings I studied at the flying club. Continue reading