Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich years of life. Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich: short biography

Personal life of the minister According to eyewitnesses, Viktor Semenovich did not like to drive an official car, preferred to walk, and on the streets he ordered those accompanying him to give one hundred rubles to beggars, mainly old women. He liked it when old women were baptized,

Round two: personal life The difference in style is reflected in the description of the personal lives of our two blondes. Grace famously kept her cards close to her chest and gave very few interviews (at least in the early stages of her career). “A person should not share his secrets, otherwise

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

His father raised little Ivan in strictness and taught him to work from childhood. The brothers Yakov, Alexander and Gregory, worked as laborers for wealthy people, bringing home meager pennies and food at the end of the season. And Ivan himself was forced to earn money as a child, when his father gave him a job as a helper. Fate was favorable to him from childhood and protected him throughout his life.

Even in childhood, as Ivan Nikitovich himself recalled, in his book “Loyalty to the Fatherland,”

could have died by drowning in the Desna. During the flood, the guys went by boat to a distant island and in the evening, with a strong wind, returned to the village. A gust of wind caused the boat to spin across the wave and capsize. Finding themselves in cold water, the children swam to a nearby tree and climbed out onto the branches. By nightfall, the survivors began to freeze and Vanya’s friend Andreyka drowned. And Vanya himself was blown off the branch by the wind when, exhausted, he could not hold on. Having fallen into the water, Vanya immediately sank to the bottom.

The miracle of his salvation was that at that time help arrived on the longboat, where Vanya’s brother Alexander was. He managed to notice where the future Soviet air sniper fell and, diving, saved him. That day, little Ivan experienced the first bereavement in his life. And how much more did fate have in store for him...

Since childhood, Vanya has been fond of sports, including exercises on the horizontal bar and weightlifting - kettlebell lifting. His father often scolded Ivan for the yard that was 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 the eye and visual memory of the future ace. I tried to paint in oils.

Like everything in life, childhood flew by unnoticed. Having completed the seven-year school, Ivan entered the school for working youth, where, working as a librarian, he voraciously 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 technology department. It was a long walk home and Kozhedub moved to a dormitory at the technical school. Only the mother did not want to part with her youngest son.

One weekend, with a heavy feeling in his soul, Ivan returned home from college for the weekend. His father met him at the doorstep of the house. Ivan’s mother, having lost her strength in hard work among people, became seriously ill and refused all entreaties to go to the hospital. It's time to return to college. Ivan did not want to go, apparently sensing trouble, but his mother persuaded him to return. Kozhedub sat with his books until late at night, reproaching himself for not insisting that his mother go to the hospital, and at dawn his brother Yakov woke him up. Seeing the tear-stained face of his older brother, Ivan immediately understood everything.

Having been widowed, Nikita Kozhedub also moved to Shostka, to a dormitory at the plant and often came to visit his son.

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

“... one afternoon, while playing bowls, I heard the rumble of an engine: a plane was flying at a low altitude. It was the first time I saw him so close. Two passengers sitting in the back waved to us. The car quickly disappeared behind the hill.

I wish I could get up and look at the Desna River from above, at our spacious lands.

Just before leaving, I found out that it was possible to fly: passengers were given rides for a fee, but it was too late. And the plane, frankly speaking, inspired me not only with curiosity, but also with timidity. I even admitted to myself that I probably wouldn’t have dared to fly. And I decided to myself that it was difficult to learn flying, and pilots must be incredibly brave people: just think - they take to the air and make such flights! And not for a second did the thought of devoting my life to aviation arise in my mind.”
(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 technical school students who had entered the flying club. They came to the technical school to train on sports equipment. At a subsequent meeting with them, Ivan asked a question about how to submit documents to the flying club, to which he received a less than encouraging answer: it was too late to submit documents, classes had already begun. But Ivan still took a risk and entered the flying club, promising to catch up with his fellow students in theory before starting flight practice. He caught up with the group, moreover, he was one of the first members 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 yet 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 going to chase the pie in the sky?!”

But Ivan was able to hide only until the summer holidays at the technical school. As soon as it was light we were getting ready to go to Shostka to the airfield for flights. That’s how the father found out about his son’s hobby, but, having already gotten used to his independence, he did not flog the hero.

In the same 1939, Kozhedub decided to throw in his lot with fighter aviation, having met his fellow countryman, who came to his homeland on vacation. Young pilots listened with enthusiasm to the stories of a graduate of their flying club, looking at the military uniform with envy. Of course, in those days, pilots had a special chic uniform. All military officers wore tunics, and the pilots wore shirts with ties and jackets.

In January 1940, Kozhedub was summoned to the Chuguev Military Pilot School. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR S.K. Timoshenko No. 0362 dated December 22, 1940, “On changing the order of service for junior and middle commanding personnel of the Red Army Air Force,” Ivan Kozhedub successfully graduated 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 graduating class of that year was sent, but the command ordered otherwise. As one of the best cadets, Sergeant Kozhedub was retained as an instructor at the school.

The war found Ivan Nikitovich in the position of instructor. From the first days of the war, Kozhedub has been inundating his superiors with reports asking to be sent to the front, but his superiors are adamant. “Your duty is to train pilots for the Red Army. The front is suffering heavy losses."

At the end of 1941, the school was transferred to the city of Chimkent, Kazakhstan. There, personnel for the front were forged at an accelerated pace. Kozhedub continues to besiege his superiors with reports, to which he receives negative responses and even scoldings. 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, and instructors from the school. The humble workers of the rear airfield were jealous of their friends who were beating the enemy over the vast expanses of their homeland.

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 of the Soviet Union. Kozhedub is proud of his student and perhaps happy for himself. If the student surpasses the teacher, this is the best assessment 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 near Stalingrad and was being recruited. In Gorky, the regiment was retrained 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 vulnerable spots.

Finally, in January 1943, Kozhedub received a new La-5, number 75 from the squadron named after Valery Chkalov. But he is dissatisfied with the first car. The plane is equipped with five tanks - somewhat heavy.

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

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

The trouble was that while he was figuring out who was in front of him, the Me-110s began attacking the airfield. Kozhedub prepared to attack the enemy, removed the guns from the safeties, but then he remembered one more rule - “before attacking, make sure you are not being attacked.” He looked around - a plane with a white propeller was coming towards him. While I was wondering who it was, my friend or someone else, the “white cook” opened fire. There was a crash from behind, and the cabin smelled of burning. Ivan was saved by the fact that a high-explosive fragmentation shell, and not an armor-piercing one, hit the cabin. The Me-109s were densely packed on him and were about to finish him off, but then anti-aircraft artillery opened fire and the Messers fell off. Kozhedub's La-5 also came under friendly fire and received several more holes. It took a lot of work for Ivan 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, almost died himself and the plane was in repair for a long time. Car number 75 was under repair for a long time.

Two tanks were removed from it; it was not suitable for combat and Ivan sometimes flew as a messenger. All the time he learned to beat the enemy, drew diagrams, studied the experience of famous pilots such as A.I. Pokryshkin.

Ivan wrote down Pokryshkin’s battle formula: “Altitude – speed – maneuver – fire” in his front-line notebook. There, he drew diagrams and silhouettes of enemy aircraft, so as not to waste time identifying the aircraft in the future. He learned well the lesson taught to him by the Germans.

There were “local battles”, but even in these battles the regiment lost people. Kozhedub's leader, Vano Gabunia, died after ramming an enemy plane, squadron commander Gavrish. On April 14, 1943, during the raid, the regiment commander, Major Soldatenko, died.

By summer, new additions arrived to the regiment. Kozhedub was appointed to the post of deputy squadron commander. Vasily Mukhin was assigned to be his partner.

The new couple took their first battle in July 1943 at the Kursk Bulge on July 6, 1943. The regiment was ordered to cover ground troops. Above the front line, the group, which included the Kozhedub-Mukhin pair, met with a large group of Yu-87 bombers.

A fierce battle ensued. Friendly and foreign planes were mixed in the air. With a burst of cannon fire, Ivan forced the Me-109 to turn commander Semenov away from the plane.

The bombers formed a defensive circle. Several minutes passed and Kozhedub entered the line of opening fire. The guns have started working, but the “laptezhnik” does not fall. Ivan continues to shoot. The Junkers began to maneuver. Forgetting about everything, Ivan continues the attack, deciding that if he does not shoot down the enemy, he will ram him, as his deceased leader Vano Gabunia did. Almost point-blank, Kozhedub fires a long burst of fire at the enemy. The plane burst into flames and crashed.

To celebrate, Ivan shouted to his wingman: “Vasya! Knocked one!”

He looked around and saw the Messer, which Mukhin was chasing, falling away from him.

Squadron commander "Gathering" team. But Kozhedub sees another group of Junkers, reports to the commander, but he continues to assemble the group. Then Ivan decides to attack the enemy with the forces of his couple. He lined up behind the outermost Yu-87, opened fire at point-blank range, but the guns were silent. Shooting in long bursts, Ivan used up all his ammunition. Commands Mukhina to attack, imitates attacks himself. The Junkers leave, and the couple, running out 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 being separated from the group.

“Is that so?!” You're chasing someone who's been shot down. In such an environment one cannot be unrestrained and imprudent. They'll shoot you down in an instant. Well, anyway, congratulations on the first shot down.

Since July 10, Kozhedub has been temporarily acting as commander, instead of the wounded Semenov.

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

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

September 30, 1943. Kozhedub's group flew out to cover the ground troops. On the way to the front line, Ivan was attacked by a pair of German hunters. Having replaced them in time, he turned sharply, not having time to give a command to his own. In a frontal attack, the Germans opened fire. In the plane, from behind, there was a crash and the opponents dispersed on opposite courses. Kozhedub’s maneuver was so fast that the fighters of his group, seeing the hunters leaving the attack, believed that Ivan had been shot down and chased the Germans, burning with a desire for revenge. Ivan was left alone in the cover area. There was no reaction to all Ivan’s orders via radio communication. Some time passed and Kozhedub’s group returned, but passed by towards their base without noticing their commander. And then the Germans appeared and Kozhedub took the battle alone. From all sides, at the limit of the vehicle, Ivan attacked the Yu-87. He finally forced them to stop bombing and put them in a defensive circle. But the Germans did not leave, and the fuel was melting. It was necessary to shoot down at least someone. Ivan finally chose one and shot him point-blank. Seeing a falling fellow engulfed in flames, the “laptezhniki” randomly bombed and began to leave. Kozhedub returned home on fuel fumes.

Another day that Ivan Nikitovich especially remembers.

For the third time, he then led his squadron to cover the troops. We encountered a large group of enemy bombers near the front line. They immediately attacked and dispersed, but an order came from the ground to catch up and finish off the enemy. The fighters rushed after them to shoot the defenseless Yu-87.

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

“I’m starting to attack him from above - he’s pressed so close to the ground that you can’t approach him from below. The shooter fires back fiercely, but the machine gun tracks fly past. There is a long burst and the bomber bursts into flames.

Soaring above the flaming bomber. An indistinct sound is heard - you can hear any impact on the plane, despite the roar of the engine. I hear the frightened voice of Vasya Mukhin: “Dad, you’re burning!”

I quickly examine the left plane - everything is in order here. I looked to the right - a stream of fire was coming out of the gas tank. A chill ran down my spine: I’m really on fire! It's time to jump with a parachute before it's too late. I quickly open the flashlight. I unfasten the seat belts. And suddenly I remember - there is an enemy 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 put out the flames by sliding. Nothing worked. Below, he noticed a cluster of enemy equipment and put the plane into a dive...

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

“... I’m sending the plane straight at them. The land is growing rapidly. There was still hope that the flames could be stopped if I sharply lifted the nose of the plane. 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 broken! We're alive!
(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 - he felt sorry for the car. He loved his planes very much. I always identified them with living beings. And not once during the entire war did he leave the car.

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 account had exceeded 30 enemy vehicles shot down.

In May 1944, when Ivan Kozhedub’s regiment was already fighting over Romania, Ivan received an order to transport a new aircraft to his airfield, from the city of Balti. Having arrived at the place, Kozhedub learned that the 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 to him.

Collective farmer Vasily Viktorovich Konev, the father of the Hero who died in the battles for the Motherland, purchased a plane with his personal savings and asked to give it to the best pilot. Ivan Kozhedub would be recognized as such.

It was not only honorable to fight in such a vehicle, but also dangerous. The German aces understood perfectly well that such planes were not flown by ordinary pilots. Very often they attacked Ivan, seeing the inscriptions on the sides, but the faithful wingman always reliably covered the commander. Paired with Mukhin, as Ivan Nikitovich recalled, he did not have to worry about his tail.

And he paid in full for the reliability of his wingman. His meager memories deserve great respect:

“...I look around. I see that Mukhin is in an advantageous position. I broadcast on the radio: “Vasya! Beat him! I’m covering!..”

Or: “... Vasya, we’re taking the last one into our pincers!” (In this battle, the pair shot down a Heinkel-111, which was credited to Mukhin).

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

One day in 1944, a group of planes landed at the airfield of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment. The airfield echoed: “Pokryshkin, Pokryshkin!” Ivan wanted to come up and meet the famous ace, but he was shy, and while he hesitated, Pokryshkin’s planes flew away. Only after the war Ivan again saw the Glorious Pilot at the Academy. M. V. Frunze. Perhaps he met him during preparations for the Victory Parade.

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

Ivan did not sleep all night, trying 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 a familiar alternate airfield, where Ivan was still a foolish, inexperienced pilot, he was recognized and congratulated on his success. 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 that A.I. Pokryshkin had been awarded the third Gold Star medal. And he himself was congratulated on being awarded the title of Twice Hero. By that time, Kozhedub had shot down 45 fascist planes.

From the end of August 1944, Kozhedub took up the duties of deputy regiment commander. The regiment performs aerial hunting missions and is staffed by experienced pilots with extensive flight hours and extensive combat experience. Gone are the days when our skies were protected by yellow-throated chicks trained on a crash course in take-off and landing. Now, if the situation allowed, young pilots were introduced into battle gradually.

And in Kozhedub’s regiment there were truly experienced pilots. The planes in the regiment had a special coloring - gray with a red nose and a white fin. 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 men. It all comes down to simple phrases: “... I see the enemy, I attack, I shoot down...” and no colorful descriptions. During his period of service in the 176th GIAP, Kozhedub describes more the exploits of his fellow soldiers, seeing ordinary everyday work in his sorties.

February 19, 1945. Kozhedub, together with Dmitry Titarenko, went hunting. In the Frankfurt area, at an altitude of 3500 meters, they saw a single plane flying at high speed. Having squeezed everything out of his “Lavochkin” to the limit, Kozhedub managed to get closer to the unknown car. It was a Me-262 jet. According to intelligence data with which the pilots were introduced, these aircraft were fundamentally new and dangerous in combat. The German flew without much concern for safety - he hoped for high speed. The Soviet couple with the jet fighter gradually became closer.

Knowing Titarenko’s character, Kozhedub asks: “Dima, don’t rush!”

But tracks flew into the enemy plane, and the German began to turn away from the line of fire. The distance between Kozhedub and Me-262 decreased sharply, which allowed the Soviet ace to logically complete the attack. After a well-aimed burst, the Me-262 plane, falling apart, fell to the ground.

Kozhedub shot down the last two fascists on April 17 near Berlin. These were Foke-Wulf 190s. This was his last air battle in that war.

At the end of the spring of 1945, Ivan Nikitovich, by order of the command, flew to Moscow.

Part 2. The secret life of Ivan Kozhedub.

Recently, many secrecy classifications have been removed. Some incidents that happened to him during the last period of the war also became unclassified information.

In the foreword by N.G. Bodrikhin to the book by I.N. Kozhedub “Loyalty to the Fatherland” of later editions, provides interesting facts about Kozhedub’s air battle with the Americans. I'll quote:

“As Ivan Nikitovich himself told me, on April 17, 1945, having met the Allied “Flying Fortresses” in the air, he drove away a couple of “Messerschmitts” from them with a barrage, but a second later he was attacked by American covering fighters.

“Who needs fire? Me?!" Kozhedub recalled with indignation half a century later. The line was long, over a distance of a kilometer, with bright tracer shells, unlike ours and the Germans. Because of the great distance, one could see how the end of the line curved down I turned over and, quickly approaching, attacked the last American (by the number of fighters in the escort, I already understood who it was) something exploded in his fuselage, he steamed heavily and began to descend towards our troops. Having completed a combat turn in a half-loop, 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 see the white stars on the wings and fuselages. “They’ll arrange it for me... on the first day,” I thought, getting into the car. But everything worked out. In the cockpit of the Mustang that landed on our territory, there was a huge black man. When the guys who came to him asked who shot him down (or rather, when they managed to translate this question), he answered: “Focke-Wulf” with a red nose... I don’t think he played along then; The allies had not yet learned to look both ways...

When the FKP (photo-cino-machine gun) films were developed, the main moments of the battle were captured very clearly on them. The command of the regiment, division, and corps watched the films. Division commander Savitsky, to whom we were operationally subordinate at that time, said after watching: “These victories count towards the future war.” And Pavel Fedorovich Chupikov, our regimental commander, soon gave me these films with the words: “Take them for yourself, Ivan, and don’t show them to anyone.”

This was one of several military clashes between Soviet and American aviation that occurred in 1944-1945...” (Internet newspaper “Centrasia” No. 18 dated May 13, 2004.)

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

However, they were not allowed to draw stars even then, but they had to fight the Americans. Now it was in the Far East, where the division of the 64th Airborne 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... (Viktor Anisimov. Article “How Kozhedub shot down the Americans.” Newspaper “Nashe Delo” dated October 13, 2007). Until recently, we could all learn about the military path of Ivan Kozhedub.

So, during the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub made 330 combat missions, conducted 120 air battles, shooting down 62 fascist planes. Not a bad score. Quote from the newspaper Radiogolos Rossii: “Historians say that Ivan Kozhedub shot down many more planes than is listed in official sources. The fact is that he did not chalk up an enemy vehicle if he himself did not see it fall to the ground. “What if he reaches his own people?” the pilot explained to his fellow soldiers...” (Newspaper “Radio Voice of Russia”).

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

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

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

In the regional party committee, via government communications, he receives an order from the commander of the Moscow District Air Force, V. I. Stalin, to arrive in Moscow. “There is work, and Vanya is resting...”

In an atmosphere of secrecy, under the name Krylov, Kozhedub commanded the 324th Fighter Air Division in North Korea for 10 months.

On April 12, 1951, Kozhedub fighters conducted their first air battle over the Yalu River. The fighters were defending a strategically important bridge across the river. 40 American bombers were approaching the bridge, covered by about 100 fighters.

Kozhedub lifted all 50 Mig-15s into the air. Or the chest in the 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 three-times gambling Hero of the Soviet Union really sit calmly on the ground?

He is strictly prohibited from flying out on combat missions. V.I. Stalin told him back in Moscow: “You are good, here you can fight using 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 huge international scandal could have occurred, and UN troops could have begun military operations against the USSR.

And yet, Ivan Nikitovich made several combat missions.

I don't want to retell the whole film. I’ll just 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 during his stay in Korea he added another 17 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, to which he remained faithful throughout his glorious life, ceased to exist.

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 “The American Account of Major Kozhedub” from the online newspaper “Centrasia” No. 18 dated May 13, 2004.

4. Film “Two Wars of Ivan Kozhedub.” From the series Secrets of the Century with Sergei Medvedev.

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 “Marshal of Aviation” (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 the battle. 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 multi-purpose 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.

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 Kozhedub was born in the village of Obrazheevka, Sumy district, into a poor peasant family. He was an unexpected, youngest child in the family, born after a great famine.

His father was an extraordinary man. In breaks from factory work and peasant labor, he found time and energy to read books and write poetry. Despite his mother's protests, his father sent five-year-old Ivan to guard the garden at night. As he grew older, his son asked: “Why is this?” Indeed, they rarely stole back then, and a child was a useless watchman. The father replied: “I accustomed you to trials.” And it worked.

In 1941, Kozhedub graduated from the Chuguev Aviation Pilot School, where he remained as an instructor. The cadets called the strict instructor “Three Oaks” behind his back, but Ivan Nikitovich treated this nickname with irony. After the outbreak of war, the aviation school was evacuated to Chimkent in Kazakhstan. Kozhedub’s repeated reports with a request to be transferred to the active army were rejected. And only in November 1942 the pilot was sent to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Ivanovo.

The first "baptism of fire"

Aviation technology always develops much faster than artillery systems or small arms. Kozhedub had to master a new technique for himself - the La-5 fighter. The vehicle had two automatic cannons. In terms of firepower, it was not inferior to German fighters. The disadvantage was, perhaps, that the ammunition load was very small for air combat - 60 shells per barrel.

The future ace's first air battle was not an easy one. Having received damage from enemy fighter fire, Kozhedub’s plane came under fire from Soviet anti-aircraft guns. With great difficulty, the pilot managed to land the damaged aircraft.

First "Golden Star"

The future ace of the Great Patriotic War did not win his first victory right away - on July 6, 1943, in an air battle on the Kursk Bulge, having completed his 40th combat mission by that time. Kozhedub was shot down by a German Ju-87 bomber.

In total, Kozhedub won at least five aerial victories in the battles on the Kursk Bulge. On February 4, 1944, Ivan Nikitovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for 146 combat missions and 20 downed German aircraft.

Beginning in May 1944, Kozhedub fought in the La-5FN, built with the savings of V.V. Konev, a collective farmer from the Stalingrad region, whose son died during the war.

In August 1944, having received the rank of captain, Ivan Nikitovich was appointed deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment, and began to fight on the new La-7 fighter.

Second "Golden Star"

Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft. By the end of the war, Ivan Kozhedub - already a major of the guard - made 330 sorties, in 120 air battles he shot down 62 enemy aircraft, among which were 17 Ju-87 dive bombers, 2 each Ju-88 and He-111 bombers. , 16 Bf-109 and 21 Fw-190 fighters, 3 Hs-129 attack aircraft and 1 Me-262 jet fighter.

Kozhedub fought his last battle in the Great Patriotic War, in which he shot down two FW-190s, in the skies over Berlin.

In addition, Kozhedub also has two American Mustang planes shot down in 1945, which attacked him, mistaking his fighter for a German plane.

The Soviet ace acted according to the principle that he professed even when working with cadets: “Any unknown aircraft is an enemy.” Throughout the war, Kozhedub was never shot down, although his plane often received very serious damage.

Third "Golden Star"

Kozhedub received the third Gold Star medal on August 18, 1945 for high military skill, personal courage and bravery shown on the war fronts.

Along with courage, there was a place for sound calculation and experience necessary in air combat. Kozhedub, who had an excellent eye, preferred to open fire from a distance of 200-300 meters, hitting the enemy at medium distances and trying to avoid unnecessary risks.

In the sky of Korea

The air war in Korea, which was marked by the first battles between jet aircraft, became a serious test for Soviet aviation. In 1950, the 324th Fighter Aviation Division arrived as part of the 64th Air Corps under the command of three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Kozhedub, consisting of the 176th and 196th regiments (60 Mig-15s).

In total, from April 2, 1951 to January 5, 1952, the pilots of the division under the command of Kozhedub carried out 6,269 combat missions and destroyed at least 216 (according to other sources, 258) enemy aircraft. Own losses amounted to 27 aircraft and 9 pilots.

Kozhedub himself did not fly on combat missions - he was forbidden to directly take part in battles with the enemy. The division commander had the equally responsible and complex task of leading air battles and enormous responsibility for the people and equipment entrusted to him. Ivan Nikitovich also did a lot of work with Korean pilots, whom the Americans shot down much more often than Kozhedub’s subordinates.

Awards of Ivan Kozhedub

Among Ivan Nikitovich's awards are three stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union. He became the third and last person to be awarded the title of Thrice Hero before the end of World War II. Both Brezhnev and Budyonny were awarded the highest degree of distinction much later. Kozhedub was awarded two Orders of Lenin (before the Brezhnev era, the order was awarded only when the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was first awarded), seven Orders of the Red Banner.

Foreign awards include the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, the highest honor of the Polish Republic, restored in 1944. Kozhedub was not awarded the first degree of this award. Although it must be said that only the 2nd and 3rd degrees of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland were awarded to Marshals Zhukov, Rokossovsky, Vasilevsky, who, frankly speaking, made a significant contribution to the liberation of Polish territory.

Another interesting award of Ivan Nikitovich was the Korean Order of the State Flag. Initially a very honorable North Korean award, it later underwent a significant devaluation when many veteran Korean military leaders were awarded six to nine Orders of the National Flag for their years of service.

Ivan Nikitovich's post-war career was relatively modest. A number of researchers connect this with the reluctance of the famous pilot to take part in debunking Stalin’s personality cult. It’s difficult to say for sure, but Kozhedub was awarded the title of air marshal only in May 1985.

Heavenly handwriting

Ivan Kozhedub had an individual “handwriting” in the sky in battle. He organically 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.

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.