Soldiers of Victory: twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Semenovich Smirnov. Heroes Alexey Smirnov twice hero of the Soviet Union

I. Ya. Smirnov. OUR COMMANDER. In February 1919, in the town of Bogorodsk (now Noginsk) near Moscow, I volunteered for the Red Army. He ended up in the 307th Regiment of the 35th (later Siberian) Rifle Division of the 5th Army, and he served in it until September 1923, until

February 7 - 100 years since the birth of the outstanding fighter pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.S. Smirnova

Alexey Semenovich Smirnov was born in the revolutionary year of 1917 in the village of Paltsevo, Tver province, into a poor peasant family with seven children. By nationality - Karelian. Member of the CPSU(b) since 1941. He became famous not in the victorious years of 1943-1945, but in the first period of the war, in the most difficult battles with the Luftwaffe, which had not yet lost its striking power...

On July 23, 1942, having flown out as part of a group of six to cover troops in the Zemlyansk area, they met six Yu-88s, covered by two flights of Me-109s. The bombers were already preparing to drop their cargo on the positions of the Soviet troops. Wasting no time, Smirnov attacked the leader and shot him down. Having completed a combat turn, he immediately, from a short distance, hit one of the covering fighters. Smirnov's plane was also set on fire in this battle, he left it with a parachute and was picked up by a wedge of the 27th Tank Brigade. Tankers had previously captured a German pilot from a Me-109 shot down by Smirnov, and they also confirmed the downing of both German planes. For this battle, Senior Lieutenant A.S. Smirnov was awarded the Order of Lenin.

The biography of the ace was common for that time. He graduated from junior high school, worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin railway station, as a fireman on a steam locomotive, and studied at the Kalinin flying club.

In the Red Army since 1938. In the same year he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots, and from December he became a pilot in the aviation units of the Moscow and then Leningrad military districts.

Participant in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. He fought on the I-153 as part of the 153rd IAP (fighter aviation regiment). He flew about 50 combat missions, mainly attack missions.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from June 22, 1941 (junior lieutenant) - as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander of the 153rd IAP on the Leningrad, Volkhov, Voronezh, North-Western and Kalinin fronts. From June 22 to March 10, 1943, he made 167 combat missions, of which 36 were attack missions, 25 were reconnaissance missions, and the rest were escorting bombers and covering friendly troops.

On July 10, 1941, he scored his first victory, shooting down an Me-109. In an air battle he was seriously wounded, but managed to bring the plane to his airfield and land it.

From March 22 to June 12, 1942, the regiment's pilots mastered the American Airacobra fighters supplied to us under Lend-Lease, and from June 29, 1942, as part of the 244th Bomber Aviation Division (as an escort regiment), they began combat work as part of 2nd Air Army on Bryansk, then (from July 7, 1942) on the Voronezh Front.

Writer Sergei Mikhalkov visited the regiment several times. Their first meeting took place in 1942.

“The writer’s attention was immediately attracted by the colorful figure of the fearless fighter Alexei Smirnov, whose fame resounded throughout the entire front,” recalled Hero of the Soviet Union, deputy commander in 1942, and since September 1943, commander of the 6th Army, in his book “Combat Routes.” th Air Army, later Colonel General of Aviation F.P. Polynin.

Impressed by his meetings with pilot S.V. Mikhalkov wrote the poem "The Smirnovs":

"...In one of the regiments, in a combat squadron,

A dashing fighter, Smirnov by name..."

In the air, not a trace remained of the pilot’s earthly simplicity and even shyness: he became daring and tenacious, and his attacks and fighting techniques were extremely prudent and cunning.

The pilot's articles that appeared in the army newspaper "Falcon of the Motherland" were collected and published in a small book "Components of Victory", published in Leningrad in 1944.

On November 22, 1942, the 153rd IAP was transformed into the 28th Guards IAP. In May 1943, the regiment was given the honorary name Leningradsky.

In the summer of 1943, Smirnov specialized in enemy reconnaissance aircraft - FV-189, personally shooting down on July 27, August 8 and 17 three of these extremely nimble, well-armed and armored aircraft, called “frame” in the troops, and sometimes, due to their frequent presence in the air, “front sergeant major”... Our infantrymen especially hated them, the “frames” corrected enemy fire.

By August 1943, the deputy commander of the guard squadron, Captain A. S. Smirnov, had flown 312 combat missions and shot down 13 enemy aircraft in 39 air battles.

In September 1943, the regiment was transferred to the command of the 3rd Air Army, operating on the Kalinin Front.

On October 7, 1943, at the head of six Airacobras, he attacked and dispersed a group of 21 Xe-111s. As a result of a 20-minute battle, the pilots of his six shot down 6 Xe-111s, one of them - the leader, the first in this battle, was shot down by our ace. In October 1943, Guard Major A.S. Smirnov is a squadron commander of the 28th Guards IAP.

The most successful day for A.S. Smirnov became famous on October 9, 1943, when, in three combat missions to the Nevel area, he shot down 4 German aircraft (Xe-111, Xsh-126, 2 FV-190) for which he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

And in general, October became the most productive month for the hero - he then won 9 victories, the most significant in terms of downed types of German aircraft: 2 Xe111, 3 Yu-87, Khsh-126 and 3 FV-190.

By September 1944, Smirnov had flown 396 combat missions, personally shot down 31 and 1 enemy aircraft in the group. From January 1945, he fought as deputy commander of the 28th Guards IAP on the 3rd Belorussian Front.

Showing high flying skill and creativity in air combat tactics, Guard Major A.S. During the war years, Smirnov made 457 combat missions on the I-153, MiG-3 and Airacobra, conducted 72 air battles, shot down 34 enemy aircraft personally and 1 in a group, in addition, on June 27, 1943, he destroyed an enemy reconnaissance balloon.

He made about 300 combat missions in pairs, and later in a group with his wingman, and later the guard commander, Captain P.D. Uglyanskiy, who won 12 personal and 1 group victory. In air battles A.S. Smirnov was wounded three times. Among the downed A.S. Smirnov aircraft 2 twin-engine Xe-111 and 1 Yu-88, three personally and one in the group shot down “frame” FV-189, 3 Yu-87, 2 Khsh-126 reconnaissance aircraft and even a well-armed forward and extremely rarely identified in Soviet fighter regiments back German heavy twin-engine fighter Me-210. In total, he has 7 twin-engine cars.

On October 22, 1944, for the exemplary performance of command tasks of the 28th Guards Leningrad IAP, where Smirnov fought, he was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, III degree. In total, during the war years, pilots of the 28th Guards IAP shot down 406 enemy aircraft in air battles and destroyed 105 aircraft at airfields.

After the war, Guard Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Smirnov commanded a fighter aviation regiment. In 1947 he graduated from the Higher Flight Tactical Advanced Courses for Officers. He was one of the pioneers of jet aviation. Since 1950 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting techniques of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Mastered MiG-9, Yak-15, Yak-17, La-15, MiG-15, MiG-17. Military pilot 1st class. Since 1952 - colonel.

Hero of the Soviet Union, outstanding jet aviation ace E.G. Pepelyaev, who was very zealous in his assessment of his flying skills, spoke of him in superlatives: “A very strong pilot: precise, calm, self-possessed.”

Since 1954, Colonel A.S. Smirnov is in reserve.

He lived in Moscow. He worked at school, then at a film studio for educational films. Sometimes he came to Victory Day celebrations, sitting somewhere on the side and covering the golden Stars with his left hand raised to the lapel of his jacket, remaining unnoticed.

Once, who held a ceremonial meeting in DOSAAF three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal A.I. Pokryshkin noticed him when the meeting had already begun. Alexander Ivanovich, apologizing, stopped the speaker and invited A.S. Smirnov to the presidium, briefly introduced him to those present, who responded with an ovation, after which he suggested returning to the rules of the meeting.

Alexey Semyonovich was an exceptionally modest person, rather even a silent one. “I fought like everyone else, I was just a little lucky,” he briefly answered questions from strangers and correspondents.

He was married and raised a daughter and son.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.S. Smirnov (09.28.1943, No. 1213; 02.23.1945, No. 4182) was awarded: two Orders of Lenin (08.14.1942; 09.29.1943); five - the Red Banner (12/3/1941; 05/3/1942; 04/30/1943; 09/3/1944; 02/22/1955), the Order of Alexander Nevsky (10/11/1943), two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (05/15/1945; 03/11/1985) , Order of the Red Star (11/3/1953), medals.

A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. S. Smirnov was installed in the city of Rameshki, Tver Region. One of the MiG-23s in service with the Soviet Air Force was named after him.

In the State Tretyakov Gallery there is a bust of A. S. Smirnov by People's Artist of the USSR N.V. Tomsky.

Eternal memory to the Hero!

Especially for "Century"

The article was published within the framework of the socially significant project “Russia and the Revolution. 1917 – 2017” using state support funds allocated as a grant in accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation dated December 8, 2016 No. 96/68-3 and on the basis of a competition held by the All-Russian public organization “Russian Union of Rectors”.

Alexey Semenovich Smirnov was born in the revolutionary year of 1917 in the village of Paltsevo, Tver province, into a poor peasant family with seven children. By nationality - Karelian. Member of the CPSU(b) since 1941. He became famous not in the victorious years of 1943-1945, but in the first period of the war, in the most difficult battles with the Luftwaffe, which had not yet lost its striking power...

On July 23, 1942, having flown out as part of a group of six to cover troops in the Zemlyansk area, they met six Yu-88s, covered by two flights of Me-109s. The bombers were already preparing to drop their cargo on the positions of the Soviet troops. Wasting no time, Smirnov attacked the leader and shot him down. Having completed a combat turn, he immediately, from a short distance, hit one of the covering fighters. Smirnov's plane was also set on fire in this battle, he left it with a parachute and was picked up by a wedge of the 27th Tank Brigade. Tankers had previously captured a German pilot from a Me-109 shot down by Smirnov, and they also confirmed the downing of both German planes. For this battle, Senior Lieutenant A.S. Smirnov was awarded the Order of Lenin.

The biography of the ace was common for that time. He graduated from junior high school, worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin railway station, as a fireman on a steam locomotive, and studied at the Kalinin flying club.

In the Red Army since 1938. In the same year he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots, and from December he became a pilot in the aviation units of the Moscow and then Leningrad military districts.

Participant in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. He fought on the I-153 as part of the 153rd IAP (fighter aviation regiment). He flew about 50 combat missions, mainly attack missions.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from June 22, 1941 (junior lieutenant) - as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander of the 153rd IAP on the Leningrad, Volkhov, Voronezh, North-Western and Kalinin fronts. From June 22 to March 10, 1943, he made 167 combat missions, of which 36 were attack missions, 25 were reconnaissance missions, and the rest were escorting bombers and covering friendly troops.

On July 10, 1941, he scored his first victory, shooting down an Me-109. In an air battle he was seriously wounded, but managed to bring the plane to his airfield and land it.

From March 22 to June 12, 1942, the regiment's pilots mastered the American Airacobra fighters supplied to us under Lend-Lease, and from June 29, 1942, as part of the 244th Bomber Aviation Division (as an escort regiment), they began combat work as part of 2nd Air Army on Bryansk, then (from July 7, 1942) on the Voronezh Front.

Writer Sergei Mikhalkov visited the regiment several times. Their first meeting took place in 1942.

“The writer’s attention was immediately attracted by the colorful figure of the fearless fighter Alexei Smirnov, whose fame resounded throughout the entire front,” recalled Hero of the Soviet Union, deputy commander in 1942, and since September 1943, commander of the 6th Army, in his book “Combat Routes.” th Air Army, later Colonel General of Aviation F.P. Polynin.

Impressed by his meetings with pilot S.V. Mikhalkov wrote the poem “The Smirnovs”:

“... In one of the regiments, in a combat squadron,
A dashing fighter, Smirnov by name..."

In the air, not a trace remained of the pilot’s earthly simplicity and even shyness: he became daring and tenacious, and his attacks and fighting techniques were extremely prudent and cunning.

The pilot's articles that appeared in the army newspaper "Falcon of the Motherland" were collected and published in a small book "Components of Victory", published in Leningrad in 1944.

On November 22, 1942, the 153rd IAP was transformed into the 28th Guards IAP. In May 1943, the regiment was given the honorary name Leningradsky.

In the summer of 1943, Smirnov specialized in enemy reconnaissance aircraft - FV-189, personally shooting down on July 27, August 8 and 17 three of these extremely nimble, well-armed and armored aircraft, called “frame” in the troops, and sometimes, due to their frequent presence in the air, “front sergeant major”... Our infantrymen especially hated them, the “frames” corrected enemy fire.

By August 1943, the deputy commander of the guard squadron, Captain A. S. Smirnov, had flown 312 combat missions and shot down 13 enemy aircraft in 39 air battles.

In September 1943, the regiment was transferred to the command of the 3rd Air Army, operating on the Kalinin Front.

On October 7, 1943, at the head of six Airacobras, he attacked and dispersed a group of 21 Xe-111s. As a result of a 20-minute battle, the pilots of his six shot down 6 Xe-111s, one of them - the leader, the first in this battle, was shot down by our ace. In October 1943, Guard Major A.S. Smirnov is a squadron commander of the 28th Guards IAP.

The most successful day for A.S. Smirnov became famous on October 9, 1943, when, in three combat missions to the Nevel area, he shot down 4 German aircraft (Xe-111, Xsh-126, 2 FV-190) for which he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

And in general, October became the most productive month for the hero - he then won 9 victories, the most significant in terms of downed types of German aircraft: 2 Xe111, 3 Yu-87, Khsh-126 and 3 FV-190.

By September 1944, Smirnov had flown 396 combat missions, personally shot down 31 and 1 enemy aircraft in the group. From January 1945, he fought as deputy commander of the 28th Guards IAP on the 3rd Belorussian Front.

Showing high flying skill and creativity in air combat tactics, Guard Major A.S. During the war years, Smirnov made 457 combat missions on the I-153, MiG-3 and Airacobra, conducted 72 air battles, shot down 34 enemy aircraft personally and 1 in a group, in addition, on June 27, 1943, he destroyed an enemy reconnaissance balloon.

He made about 300 combat missions in pairs, and later in a group with his wingman, and later the guard commander, Captain P.D. Uglyanskiy, who won 12 personal and 1 group victory. In air battles A.S. Smirnov was wounded three times. Among the downed A.S. Smirnov aircraft 2 twin-engine Xe-111 and 1 Yu-88, three personally and one in the group shot down “frame” FV-189, 3 Yu-87, 2 Khsh-126 reconnaissance aircraft and even a well-armed forward and extremely rarely identified in Soviet fighter regiments back German heavy twin-engine fighter Me-210. In total, he has 7 twin-engine cars.

On October 22, 1944, for the exemplary performance of command tasks of the 28th Guards Leningrad IAP, where Smirnov fought, he was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, III degree. In total, during the war years, pilots of the 28th Guards IAP shot down 406 enemy aircraft in air battles and destroyed 105 aircraft at airfields.

After the war, Guard Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Smirnov commanded a fighter aviation regiment. In 1947 he graduated from the Higher Flight Tactical Advanced Courses for Officers. He was one of the pioneers of jet aviation. Since 1950 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting techniques of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Mastered MiG-9, Yak-15, Yak-17, La-15, MiG-15, MiG-17. Military pilot 1st class. Since 1952 - colonel.

Hero of the Soviet Union, outstanding jet aviation ace E.G. Pepelyaev, who was very zealous in his assessment of his flying skills, spoke of him in superlatives: “A very strong pilot: precise, calm, self-possessed.”

Since 1954, Colonel A.S. Smirnov is in reserve.

He lived in Moscow. He worked at school, then at a film studio for educational films. Sometimes he came to Victory Day celebrations, sitting somewhere on the side and covering the golden Stars with his left hand raised to the lapel of his jacket, remaining unnoticed.

Once, who held a ceremonial meeting in DOSAAF three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal A.I. Pokryshkin noticed him when the meeting had already begun. Alexander Ivanovich, apologizing, stopped the speaker and invited A.S. Smirnov to the presidium, briefly introduced him to those present, who responded with an ovation, after which he suggested returning to the rules of the meeting.

Alexey Semyonovich was an exceptionally modest person, rather even a silent one. “I fought like everyone else, I was just a little lucky,” he briefly answered questions from strangers and correspondents.

He was married and raised a daughter and son.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.S. Smirnov (09.28.1943, No. 1213; 02.23.1945, No. 4182) was awarded: two Orders of Lenin (08.14.1942; 09.29.1943); five - the Red Banner (12/3/1941; 05/3/1942; 04/30/1943; 09/3/1944; 02/22/1955), the Order of Alexander Nevsky (10/11/1943), two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (05/15/1945; 03/11/1985) , Order of the Red Star (11/3/1953), medals.

A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. S. Smirnov was installed in the city of Rameshki, Tver Region. One of the MiG-23s in service with the Soviet Air Force was named after him.

In the State Tretyakov Gallery there is a bust of A. S. Smirnov by People's Artist of the USSR N.V. Tomsky.

Eternal memory to the Hero!

Nikolay Bodrikhin

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Semenovich Smirnov

Born on February 7, 1917 in the village of Paltsevo, now Rameshkovsky district of the Tver region, in a peasant family. After graduating from high school, he worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin station. In 1937 he graduated from the Kalinin Aero Club, and in 1938 from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots.

As part of the 153rd Fighter Aviation Regiment, he took part in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Lieutenant A. S. Smirnov was in the active army. He fought on the Leningrad, Voronezh, North-Western, Kalinin, 1st and 2nd Baltic and 3rd Belorussian fronts.

By August 1943, deputy squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (5th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 6th Air Army, Northwestern Front). Guard Captain A.S. Smirnov made 312 combat missions, and in 39 air battles he personally shot down 13 enemy aircraft. On September 28, 1943, for courage and military valor shown in battles with enemies, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

By September 1944, squadron commander of the same regiment and division (11th Fighter Aviation Corps, 3rd Air Army, 1st Baltic Front). Guard Major A. S. Smirnov made 396 combat missions, personally shot down 31 enemy aircraft, for which on February 23, 1945 he was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

In total he made 457 combat missions (of which 100 were attack missions). In 72 air battles, he destroyed 35 enemy aircraft personally and 15 in a group with his comrades.

After the war he continued to serve in the Air Force. He graduated from the Higher Flight Tactical Advanced Courses for Officers in 1947. He commanded a fighter aviation regiment, then was a pilot instructor in piloting techniques for the Air Force of the Moscow Military District.

Awarded the orders: Lenin (twice), Red Banner (five), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree (twice), Red Star; medals. A bronze bust was installed in the city of Rameshki. His name was given to an aircraft from the 28th Guards IAP.

The plane was on fire. Black smoke poured into the cabin. Sweat and tears made it difficult to watch. The fire, tongued, hot, inexorably approached the pilot. The sultry breath of fire brought the tragic denouement closer with every second...

And below is the rapidly approaching, distorted land occupied by the enemy. “No, you bastards, don’t wait for me to die, I won’t give up!” - Alexey Smirnov decided. He grabbed the steering wheel tightly and gathered his last strength. My legs hurt unbearably. A smoky veil covered my eyes, and my throat was tight with excitement. “Well, a little more, pull to ours, it’s not far to ours.”

The Soviet fighter fell steeper and steeper from a great height. To the infantrymen and tankers on the front line, he seemed like a burning torch. Regretting the dying “hawk,” the warriors on the ground, fighting off enemy attacks in the July heat, did not yet know that the winner was returning on a burning plane. Just about half an hour ago, following a signal from the command post, six fighters took off into the air. And there, behind the clouds, Alexey saw the wedges of Junkers coming to bomb our positions. They were accompanied by Messers. He rushed into battle and immediately knocked out the lead bomber. And when he rushed to the second, a Me-109 suddenly appeared in front of him. A battle ensued, a short fight to the death, in which there is rarely a draw. And then Alexey felt that his plane was shot down, but did not lose his head, deciding to take revenge and attack until the last opportunity. He forgot about himself, he remembered one thing - he couldn’t give up, he had to fight to the last. And Alexey pointed the shot down “hawk” at the fascist ace.

With every moment the planes were getting closer. It seemed like they were about to collide. It was a duel of endurance, faith, and immortality. At the last second, the enemy could not stand it, changed course, lay down on the wing, dodging the furious onslaught of the Soviet fighter. Alexey took advantage of this moment and pierced the enemy. "Messer", engulfed in flames, tumbled down, and his "hawk" was also burning, but he did not want to give up, his will was not broken, and Alexey was still controlling the flying torch. His whole being rushed forward: “Just to get to his people, just so the tanks don’t explode!”

And, when the green earth approached closely, Alexey unfastened his seat belts and fell over the side. Hanging from the parachute, he heard shooting. From the German side they fired at him with machine guns, and our infantrymen and tankmen opened heavy fire on the enemy to protect him. Once again, he was lucky: not a single bullet hit him, and the wind pushed the parachute towards his own people.

Alexey was received into friendly arms by the tank crews and taken to the location of the aviation regiment, where Smirnov’s fellow soldiers were about to add him to the lists of the dead with heartache. This happened on July 23, 1942 on the Voronezh Front. Behind us was a tense year of war, unequal battles with superior enemy forces.

Having cooled down from the dangerous flight and rested, Alexey Smirnov told in detail all the details of the battle, the return to the ground and remembered the same incident at the beginning of the war, near Leningrad. German aviation then dominated the air. The fights were fierce, and often our pilots did not return to base.

In July 1941, his six fighters covered a group of our bombers that received an important mission. Me-109s appeared at high altitude. They rushed towards the bombers to throw them off course. Alexey led his six to cut across the enemies. A fight ensued. My ears were ringing from the sound of engines and the crackle of gunfire. Dotted lines of fire trails flashed in the blue sky. Smirnov clashed with Messer and attacked it more than once, but to no avail. There was only one thing left to do - to go dangerously close. Alexei increased his speed, overtook the enemy and shot him. The Messer caught fire and, engulfed in black smoke, went into a tailspin. And at that moment, enemy bullets pierced the planes of Smirnov’s Chaika.

A sharp pain stunned the pilot, his vision blurred. “Is that all?” - a thought flashed. The plane tilted and fell toward the ground. Trying not to lose consciousness, straining his last strength, he leveled the car, took control and led the “Seagull” to the front line. Due to the heavy loss of blood, dull fatigue and forgetfulness set in. And again he forced himself to cheer up, to muster all his will to hold out for at least another second. Still, his last effort was enough to pull the damaged car behind the front line and land it on his own land.

It was in those days that he wrote a statement on a piece of notebook paper to the regiment’s party bureau: “In these harsh and difficult days for the Fatherland, I have a great desire to become a communist. For a great and just cause, for the triumph of communism, I am ready to give all my strength, and, if necessary, my life.”

Karelian Isthmus, Kexholm airfield. Second from left is A. S. Smirnov, in the center is A. F. Avdeev, on the right is A. F. Kostyuk, standing is Yu. Minaev. 1941

Having healed his wound, the young communist took to the air again. There, on the Leningrad Front, Lieutenant A.S. Smirnov received his first award - the Order of the Red Banner. So during the year of the war, he burned in the air twice and each time could have died, unable to cope with the wounded plane and wounded himself. "You are lucky!" - his friends told him. Not everyone understood that it was not just a matter of luck. Smirnov possessed the best qualities of an excellent fighter, a Soviet ace. Knowledge of technology, unity with the machine, instant reaction, accurate calculation, multiplied by courage, and, of course, iron endurance and the will to win - all this was combined in a simple, modest, blond guy...

In the languid days of inactivity, while undergoing treatment or waiting for a new car, he wrote letters to the person most dear to him - his mother. He wrote and returned again to the world of childhood and youth.

Alexey was born into a poor peasant family. The mother, who raised 7 children without a husband, could not make ends meet. In the forest village of Paltsevo, the Smirnov family was poorer than others. Alyosha had to get involved in hard work early on. He wanted to study, but he had to help his mother, and the boy had enough time to go to school, and work on his farm, and babysit the neighbor’s children for a piece of bread. After graduating from the Bobrovsky school for collective farm youth, Alexey went to Kalinin, where he worked for some time as a fireman on a steam locomotive, and then entered the Santekhstroy trust.

An 18-year-old boy crossed the threshold of the Kalinin Aero Club for the first time, saw a plane, took to the sky and, happy, discovered his favorite thing, the work of his whole life. At the beginning of 1938, he received a referral to the Odessa Military Aviation School, which at the same time meant conscription into the Red Army. After 7 months, school was completed, Smirnov was sent to a combat unit and a year later received a baptism of fire in the attack of Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus.

He met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War on the Leningrad Front, where he flew reconnaissance, attack and cover for his aircraft. In July 1941, in a biplane, he won his first victory - he shot down an Me-109 fighter. On that day, the four “Seagulls”, which he led, received the task of attacking an enemy motorized column. They reached the target, dispersed before entering a dive, and at the same minute Alexey saw 8 enemy fighters behind and above.

“We’ll make it,” the commander decided and directed the vehicle towards the enemy column. The wingmen repeated the maneuver. The strike turned out to be accurate, the bombs hit the target. Enemy fighters attacked the Chaikas leaving the attack. The battle has begun. Having maneuvered, Alexey led the flight to the front. So they met three times. The first two attacks did not reach their target. But during the third, Smirnov destroyed the enemy plane. Pilot Ivan Tishchenko also shot down one Me-109 in this battle. The flight returned to its airfield without losses.

Front days and weeks passed. Before the regiment was re-equipped, it shot down 4 aircraft.

On September 14, 1941, a group of Soviet fighters met with 17 enemy aircraft. Among them were 8 Messerschmitts. Our pilots were the first to impose battle on the enemy and a mad carousel began to spin. The infantrymen summed it up for her. They reported to the regiment: 3 Junkers and 2 Me-109s were shot down.

Senior Lieutenant Alexey Smirnov especially distinguished himself in this battle. He destroyed 2 enemy aircraft. But he was not spared by enemy fire either. I had to jump with a parachute. He landed between our and German positions, in no man's land. Perhaps the guy would have had a hard time if there had not been a tank brigade nearby. The commander ordered to immediately send three armored vehicles to the pilot in trouble. The guards rescued Alexei and kept him as a guest for 3 days. Then he was taken by tank to the regiment, where a reward awaited him - the Order of Lenin.

However, the wound received in this battle turned out to be quite serious - Alexey spent more than a month in the hospital. After treatment, at the end of October, he returned to the regiment.

At the beginning of 1942, his unit was sent to the Volkhov Front, where it covered the Ladoga “Road of Life” from the air. When the regiment was withdrawn for replenishment and rearmament in March 1942, Alexey Smirnov already had 4 victories, won on the I-153 “Chaika” biplane.

In the summer of 1942, the 153rd Air Regiment was sent to the Voronezh Front, by which time Smirnov had already been awarded the rank of “Senior Lieutenant”. On June 30, 1942, the 153rd IAP, where he served, was one of the first in the Soviet Air Force to be re-equipped with American P-39 Airacobra and staffed: 2 squadrons, 20 aircraft. Using these machines, Alexey Smirnov achieved significant success in battles on the Voronezh, North-Western, Kalinin and 3rd Belorussian Fronts, becoming a real air ace.

On July 23, 1942, Smirnov led 6 Airacobras to intercept a Ju-87 group covered by fighters near Zemlyansk. With a surprise attack, he destroyed one Stuka and damaged the Me-109. But Smirnov’s Airacobra was also hit, and again, having reached the front line, he jumped out with a parachute. The Germans fired at him from the ground, but luck was on the pilot’s side - the wind carried him towards his own. In those difficult days, full of trials, bitterness and loss, fate gave Smirnov a gift: Pyotr Uglyansky returned to the regiment (by the end of the war he won 14 victories) - his close friend and wingman, wounded and shot down in an air battle almost a year ago. From now on, their couple was inseparable.

In one of the battles in the Staraya Russa area, the Smirnov pair, covered by the Grachev-Rodin pair, in a complex maneuverable battle, using cloud cover, managed to get behind the four Me-109s and, simultaneously opening fire, shoot down all 4 fighters.

On November 22, 1942, the 153rd Aviation Regiment was transformed into the 28th Guards Regiment and moved to the northern sector of the front. There, on March 15, 1943, Smirnov carried out victorious battles, shooting down 2 of the newest German FW-190 fighters. Not counting Uglyansky’s “draw” that happened in February, when he shot down a Fokker in a frontal attack, but he himself was forced to land the damaged plane on the ice of Lake Krugloye, these were the first Fokke-Fulfs shot down by the regiment.

Alexei's fight turned out to be unusually intense. The battle took place on horizontal lines. Both cars - Smirnov's Airacobra and the German Fokker - had the same turn time. It turned out that the German could not get behind the Cobra, and Smirnov could not get behind the FW-190. And then Alexey, using his rich experience in piloting techniques, used the trimmer, using the external sliding technique... Reducing the radius of the turn to the limit, he went into the tail of the enemy and shot him down. In the spring of 1943, he became a Guard captain and squadron commander. By May 1943, the total number of aircraft he destroyed was already approaching 20. He became one of the best aces of the regiment.

May 2, 1943... In the morning, dense fog closed the airfield. But after a while the sun began to peek through the white veil. Squadron commander Alexey Smirnov received the task of flying out on reconnaissance in tandem with his wingman Pyotr Uglyansky. And here they are in the air. Heading west. Before reaching Staraya Russa, we crossed the front line.

“If possible, do not engage in battle,” the commander warned Smirnov before departure. — The main task is reconnaissance of airfields. If it is confirmed that the Germans have transferred a group of bombers to this area, a raid will be organized. Transmit data via radio.

An airfield appeared in the distance. Alexey looked around. The sky was clear, the enemy was not visible. “Putting” the car on the wing, I saw aircraft stands and two dusty tails from fighter jets running along the runway.

“There are about 30 fighters at point No. 1,” he reported to the command post.

The Volot airfield, the next point, was no more than 40 kilometers away. His wingman, Pyotr Uglyansky, followed the commander relentlessly. Alexey loved him, his faithful comrade. He was an experienced pilot, tenacious in battle: if he had already entered the tail of an enemy plane, he would not let him go.

Smirnov looked down. Lake Ilmen sparkled, reflecting the radiant sun, and Staraya Russa smoked. A few days ago, in this area, together with Uglyansky, they fought with a pair of FW-190s. From the very first attack, Alexey destroyed the leader. Then he shot down the Fokker and its wingman.

Smirnov looked at his watch. The Volot airfield should appear soon. Far ahead, the pilot saw a pair of Me-109s. They were at the same altitude as our scouts.

- Do you see? - Alexey asked the wingman.

Looking around, he noticed four more enemies 700 meters below.

“I see,” answered Uglyansky. - both upper and lower.

- We attack and leave immediately! - the leader commanded.

And they rushed to the top pair. One of the Messers began to fall randomly. Breaking away from the group of fascist planes, Smirnov reported on the radio about the results of the reconnaissance. At the Volot airfield, apart from a small number of fighters, the pilots did not find anything.

“So, the main goal is ahead,” thought Alexey and, turning the plane over, headed for Grivochki. When approaching the airfield, Alexey saw that he was covered by several pairs of enemy fighters. Having accelerated his plane to maximum speed, he directed it into the space free from the Messers, hoping to get through the barrier without an air battle. But the Germans rushed after him. Alexey changed his mind.

“Let’s hit on the move,” he commanded his wingman.

To attack first, to stun the enemy is Smirnov’s favorite method of action, which has been proven more than once by experience, bringing him victory. Alexey directed his plane at the nearest pair of Me-109s. One of the fascists turned away, the other hesitated a little, and Smirnov hit him with a well-aimed burst. Looking around, he was convinced that the Germans were not chasing him. “So they’ll try to intercept him on the way back,” thought Alexey. His assumptions were justified. Not far from the front line they met 4 Me-109s, but did not engage in battle. Fuel was running out. A pair of Soviet intelligence officers returned safely to their airfield, Smirnov reported to the commander:

— There are at least a hundred bombers at the Grivochki airfield...

This was just one of the combat missions carried out by the brave air fighter Alexei Smirnov.

Smirnov’s confident victories relieved the psychological tension that is inherent in people before an expected meeting with the unknown. During 8 months of fighting (from December 1, 1942 to August 1, 1943), out of 63 enemy aircraft shot down by pilots of the regiment, 23 were FW-190s.

On August 3, 1943, northwest of Vitebsk, Alexey Smirnov, during a “free hunt,” suddenly attacked and destroyed one of 8 FW-190s heading to the rear of Soviet troops. The German fighter fell and exploded, burying under the rubble the famous German ace, commander of the 1st Group of JG 54, Major Gerhard Homuth, who by that time had 63 victories.

On August 19, Captain A. S. Smirnov’s group of the Guard again fought in an air battle with the Grunherz pilots. However, this time the opponents had an equal composition - 12 against 12 and dispersed only after the fuel had completely run out, having lost 2 Airacobras and 2 Focke-Wulfs.

On this day, the commander of the 5th Staffel, Lieutenant Max Stots (189 victories), was captured after jumping from a burning Fokker by parachute. Another ace, Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Koller (49 victories), died.

However, in the summer of 1943, such results of the battle no longer satisfied the command of the 28th Guards IAP, therefore, immediately after the group returned, a thorough analysis of the tactical mistakes made by the pilots was arranged.

The famous FW-189 spotters on the Eastern Front, known as “Rams,” were never considered easy prey. However, in August 1943, the regiment's pilots shot down 2 Frames.

On August 17, 1943, Guard Captain Smirnov and Guard Lieutenant Kozlovsky flew out to intercept an FW-189 aircraft in the area of ​​the Dreglo airfield. At an altitude of 2000 meters, they were directed by radio from the ground to the FW-189 in the Otvidno area, which was following a 360° course along the front line. As our fighters approached, the enemy plane turned at a heading of 270° and went up into the clouds. Guard Lieutenant Kozlovsky followed him, and Guard Captain Smirnov remained under the clouds. The enemy aircraft FW-189, coming out above the clouds, saw that it was being pursued by a fighter and again sharply broke through the clouds and went below it 150 - 200 meters, where it was attacked by Smirnov. After the first attack from above from behind, the FW-189 began to smoke, but continued to retreat into its territory. After this, our pilots carried out 3 consecutive attacks from behind, from above and below. Captain Smirnov made the last attack of the Guard from a low-level flight at a 2/4 angle, after which the FW-189 fell burning in the area of ​​Pereterka station.

"Air Cobras", although not often, carried out ground attack attacks and sank enemy watercraft in Lake Ilmen. So, on August 21, 1943, Kislyakov and Bykovets sank 7 boats in Lake Ilmen (this lake is sometimes called the Russian Sea).

On September 28, 1943, for 13 personal victories won in 39 air battles and 312 sorties (as of August 1943), Alexei Smirnov was awarded the Title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

At the beginning of October, the regiment took part in the Nevel offensive operation, as a result of which units of the Kalinin Front liberated the city of Nevel and reached the approaches to Vitebsk. During the Nevelsk operation, the combat account of the 28th Guards IAP was replenished with 60 downed enemy aircraft, its own losses amounted to: 1 pilot and 8 aircraft. Entry from the Combat Log:

On October 10 (at 14:50) 8 Airacobra aircraft under the command of Captain A.S. Smirnov took off to cover their troops. At 15:00 at an altitude of 3000 meters near the city of Nevel we met 4 FW-190s, with which an air battle ensued. After two frontal attacks, the enemy fighters withdrew from the battle. After 5 minutes we met 2 more FW-190s. Having attacked the enemy, pilot Smirnov shot down one car, which fell 10 km west of the city of Nevel. The second plane was shot down by pilot Kozlovsky. After 5 minutes we again met 2 fascist fighters. As a result of the 4th attack, Major Isaev shot down one, the second Fokker, evading the battle, left with a climb.

At 15:30 at an altitude of 4000 meters in the Voronino area, 12 Non-111s were encountered. Again - attacks. As a result, Isaev shot down one fascist bomber, others, scattered and randomly dropped bombs, went behind the front line. In the same battle, cutting off the accompanying fighters from the bombers, our pilots shot down 5 German planes. They didn’t pursue the bombers because of the fuel running out.”

In the fall of 1943, Guard Captain A.S. Smirnov was lucky, as rarely anyone was lucky in the war - he flew and fought with the enemy over his home: the village of Paltsevo, Rameshkovsky district, Kalinin region.

The most successful day for Smirnov was October 9, 1943, when he shot down 4 German planes and was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 3 days later. At the end of 1943, the regiment was transferred to the 1st Baltic Front...

In the summer of 1944, during the operation to liberate Belarus, Komsomol meetings were held in the regiments of the 11th IAK, at which the questions were discussed: “The honor of the squadron is my honor”, ​​“Let us increase the military glory of the regiment”, “What the military exploits of the Heroes oblige us to” and others. Presentations were made by pilots who distinguished themselves in battle, commanders of squadrons and regiments, and Heroes of the Soviet Union. In the 28th GvIAP, for example, at the Komsomol meeting of the squadron with the agenda: “Heroic exploits of Komsomol member Logvinov,” the squadron commander, Hero of the Soviet Union Guard, Major A. S. Smirnov spoke. He spoke about the characteristic features of an air combat hero, about his courage, high discipline, excellent knowledge of technology, and skillful use of new techniques in battle. Logvinov’s sense of mutual benefit is in the foreground. Komsomol fighter pilot Logvinov shot down 14 enemy aircraft personally and 1 in pairs.

“Learn to fight from the brave air fighter Logvinov,” Guard Major Smirnov urged the young pilots.

The Komsomol members of the squadron decided to use the experience of their comrade in battle, to be as fearless as Ivan Ivanovich Logvinov. Many Komsomol members asked to fly on combat missions in tandem with him in order to follow his techniques in battle and accurately hit the enemy.

On February 23, 1945, Guard Major A.S. Smirnov was awarded the second Gold Star medal for 31 personal victories won in 396 combat missions (as of September 1944).

In January 1945, he took command of the regiment and participated in the final battles over Berlin.

Simple-minded, shy and modest, like most of his colleagues, Smirnov surprised infrequent guests with his genuine sincerity. One of them, the author of the National Anthem, writer Sergei Mikhalkov, impressed by his acquaintance, wrote a simple and memorable poem “The Smirnovs,” which he dedicated to him:

“...In one of the regiments, in a combat squadron,
A dashing fighter, Smirnov by name..."

In the air, however, there was no trace left of the pilot’s earthly simplicity and shyness: his attacks and fighting techniques were extremely aggressive, insidious and calculating. He concisely outlined his experience on instructions from the command in the book “Components of Victory,” published in Leningrad in 1944.

At the beginning of 1945, the regiment was moved first to the 3rd, then to the 2nd Belorussian Front, and the commander of the Guard squadron, Major A. S. Smirnov, was appointed deputy commander of the 28th Leningrad Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.

He conducted his last, 457th combat mission and 72nd air battle in the skies of East Prussia. Flying on the I-153, from June 30, 1942, on the Airacobra P-39D-2, and from August 1, 1943 on the Airacobra P-39Q, Alexey Semenovich Smirnov shot down 35 enemy aircraft personally and 15 as part of groups.

After the war, he commanded a regiment, then served in the Air Force of the Moscow Military District as a pilot - an instructor in piloting techniques. He mastered the MiG-15 and MiG-17 jet aircraft and was classified as “Military Pilot 1st Class”.

In 1954, due to health reasons, he was demobilized. Lived and worked in Moscow. Died August 7, 1987.