An excerpt characterizing Kozhedub, Ivan Nikitovich

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This letter had not yet been submitted to the sovereign, when Barclay told Bolkonsky at dinner that the sovereign personally wanted to see Prince Andrei in order to ask him about Turkey, and that Prince Andrei had to appear at Benigsen's apartment at six o'clock in the evening.
On the same day, news was received in the sovereign's apartment about Napoleon's new movement, which could be dangerous for the army - news that later turned out to be unfair. And on the same morning, Colonel Michaud, driving around the Dris fortifications with the sovereign, proved to the sovereign that this fortified camp, arranged by Pfuel and considered until now the chef d "?uvr" of tactics, supposed to destroy Napoleon - that this camp is nonsense and death Russian army.
Prince Andrei arrived at the apartment of General Benigsen, who occupied a small landowner's house on the very bank of the river. Neither Bennigsen nor the sovereign was there, but Chernyshev, the sovereign's adjutant wing, received Bolkonsky and announced to him that the sovereign had gone with General Benigsen and with Marquis Pauluchi another time that day to bypass the fortifications of the Drissa camp, the convenience of which was beginning to be strongly doubted.
Chernyshev was sitting with a book of a French novel by the window of the first room. This room was probably formerly a hall; there was still an organ in it, on which some kind of carpets were piled, and in one corner stood the folding bed of adjutant Benigsen. This adjutant was here. He, apparently worn out by a feast or business, sat on a folded bed and dozed off. Two doors led from the hall: one directly into the former living room, the other to the right into the office. From the first door came voices speaking German and occasionally French. There, in the former living room, at the request of the sovereign, not a military council was gathered (the sovereign loved uncertainty), but some persons whose opinion about the upcoming difficulties he wanted to know. It was not a military council, but, as it were, a council of the elect to clarify certain issues personally for the sovereign. The following were invited to this half-council: the Swedish General Armfeld, Adjutant General Wolzogen, Winzingerode, whom Napoleon called a fugitive French subject, Michaud, Tol, not at all a military man - Count Stein, and, finally, Pfuel himself, who, as Prince Andrei heard, was la cheville ouvriere [the basis] of the whole business. Prince Andrei had the opportunity to examine him well, since Pfuel arrived shortly after him and went into the drawing room, stopping for a minute to talk with Chernyshev.
Pfuel at first glance, in his Russian general's badly tailored uniform, which sat awkwardly, as if dressed up, seemed familiar to Prince Andrei, although he had never seen him. It included Weyrother, and Mack, and Schmidt, and many other German theorists of generals, whom Prince Andrei managed to see in 1805; but he was more typical than all of them. Prince Andrey had never seen such a German theoretician, who united in himself everything that was in those Germans.
Pful was short, very thin, but broad-boned, coarse, healthy build, with a wide pelvis and bony shoulder blades. His face was very wrinkled, with deep-set eyes. His hair in front at the temples, obviously, was hastily smoothed with a brush, behind it naively stuck out tassels. He, looking around uneasily and angrily, entered the room, as if he were afraid of everything in the large room into which he had entered. Holding his sword with an awkward movement, he turned to Chernyshev, asking in German where the sovereign was. He evidently wanted to go through the rooms as soon as possible, complete the bows and salutations, and sit down to work in front of the map, where he felt himself in the right place. He hurriedly nodded his head at Chernyshev's words and smiled ironically, listening to his words that the sovereign was inspecting the fortifications that he, Pfuel himself, had laid according to his theory. He was bassist and cool, as self-confident Germans say, muttered to himself: Dummkopf ... or: zu Grunde die ganze Geschichte ... or: s "wird was gescheites d" raus werden ... [nonsense ... to hell with the whole thing ... (German) ] Prince Andrei did not hear and wanted to pass, but Chernyshev introduced Prince Andrei to Pful, noting that Prince Andrei had come from Turkey, where the war had ended so happily. Pfuel almost glanced not so much at Prince Andrei as through him, and said with a laugh: "Da muss ein schoner taktischcr Krieg gewesen sein." ["That must have been the correct tactical war." (German)] - And, laughing contemptuously, he went into the room from which voices were heard.
Evidently, Pfuel, who was always ready for ironic irritation, was especially agitated today by the fact that they dared to inspect his camp without him and judge him. Prince Andrei, from this one short meeting with Pfuel, thanks to his memories of Austerlitz, made up a clear characterization of this man. Pfuel was one of those hopelessly, invariably, to the point of martyrdom, self-confident people that only Germans can be, and precisely because only Germans are self-confident on the basis of an abstract idea - science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of perfect truth. The Frenchman is self-confident because he considers himself personally, both in mind and in body, irresistibly charming to both men and women. An Englishman is self-confident on the grounds that he is a citizen of the most comfortable state in the world, and therefore, as an Englishman, he always knows what he needs to do, and knows that everything he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly good. The Italian is self-confident because he is agitated and easily forgets himself and others. The Russian is self-confident precisely because he knows nothing and does not want to know, because he does not believe that it is possible to fully know anything. The German is self-confident worse than anyone, and harder than everyone, and more repulsive than everyone, because he imagines that he knows the truth, a science that he himself invented, but which for him is absolute truth. Such, obviously, was Pfuel. He had a science - the theory of oblique movement, which he derived from the history of the wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he met in the recent history of the wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he met in the latest military history, seemed to him nonsense, barbarism, an ugly clash, in which so many mistakes were made on both sides that these wars could not be called wars: they did not fit the theory and could not serve as the subject of science.
In 1806, Pfuel was one of the drafters of the plan for the war that ended in Jena and Auerstet; but in the outcome of this war, he did not see the slightest evidence of the incorrectness of his theory. On the contrary, the deviations made from his theory, according to his concepts, were the only reason for all the failure, and he said with his characteristic joyful irony: "Ich sagte ja, daji die ganze Geschichte zum Teufel gehen wird." [After all, I said that the whole thing would go to hell (German)] Pfuel was one of those theoreticians who love their theory so much that they forget the purpose of theory - its application to practice; in love with theory, he hated all practice and did not want to know it. He even rejoiced in his failure, because failure, which came from the deviation in practice from theory, proved to him only the validity of his theory.
He said a few words to Prince Andrei and Chernyshev about a real war with the expression of a man who knows in advance that everything will be bad and that he is not even dissatisfied with it. The uncombed tassels of hair sticking out at the back of the head and the hastily slicked temples confirmed this with particular eloquence.
He went into another room, and the bassy and grumbling sounds of his voice were immediately heard from there.

Before Prince Andrei had time to follow Pfuel with his eyes, Count Benigsen hurriedly entered the room and, nodding his head to Bolkonsky, without stopping, went into the office, giving some orders to his adjutant. The sovereign followed him, and Bennigsen hurried forward to prepare something and meet the sovereign in time. Chernyshev and Prince Andrei went out onto the porch. The sovereign with a tired look dismounted from his horse. Marquis Pauluchi said something to the sovereign. The sovereign, bowing his head to the left, listened with an unhappy look to Paulucci, who spoke with particular fervor. The emperor moved forward, apparently wanting to end the conversation, but the flushed, agitated Italian, forgetting decency, followed him, continuing to say:
- Quant a celui qui a conseille ce camp, le camp de Drissa, [As for the one who advised the Drissa camp,] - said Pauluchi, while the sovereign, entering the steps and noticing Prince Andrei, peered into an unfamiliar face .
– Quant a celui. Sire, - Paulucci continued with desperation, as if unable to resist, - qui a conseille le camp de Drissa, je ne vois pas d "autre alternative que la maison jaune ou le gibet. [As for, sir, before that person , who advised the camp under Driesey, then, in my opinion, there are only two places for him: the yellow house or the gallows.] - Without listening to the end and as if not having heard the words of the Italian, the sovereign, recognizing Bolkonsky, graciously turned to him:
“I am very glad to see you, go to where they have gathered and wait for me. - The emperor went into the office. Behind him walked Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky, Baron Stein, and the doors closed behind them. Prince Andrei, using the permission of the sovereign, went with Pauluchi, whom he had known back in Turkey, to the drawing room where the council had gathered.
Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky served as the chief of staff of the sovereign. Volkonsky left the office and, bringing the cards into the drawing room and laying them out on the table, he passed on questions on which he wished to hear the opinion of the assembled gentlemen. The fact was that at night the news was received (later turned out to be false) about the movement of the French around the Drissa camp.
The first to speak was General Armfeld, unexpectedly, in order to avoid the presenting embarrassment, proposing a completely new, nothing (except to show that he, too, may have an opinion) inexplicable position away from the Petersburg and Moscow roads, on which, in his opinion, the army should have united to wait for the enemy. It was evident that this plan had been drawn up long ago by Armfeld, and that he now presented it not so much with the aim of answering the proposed questions, to which this plan did not answer, but with the aim of taking the opportunity to express it. It was one of millions of assumptions that could be made just as thoroughly as others without having any idea of ​​what character the war would take. Some challenged his opinion, some defended it. The young Colonel Toll disputed the opinion of the Swedish general more than others, and during the argument he took out a written notebook from his side pocket, which he asked permission to read. In a lengthy note, Tol proposed a different plan of campaign - completely contrary to both Armfeld's plan and Pfuel's plan. Pauluchi, objecting to Tolya, proposed a plan for moving forward and attacking, which alone, according to him, could lead us out of the unknown and the trap, as he called the Dris camp in which we were. Pfuel during these disputes and his interpreter Wolzogen (his bridge in a courtly sense) were silent. Pfuel only snorted contemptuously and turned away, showing that he would never stoop to object to the nonsense that he now hears. But when Prince Volkonsky, who was in charge of the debate, called him to present his opinion, he only said:
- What should I ask? General Armfeld offered an excellent position with an open rear. Or attack von diesem italienischen Herrn, sehr schon! [this Italian gentleman, very good! (German)] Or retreat. Auch gut. [Also good (German)] Why ask me? - he said. “After all, you yourself know everything better than me. - But when Volkonsky, frowning, said that he was asking his opinion on behalf of the sovereign, then Pfuel stood up and, suddenly animated, began to say:
- They spoiled everything, confused everyone, everyone wanted to know better than me, and now they came to me: how to fix it? Nothing to fix. Everything must be done exactly according to the reasons I have set forth,” he said, tapping his bony fingers on the table. – What is the difficulty? Nonsense, Kinder spiel. [children's toys (German)] - He went up to the map and began to speak quickly, poking a dry finger on the map and proving that no chance could change the expediency of the Dris camp, that everything was foreseen and that if the enemy really goes around, then the enemy must inevitably be destroyed.
Pauluchi, who did not know German, began to ask him in French. Wolzogen came to the aid of his principal, who did not speak French well, and began to translate his words, barely keeping up with Pfuel, who quickly proved that everything, everything, not only what happened, but everything that could happen, everything was foreseen. in his plan, and that if now there were difficulties, then all the fault was only in the fact that everything was not executed exactly. He constantly laughed ironically, proved, and finally contemptuously gave up proving, just as a mathematician quits verifying the correctness of a problem once proven in various ways. Wolzogen replaced him, continuing to expound his thoughts in French and occasionally saying to Pfuel: "Nicht wahr, Exellenz?" [Isn't that right, Your Excellency? (German)] Pfuel, as in a battle a heated man beats his own, angrily shouted at Wolzogen:
– Nun ja, was soll denn da noch expliziert werden? [Well, yes, what else is there to interpret? (German)] - Pauluchi and Michaud attacked Wolzogen in French in two voices. Armfeld addressed Pfuel in German. Tol explained in Russian to Prince Volkonsky. Prince Andrew silently listened and watched.
Of all these persons, the embittered, resolute and stupidly self-confident Pfuel excited the participation in Prince Andrei most of all. He, one of all the people present here, obviously did not want anything for himself, did not harbor enmity towards anyone, but wanted only one thing - to put into action the plan drawn up according to the theory that he had deduced over the years of work. He was ridiculous, was unpleasant with his irony, but at the same time he inspired involuntary respect with his boundless devotion to the idea. In addition, in all the speeches of all the speakers, with the exception of Pfuel, there was one common feature that was not at the military council in 1805 - it was now, although hidden, but a panic fear of the genius of Napoleon, a fear that was expressed in every objection. Everything was supposed to be possible for Napoleon, they were waiting for him from all sides, and with his terrible name they destroyed one another's assumptions. One Pful, it seemed, considered him, Napoleon, the same barbarian as all the opponents of his theory. But, in addition to a sense of respect, Pful inspired Prince Andrei with a sense of pity. From the tone with which the courtiers treated him, from what Pauluchi allowed himself to say to the emperor, but most importantly from the somewhat desperate expression of Pfuel himself, it was clear that others knew and he himself felt that his fall was near. And, despite his self-confidence and German grumpy irony, he was pitiful with his smoothed hair on the temples and tassels sticking out at the back of his head. Apparently, although he concealed this under the guise of irritation and contempt, he was in despair because the only opportunity now to verify by vast experience and prove to the whole world the correctness of his theory eluded him.
The debate went on for a long time, and the longer it went on, the more disputes flared up, reaching shouts and personalities, and the less it was possible to draw any general conclusion from everything that was said. Prince Andrei, listening to this multilingual dialect and these assumptions, plans and denials and cries, was only surprised at what they all said. Those thoughts that had come to him for a long time and often during his military activities, that there is and cannot be any military science and therefore there can be no so-called military genius, now received for him the complete evidence of the truth. “What kind of theory and science could there be in a matter in which the conditions and circumstances are unknown and cannot be determined, in which the strength of the leaders of the war can be even less determined? No one could and cannot know what the position of our and the enemy army will be in a day, and no one can know what the strength of this or that detachment is. Sometimes, when there is no coward in front who will shout: “We are cut off! - and he will run, and there is a cheerful, courageous person in front who will shout: “Hurrah! - a detachment of five thousand is worth thirty thousand, as at Shepgraben, and sometimes fifty thousand run before eight, as at Austerlitz. What kind of science can there be in such a matter, in which, as in any practical matter, nothing can be determined and everything depends on innumerable conditions, the significance of which is determined in one minute, about which no one knows when it will come. Armfeld says that our army is cut off, and Pauluchi says that we have placed the French army between two fires; Michaud says that the worthlessness of the Drissa camp lies in the fact that the river is behind, and Pfuel says that this is his strength. Tol proposes one plan, Armfeld proposes another; and everyone is good, and everyone is bad, and the benefits of any situation can be obvious only at the moment when the event takes place. And why does everyone say: a military genius? Is a genius the person who manages to order the delivery of crackers in time and go to the right, to the left? Just because military people are clothed with brilliance and power, and masses of scoundrels flatter power, giving it the unusual qualities of a genius, they are called geniuses. On the contrary, the best generals I have known are stupid or distracted people. The best Bagration, - Napoleon himself admitted this. And Bonaparte himself! I remember his self-satisfied and limited face on the field of Austerlitz. Not only does a good commander not need a genius and any special qualities, but, on the contrary, he needs the absence of the best, highest, human qualities - love, poetry, tenderness, philosophical inquisitive doubt. He must be limited, firmly convinced that what he does is very important (otherwise he will lack patience), and then only he will be a brave commander. God forbid, if he is a man, he will love someone, take pity, think about what is fair and what is not. It is clear that from time immemorial the theory of geniuses has been forged for them, because they are the authorities. The merit in the success of military affairs does not depend on them, but on the person who shouts in the ranks: they are gone, or shouts: hurrah! And only in these ranks can you serve with confidence that you are useful!“
So thought Prince Andrei, listening to the talk, and woke up only when Pauluchi called him and everyone was already dispersing.
The next day, at the review, the sovereign asked Prince Andrei where he wanted to serve, and Prince Andrei lost himself forever in the court world, not asking to stay with the person of the sovereign, but asking for permission to serve in the army.

Before the opening of the campaign, Rostov received a letter from his parents, in which, briefly informing him of Natasha's illness and the break with Prince Andrei (this break was explained to him by Natasha's refusal), they again asked him to retire and come home. Nikolai, having received this letter, did not try to ask for a vacation or resignation, but wrote to his parents that he was very sorry about Natasha's illness and break with her fiancé and that he would do everything possible to fulfill their desire. He wrote to Sonya separately.
“Adored friend of my soul,” he wrote. “Nothing but honor could keep me from returning to the village. But now, before the opening of the campaign, I would consider myself dishonorable not only before all my comrades, but also before myself, if I preferred my happiness to my duty and love for the fatherland. But this is the last parting. Believe that immediately after the war, if I am alive and loved by you, I will drop everything and fly to you to press you forever to my fiery chest.
Indeed, only the opening of the campaign delayed Rostov and prevented him from coming - as he promised - and marrying Sonya. Otradnensky autumn with hunting and winter with Christmas time and with Sonya's love opened up to him the prospect of quiet aristocratic joys and tranquility, which he had not known before and which now beckoned him to them. “A glorious wife, children, a good flock of hounds, dashing ten - twelve packs of greyhounds, household, neighbors, election service! he thought. But now there was a campaign, and it was necessary to remain in the regiment. And since this was necessary, Nikolai Rostov, by his nature, was also pleased with the life he led in the regiment, and managed to make this life pleasant for himself.
Arriving from vacation, joyfully greeted by his comrades, Nikolai sent for repairs and brought excellent horses from Little Russia, which pleased him and earned him praise from his superiors. In his absence, he was promoted to captain, and when the regiment was put on martial law with an increased kit, he again received his former squadron.
A campaign began, the regiment was moved to Poland, a double salary was issued, new officers arrived, new people, horses; and, most importantly, that excitedly cheerful mood that accompanies the outbreak of war has spread; and Rostov, conscious of his advantageous position in the regiment, devoted himself entirely to the pleasures and interests of military service, although he knew that sooner or later he would have to leave them.

On the eighth of June, distant and disturbing, one thousand nine hundred and twenty years, a hut in Obrazheevka - a village in the Glukhovsky district of the Chernihiv province - was announced by 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 is no person who does not know where and when the pilot Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich was born. A brief biography of a participant in the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War contains facts that amaze the imagination of everyone who is interested in the tactics of conducting air battles in the most bloody confrontation between countries that only happened in the 20th century.

In the sky like at home

Ivan Kozhedub was 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, courage, unsurpassed combat skills that he became Three times. Already in peacetime, the country appreciated the merits of the pilot by conferring the title of Air Marshal (1985).

Kozhedub I.N. fought with the enemy as part of the allied forces. The most productive pilot of the Second World War rushed to perform combat missions 366 times, overcame 120 air battles, eliminated 62 fascist aircraft.

Ace hit targets masterfully, using the slightest misses of the enemy. Hit exactly on target from any position of the aircraft. At the same time, Kozhedub's car was invulnerable: even having received serious damage, it always remained "on the wing". Fighting friends said about him: "in the sky, like at home."

Two dates of birth

The unbending character of Ivan Kozhedub, his ability to find a way out in any situation, was laid in early childhood. There were five children in a farming family. Father (the former raised the children strictly, introduced him 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 he believed that such tests strengthen character, teach to overcome difficulties. Later, the boy helped the adult shepherds look after the herd (he was a shepherd). He was not afraid of work, he believed: the road will be mastered by the walking one.

In 1934, a 14-year-old boy completed his studies at a rural school. For two years I comprehended knowledge at the workers' faculty (workers' faculties prepared workers and peasants for higher education). In 1936 he passed the entrance examinations to the chemical-technological technical school (Shostka).

It is noteworthy that in order to get into a technical school, a teenager increased his age by a couple of years. There is information that Kozhedub I.N. he was born not on June 8, 1920, but on July 6, 1922. In 1939, the future pilot began training at the Shostka flying club. He mastered the U-2 multi-purpose biplane.

frontal sky

Kozhedub did not have a chance to complete his studies at the technical school - at the beginning of 1940, the future chemical technologist became a Red Army soldier (a soldier of the workers' and peasants' Red Army). Fate directed him along a different path: by the fall of the fortieth year, Ivan Nikitovich received the “crusts” (diploma) of the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School (since March 1941, the school of pilots). As the best cadet, he was left in an educational institution by an instructor pilot to train newcomers.

But on the front line, they also needed such responsible fighters as Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich. A brief biography says that in 1943 he was sent to the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division, to the Voronezh Front. Thus began his path 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 - by the German Messer, and at the same time - by the Soviet anti-aircraft gunners fighting. However, Kozhedub was able to land the damaged aircraft. It seemed that his flying career was over as soon as it began. But the regiment commander supported the newcomer, gave him the opportunity to prove himself in subsequent battles with the enemy.

July, 1943

The first fascist aircraft shot down by Kozhedub was the Yu-87 ("Junkers"). The fight took place on July 6, 1943 during the fiercest battles 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 the four main heroic deeds that Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich performed. A brief biography of him in these events is as follows. The first heroic deed is dated September 30, 1943. On this autumn day, turning the plane around while escorting the crossing of Soviet troops across the Dnieper, Ivan remained completely unprotected (without covering his own), but was not afraid.

Noticing the Junkers, he dived on multi-purpose aircraft of the Luftwaffe, broke into the enemy link. Shocked by the courage of the Soviet ace, the Nazis stopped the bombardment and went on the defensive. Ivan Kozhedub, whose feat went down in history, was counting on this. Taking advantage of the fact that one of the Ju-87 broke away from the group, destroyed it, completely demoralizing the enemy.

October, 1943

On October 3, 1943, nine single-engine La-5 fighters (including the Kozhedub aircraft) covered the space for a military operation on the banks of the Dnieper. The pilots saw in the clouds a column of “baptists” (such a nickname was given by the Russians to the Junkers-87).

Every 9 enemy bombers were covered by six Me-109 fighters. It seemed that they filled the whole 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 a 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. Other planes of the first nine immediately reversed. After a short time, the 2nd nine Ju-87 also retreated. Soviet pilots prevailed not in numbers, but in skill, unsurpassed courage, and selflessness.

It was Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich who caught up with the extreme “fleeing” car and turned it into nothing. His brief biography recorded that he put a "fat point" in that battle with fascist dive bombers.

February 1945

The second month of the winter of 1945 was marked by fighting on the Oder. How did Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich distinguish himself in the Vistula-Oder operation? A brief biography of the hero contains this information. In the sky over the Oder, the pilot was one of the first in world history to shoot down the latest Me-262 jet. Before him, no one could defeat the latest Luftwaffe design.

It happened like this. On February 19, Kozhedub and his partner D. Titorenko discovered an unknown aircraft at a three-kilometer altitude. He flew at a speed, even for the new "La-7" limit (at the end of 1944, Kozhedub became deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, which in the last month of summer received the La-7 fighter, several machines 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 uncontrolled. The Soviet pilot met with an enemy vehicle on an intersecting course, 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 in the direction of 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, Ivan Kozhedub decided to "scare" the allies - the Americans. The unsuspecting pilot Kozhedub defended the American B-17, scaring away two German fighters from him. But almost immediately he survived a powerful attack from a long distance. Who shot - in the heat of battle it was not clear. However, two unknown planes purposefully went to destroy the Soviet combat vehicle!

Having made a turn, Ivan Nikitovich went sideways to one and knocked him out. Another (Kozhedub seemed to be floating in the sky), a shot - and the second winged attacker collapsed to the ground. As it turned out, the Mustangs of the US Air Force became defeated. The Allies explained their treacherous act by saying that "a mistake has occurred."

In fact, comrades-in-arms in the fight against Nazi fascism decided to test the invincible Kozhedub "for strength." And here Ivan Kozhedub did not disappoint, the feat of survival even in the most unexpected situation can be regarded as another confirmation that he is really 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), the Red Banner (7), the Red Star (2), Alexander Nevsky, the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, etc., as well as foreign orders. Died I.N. Kozhedub August 8, 1991. Place of burial - Moscow, Novodevichy cemetery.

Biography of one of the most significant pilots of the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub. The story of how a rural boy became an air marshal of the USSR. He received this position later, in 1985. However, he went through the entire war and was never shot down by enemy fire, which is significant in the art of flying. Deservedly awarded three stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union, standing on a par with the aces of that time. Father of two children, devoted and loving husband.

Childhood and youth

Ivan Kozhedub at his plane

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, Glukhovsky district, Chernigov province (now: Shostka district, Sumy region of Ukraine). He was the last, fifth in a row, child in the family. His father, Nikita Illarionovich, was a church warden, a literate and well-read man. Ivan's mother, Stefanida Ivanovna Veremes, was a native of the village of Krupets. She ran the household, looked after the children and taught them to work. The brothers Vanya Yasha, Alexander, Grigory and sister Matryona also lived in the family.

The village of Obrazheevka is located in the north of Ukraine. In schools, it was customary to conduct classes in Ukrainian, but despite this, people were able to speak Russian and Ukrainian. It was his father who instilled in Vanya a love for literature: the books of Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov. As Kozhedub's wife Veronika Nikolaevna later recalled, Ivan Nikitovich spoke "bad" Russian, so she often let him read books by Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Mayakovsky, Sholokhov, etc. Gogol's comedy "The Inspector General" they read with her husband in roles. This helped Kozhedub become a good speaker.

Kozhedub's parents lived in poverty, his mother was very ill - constant need undermined her health: she died in 1936. My father took any job to feed his family: he worked in the fields, was hired as a worker by the landowners. The father raised the children strictly: from an early age, Ivan helped his parents around the house, planted fruit trees, looked after the cattle, brought water from the well, went to the forest for firewood. Later, as an adult, Kozhedub recalled how his father sent him to the garden to guard fruit trees. At that time, there was little theft and there was no need for protection. In this way, the father taught to overcome difficulties, he realized that without him it would be difficult for the family.

Ivan Kozhedub was the youngest in the family, so his mother loved him more than other children, stood up for him before his father. He also loved his mother and respected his father, but he was afraid to show his feelings openly - he did not want the other guys to consider him a “sissy”.

At school, Ivan studied with enthusiasm and was very fond of his first teacher, Nina Vasilievna. However, there was a catastrophic lack of money, and the father took his son from school and arranged him to work in a neighboring village with his uncle as a shepherd. Two weeks later, Ivan left the herd (which he guarded), ran to his father's house and begged him to let him study further. The father gave his son a good beating (for self-will), but allowed him to return to school.

As a child, Ivan was fond of drawing. As a student at a technical school, he was engaged in the design of posters, wall newspapers, slogans. As he writes about himself: “Drawing has developed my eye, visual memory, observation. And these qualities were useful to me when I became a pilot.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub - aircraft pilot

In 1934, Ivan Kozhedub graduated from a seven-year school and at the age of 14 entered a school for working youth (before that, there was an attempt to enter a brass band, which was located in a military unit in Shostka, but Ivan was too small in age). He always loved to play sports, and at the age of 13 he learned to squeeze a two-pound weight with one hand.

He is simultaneously fascinated by technology, pedagogy and drawing (his father dreamed that his son would become an artist and would gladly show Ivan's paintings to fellow villagers). After the establishment of Soviet power, the boy did not know who he wanted to become. He succeeded in pedagogy, often at the request of his first teacher, he studied with those who were lagging behind, helping to overcome gaps in knowledge. Although at that time aviation occupied his heart, he dreamed of a military career. However, initially, fate was different. The first job of the young Kozhedub was the position of a librarian with a salary of 100 rubles. At this job, young Ivan got an idea about the world of books. And, as usual, he brought home the first paycheck by buying sweets and bread. He did not work in this position for long, industrialization was going on in the country, the country did not have enough workers, so the young man, after a meeting with his father, decides to get a working specialty and go to work at a factory. At that time in the USSR, it was allowed to start working from the age of 17, as an assistant master, a student. Ivan was not the right age. This was pointed out by the workshop foreman at the plant for the production of building materials, they say, it is still small.

In 1936, Ivan passed the entrance exams and entered the Chemical Technology College (Shostka). As a student, he reads a lot of technical literature and continues to play sports hard. With age, Kozhedub came to the conclusion that a pilot must be physically strong and resilient in order to master the technique of piloting - that is why sports were so useful in the service. In the 3rd year, he enrolls in an flying club - for him there was an opportunity to become a pilot in the future and wear a military uniform.

After graduating from the flying club, where he learned to fly the Po-2 and performed several parachute jumps, Kozhedub entered the aviation school of the Chuguev military aviation school for pilots, graduating in 1941. Here, for the first time, he realizes what responsibility lies with him - a Soviet soldier who swore an oath to defend his homeland. Here Kozhedub learned to fly the UT-2, UTI-4 and I-16 fighter aircraft.

The Great Patriotic War and the exploits of Kozhedub

Ivan Kozhedub in the rank of General of Aviation

The Great Patriotic War began at the moment when Ivan served in an aviation school: he was an instructor (since 1941) and taught new cadets how to fly an aircraft. The best students were taken to the active army.

In 1941, the aviation school was transferred to the deep rear (to Kazakhstan near Chimkent) for further training of new pilots. According to Kozhedub, it is impossible to convey the excitement with which the cadets of the school have been waiting for news all this time, reading newspapers and listening to military reports on the radio. They rejoiced and were proud of the exploits of their classmates, who were already at the front and distinguished themselves in combat missions. And each of those who remained in the school dreamed of finally going to the front to beat the enemy.

Starting in 1941, Kozhedub filed a report many times to go to the front, and each time he was refused. This was explained by the fact that he was needed at the school to train pilots. Despite the refusals, he continued to work hard on himself, analyzed the tactics of air combat (for this purpose he collected clippings from newspapers and other sources), and passed on experience to his students.

In 1942, an order came to send Senior Sergeant Kozhedub to the front as part of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment. At the airfield, the last training is being carried out before being sent to the active army. Here he learns to fly the La-5 aircraft.

In the spring of 1943, Ivan Nikitovich served on the Voronezh Front. Kozhedub makes his first sortie on March 26, 1943. He suffered a failure: the plane was heavily damaged - it was fired upon by the Germans and anti-aircraft guns of Soviet soldiers. He miraculously landed the car at his airfield and remained intact.

This incident was followed by a series of sorties to escort fighters and bombers to the front line, which were successful. Thanks to the constant work on the mistakes, Ivan quickly learned to make an anti-aircraft maneuver, flew reconnaissance, carried reports, and was a liaison between formations.

At the end of June 1943, Ivan Nikitovich received the rank of junior lieutenant. He becomes a senior pilot, a little later - a flight commander. In August 1943, Lieutenant Kozhedub became a squadron commander, and on August 6, 1943, he was awarded his first award - the Order of the Red Banner.

At this time, total mobilization began in Germany, new types of weapons appeared - the Tiger and Ferdinand tanks. Soviet troops began to move up to the Kursk Bulge in anticipation of strong battles. Everyone was on alert.

On July 6, 1943, Ivan takes part in the Battle of Kursk and shoots down his first enemy bomber, the Junkers-87. On July 7, Ivan shoots down another Yu-87 aircraft, and on July 9, two Messerschmitt-109s.

In one of the battles, Kozhedub had to fight alone against eighteen enemy bombers. The pilots covering him showed vehemence and went far behind the front line, leaving the commander alone on the battlefield. In this battle, Ivan used all his skills to maneuver, quickly attack, analyze the situation and act accordingly. He miraculously returned to the airfield - gasoline remained only to land the plane. Kozhedub did not leave the battlefield, protecting those who fought below - infantrymen, tankers, artillerymen.

In the battle for the Dnieper, Ivan shot down 11 enemy planes in ten days. Each of these and subsequent fights was difficult, hot, requiring quick reaction and focused attention. According to Kozhedub, the cohesion of work is important in the sky for any pilot, namely the excellent interaction between the leader and the follower. One attacks, the other covers. The joint work of the couple is a guarantee that the pilots will return to the airfield alive.

Preparation of Ivan Kozhedub for departure

In his book, Kozhedub writes that the hardest thing during the war is to learn about the death of comrades who were just nearby. At such moments, a feeling of bitterness arises, which is replaced by rage and enthusiasm, the desire to kill two enemy opponents for each dead comrade.

On October 12, 1943, Ivan participates in a hot battle, the task of which was to cover the crossing across the Dnieper. In a battle with a bomber (which was shot down), Kozhedub's plane caught fire. We had to act quickly: at that moment he was over enemy territory. The pilot decides to choose an object for ramming so that his death does not become in vain. And at the last minute, when he sent the plane to a group of Germans, the flame from the plane was shot down, and the danger temporarily passed. Ivan taxis his plane and goes up. He manages to fly to the airfield and land the car.

The squadron of Ivan Nikitovich participated in the liberation of Ukraine, in the battles on the Dnieper, in Moldova, the task of Kozhedub was to protect the crossing over the Southern Bug from the air.

February 4, 1944 - Ivan Kozhedub receives the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. From August 1944, he became deputy commander of the 176th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1st Belorussian Front), learning to fly the La-7.

The air battles of 1944 were even more fierce. There was a gradual liberation of Soviet lands from the Nazis. In May 1944, Ivan Nikitovich was presented with a gift by beekeeper Vasily Viktorovich Konev, who built a brand new La-5FN aircraft with his personal savings.

Since January 1945, Ivan Kozhedub, as part of the regiment, takes an active part in the Vistula-Oder operation. A battle has been preserved in history in which Kozhedub led an air battle in the ratio of 6 Soviet pilots against 30 fascist aircraft, in another battle - 2 Soviet aircraft against 40 bombers. And the Kozhedub group won such battles (disturbed the enemy), putting the German pilots to flight.

In mid-April 1945, the Red Army entered Germany. Hitler's troops from the last forces, with redoubled ferocity, rebuffed the Soviet troops, but the advantage remained on the side of the Red Army.

During the entire Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub made 326 sorties, took part in 126 air battles, independently shot down 62 enemy aircraft. Ivan Nikitovich was never shot down and is the best aviation ace in World War II.

Unfortunately, in war there are more than once cases of misunderstanding between allied forces. This happened in the spring of 1945, when Kozhedub shot down 2 American P-51s. According to the Soviet pilot, while flying over Berlin, he spotted American fighters and engaged a pair of German planes threatening the Allies. However, by mistake, the Americans began to attack Ivan Nikitovich's plane. Indignant, Kozhedub attacked in response: the first plane was shot down, the second exploded in the air. This story testifies that Ivan Nikitovich did not give anyone a descent, and, risking his life, and possibly his career, stood up for himself.

Throughout the war, Ivan Kozhedub never forgot about his father, who remained in the captured village of Obrazheevka, and wrote letters to him. Nikita Illarionovich died on May 17, 1945, never having met his son after the end of the war.

Military service

Ivan Kozhedub conducts a briefing on the airfield

The military career of Ivan Nikitovich continued after the Second World War: he decides to get a higher education. In 1949 he graduated from the Air Force Academy of the Red Army. NOT. Zhukovsky, where he studied at the command faculty, received "excellent" for his thesis. It was here that Kozhedub mastered the control of the Yak-17 jet aircraft.

Studying at the Air Force Academy was difficult: numerous friends and acquaintances often invited him to visit or visited him themselves, thereby distracting him from classes. Kozhedub was a kind and sympathetic person, so he could not refuse them.

After studying at the Academy, Major Kozhedub receives the post of deputy commander of the 31st Fighter Aviation Division (near the city of Baku). Ivan Nikitovich does not have time to leave Moscow, when he receives a new position - assistant commander of the 324th Fighter Aviation Svir Red Banner Division.

October 20, 1950 Lieutenant Colonel Kozhedub I.N. received the title of "Military Pilot 1st Class", which he was very pleased with. On November 17, 1950, Ivan Kozhedub received a position - commander of the 324th Fighter Aviation Division.

On June 25, 1950, hostilities begin in North Korea. This is the official date: the confrontation between the US and the USSR could be observed immediately after the end of WWII.

The reason for the hostilities was the division of Korea into South - led by Lee Syngman and North - led by Kim Il Sung territory, which gave rise to a civil war.

September 16, 1950 - The United States launched an air force operation and invaded North Korea. The Korean People's Army suffered heavy losses. Therefore, the authorities turned to Stalin for help.

Mao Zedong took the side of North Korea: he sent an army of about 1 million people to the borders of China. However, without air support, victory was impossible.

Kozhedub was demobilized to China to train Chinese pilots in air tactics (the command forbade Ivan Nikitovich to participate in combat missions). The study was difficult: the level of education of the Chinese soldiers and their meager nutrition (they were physically much weaker than the Soviet military) affected. Stalin expressed his dissatisfaction about this, accusing the commanders of teaching recruits through their sleeves.

Thanks to the strong-willed and communicative qualities of Kozhedub, he managed to establish work in the division. The battles were fierce, many people of the division fell in battle, but Kozhedub won superiority in the sky. Statistics show that during the entire period of hostilities in Korea, Soviet pilots made 64,300 sorties, conducted 1,872 air battles, and shot down 1,106 enemy aircraft.

June 2, 1951 - Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub receives as a reward - the medal "For Korea" and the fifth Order of the Red Banner for successful command. The war in Korea greatly undermined Kozhedub's health. In total, he spent 305 days in North Korea and China (April 2, 1951 - January 30, 1952).

Postwar years

Ivan Kozhedub at the Military Aviation Museum

In 1955, Kozhedub entered the Military Academy of the General Staff. K.E. Voroshilov. The training lasted two years. In the first year, students were taught to command a division, in the second - an army.

1964-1971 - Kozhedub is the 1st Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District.

1971 - Ivan Nikitovich serves in the central office of the Air Force.

Since 1978 - Ivan Nikitovich has been a member of the Group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

May 7, 1985 - Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was awarded the rank of Air Marshal on the 40th anniversary of the Victory.

Without mentioning social activities, Kozhedub's biography would not be complete. He was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, as well as a people's deputy.

Ivan Nikitovich is an example of masculinity and selflessness for future generations. His courage, patriotism, constant desire to learn new, oratorical skills, instilled deep respect and a desire for moral growth in many soldiers.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub died on August 8, 1991. Streets in Moscow and other cities of Russia and Ukraine are named after him. Also installed a bust in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, the second - in the village of Obrazheevka.

Awards

Awards of Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub

Ranks:

02. 1942 - senior sergeant
05. 1943 - junior lieutenant
08. 1943 - lieutenant
11. 1943 - senior lieutenant
04. 1944 - captain
11. 1944 - Major
01. 1949 - lieutenant colonel
01. 1951 - Colonel
08. 1953 - Major General of Aviation
04. 1962 - lieutenant general of aviation
04. 1970 - Colonel-General of Aviation
05. 1985 - Air Marshal

Awards:

02. 1944 - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (for 146 sorties and 20 downed enemy aircraft).
08. 1944 - the second medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin (for 256 sorties and 48 downed enemy aircraft).
08. 1945 - the third medal "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin (for high military skill, personal courage and courage shown in the war).
Cavalier of 7 Orders of the Red Banner (July 1943, September 1943, March 1945, June 1945, June 1951, February 1968, June 1970).

Cavalier of the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd class.

Among foreign awards:

Cavalier of the Order of the Red Banner (Mongolia).

Cavalier of the Order of Merit to the Fatherland (GDR).

Knight of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland.

Cavalier of the Order of Freedom and Independence (DPRK).

Personal life

Ivan Kozhedub with a foreign delegation

On January 2, 1946, Ivan Kozhedub signed with Veronika Nikolaevna Koldasheva, a beautiful and energetic woman. A year later, the young couple had a daughter, Natasha. November 24, 1952 - the son Nikita was born.

They lived modestly, had a dacha in Monino (issued to aviation generals and marshals - members of the Military Council of the Air Force).

Daughter Natalya Ivanovna, studied at the philological faculty of Moscow State University, then at the Faculty of Economics of MGIMO. In 1966 she got married, in 1970 the eldest grandson of Ivan Nikitovich Vasily Vitalievich was born.

The youngest son Nikita graduated from the Suvorov School, in 1970 he entered the Higher Naval Command School. Frunze. In 1975 he married Olga Feodorovna, in 1982 their daughter Anya was born.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub died on August 8, 1991 at a dacha in Monino (Moscow) from a heart attack. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, now the Shostka district of the Sumy region, into a peasant family. He graduated from an incomplete secondary school and a chemical-technological technical school. In 1939 he mastered at the flying club. Since 1940 in the Red Army. The following year, he studied at the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, flying the Ut-2 and I-16. As one of the best cadets, he was left as a pilot-instructor.

Since March 1943, Senior Sergeant I.N. Kozhedub has been in the army. Until September 1944 he served in the 240th IAP (178th Guards IAP); to May 1945 - in the 176th Guards IAP.

By October 1943, the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Senior Lieutenant I.N. Kozhedub, made 146 sorties and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft.

On February 4, 1944, for courage and military prowess shown in battles with enemies, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (No. 1472).

In total, he made 330 sorties, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft.

After the war he continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1949 he graduated from the Air Force Academy. During the Korean War of 1950-1953, he commanded the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. In 1956 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1971 in the Central Office of the Air Force, since 1978 - in the General Inspection Group of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Marshal of Aviation, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd - 5th convocations. Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of DOSAAF. The author of the books - "Serving the Motherland", "Victory Holiday", "Loyalty to the Fatherland". Died August 8, 1991.

Awarded with orders: Lenin (three times), Red Banner (seven), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree, Red Star (twice), "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd degree; medals.

During the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub, the most successful fighter aviation pilot of the USSR, a master of offensive duel, completed 330 sorties, conducted 120 air battles and personally shot down 62 enemy aircraft. The automatism of his movements in battle was worked out to the limit - an excellent sniper, he hit the target from any position of the aircraft. It should be added that Kozhedub was never shot down himself, although he repeatedly brought a damaged fighter to the airfield.

Coming from a poor peasant family with five children, the illustrious pilot was born in 1920 in the village of Obrazheevka, Sumy district. Vanya was the youngest in the family, an unexpected "last child" born after a great famine. The official date of his birth, June 8, 1920, is inaccurate, the real one is July 6, 1922. Two years were very necessary for him to enter the technical school ...

His father was an extraordinary person. Torn between factory earnings and peasant labor, he found the strength to read books and even compose poetry. A religious man, of a subtle and exacting mind, he was a strict and persistent educator: diversifying his son's household duties, he taught him to be industrious, persevering, and diligent. Somehow, the father, despite the protests of his mother, began to send 5-year-old Ivan to guard the garden at night. Later, the son asked what it was for: thieves were rare then, and even from such a watchman, if something happened, there would be little use. “I taught you to test,” was the father’s answer. By the age of 6, Vanya learned to read and write from his sister's book, and soon went to school.

After graduating from the 7-year-old school, he was admitted to the workers' faculty of the Shostka Chemical-Technological College, and in 1938 fate brought him to the flying club. The smart uniform of the accountants played an important role in this decision. Here, in April 1939, Kozhedub makes his first flight, having experienced the first flight sensations. The beauties of the native land, opened from a height of 1500 meters, made a strong impression on the inquisitive young man.

Ivan Kozhedub was admitted to the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots at the beginning of 1940, where he successively underwent training on the UT-2, UTI-4 and I-16. In the autumn of the same year, having made 2 clean flights on the I-16, he, to his deep disappointment, was left at the school by an instructor.

He flew a lot, experimented, honing his piloting skills. “It would be possible, it seems, would not get out of the plane. The very technique of piloting, polishing the figures gave me incomparable joy, ”Ivan Nikitovich later recalled.

At the beginning of the war, Sergeant Kozhedub (ironically in the “golden issue” of 1941, the pilots were certified by sergeants), evacuated to Central Asia with the school, is even more persistently engaged in “fighter” self-education: he studies tactics, outlines descriptions of air battles, draws them scheme. Days, including weekends, are planned by the minute, everything is subordinated to one goal - to become a worthy air fighter. In the late autumn of 1942, after numerous requests and reports, Senior Sergeant Kozhedub, along with other instructors and graduates of the school, was sent to Moscow to the collection point for flight and technical personnel, from where he ended up in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, commanded by Spanish veteran Major Ignatius Soldatenko.

In August 1942, the 240th IAP was among the first armed with the latest La-5 fighters at that time. However, the retraining was carried out hastily, in 15 days, during the operation of the machines, design and manufacturing defects were revealed, and, having suffered heavy losses in the Stalingrad direction, after 10 days the regiment was withdrawn from the front. In addition to the regiment commander, Major I. Soldatenko, only a few pilots remained in the regiment.

The following training and retraining were carried out thoroughly: at the end of December 1942, after a tense month of theoretical training with daily exercises, the pilots began flying on new machines.

In one of the training sorties, when immediately after takeoff, due to an engine failure, the thrust dropped sharply, Kozhedub decisively turned the plane around and glided to the edge of the airfield. Having hit hard during landing, he was out of action for several days, and by the time he was sent to the front, he had barely flown 10 hours on a new machine. This incident was only the beginning of a long streak of failures that pursued the pilot when he entered the military path.

In February 1943, the regiment was finally transferred to conduct military operations in the Southwestern direction. The beginning of Kozhedub's career was not very successful. When distributing military equipment, he got a heavier five-tank La-5 of the first series, with the inscription "Named after Valery Chkalov" and tail number "75" on board (a whole squadron of such machines was built with funds raised by fellow countrymen of the great pilot).

The first plane of Ivan Kozhedub. Spring 1943.

On March 26, 1943, he flew out on a combat mission for the first time. The flight was unsuccessful - during an attack on a pair of Me-110s, his Lavochkin was damaged by a Messer, and then fired upon by anti-aircraft artillery of its own air defense. Kozhedub miraculously survived: the armored back protected it from a high-explosive projectile from an aircraft cannon, and in fact, in the tape, a high-explosive projectile, as a rule, alternated with an armor-piercing one after one ...

Kozhedub managed to bring the battered car to the airfield, but its restoration dragged on for a long time. Subsequent sorties he made on old planes. Once he was almost taken away from the regiment to the alert post. Only the intercession of Soldatenko, either who saw in the silent - the loser of the future great fighter, or who took pity on him, saved Ivan Nikitich from reprofiling. Only a month later he received a new La-5 (by that time his damaged car had been restored, but was already used only as a messenger).

Model of the aircraft on which Kozhedub flew.

... the Kursk Bulge. July 6, 1943. It was then, on his 40th sortie, that the 23-year-old pilot opened a combat account. In that duel, he was armed with, perhaps, only one thing - courage. He could be hit, he could die. But having joined the squadron in a fight with 12 enemy aircraft, the young pilot wins the first victory - he shoots down a Ju-87 dive bomber. The next day, he wins a new victory - he shot down another Laptezhnik. On July 9, Ivan Kozhedub destroys 2 Me-109 fighters at once. Despite the tasks of covering ground troops and escort, unloved by fighters, Kozhedub, performing them, won his first 4 official victories. This is how the glory of an outstanding Soviet pilot was born, this is how experience came to him.

In September 1942, Kozhedub already had 8 downed enemy aircraft on his account, when a new stage of fierce air battles broke out over the Dnieper. September 30, covering the crossings across the river, he, by coincidence, was left without comrades and was forced to alone repel the raid of 18 Ju-87. The Luftwaffe bombers began to dive, and some of them even managed to drop their bombs.

Attacking aircraft from a height of 3500 meters, Kozhedub broke into the enemy’s battle formations and threw the enemy into confusion with unexpected and sharp maneuvers. The "Junkers" stopped the bombing and stood in a defensive circle. Although there was little fuel left in the fighter's tanks, the Soviet pilot made another attack and shot one of the enemy vehicles point-blank from below. The sight of the Ju-87 falling in flames made a proper impression, and the rest of the bombers hastily left the battlefield.

By October 1943, the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Senior Lieutenant I.N. Kozhedub, made 146 sorties and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft. He is already fighting on equal terms with the German aces. In his assets - courage, composure, accurate calculation. Kozhedub skillfully combines piloting technique with firing, but before him there is still a wide field for polishing combat techniques.

In the book "People of Immortal Feat" there is such an episode:

“The hymn to the courage and skill of Kozhedub was the day of October 2, 1943, when our troops expanded the bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper, repulsing the fierce attacks of the enemy. The first time they took off with a nine. Kozhedub led the shock five. On the approach to the crossing in the area of ​​Kutsevalovka - Domotkan, they met a column of Ju-87 dive bombers, in which each nine was covered by six Me-109s.

The cover four immediately tied the Messerschmitts in battle. Kozhedub at the head of the five attacked the bombers. The enemy darted. In less than a minute, two Junkers, engulfed in flames, fell to the ground. The host was shot down by Ivan Kozhedub, another one - by Pavel Bryzgalov.

A merry-go-round began in the sky. Following the first nine dispersed the second. In the heat of the fight, leading the battle, Kozhedub managed to shoot down the Me-109. Already five fires were burning in the bridgehead area. And from the west, the Junkers swam again. But a group of Yakov fighters approached the battlefield from the east. Dominance in air combat was ensured.

Having shot down 7 enemy aircraft in this battle, the squadron under the command of Kozhedub returned to its airfield. We ate right under the wing of the plane. We did not have time to analyze the battle - and again the flight. This time with four: Kozhedub - Mukhin and Amelin - Puryshev. Flying combat link, brothers tested in battles. The task is the same - covering the troops on the battlefield. However, the balance of power is different: it was necessary to repel the raid 36, which were under the cover of six Me-109s and a pair of FW-190s.

They fight not by numbers, but by skill, - Kozhedub encouraged the followers. He immediately knocked down the leader, organized the fight. The rest of the flight pilots also fought bravely. 2 more Junkers crashed into the ground. German fighters pinned down Amelin. Mukhin rushed to the rescue. Kozhedub covered him and immediately attacked a nearby bomber. Another enemy plane found death in the sky of Ukraine. It was Kozhedub's fourth victory in a day."

October has become an extremely busy month for Kozhedub. In one of the fights, he came out of the attack so low over the flaming Junkers that he was set on fire by a burst of gunner from a German aircraft. Only a steep dive almost to the very ground helped to bring down the flames from the La-5 wing. Meetings with the "hunters" of the Luftwaffe became more frequent, the purpose of which was to disorganize the Soviet fighter groups, divert them from the cover area and destroy the leaders. They also attacked single and wrecked aircraft.

The first fight over the Dnieper on a collision course with the German aces left an unpleasant aftertaste in the memory of Kozhedub. In a frontal attack, he did not have time to open fire in time, and enemy shells passed only a few centimeters above his head, breaking the radio and interrupting the thrust of the fighter's rudder. The next day, luck was on the side of Kozhedub - in a long line he managed to flash the leader of a pair of Messers, who were trying to bring down those who had lagged behind their formation.

On October 15, the La-5 four, led by Kozhedub, again flew to cover ground troops. Despite the fact that all the pilots were on the alert, 2 Me-109s were still able to catch the Lavochkins during a turn and immediately knocked out with a sudden attack in the forehead from the direction of the sun 2 aircraft. Then, taking advantage of the height advantage, they pinched Kozhedub's fighter, firing offhand from an inverted position. Attempts to throw the enemy off the tail did not give results, and in the end Kozhedub decided on a rather unusual maneuver - throwing the La-5 into a sharp turn, he simultaneously performed a half-barrel. Enemy fighters jumped forward, but immediately made a slide and easily left the shelling of the Lavochkin that had lost speed. In impotence, Kozhedub could only threaten them with his fist ...

In the battles for the Dnieper, the pilots of the regiment in which Kozhedub fought for the first time met with Goering's aces from the Melders squadron and won the duel. Increased his account and Ivan Kozhedub. In just 10 days of intense fighting, he personally shot down 11 enemy aircraft.

In November 1943, the 240th IAP, which had been participating in the most difficult air battles for a long time, was taken to the nearest rear for rest. The pilots used the time received for flight training, studying the features of vertical maneuvers and multi-tiered combat formations of fighters. Kozhedub entered all the innovations in his notebook, drawing various tactical schemes on paper. By this time, he had 26 downed enemy aircraft on his account, for which, on November 7, he was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Komsomol Central Committee.

At the beginning of 1944, the regiment again joined the military operations, supporting the offensive of the Soviet troops on the right-bank Ukraine. In March, units of the Red Army crossed the Southern Bug. Crossings and bridgeheads again needed to be covered by fighter aircraft, but the Germans, retreating, first of all disabled airfields, and field sites were poorly suitable for basing aircraft due to spring thaw. Therefore, the fighters could not be located closer to the front line and acted at the very limit of their flight radius.

The Luftwaffe units were in the best position - in such a situation they flew with almost impunity, without cover, in case of danger, lining up in a defensive circle at low altitude. These days, Kozhedub paid great attention to the development of air combat tactics at low altitudes in low cloud cover and gray, uniform terrain without any visible landmarks. Later he wrote:

“When we managed to meet with the Junkers, they became in a defensive circle, pressed to the ground. Repulsing the attacks - and not only the arrows, but also the pilots fired from cannons - they gradually pulled back and went to the area where their anti-aircraft batteries were located. Watching the clouds creeping over the ground, I recalled the battles carried out at low altitudes, and analyzed the tactics of the fighters in order to apply the necessary techniques in the new situation and the fight against the Junkers.

I came to the conclusion that you can break the defensive circle with a sudden attack and you need to shoot down at least one plane - then a gap was formed. Jumping in a straight line with small lapels, you need to turn around and quickly attack from the other direction, attacks should be made in pairs. The experience already acquired by me allowed me to come to this conclusion.

On February 4, 1944, for courage and military prowess shown in battles with enemies, Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

On March 14, six La-5s flew to the crossings at a distance that was limiting for this type of fighter. From a strafing flight, they attacked the nine Stuka over the forest. In a frontal attack from below, Kozhedub immediately shot down one bomber. Having dispersed the first group of German vehicles, the Soviet pilots attacked the next nine. Another Junkers caught fire again - the rest, hastily dropping bombs, went back. One of the Lavochkins was also shot down.

Lieutenant P. Bryzgalov headed for the nearest airfield abandoned by the Germans. However, when landing, his plane steered, rolled over "on its back" and squeezed the pilot in the cockpit. Under the circumstances, Kozhedub ordered two more pilots to land, and he himself set an example by landing on his “belly” in liquid mud. By joint efforts, colleagues freed their comrade from an absurd position.

Demanding and demanding of himself, frantic and tireless in battle, Kozhedub was an ideal air fighter, enterprising and diligent, daring and prudent, brave and skillful, a knight without fear and reproach. “An accurate maneuver, a stunning swiftness of attack and a strike from an extremely short distance,” this is how Kozhedub defined the basis of air combat. He was born for battle, he lived in battle, he thirsted for it. Here is a characteristic episode, noticed by his fellow soldier, another great ace K. A. Evstigneev:

“Somehow Ivan Kozhedub returned from a mission, heated up by the battle, excited and, perhaps, therefore unusually talkative:

Here bastards give! None other than the "wolves" from the squadron "Udet". But we gave them the withers - be healthy! - Pointing towards the command post, he hopefully asked the squadron adjutant: - How is it? Is there anything more to come?"

Kozhedub's attitude to the combat vehicle acquired the features of religion, of its form that is called animatism. “The motor runs smoothly. The plane is obedient to my every movement. I am not alone - I have a fighting friend with me ”- in these lines the attitude of the ace to the aircraft. This is not a poetic exaggeration, not a metaphor. Approaching the car before the flight, he always found a few affectionate words for her, in flight he spoke as if he were a comrade doing an important part of the work. After all, in addition to flying, it is difficult to find a profession where the fate of a person would more depend on the behavior of the machine.

During the war, he replaced 6 Lavochkins, and not a single plane let him down. And he did not lose a single car, although it happened to burn, bring holes, land on airfields dotted with funnels ...

In May 1944, the squadron commander, Captain I.N. Kozhedub, who already had 38 air victories, received a new La-5F - a gift from the collective farmer V.V. Konev. He contributed his money to the Red Army fund and asked to build an aircraft named after his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel G. N. Konev, who died at the front. The request of the patriot was fulfilled and the car was handed over to Kozhedub.

It was an excellent lightweight fighter with the number "14" and inscriptions drawn in white with a red border: on the left side - "In the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel Konev G.N.", on the right - "From the collective farmer Konev Vasily Viktorovich."

Another variant of coloring of Ivan Kozhedub's name plane La-5. On this plane, Kozhedub shot down 8 enemy aircraft (including 4 FW-190s) in a short time, bringing the score of his victories to 45. He also shot down several famous German aces.

So, a few days after receiving the aircraft, a group of German "hunters" appeared in the regiment's area of ​​operation in cars painted with skulls and bones, dragons and other emblems in such a form. They were flown by aces who won many victories on the Western and Eastern fronts. One pair stood out in particular - with skulls and bones on the fuselages. They did not engage in active combat, preferring to act from the direction of the sun, usually from behind from above. Having executed the attack, as a rule, they quickly disappeared.

In one of the sorties, Kozhedub noticed in time the approach of a pair of "hunters" from the direction of the sun. Instantly turning 180 degrees, he rushed to the attack. The leader of the enemy pair did not accept a frontal attack and left with a turn upwards - into the sun. The wingman, not having time to repeat the maneuver of his commander, began to make a combat turn late and put the board of his FW-190 under attack from the Lavochkin. Having instantly entered the fuselage of an enemy vehicle, with painted skulls and bones, into the sight, Ivan shot him in cold blood ...

Ivan Kozhedub in front of his fighter.

After the transfer of Kozhedub to another regiment, Kirill Evstigneev fought on his “nominal” La-5F first, who ended the war with 53 personal and 3 group victories and became twice Hero of the Soviet Union, and then Pavel Bryzgalov (20 victories), who became by the end of the war Hero of the Soviet Union.

At the end of June 1944, the Soviet ace was transferred as deputy commander to the famous 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. This formation, the first in the Soviet Air Force, received the latest La-7 fighters in August 1944.

By the middle of 1944, Captain I.N. Kozhedub of the Guard brought the number of sorties to 256 and downed enemy aircraft to 48.

For the exemplary performance of the combat missions of the command, courage, courage and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 19, 1944, he was awarded the title of the second Gold Star medal.

Having mastered the new fighter, Kozhedub since September 1944, already in Poland, on the left wing of the 1st Belorussian Front, has been fighting in the “free hunting” way. First, he received a 3-gun version of the fighter, and then switched to a regular 2-gun version. It is this aircraft with tail number "27", on which Ivan Kozhedub won the last 17 victories, that is now the decoration of the collection of the Monino Aviation Museum.

At the end of September 1944, on the orders of Air Force Commander Marshal A. A. Novikov, a group of pilots under the command of Kozhedub was sent to the Baltic states to fight the enemy “hunters” fighters. She had to act against a group of German aces. So the Soviet and German schools of fighters - "hunters" came together against each other. During just a few days of fighting, our pilots shot down 12 enemy aircraft, losing only 2 of their own. Three victories chalked up Kozhedub. Having suffered such a crushing defeat, the German "hunters" were forced to stop active flights in this sector of the front.

In the winter of 1945, the regiment continued to conduct intense air battles. On February 12, the six Lavochkins fought a tense battle with 30 enemy fighters. In this duel, our pilots achieved a new victory - they shot down 8 FW-190s, 3 of them - on Kozhedub's account. Our losses are one car (the pilot died).

On February 19, 1945, in the battle over the Oder, Kozhedub writes an important touch in his biography - he destroys, in the cockpit of which was non-commissioned officer Kurt Lange from 1. / KG (J) 54. On that day, having taken off in a pair with Dmitry Titorenko, Kozhedub discovered at an altitude of 3500 meters an unknown car flying at the maximum speed for Lavochkin. Two La-7s managed to quietly approach the enemy from behind, and further Kozhedub describes this duel as follows:

"…What? Tracks are flying into it: it’s clear - my partner is still in a hurry! I scold the Old Man mercilessly to myself; I am sure that my plan of action is irreparably violated. But its routes unexpectedly - unexpectedly helped me: the German plane began to turn to the left, in my direction. The distance shortened sharply, and I got close to the enemy. With involuntary excitement, I open fire. And the jet plane, falling apart, falls.

On April 17, 1945, in the 5th sortie of the day, over the capital of Germany, Ivan Kozhedub won his last victories - he shot down 2 FW-190 fighters.

By the end of the war, Major I.N. Kozhedub made 330 successful sorties, conducted 120 air battles, and personally shot down 63 enemy aircraft. For high military skill, personal courage and courage, on August 18, 1945, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

Each pilot has his own ace, unique to him alone, handwriting in the sky. Ivan Kozhedub also had him - a man whose character harmoniously combined courage, courage and exceptional composure. He knew how to accurately and quickly weigh the situation, to instantly find the only right move in the current situation. He masterfully owned the car, he could manage it even with his eyes closed. All his flights were a cascade of all kinds of maneuvers - turns and snakes, slides and dives ... Everyone who had to fly with Kozhedub as a wingman, it was not easy to stay in the air behind their commander. Kozhedub always sought to find the enemy first. But at the same time, do not "substitute" yourself. Indeed, in 120 air battles, he was never shot down!

Kozhedub rarely returned from a sortie without a victory. But, being a brightly gifted, talented person, at the same time he invariably showed great modesty. For example, he never chalked up a downed enemy plane to his own account, if he himself did not see how it fell to the ground. Didn't even report.

After all, the German caught fire! Everyone saw it, - the pilots said after returning to their airfield.

So what ... What if he reaches his own? - Kozhedub objected in response. And it was impossible to argue with him: he stubbornly stood his ground.

Like many of our other pilots, Kozhedub never put at his own expense the planes that he destroyed together with the newcomers. Here is one example of a classic group victory given in his book Loyalty to the Fatherland:

“... August 1943. We receive an order to fly out immediately to repulse a large group of enemy aircraft. Our ten rises into the air. I see at least 40 Ju-87 dive bombers ahead, escorted by Me-109s. Having broken through the fighter barrier, we attack the Junkers. I go into the tail of one of them, open fire and drive it into the ground ... Soon the Junkers fly away, but a new group is approaching - about 20 He-111 bombers. Paired with Mukhin, we attack the enemy.

I tell the wingman: - We take the last one to the pincers, - from two sides we go to the bomber. The distance is right. Command - Fire! Our guns are up and running. The enemy plane caught fire, began to fall rapidly, leaving behind a plume of smoke ... "

Upon returning to the airfield, this aircraft was credited to Vasily Mukhin. And there were at least 5 such "handouts" in Kozhedub's assets. Thus, the actual number of enemy aircraft destroyed by him is much more than officially listed on his personal account.

Of interest are the lines from the book "Aces against Aces" (Publishing House "Veche", 2007) by O. S. Smyslov (author of another well-known book - "Vasily Stalin. Portrait without retouching"). Speaking about Kozhedub, he, in particular, writes: “During the period of participation in the war, Ivan Nikitovich changed 6 fighters, chalking up 62 official victories (of which only Me-109 - 17, FV-190 - 21 and Yu-87 - 15 ), not counting 29 group«.

As it turns out now, Kozhedub had a few more personal victories: M. Yu. Bykov, in his research, found documentary evidence of 64 personally shot down aircraft. As for group victories, the question remains open. I have not seen this information anywhere else.

To the 64 German aircraft shot down by I.N. Kozhedub during the Great Patriotic War, at least 2 more American fighters destroyed by him at the very end of the war should be added. In April 1945, Kozhedub drove a couple of German fighters away from the American B-17 with a barrage of fire, but was attacked by cover fighters who opened fire from a long distance. With a coup over the wing, Kozhedub quickly attacked the last car. He began to smoke and with a decrease went towards our troops (the pilot of this car soon jumped out with a parachute and landed safely).

Having completed a combat turn with a half-loop, from an inverted position, Kozhedub attacked the leader as well - he exploded in the air. A little later, he managed to see the white stars on unfamiliar cars - these were Mustangs. Thanks to the regiment commander P. Chupikov, everything worked out ...

Unfortunately, this battle was not the only one between Soviet and American pilots during the Second World War...

After the war of the Guard, Major I.N. Kozhedub continued to serve in the 176th GvIAP. At the end of 1945, the famous fighter began a family life - in the Monino train, he met 10-grader Veronica, who soon became his wife, a faithful and patient companion throughout his life, the main "adjutant and assistant."

In 1949, Ivan Nikitovich graduated from the Air Force Academy, was appointed to the post of division commander near Baku, but V. I. Stalin left him near Moscow, in Kubinka, as deputy, and then commander of the 326th Fighter Aviation Division. Among the first, this division was armed with new MiG-15 jet aircraft and at the end of 1950 was sent to the Far East. There, the illustrious Soviet pilot had a chance to take part in another one -.

From March 1951 to February 1952, reflecting raids on North Korea, Kozhedub's division scored 215 victories, shot down 12 "superfortresses", losing 52 aircraft and 10 pilots. It was one of the brightest pages in the combat use of jet aircraft in the history of the Soviet Air Force.

A strict command order forbade the divisional commander to engage in battle personally, and he did not win any official victories during this period. Although, according to the recollections of some pilots, participants in those long-standing events, several times (unofficially, of course), Ivan Kozhedub still took to the air ...

But the danger lay in wait for the pilot not only in the sky: in the winter of 1951, he was almost poisoned by a cook: the war was waged by different methods. During his assignment to the Guards, Colonel I.N. Kozhedub not only carried out the operational leadership of the division, but also took an active part in the organization, training and rearmament of the PRC Air Force.

In 1952, the 326th IAD was transferred to the air defense system and transferred to Kaluga. With enthusiasm, Ivan Nikitovich took up the new for himself peaceful business of arranging the personnel of the division. In a short time, 150 houses for housing were received and installed, an airfield and a military camp were equipped and expanded. Only the life of the commander himself, who became a major general in the summer of 1953, remained unsettled. His family, with a young son and daughter, huddled either in a temporary hut at the airfield, or together with a dozen other families in a “caravanserai” - an old dacha.

A year later, he was sent to study at the Academy of the General Staff. I took part of the course as an external student, because due to official circumstances I was delayed with the start of classes.

After graduating from the academy, Kozhedub was appointed First Deputy Head of the Combat Training Directorate of the country's Air Force, from May 1958 to 1964 he was First Deputy Air Force Commander of the Leningrad and then Moscow military districts.

Until 1970, Ivan Nikitovich regularly flew fighter jets, mastered dozens of types of aircraft and helicopters. He made his last flights on the MiG-23. He left the flight work himself and immediately ...

The units led by Kozhedub have always been distinguished by a low accident rate, and he himself, as a pilot, had no accidents, although “emergency situations”, of course, happened. So, in 1966, while flying at low altitude, his MiG-21 collided with a flock of rooks; one of the birds hit the air intake and damaged the engine. It took all his flying skills to land the car.

From the post of Air Force Commander of the Moscow Military District, Kozhedub returned to the post of First Deputy Head of the Air Force Combat Training Directorate, from where he was transferred almost 20 years ago.

An impeccable air fighter, pilot and commander, an officer selflessly devoted to his work, Kozhedub did not possess “noble” qualities, did not know how and did not consider it necessary to flatter, intrigue, cherish the necessary connections, notice funny, and sometimes even malicious jealousy for his glory. In 1978, he was transferred to the group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1985 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal.

All this time, Kozhedub meekly conducted a huge public work. A deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, chairman or president of dozens of different societies, committees and federations, he was simple and honest both with the first person of the state and with the provincial truth seeker. And what forces were worth hundreds of meetings and trips, thousands of speeches, interviews, autographs ...

The last years of his life, Ivan Nikitovich was seriously ill: the stress of the war years and the difficult service in peace years affected. He died at his dacha from a heart attack on August 8, 1991, two weeks before the collapse of the great state, of which he himself was a part of the glory.

The first combat "baptism".

In March 1943, I arrived at the Voronezh Front as an ordinary pilot in a regiment commanded by Major I. Soldatenko. The regiment was armed with La-5 aircraft. From the first day I began to look closely at the combat work of my new comrades. He carefully listened to the analysis of the performance of combat work during the day, studied the tactics of the enemy and tried to combine the theory acquired at school with front-line experience. Thus, day after day, I prepared myself for the battle with the enemy. Only a few days had passed, and it seemed to me that my preparation was endlessly delayed. I wanted to fly out together with my comrades towards the enemy as soon as possible.

Photo by Ivan Kozhedub after the war.

The meeting with the enemy happened unexpectedly. It happened like this: on March 26, 1943, I, together with the leading junior lieutenant Gabunia, taxied to the start on duty. Suddenly, we were given the signal to take off. Junior Lieutenant Gabunia quickly took to the air.

I was somewhat delayed on takeoff and after the first turn I lost the leader. I was not able to contact either the host or the ground by radio. Then I decided to fly over the airfield. Having gained 1500 meters of altitude, he began piloting.

Suddenly, 800 meters below me, I noticed 6 aircraft that were approaching the airfield with a decrease. At first glance, I mistook them for Pe-2s, but after a few seconds I saw bomb explosions and anti-aircraft fire at our airfield. Then I realized that these were German multi-purpose aircraft Me-110. I remember how strongly my heart beat. There was an enemy in front of me.

I decided to attack the enemy, quickly turning around, at maximum speed went to approach. There were 500 meters left when the air combat rule I heard from the commander flashed through my mind: “Look back before attacking.”

Looking around, I noticed how a plane with a white spinner was approaching me from behind at high speed. Before I could recognize whose plane it was, he had already opened fire on me. One shell exploded in my cockpit. With a sharp turn to the left with a slide, I get out from under the blow. A pair of Me-109s passed at high speed to my right. Now I realized that they, noticing my attack, dived and attacked me. However, my failed attack forced the Me-110 to refuse to re-enter the bombing.

In this meeting, I was convinced in practice how important the role of the follower is to cover the leader when attacking the target.

Later, flying in a flying group, I won 63 victories, not knowing defeat.

Air victories of Ivan Kozhedub

№	the date	Type of aircraft shot down	Place of fight/fall
1.	06.07.1943	Yu-87	app. envy
2.	07.07.1943	Yu-87	Art. Gostishchevo
3.	09.07.1943	Me-109	Krasnaya Polyana
4.	09.07.1943	Me-109	east Pokrovki
5.	09.08.1943	Me-109	Charming
6.	14.08.1943	Me-109	iskrovka
7.	14.08.1943	Me-109	Kolomna
8.	16.08.1943	Yu-87	Rogan
9.	22.08.1943	FV-190	Lyubotin
10.	09.09.1943	Me-109	sowing sparks
11.	30.09.1943	Yu-87	southwest of Borodaevka
12.	01.10.1943	Yu-87	app. Borodaevka
13.	01.10.1943	Yu-87	app. Borodaevka
14.	02.10.1943	Me-109	flat
15.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	Petrovka
16.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	south-west of Andreevka
17.	02.10.1943	Yu-87	south-west of Andreevka
18.	04.10.1943	Me-109	village of Borodaevka
19.	05.10.1943	Me-109	south-west of Red Kut
20.	05.10.1943	Me-109	app. Kutsevalovki
21.	06.10.1943	Me-109	Borodaevka
22.	10.10.1943	Me-109	Dneprovo-Kamenka
23.	12.10.1943	Yu-87	sowing flat
24.	12.10.1943	Me-109	south Petrovka
25.	12.10.1943	Yu-87	south Home textile
26.	29.10.1943	Yu-87	Krivoy Rog
27.	29.10.1943	He-111	app. Budovki
28.	16.01.1944	Me-109	Novo-Zlynka
29.	30.01.1944	Me-109	east Nechaevki
30.	30.01.1944	Yu-87	app. Lipovki
31.	14.03.1944	Yu-87	Osievka
32.	21.03.1944	Yu-87	Lebedin-Shpola
33.	11.04.1944	PZL-24	Sirka
34.	19.04.1944	He-111	sowing Iasi
35.	28.04.1944	Yu-87	south to Vulture
36.	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
37.	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
38.	03.05.1944	Yu-87	Targu Frumos-Dumbravica
39.	31.05.1944	FV-190	east Vulturu
40.	01.06.1944	Yu-87	Alien Water
41.	02.06.1944	Khsh-129	app. Stynka
42.	03.06.1944	FV-190	Radiu-Uluy - Teter
43.	03.06.1944	FV-190	Radiu-Uluy - Teter
44.	03.06.1944	FV-190	northwest Iasi
45.	07.06.1944	Me-109	Pirlitsa
46.	08.06.1944	Me-109	Kyrlitsy
47.	22.09.1944	FV-190	s-z Strenchi
48.	22.09.1944	FV-190	south-west of Ramnieki-Daksty
49.	25.09.1944	FV-190	w-w Valmiera
50.	16.01.1945	FV-190	south of Studzyan
51.	10.02.1945	FV-190	s-z district of Morin airfield
52.	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
53.	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
54.	12.02.1945	FV-190	lake Kitzer See
55.	17.02.1945	Me-190	east Alt Friedland
56.	19.02.1945	Me-109	sowing Furstenfelde
57.	11.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Brunchen
58.	18.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Kyustrin
59.	18.03.1945	FV-190	s-z Kustrina
60.	22.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Seelow
61.	22.03.1945	FV-190	east Guzov
62.	23.03.1945	FV-190	Art. Werbig
63.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Writsen
64.	17.04.1945	FV-190	Kinitz
Total downed: 64+0. Combat sorties: 330. Air battles: 120. The first 46 victories were won by Kozhedub on, the next - on.

An excellent film about Ivan Kozhedub and his military activities.

Aircraft of Ivan Kozhedub

Aircraft I.N. Kozhedub - La-7. 176th GvIAP, Germany, May 1945.