The first Russian pilot, Mikhail Nikanorovich Efimov, having previously been trained in Europe, took to the skies for the first time on 1910-08-03. A native of the Smolensk province flew over the Odessa hippodrome, where a hundred thousand people watched him!
He flew his own plane, which he purchased with prize money won at the most prestigious aviator competition in Nice. With solid engineering knowledge, European languages and good physical training, he was an advanced athlete in the field of technical sports.
Where did the first Russian pilot study?
His path to aviation began outside of Russia. He took his chance. As soon as a school for pilots from different countries was founded in 1909 near Paris (in the city of Mourmelon), the champion of Russia in cycling and motorcycle sports (these were Mikhail's previous achievements) came to study there. He became the most brilliant student of the recognized pioneer of aircraft construction, Henri Farman (an aircraft designer, industrialist, pilot - the author of the first aviation records.) He taught him personally. Efimov made his first solo flight on December 25, 1909. In the future, the patron entrusted him with teaching the flying art of the adherents of his school. In fact, the Russian became an instructor pilot.
After a triumphal presentation in Odessa in the autumn of the same year, the first Russian pilot performed at the All-Russian Aeronautics Festival in St. Petersburg. There he met a teacher at Moscow University, later the creator of the science of aerodynamics, Professor Zhukovsky Nikolai Yegorovich. The pilot's practical skills were valuable to the scientist. Nikolai Yegorovich showed not an idle interest in a new acquaintance, because the scientist was the organizer of the Aeronautical Circle at the Moscow Higher Technical School. And this circle brought aircraft designers Arkhangelsky, Stechkin, Tupolev to aviation.
Mikhail Efimov's contribution to Russian flying art
Then the experience and skill of one of the best pilots attracted the close attention of the Russian military department. He was asked to lead the Sevastopol aviation school, which trained Russian pilots (in parallel, at the same time, another aviation school was organized in Gatchina, near St. Petersburg).
The teacher-instructor Mikhail Efimov's creative attitude to flying manifested itself in his personal practice of dives, sharp turns, gliding with the engine off, and targeted bombing. He methodically competently taught these skills to the students of the Sevastopol school.
Also, the first Russian pilot owns the invention of a device that allows you to start the aircraft enginedirectly to the pilot without recourse to outside assistance.
The work of Mikhail Efimov and his associates turned out to be very relevant.
In 1914 the First World War began. A terrible act that subsequently destroyed the economy of Europe and led to the collapse of two of its empires at once: the Russian and the Austro-Hungarian.
Since 1915, pilot No. 1 of Russia has skillfully participated in hostilities, performing aerial reconnaissance and targeted bombing.
French, British, Russian pilots fought German pilots.
Pyotr Nesterov. World's first ram
Russian pilots quickly adopted the French school of air combat, based on the tactics of confusing the enemy, surprise maneuvers.
On the eve of the war, the Russian school of aerobatics was born. On August 27, 1913, over the Syretsky field near Kyiv, one of the first Russian pilots, Pyotr Nikolaevich Nesterov, made a “flight along a curve closed in a vertical plane,” that is, the so-called dead loop. In fairness, we note that the aerobatics were not an absolute impromptu pilot, but a scrupulous embodiment by this practitioner of the subtle aerodynamic calculations of Professor Zhukovsky.
In the early days of hostilities, an obvious problem emerged: the planes were imperfect due to unpreparedness for air combat. At the beginning of World War I, aviation was imperfect. The only way to shoot down an enemy aircraft was a ram.
The world's first ram was made on August 26, 1914 by the inventor of the aerobatics school, staff captain of the Russian army Pyotr Nikolayevich Nesterov. It was also the world's first air combat victory. However, at what cost? The heroic death of one of the best pilots in the world, who shot down a German Albatross fighter with his Moran in the vicinity of Zhovkva (located near Lviv), made the designers think.
On the one hand, this episode testifies: the psychological state of the Russian pilots of the First World War was motivated, aimed at seizing air supremacy. On the other hand, a ram by its nature could not be considered a rational form of military operations. After all, heroes must return home alive. The plane needed real weapons. Soon, French engineers first developed an aircraft machine gun, followed by German ones.
The birth of Russian military aviation
In 1915, the Russian army had 2 squadrons. And the next spring, 16 more were added to them. Until 1915, Russian pilots fought on aircraft manufactured in France. In 1915, in Russia, the designer Sikorsky created the first domestic aircraft - the C-16.
Russian pilots of the First World War were armed with obsolete Nieuport-11 and Nieuport-17 aircraft.
Professional Pilot
15 German planes were shot down by the staff captain of the 11th corps squadron Evgraf Nikolaevich Kruten. He learned the tricks of aerobatics at the Gatchina aviation school, having mastered the legendary "dead loop" there. However, on this in hisprofessional development did not stop.
Generally speaking, the desire to dominate in combat characterizes the psychological state of the Russian pilots of the First World War. The military career of Krutnya, a patriotic officer, was fleeting and ended, unfortunately, with his quick heroic death.
He perfected the combat tactics of attacking enemy aircraft. First, thanks to a skillful maneuver, one of the first Russian military pilots, Evgraf Kruten, forced his car to dive under an enemy plane, and then shot it down with a machine gun.
The best Russian aces pilots
For example, Evgraf Kruten, who tragically died due to a collision with the ground in poor visibility, we can understand the peculiarities of the self-consciousness of Russian pilots of the First World War. Scorched by fire, having mastered the tactics of battle, they realized the growing role of aviation in the war.
In the midst of Russian pilots, real professionals were formed and brought up. However, the enemies were forced to reckon with the Russians: Alexander Kazakov (20 downed aircraft); Krutny Evgraf (17 air fights won); Argeev Pavel (15 wins); Sergievsky Boris (14); Seversky Alexander (13); Suk Grigory, Makienok Donat, Smirnov Ivan - 7 each; Loiko Ivan, Vakulovsky Konstantin - 6 each. However, there were few of them. The main strap of the war, figuratively speaking, was pulled by an ordinary infantry.
The social composition of the Russian pilots of the First World War did not differ in diversity. All of them were nobles, studied in the samegymnasiums, aviation schools. All officers knew each other personally.
But still, the general tone of the war in the sky was set not by the Russians, but by the Germans - Manfred von Richthofen (nickname "The Red Baron", 80 downed aircraft), Werner Voss (48 victories).
The French practically did not lag behind them: Rene Paul Fonck won 75 victories, his fellow countryman Georg Guinemar - 54, Carlsa Nengesser - 43.
The heroism of Russian pilots of World War I
The impressive advantage of German and French aces, as we have already mentioned, is simply explained by the presence of a machine gun synchronized with the aircraft propeller. However, the courage shown by the famous Russian pilots of the First World War deserves respect and admiration.
If, according to the criterion of piloting skill and courage, Russian officers were not inferior to colleagues from Germany and France, then due to outdated equipment they died more often.
Beginning of the Great Patriotic War. German aviation superiority
The main content of the Second World War, which destroyed about 50 million people, was the clash of two multi-million armies: German and Soviet. Aviation in battles has already acted as an important component of complex combat operations.
It has become significantly more powerful and improved significantly. The characteristics demonstrated on the fronts of the First World War remained in the past:
- wooden biplane construction with struts with guy wires between the wings;
- fixed landing gear;
- open cockpit;
-speed - up to 200 km/h.
Already in 1935, the German Ministry of Aviation headed for the production of innovative all-metal combat vehicles: Henkel He 111, Meserschmitt Bf 109, Junkers Ju 87, Dornier Do 217 and Ju 88..
For example, the new Junkers bomber was equipped with two engines of 1200 l / s each. He developed a speed of up to 440 km / h. The car carried with it up to 1.9 tons of bombs.
The Soviet analogue of this technique - the DB-3 bomber - began to be produced 4 years later - from 1939. The main bomber fleet at the beginning of the war consisted of wooden low-speed KhAI - VV (220 km / h, bomb load - 200 kg).
By the 40s of the last century, the two-seat fighter had lost its relevance. At the beginning of the war, the main fighter in the Soviet Army was the wooden I-16 biplane with a 710 l / s engine. Its maximum speed was 372 km / h, but the design was combined: metal wings and a wooden fuselage.
Germany, taking into account the experience of the war in Spain, in 1939 began production of the Messerschmidt BF 109 F fighter.
Struggle for air supremacy
Extremely difficult air situation developed in the very first days of the war. On June 22, targeted bombing destroyed 800 Soviet aircraft that did not take off at the main airfields, as well as 400 in the air (the enemy already had combat experience.) The Germans actually destroyed all new Soviet aircraft in their base areas. So dominance in the air immediately, from 1941-22-06,captured by the Nazis.
Obviously, under such difficult circumstances, Russian pilots could not fully prove themselves on the battlefield. However, the victory went to the German aviation at a high price. From June 22 to July 5, 1941, she lost 807 of her aircraft. On 1941-22-06 alone, Soviet pilots carried out 6,000 sorties.
In the future, the struggle for air superiority was reflected in the evolution of the organizational forms of Soviet aviation. It was withdrawn from the combined arms units and concentrated in new aviation units. Mixed formations were replaced by homogeneous ones: fighter, bomber, assault. Operationally in 1941, reserve air groups were created from 4-5 air regiments, which in 1942 were gradually replaced by air armies. By the end of the war, 17 air armies were already fighting on the Soviet side.
Thus, the possibility of long-term warfare was achieved. It was then that the famous Russian pilots became one of the recognized heroes of the Second World War.
The first major victory of the Soviet pilots, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal PS Kutakhov, fell on the battle near Moscow. Of the many fascist bombers striving to break through to the capital, only 28 managed to do this, which was only 1.4%. On the outskirts of the capital, Russian pilots of the Second World War destroyed 1,600 Goering aircraft.
Already at the end of 1942, the Soviet Army was ready for revenge in air supremacy. In reserves StakesThe high commands formed 5 fighter aviation corps with modern all-metal aircraft. Since the summer of 1943, Soviet fighters began to dictate their terms on the battlefield.
Innovation in the organization of the fight
In each division, the pilots were divided into combat pairs based on combat experience and friendship, and a group of aces stood out from the best. Each fighter division was assigned a limited front to hunt for German bombers. Radio communications began to be systematically used to coordinate the battle.
Let's give an example of one such fight. Against the four (link) of Soviet fighters (the leader is Major Naydenov), the Germans sent 11 Messerschmidts of the 109th model. The battle was controlled from the command post of the 240th IAD. The second link of the Yak-1 took off promptly from the airfield for reinforcement. Thus, 8 Yaks entered the battle against 11 Messers. After that, it was all about skill. The Soviet ace - Lieutenant Motuz - fought with dignity against 4 Messers. Thanks to the maneuver, he managed to get out of the line of fire, shoot down one and knock out the second enemy aircraft. The remaining two took to flight.
The groups of "Junkers" attacked by them on average lost from a quarter to a third of their vehicles in one battle. As a result of the activity of our pilots, massive bombardments by fascist aircraft ceased.
Fighters in the directions of a possible offensive and the appearance of large enemy air forces carried out "clearing the air", advancing inland for patrols. Asfuel and ammunition were used up, they were replaced, the combat forces were built up throughout the battle.
Russian revenge. Battle over Kuban
Soviet aviation won air supremacy in the battle over the Taman Peninsula. The Nazis concentrated a group of 1000 aircraft there.
From the Soviet side there were about 900 combat vehicles. Our fighter aviation was equipped with new Yak-1, Yak-7B and LA-5 aircraft. About five dozen air battles took place per day. L. I. Brezhnev wrote about this unparalleled air collision in Malaya Zemlya, telling how an eyewitness observing the confrontation from the ground. According to him, looking at the sky, one could see several battles at once.
The 229th Air Division of the 4th Air Army was at the epicenter of the battle over the Kuban.
Russian pilots of the Second World War, regularly inflicting heavy damage on the enemy, psychologically broke the German aces, who considered themselves the best in the world.
For all that, it must be admitted that the German aces fought heroically. If the Germans were worthy of victory, then the Russian heroes seemed to have lost all sense of self-preservation.
In the days of the most active battles, Soviet pilots slept in the cockpits, took to the skies at the first command, went into battle, even having received wounds, fed on adrenaline. Many changed cars several times: the metal could not stand it. Every pilot felt that history was being made here.
It was over the Kuban that the legendary phrase sounded on the air for the first time, upon hearing which, the German "tambourine" acesunanimously turned the cars around and took to flight: “Achtung! Achtung! Achtung! Pokryshkin in Himmel! Achtung! As Pokryshkin in Himmel!”.
After the victory in the battle over the Kuban and until the end of the Second World War, the Russian military pilot began to dominate the sky.
Getting acquainted: Pokryshkin Alexander Ivanovich
This story is about a unique pilot. About the ingenious theoretician and ingenious practice of extermination combat.
Alexander Ivanovich, in love with the profession of a pilot, in his life always wanted not only to "get to the very essence", but also "to grab even more than what is possible." He strove for perfection, but this could not be called selfishness. Rather, Pokryshkin was a leader acting on the principle of "Do as I do!". He was a talented workaholic. Before him, even the great Russian pilots had never achieved such an absolute level of skill.
Dreaming of becoming an ace, he determined for himself his weaknesses (shooting at the cone, right maneuver), and then, through persistent training, hundreds and hundreds of repetitions, he achieved superiority among his colleagues in them.
Alexander Ivanovich fought from the first days of the war from the border of Moldova as part of the 55th Fighter Aviation Regiment. He was entrusted with reconnaissance of the deployment of enemy units, and Pokryshkin coped brilliantly with this task.
Pokryshkin has always analyzed both positive and negative experiences. For example, after he, a fighter covering low-speed bombers, was “shot down” (Alexander Ivanovich then returned to his own through the front line), he realizedthe perniciousness of slowing down and developed a new escort tactic - the “snake”.
Alexander Ivanovich developed the Russian innovative strategy and tactics of air combat, absolutely adequate to the needs of the time. His creative personality has always been hated by careerists and dogmatists. But, fortunately, the ideas of the brilliant pilot soon found their embodiment in the combat charter of fighter aviation.
Alexander Ivanovich could lose his wings
In June 1942, the regiment where the hero served on the Yak-1 aircraft became a Guards regiment.
In the summer of 1942, he was relocated to Baku for rearmament. The direct uncompromising nature of the pilot, his talent, the obvious ability to make a career turned envious people against him. While the division commander was undergoing treatment, these vile people used the respite between battles to settle scores with the intractable ace.
He was accused of violating statutes and regulations and even brought to trial. Pokryshkin could well have ended up in the camps … To the credit of the division commander, he, having learned about what had happened, having destroyed the plans of the slanderers, saved the hero-pilot.
Fly high
From March 1943, Pokryshkin flew an American "aerocobra". In the spring of 1943, the regiment was redeployed to the Kuban, to the epicenter of the air battle. Here, the virtuoso of exterminating combat showed his skills to the full.
And the combat aviation formation of the entire Soviet Army during the Battle of Kuban was for the first time lined up in a "whatnot" according to the strategy developed by Alexander Ivanovich. acesThe Luftwaffe suffered unheard-of losses.
The name of Pokryshkin was forever inscribed in golden letters in the history of Russian aviation on the pages where Russian pilots of the First World War appeared in front of him. However, the pilot surpassed even them, becoming an ace among aces. At the end of the Second World War, he commanded a fighter air division. Alexander Ivanovich made more than 600 sorties, shooting down 117 enemy aircraft.
Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich
According to official statistics, the result of Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin was surpassed by only one person: Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich. The son of a gifted peasant who independently learned to read and write and “made his way into the people”, Ivan first saw the sky from the cockpit of an airplane in 1939. The guy just fell in love with the profession of a pilot, it seemed to him that there was nothing more beautiful in the world.
He didn't become an ace right away. The guy studied flying at the Chuguev Aviation School. When the Second World War began, he rushed to the front, but they did not let him go, leaving him to serve as an instructor.
After writing dozens of five reports, the instructor pilot in the fall of 1942 ended up serving in the 240th Fighter Regiment. Kozhedub flew an LA-5 fighter. The regiment, hastily formed and sent to the Stalingrad front in a hurry, without proper flight training, was soon defeated.
In February 1943, the newly formatted regiment was again sent to the front. But after a month and a half - 1943-26-03 - Ivan Nikitovich was "shot down". He, then, due to inexperience, hesitated and detached himself from the cover plane on takeoff, immediatelyattacked by six Messers. Despite the competent tactics of the future ace, due to the lack of cover, an enemy plane turned out to be on his tail. Thanks to a phenomenal maneuver, Ivan Nikitovich then survived. But the lesson - to be in the sky inextricably paired with a cover plane - I learned. Looking ahead, we will inform you that in the future Kozhedub shot down 63 enemy aircraft.
He always flew on LA-5s, which were replaced by 6. Colleagues recalled that he treated them not as machines, but as living beings. I talked to them, called them affectionately … There was something incomprehensibly religious in the relationship between man and machine. But the most amazing thing was that never, never on Ivan's planes was there a single failure, not a single emergency situation, and the pilot himself was saved more than once by the armored seatback.
Conclusion
Famous Russian pilots of the Great Patriotic War were awarded the highest award of the Soviet Union - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union: Alexander Pokryshkin and Ivan Kozhedub - three times; 71 pilots (9 of them posthumously) received this high rank twice.
All those awarded are worthy people. "Hero" was given for 15 downed enemy aircraft.
Among the Heroes of the Soviet Union is the legendary Alexei Petrovich Maresyev, who returned to service after a serious injury and amputation of his legs. Vorozheikin Arseniy Vasilievich (46 downed aircraft), twice Hero of the Soviet Union with a unique combat pattern based on perfect aerobatics. Twicehero of the Soviet Union Gulaev Nikolai Dmitrievich, who owns a phenomenal result (in the battle over the Prut River, he managed to shoot down 5 enemy aircraft in just 4 minutes.) This list can be continued for a very long time …
