Andrey Ivanovich Popov is a Hero of the Soviet Union, an honest, determined, brave warrior who was not afraid of anything on his way. He was a military pilot, conducted more than two hundred sorties, 50 air battles, personally shot down 19 fighters.
Youth
He was born in 1923 in the Tambov province of the USSR in a family of peasants. When the boy was seven years old, his family began to move frequently from place to place until they settled in the village of Lyzlovo in the Moscow region. At that time, Andrei was 11 years old.
The village of Lyzlovo was very small, there were no schools or shops. Andrey had to receive education in the schools of neighboring villages. The boy graduated from the eighth grade in 1940.
Army
In 1941 Andrei Popov was drafted into the army. In 1942, he graduated from pilot school and went to the front the same year. He visited as a pilot on the Kalinin, B altic, Bryansk and other fronts.
Andrey Popov shot down his first enemy helicopter in 1943. Then in two months he took part in 18 sorties, 8 air battles and was able to shoot down 4 fascist combatfighter.
In April 1943, Andrei Ivanovich Popov received the rank of lieutenant. In this regard, he became a senior pilot of a fighter aviation regiment.
Andrey Ivanovich Popov was a hero. He was never afraid, even if the enemy possessed numerical superiority, he single-handedly entered the battle, forcing the opponents to flee. He commanded several sorties into enemy territory and almost always brought his entire team back safe and sound.
By the end of 1943, Andrei Popov was promoted to senior lieutenant and appointed commander in chief of the aviation unit. Until February 1944, in this rank, Andrei Ivanovich Popov made 126 sorties on the instructions of the command, shot down 18 enemy fighters. For his heroism and courage he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Until June 1944, he made more than two hundred sorties, shot down more than 20 fighters, and conducted fifty air battles.
June 23, 1944 Andrey Ivanovich Popov went on a mission from which he failed to return. How he died is not known for certain, he is still listed as a missing person. He was only 21 years old.
Awards and memory
Awarded during his military career with such awards as the Order of Lenin, the Gold Star, the Order of the Red Banner (2), the Order of the Patriotic War and a large number of medals.
In the village of Kolyubakino there is Popova Street, named so in memory of the fact that this Hero of the Soviet Union graduated from high school there. Also in this village there is a memorial plaque in honor of AndreiPopova.
On Victory Square in Minsk, the name of the hero was immortalized on a stele.
