Kozhedub, Ivan Nikitovich

From OnAirpower.org

Name:	Kozhedub, Ivan Nikitovich (Кожедуб, Иван Никитович)
Years:	1920-1991
Rank:	Marshal of Aviation
Nationality:	Soviet
Remarks:	Soviet fighter pilot, three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, and the highest scoring World War II ace of both the Soviet Union and all Allied nations, credited with 62 victories.

Kozhedub joined the Red Army in 1940 and completed the Chuguevsk Military Pilots School in 1941, after which he became an instructor at the school. At the beginning of the war, he went with the school as it was evacuated to Central Asia^[1].

In November, 1942 Kozhudub's requests to be transferred to the front were finally fulfilled, and he was transferred to the 240th Fighter Regiment in Ivanovo, part of the then being formed 302nd Fighter Division. In March, 1943 the division was transferred to the Voronzeh Front^[1].

In August, 1944 Kozhedub was named Assistant Commander of the 176th Fighter Regiment (part of the 302nd Fighter Division, 16th Air Army, 1st Belorussian Front). He received his second Hero of the Soviet Union award on August 19, 1944, after completing 256 combat missions with 48 victories^[1].

By the end of World War II, Kozhedub was a Major. He completed 330 combat missions, engaged in 120 dog fights, and shot down 62 aircraft^[2]. On August 18, 1945 Kozhedub received his third Hero of the Soviet Union award^[1].

During the Korean War he was commander of the 324th Fighter Division (64th Fighter Corps), but was forbidden to fly^[1].

Kozhedub completed the Red Banner Military Air Academy in 1949, and the General Staff Academy in 1956. He served as the 1st Assistant Commander of the Moscow Military District Air Forces (1964-1971), in the Air Force Headquarters (1971-1978), and in the Group of General Inspectors of USSR Ministry of Defense (from 1978). In 1985 he received the rank of Marshal of Aviation^[1].