Pokryshkin, Aleksandr Ivanovich
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[edit] Biography
Pokryshkin was born on March 6, 1913 in the city of Novonikolaevsk (modern-day Novosibirsk). He entered the Red Army in 1932. In 1933 he completed the 3rd Permsk School for Military Aviation Technicians, and in 1934 the Leningrad School of Military Aviation Theory[1].
After completing school he served as a technician in the communications aviation section of the 74th Rifle Division, located in Krasnodar. While stationed there, he began studying with the Krasnodar Aeroclub. He eventually entered the 1st Kachinsk "A.F. Myasnikov" Military Aviation School, which he completed with honors in 1939[1].
After completing pilots school, he joined the 55th Fighter Regiment in the Odessa Military District. In 1941, as a Sr. Lt. he was named Deputy Squadron Commander. He also became one of the first pilots in his regiment to transition to the new MiG-3 fighter[1].
On the first day of the war (June 22, 1941, the start of Operation Barbarossa), he accidentally shot down a friendly Su-2 bomber, a type that had been deployed in secret and hence wasn't recognized by Pokryshkin until too late[2].
On the next day of the war Pokryshkin redeemed himself, tangling with a group of five Me 109s in the region of the Prut river and downing one of them. He shot down several additional aircraft during the summer, but due to the regiment's records being destroyed they were not counted[1].
At the beginning of 1942, Porkyshkin's regiment was transferred to the rear areas in the Caucuses. It was there that Pokryshkin started flying the P-39 Airacobra, which had been received from the U.S. via lend-lease through Iran[1].
Pokryshkin made it back to the front in Spring, 1943, in time to participate in the battles over the Kuban. By then he was a Captain and squadron commander in the 16th Guards Fighter Regiment, which was part of the 216th Mixed Air Division of the 4th Air Army, in the North Caucuses Front[1].
On April 12, 1943, Pokryshkin shot down a total of seven aircraft in air battles over the region of Crimea Station. He received his first Hero of the Soviet Union award (No. 993) on May 6, 1943. By that point he had completed 354 combat sorties including 54 aerial engagements with 13 individual and 6 shared victories[1].
He received his second Hero of the Soviet Union award on August 24, 1943. By then he was a Major and had completed 455 combat sorties with 30 individual victories. He was still serving with the 16th Guards Fighter Regiment, although the unit was now part of the 9th Guards Fighter Division, 4th Air Army, North Caucuses Front[1].
By May, 1944, Pokryshkin was a Lt. Col. in command of the 16th Guards Fighter Regiment of the 9th Guards Fighter Divsion, which was now part of the 7th Fighter Corps, 8th Air Army, 1st Ukraine Front. He had completed 550 combat sorties, with 137 aerial engagements and 53 individual victories. Later that month he was named commander of the 9th Guards Fighter Division[1].
He was the first person to receive a third Hero of the Soviet Union award, on August 19, 1944[1].
He ended the war in Czechoslovakia, flying his last combat sortie on May 9, 1945 over Prague. In total, had had completed 650 combat sorties with 156 aerial engagements, 59 individual victories (75 by unofficial count), and six shared victories[1].
After the war Pokryshkin served in command positions in the Soviet Air Defenses (PVO). He completed the Frunze Military Academy in 1948, and the General Staff Academy in 1957. From 1968-1971 he served as Deputy Commander of the Air Defense Forces (PVO Strany). In 1972 he received the rank Marshal of Aviation[1].
[edit] Timeline
- March 6, 1913 Future Soviet fighter ace Aleksandr Pokryshkin is born[3].
[edit] Publications
- Wings of a Fighter, 1948
- Skies of War, 1980
- Know Yourself in Battle, 1986
[edit] Sources
- Wikipedia entry for Aleksandr Ivanovich Pokryshkin
- Russian Wikipedia entry for Aleksandr Ivanovich Pokryshkin
- Biography of Aleksandr Pokryshkin at hronos.km.ru
- Porkyshkin, Aleksandr Ivanovich at National Heroes (Герои Страны)
- Рыцарь мысли, мастерства и риска at Krasnaya Zvezda
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=402
- ↑ This incident was recounted both in Pokryshkin's memoirs, as well as the memoir of Ivan Pstygo, who was flying in one of the other Su-2 bombers belonging to the flight that Pokryshkin accidentally attacked. The aircraft that Porkyshkin show down was piloted by the commander of the 211th Bomber Regiment, M. I. Gudzenko
- ↑ wikipedia:Aleksandr Ivanovich Pokryshkin
