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✈️ #OnThisDay in 1941, Viktor Talalikhin became one of the first pilots in the history of Great Patriotic War to perform an aerial ramming at night. In the early hours of August 7, he flew his Polikarpov I-16 aircraft straight into the tail of a Nazi Heinkel He-111 bomber that was escaping pursuit.
This happened in the first weeks of the war, when the young Soviet fighter pilot was defending the sky over the south-west of Moscow. The German aircraft was shot down, and the wounded Talalikhin miraculously managed to parachute out of the aircraft and remained unharmed. On August 8 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
At the time of his feat, Talalikhin was only 22 years old. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the end of the war: in the autumn of 1941 he fell in an unequal battle with the Nazis in the vicinity of Podolsk.
During the heavy fighting in the summer of 1941 Talalikhin's selfless feat inspired millions. In total, Soviet pilots rammed more than 600 enemy aircraft during the Great Patriotic War.
#FacesOfVictory
This happened in the first weeks of the war, when the young Soviet fighter pilot was defending the sky over the south-west of Moscow. The German aircraft was shot down, and the wounded Talalikhin miraculously managed to parachute out of the aircraft and remained unharmed. On August 8 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
At the time of his feat, Talalikhin was only 22 years old. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the end of the war: in the autumn of 1941 he fell in an unequal battle with the Nazis in the vicinity of Podolsk.
During the heavy fighting in the summer of 1941 Talalikhin's selfless feat inspired millions. In total, Soviet pilots rammed more than 600 enemy aircraft during the Great Patriotic War.
#FacesOfVictory
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⭐️ #OTD in 1921, legendary Soviet fighter pilot Lidiya Litvyak was born. She went down in history under the call sign «White Lily». According to legend, this flower was painted on her aircraft.
Since childhood, Lidiya had dreamed of conquering the sky. Already at the age of 14, she enrolled in an aeroclub, and at 15, she made her first solo flight. After graduating from the aviation school, the 19-year-old herself prepared cadets for flights.
⚔️ After the start of the Great Patriotic War, Litvyak enrolled in the women’s 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, where she piloted the Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.
In September, Lidiya participated in the fierce battles over Stalingrad. Due to her successes in the sky, Litvyak was transferred to the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, the «regiment of aces». After the successful counter-offensive at Stalingrad in 1943, Lydiya Litvyak was sent to fight in the skies over Donbass.
🕯 On August 1, 1943, during the defence of Donbass, Litvyak engaged in an air battle with several Messerschmitts, which were superior to the Yak-1 in speed and manoeuvrability. The radio operators intercepted alarming reports from the pilots in the sky: «Lily has been shot down!». The crash site of the Litvyak fighter could not be found for decades. At the time of her last combat mission, she was only 21 years old.
The «White Lily» carried out 168 combat sorties and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft (12 solo and four shared victories). She became the most effective female pilot of World War II.
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#FacesOfVictory
Since childhood, Lidiya had dreamed of conquering the sky. Already at the age of 14, she enrolled in an aeroclub, and at 15, she made her first solo flight. After graduating from the aviation school, the 19-year-old herself prepared cadets for flights.
⚔️ After the start of the Great Patriotic War, Litvyak enrolled in the women’s 586th Fighter Aviation Regiment, where she piloted the Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.
In September, Lidiya participated in the fierce battles over Stalingrad. Due to her successes in the sky, Litvyak was transferred to the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, the «regiment of aces». After the successful counter-offensive at Stalingrad in 1943, Lydiya Litvyak was sent to fight in the skies over Donbass.
🕯 On August 1, 1943, during the defence of Donbass, Litvyak engaged in an air battle with several Messerschmitts, which were superior to the Yak-1 in speed and manoeuvrability. The radio operators intercepted alarming reports from the pilots in the sky: «Lily has been shot down!». The crash site of the Litvyak fighter could not be found for decades. At the time of her last combat mission, she was only 21 years old.
The «White Lily» carried out 168 combat sorties and destroyed 16 enemy aircraft (12 solo and four shared victories). She became the most effective female pilot of World War II.
Read in full
#FacesOfVictory
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🗓 Fyodor Poletayev was born in the village of Katino in the Ryazan Region on May 14, 1909. During the Great Patriotic War, he fought in the Battle of Moscow alongside the 28th Guards Artillery Regiment. In the summer of 1942, he was wounded, surrounded by enemy soldiers and taken prisoner. He was then transported to concentration camps: Vyazma, Berdichev and Mielec in Poland. Despite several attempts, he was not able to escape. Poletayev was caught while trying to escape from a camp in Slavonski Brod and was sent to a forced labour camp in Italy. There, Italian Communists helped him escape and Poletayev joined the Orestes partisan unit.
⚔️ Starting in 1944, Fyodor Poletayev fought against the German occupiers and took part in multiple combat operations. The Germans decided to carry out a punitive operation in Liguria, where his guerilla unit was stationed. Members of the Waffen SS Turkestan Legion spearheaded the attack.
On February 2, 1945, a battle erupted in Lighting Valley. The partisans defeated the punitive unit, and the Nazis began to surrender. To crush their resistance, Poletayev ordered his men to attack, but he was shot by an SS soldier at the last moment. The partisans completely routed the invaders and took some of them prisoner. Poletayev was mortally wounded and later buried him with full military honours in the small village of Rocchetta.
🎖 After the war, Poletayev, a national hero of the Italian Republic, was reinterred in the old Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa. On May 25, 1947, a Soviet diplomat presented Poletayev's family with the Gold Medal for Military Valour and the Bronze Star of the Garibaldi Partisan Brigade Fighter with the name “Fiedar Alexander Poetan” engraved on it.
Soviet writer Sergey Smirnov made efforts to clarify the famous partisan’s biography. He confirmed that the award was intended for Poletayev. In December 1962, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union to Fyodor Poletayev
#FacesOfVictory
⚔️ Starting in 1944, Fyodor Poletayev fought against the German occupiers and took part in multiple combat operations. The Germans decided to carry out a punitive operation in Liguria, where his guerilla unit was stationed. Members of the Waffen SS Turkestan Legion spearheaded the attack.
On February 2, 1945, a battle erupted in Lighting Valley. The partisans defeated the punitive unit, and the Nazis began to surrender. To crush their resistance, Poletayev ordered his men to attack, but he was shot by an SS soldier at the last moment. The partisans completely routed the invaders and took some of them prisoner. Poletayev was mortally wounded and later buried him with full military honours in the small village of Rocchetta.
🎖 After the war, Poletayev, a national hero of the Italian Republic, was reinterred in the old Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa. On May 25, 1947, a Soviet diplomat presented Poletayev's family with the Gold Medal for Military Valour and the Bronze Star of the Garibaldi Partisan Brigade Fighter with the name “Fiedar Alexander Poetan” engraved on it.
Soviet writer Sergey Smirnov made efforts to clarify the famous partisan’s biography. He confirmed that the award was intended for Poletayev. In December 1962, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union to Fyodor Poletayev
#FacesOfVictory
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✈️ On May 20, 1916 — 1️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ years ago — legendary Soviet military pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Maresyev was born. It was he who served as a prototype for Boris Polevoy's brilliant novel "The Story of a Real (True) Man".
Alexey Maresyev inspired many generations, millions of people all over the world admired and continue to admire his courage and determination.
Although he had severe health issues since childhood and often fell ill, even contracted malaria and suffered from rheumatism, his tremendous willpower and stubbornness allowed him to cope with excruciating pains in his limb joints make his dream of soaring the skies come true.
🔹Maresyev tried to enrol at a pilot school twice but was rejected for health reasons. Yet he pursued his dream: joined an air club in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and graduated from the Bataysk Aviation School in 1940 and became a Junior Lieutenant.
In the spring of 1942, the young pilot’s stubbornness and professionalism proved useful when intense fighting was raging in the Novgorod Region. On April 4, the Nazis downed his Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter, and Maresyev found himself on enemy-held territory. Although he was seriously wounded, he managed to reach Soviet positions 18 days later, wading through deep snowdrifts. His feet were frozen and gangrene began. His feet had to be amputated.
Although his prospects as an air force pilot seemed bleak, Maresyev was determined to re-join his comrades at the frontlines. Maresyev was fitted with prosthetics and, contrary to doctors’ recommendations, took to the skies once again in June 1943. He later downed seven enemy aircraft.
🕯 On May 8, 1967, Maresyev was entrusted with carrying and transferring a torch with the Eternal Flame during the ceremony of unveiling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden.
Alexey Maresyev passed away on May 18, 2001 in Moscow and was buried at Novodevichye Cemetery. Streets have been named in his honour, and monuments honouring him have also been unveiled.
#FacesOfVictory #WeRemember
Alexey Maresyev inspired many generations, millions of people all over the world admired and continue to admire his courage and determination.
Although he had severe health issues since childhood and often fell ill, even contracted malaria and suffered from rheumatism, his tremendous willpower and stubbornness allowed him to cope with excruciating pains in his limb joints make his dream of soaring the skies come true.
🔹Maresyev tried to enrol at a pilot school twice but was rejected for health reasons. Yet he pursued his dream: joined an air club in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and graduated from the Bataysk Aviation School in 1940 and became a Junior Lieutenant.
In the spring of 1942, the young pilot’s stubbornness and professionalism proved useful when intense fighting was raging in the Novgorod Region. On April 4, the Nazis downed his Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter, and Maresyev found himself on enemy-held territory. Although he was seriously wounded, he managed to reach Soviet positions 18 days later, wading through deep snowdrifts. His feet were frozen and gangrene began. His feet had to be amputated.
Although his prospects as an air force pilot seemed bleak, Maresyev was determined to re-join his comrades at the frontlines. Maresyev was fitted with prosthetics and, contrary to doctors’ recommendations, took to the skies once again in June 1943. He later downed seven enemy aircraft.
🕯 On May 8, 1967, Maresyev was entrusted with carrying and transferring a torch with the Eternal Flame during the ceremony of unveiling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden.
Alexey Maresyev passed away on May 18, 2001 in Moscow and was buried at Novodevichye Cemetery. Streets have been named in his honour, and monuments honouring him have also been unveiled.
#FacesOfVictory #WeRemember
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🗓 On June 8, 1920 — 104 years ago — the most successful ace pilot of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, Three-time Hero of the Soviet Union and to Marshal of Air Forces Ivan Kozhedub was born.
⚔️ Ivan Kozhedub achieved his first aerial victory at the age of 23, on July 6, 1943, during the Battle of Kursk. During his 40th combat sortie at Kursk, he engaged in a battle 12 enemy aircraft and shot down a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber, followed by another Stuka on July 7. On July 9, 1943, Kozhedub destroyed two Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters.
On October 1-12, 1943, he shot down 14 German aircraft during dogfights over the Dnieper — a unique combat episode in the history of Soviet aviation.
In August 1944, Kozhedub was appointed Deputy Commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aircraft Regiment and started flying a new Lavochkin La-7 fighter.
During the Great Patriotic War, Kozhedub flew 330 combat missions, engaged in 120 dogfights and shot down 62 enemy aircraft.
After the Victory, he continued to serve with the Soviet Air Force and commanded a fighter aircraft division during the Korean War. Kozhedub was promoted to Air Marshal ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory.
🎖 Three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, Ivan Kozhedub received two Orders of Lenin, seven Orders of the Red Banner, one Order of Alexander Nevsky, one Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st Class, two Orders for of the Red Star, Orders for Service in the Soviet Armed Forces 2nd and 3rd Class, and multiple medals.
#FacesOfVictory #WeRemember
⚔️ Ivan Kozhedub achieved his first aerial victory at the age of 23, on July 6, 1943, during the Battle of Kursk. During his 40th combat sortie at Kursk, he engaged in a battle 12 enemy aircraft and shot down a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber, followed by another Stuka on July 7. On July 9, 1943, Kozhedub destroyed two Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters.
On October 1-12, 1943, he shot down 14 German aircraft during dogfights over the Dnieper — a unique combat episode in the history of Soviet aviation.
In August 1944, Kozhedub was appointed Deputy Commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aircraft Regiment and started flying a new Lavochkin La-7 fighter.
During the Great Patriotic War, Kozhedub flew 330 combat missions, engaged in 120 dogfights and shot down 62 enemy aircraft.
After the Victory, he continued to serve with the Soviet Air Force and commanded a fighter aircraft division during the Korean War. Kozhedub was promoted to Air Marshal ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory.
#FacesOfVictory #WeRemember
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🗓 On August 7, 1941, pilot Viktor Talalikhin rammed an enemy plane at night for the first time during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
Viktor Talalikhin was flying a Polikarpov I-16 fighter plane when he tailed an enemy bomber, shot up one of its engines and later rammed it. This heroic feat during a dogfight near Moscow made his name forever famous.
🎖 On August 8, 1941, intrepid pilot Viktor Talalikhin, then only 22, became Hero of the Soviet Union.
After this feat, Viktor Talalikhin repeatedly distinguished himself during hostilities in mid-air.
🕯 The Junior Lieutenant flew his last combat mission on October 27, 1941. The pilot engaged superior enemy forces, downed two enemy planes over Podolsk, near Moscow, and was killed.
Viktor Talalikhin was buried in Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery with full military honours. His name was forever listed among personnel of the 1st squadron of a fighter aircraft regiment with whom he served near Moscow. Streets in multiple Russian cities, including Moscow, Volgograd, Borisoglebsk, Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Novgorod, as well as the Podolsk Central Park, are named in his honour.
During intense fighting in the summer of 1941, Talalikhin’s selfless feat inspired millions. Soviet pilots rammed enemy aircraft on over 600 occasions during the war.
#FacesOfVictory #Victory79
Viktor Talalikhin was flying a Polikarpov I-16 fighter plane when he tailed an enemy bomber, shot up one of its engines and later rammed it. This heroic feat during a dogfight near Moscow made his name forever famous.
After this feat, Viktor Talalikhin repeatedly distinguished himself during hostilities in mid-air.
🕯 The Junior Lieutenant flew his last combat mission on October 27, 1941. The pilot engaged superior enemy forces, downed two enemy planes over Podolsk, near Moscow, and was killed.
Viktor Talalikhin was buried in Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery with full military honours. His name was forever listed among personnel of the 1st squadron of a fighter aircraft regiment with whom he served near Moscow. Streets in multiple Russian cities, including Moscow, Volgograd, Borisoglebsk, Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Novgorod, as well as the Podolsk Central Park, are named in his honour.
During intense fighting in the summer of 1941, Talalikhin’s selfless feat inspired millions. Soviet pilots rammed enemy aircraft on over 600 occasions during the war.
#FacesOfVictory #Victory79
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