Ivan Kozhedub was born in the village of Obrazheevka, Sumy district, into a poor peasant family. He was an unexpected, youngest child in the family, born after a great famine.

His father was an extraordinary man. In breaks from factory work and peasant labor, he found time and energy to read books and write poetry. Despite his mother's protests, his father sent five-year-old Ivan to guard the garden at night. As he grew older, his son asked: “Why is this?” Indeed, they rarely stole back then, and a child was a useless watchman. The father replied: “I accustomed you to trials.” And it worked.

In 1941, Kozhedub graduated from the Chuguev Aviation Pilot School, where he remained as an instructor. The cadets called the strict instructor “Three Oaks” behind his back, but Ivan Nikitovich treated this nickname with irony. After the outbreak of war, the aviation school was evacuated to Chimkent in Kazakhstan. Multiple reports from Kozhedub requesting a transfer to active army deviated. And only in November 1942 the pilot was sent to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Ivanovo.

The first "baptism of fire"

Aviation technology always develops much faster than artillery systems or small arms. Kozhedub had to master a new technique for himself - the La-5 fighter. The vehicle had two automatic cannons. In terms of firepower, it was not inferior to German fighters. The disadvantage was, perhaps, that the ammunition load was very small for air combat - 60 shells per barrel.

The future ace's first air battle was not an easy one. Having received damage from enemy fighter fire, Kozhedub’s plane came under fire from Soviet anti-aircraft guns. With great difficulty, the pilot managed to land the damaged aircraft.

First "Golden Star"

The future ace of the Great Patriotic War did not win his first victory right away - on July 6, 1943, in an air battle on the Kursk Bulge, having completed his 40th combat mission by that time. Kozhedub was shot down by a German Ju-87 bomber.

In total, Kozhedub won at least five aerial victories in the battles on the Kursk Bulge. On February 4, 1944, Ivan Nikitovich was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union for 146 combat missions and 20 downed German aircraft.

Beginning in May 1944, Kozhedub fought in the La-5FN, built with the savings of V.V. Konev, a collective farmer from the Stalingrad region, whose son died during the war.

In August 1944, having received the rank of captain, Ivan Nikitovich was appointed deputy commander of the 176th guards regiment, and began to fight on the new La-7 fighter.

Second "Golden Star"

Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft. By the end of the war, Ivan Kozhedub - already a major of the guard - made 330 combat missions, in 120 air battles shot down 62 enemy aircraft, among which were 17 Ju-87 dive bombers, 2 Ju-88 and He-111 bombers each, 16 Bf-109 and 21 Fw-190 fighters, 3 attack aircraft." Hs-129" and 1 jet fighter "Me-262".

Kozhedub fought his last battle in the Great Patriotic War, in which he shot down two FW-190s, in the skies over Berlin.

In addition, Kozhedub also has two shot down in 1945. American aircraft"Mustang", which attacked him, mistaking his fighter for a German plane.

The Soviet ace acted according to the principle that he professed even when working with cadets: “Any unknown aircraft is an enemy.” Throughout the war, Kozhedub was never shot down, although his plane often received very serious damage.

Third "Golden Star"

Kozhedub received the third Gold Star medal on August 18, 1945 for high military skill, personal courage and bravery shown on the war fronts.

Along with courage, there was a place for sound calculation and experience necessary in air combat. Kozhedub, who had an excellent eye, preferred to open fire from a distance of 200-300 meters, hitting the enemy at medium distances and trying to avoid unnecessary risks.

In the sky of Korea

A serious test for Soviet aviation was the air war in Korea, which was marked by the first battles between jet aircraft. In 1950, the 324th Fighter Aviation Division arrived as part of the 64th Air Corps under the command of three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Kozhedub, consisting of the 176th and 196th regiments (60 Mig-15s).

In total, from April 2, 1951 to January 5, 1952, the pilots of the division under the command of Kozhedub carried out 6,269 combat missions and destroyed at least 216 (according to other sources, 258) enemy aircraft. Own losses amounted to 27 aircraft and 9 pilots.

Kozhedub himself did not fly on combat missions - he was forbidden to directly take part in battles with the enemy. The division commander had no less responsibility and difficult task leadership of air battles and enormous responsibility for the people and equipment entrusted to him. Ivan Nikitovich also did a lot of work with Korean pilots, whom the Americans shot down much more often than Kozhedub’s subordinates.

Awards of Ivan Kozhedub

Among Ivan Nikitovich's awards are three stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union. He became third and last person, awarded the title of Thrice Hero until the end of World War II. Both Brezhnev and Budyonny were awarded highest degree the differences are much later. Kozhedub was awarded two Orders of Lenin (before the Brezhnev era, the order was awarded only when the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was first awarded), seven Orders of the Red Banner.

Foreign awards include the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, the highest honor of the Polish Republic, restored in 1944. Kozhedub was not awarded the first degree of this award. Although it must be said that only the 2nd and 3rd degrees of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland were awarded to Marshals Zhukov, Rokossovsky, Vasilevsky, who, frankly speaking, made a significant contribution to the liberation of Polish territory.

Another interesting award of Ivan Nikitovich was the Korean Order State flag. Initially very honorary award North Korea subsequently underwent a decent devaluation, when many old-time Korean military leaders were awarded six to nine Orders of the National Flag for their years of service.

Ivan Nikitovich's post-war career was relatively modest. A number of researchers connect this with the reluctance of the famous pilot to take part in debunking Stalin’s personality cult. It’s difficult to say for sure, but Kozhedub was awarded the title of air marshal only in May 1985.

Heavenly handwriting

Ivan Kozhedub had an individual “handwriting” in the sky in battle. He organically combined courage, bravery and exceptional composure. He knew how to accurately and quickly weigh the situation and instantly find the only correct move in the current situation.

All his flights were a cascade of all kinds of maneuvers: turns and snakes, slides and dives. It was not easy for everyone who had to fly with Kozhedub as a wingman to stay in the air behind their commander.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub is one of the best pilots of the Soviet era. He went through the Great Patriotic War and was never shot down, bringing the fighter to the airfield in any condition. Kozhedub's feat means dozens of sold enemy aircraft and hundreds of combat flights. He is three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

short biography

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich was born into a large peasant family in Ukraine in the village of Obrazhievka, Chernigov province. He was the most youngest child, had three older brothers and a sister. The date of birth is officially considered to be June 8, 1920, but, as you know, he added two years to himself, which were needed to enroll in a technical school. The real date of birth of Ivan Kozhedub is July 6, 1922. His father farmed and worked in a factory, but found time for books and even wrote poetry himself. He raised his children in strictness, trying to instill in them such qualities as perseverance, hard work and diligence.

When Vanya went to school, he already knew how to write and read. He studied well, but attended school intermittently, because at the end of the first school year his father sent him to a neighboring village to work as a shepherd. Before entering the Chemical Technology College in 1934, Ivan Nikitovich managed to work in the library. 1938 became a turning point in the young man’s fate - then he began to attend the flying club. In the spring of 1939, his first flight took place, which leaves great impression. Already in 1940, having decided to become a fighter pilot, he entered a military flight school, after which he was left as an instructor here.

The Great Patriotic War

After the start, Ivan Kozhedub and the entire school were transferred to Kazakhstan, but after numerous reports, in the fall of 1942 he was sent to Moscow. Here he ends up in the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment under the command of Ignatius Soldatenko. Ivan Nikitovich took off for his first combat mission in March 1943, but after coming under fire, he was miraculously able to land almost unharmed. About a month passed before the future great pilot sat down for his new La-5 aircraft.

Ivan Kozhedub opened his personal combat account in July 1943, during. This was his fortieth combat mission. Within a few days, 4 victories were already on the list. On August 6, 1943, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub received his first award - the Order of the Red Banner of Battle. At the same time, he himself began to command the squadron. In the fall of 1943, he was sent to the rear; hot, heavy battles lay ahead, and he needed to recuperate.

Combat sorties 1943-1945

After returning to the front, he decides to change his tactics, settling on low-level flight, which required courage and great skill. For military services, at the beginning of February 1944, the young promising fighter pilot was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By August 1944, Kozhedub received the second Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, at which time he personally shot down 48 enemy aircraft in 246 sorties. At first autumn month In 1944, a group of pilots led by Kozhedub was sent to the Baltic states.

Here, in just a few days, under his command, 12 German planes were shot down, they lost only 2 of their own. After such a victory, the enemy abandoned active operations in this territory. Another significant air battle took place in the winter, in February 1945. Then 8 enemy aircraft were shot down and 1 aircraft was destroyed Soviet army. A significant personal achievement for Ivan Kozhedub was the destruction of the Me-262 jet, which was significantly faster than his Lavochkin. In April 1945, the great fighter pilot shot down his last 2 enemy aircraft.

Towards the end of the Great Patriotic War Ivan Kozhedub was already a major; he had 62 aircraft shot down, 330 sorties and 120 air combats. In August 1945, for the third time he was named Hero of the Soviet Union.

Post-war years

After the end of the war, he decided to continue his service. At the end of 1945, Ivan Nikitovich met his future wife. In their marriage they had two children: a son and a daughter. He also continued to study, graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1949, and from the Military Academy in 1956. General Staff. He took part in hostilities in Korea, under his command was the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. In 1985, Ivan Kozhedub was awarded high rank Air Marshal.

Also in his biography it should be noted social activities. He was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and also people's deputy THE USSR. Ivan Kozhedub died at his dacha on August 8, 1991.

Exactly 70 years ago, the greatest fighter pilot of the USSR, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub, received the first of his three Hero of the Soviet Union stars. At that time, the ace pilot had already shot down 20 enemy aircraft and 146 combat missions. In total, Kozhedub has 330 sorties and 120 air battles. "RG" recalls the main aerial exploits of the most successful fighter pilot in Allied aviation.

No man is an island

Fighter pilots - the “kings of the sky” - did not like to engage in missions to cover ground troops, but Ivan Nikitovich was different: he used every chance to rise into his beloved sky. One day, on September 30, 1943, Kozhedub accompanied the crossing of troops across the Dnieper in the sky. While making a turn, he accidentally found himself in the sky without the cover of his comrades, and at the same moment he noticed German Junkers in the sky. The renowned ace was not at a loss and single-handedly dived at the bombers. Having made several turns, he burst into the enemy units.

The attack by the brave Russian lone pilot was so unexpected and daring for the Germans that they stopped dropping bombs in confusion and took up defensive positions. Seeing the enemy's confusion, Ivan Nikitovich decided to take an even bolder step - he dived on one of the Ju-87s that had come off and shot it down.

The burning wreckage of the collapsed plane lowered the enemy's morale, and the bombers retreated.

"They fight not with numbers, but with skill"

Just 3 days after the single battle with the Junkers, Kozhedub and his comrades had to face an even more superior number of the enemy. Covering the bridgehead on the river bank, nine La-5s, or, in the language of pilots, “lavochkinas,” took to the sky. Almost immediately, the pilots noticed a column of Junkers-87 dive bombers in the sky, each nine aircraft of which were covered by six Me-109 fighters.

Kozhedub, at the head of five planes, attacked a group of bombers; the enemy, who did not expect an attack from a small number of Soviet aircraft, rushed about. A minute later, two Ju-87s caught fire and fell to the ground. The surviving German planes from the first nine retreated, and a little later the second wave of battle-worn Junkers also turned back.

The ace hero, of course, put a spectacular point in the battle, turning him into fire ball one of the last Luftwaffe fighters. “They fight not with numbers, but with skill,” Ivan Kozhedub liked to repeat.

First jet

In mid-February 1945, in a battle over the Oder, Kozhedub entered into his glorious biography an important detail - he was one of the first in the world to destroy the newest Luftwaffe fighter-bomber Me-262.

Taking off into the sky on February 19 with his friend and partner Dmitry Titorenko, Kozhedub discovered an unknown plane at an altitude of more than 3000 meters, which was flying at the maximum speed for the Soviet La-7. The ace hero noticed that the German pilot did not control the space below him, relying on high speed cars. The pilot decided to take advantage of this fact, meeting a German on an intersecting course and shooting him from below. But Titarenko decided to open fire first, surprising Kozhedub.

Ivan Nikitovich later recalled this memorable fight: “What is it? Tracks (traces that remain in the air from bullets) are flying at the enemy: it’s clear - my partner was in a hurry after all! I mercilessly scold the Old Man (Titarenko) in my head; I’m sure that the plan is mine action was irreparably disrupted. But its routes unexpectedly helped me: the German plane began to turn to the left, in my direction. The distance decreased sharply, and I got closer to the enemy. With involuntary excitement, I open fire. And the jet plane, falling apart, falls."

"From Russia with love"

The story is widely known that to the 64 German planes shot down by Kozhedub in the Great Patriotic War, two more American fighters can be added.

In April 1945, Kozhedub drove away two German fighters from the American B-17 with several bursts of airborne cannons, but was himself attacked by American fighters who opened fire from a long distance. Having made several complex figures in the air, Ivan Nikitovich found himself on the side of the “American” and knocked him out. After performing another aerobatics maneuver and firing several bursts, he blew up another car in the air. It later turned out that these planes turned out to be US Air Force Mustangs.

Such a skirmish with the Americans was not the only one. The future air marshal took on a much hotter battle with the Americans a couple of days before the surrender of Germany, when about 20 American Flying Fortress class bombers, not paying attention to warning shots, entered the space of the Soviet occupation zone. The Soviet ace shot down three planes and put the rest to flight, but count these three victories as general list did not give. The regiment commander only joked that he would have to fight the Americans soon, and on the very first day new war the cars hit by Kozhedub will be attributed to him retroactively.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub is a famous pilot ace of World War II, the most successful fighter pilot in Allied aviation (64 personal victories). Three times hero of the Soviet Union. He took part in hostilities from 1943 to 1945, making all his combat missions on fighters designed by Lavochkin - La-5 and La-7. During the entire war he was never shot down. At the end of the war, he continued to serve in the Air Force, remaining an active pilot and mastering the MiG-15 jet fighter. Graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy, in 1985 he was awarded the pilot military rank air marshal.

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 into a peasant family in the small Ukrainian village of Obrazhievka, Shostkinsky district, Sumy region. Subsequently he graduated from the Chemical Technology College and the Shostka Aero Club. He entered the Red Army in 1940. In 1941 he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation School of Pilots, where he served as an instructor. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Kozhedub, along with the aviation school, was evacuated to Central Asia. After submitting numerous reports asking to be sent to the front, his wish was granted. In November 1942, Sergeant Ivan Kozhedub arrived at the disposal of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment (IAP) of the emerging 302nd Fighter Aviation Division. In March 1943, parts of the division were sent to the Voronezh Front.

The future ace and Hero of the Soviet Union made his first combat mission on March 26, the flight ended unsuccessfully: his La-5 fighter (airborne number 75) was damaged in battle, and when returning to the airfield, it was also fired upon by friendly forces. anti-aircraft artillery. With great difficulty, the pilot was able to bring the car to the airfield and land. After that, I flew old fighters for about a month until I received the new La-5 again.

The ace pilot opened his combat account of his victories on July 6, 1943 at the Kursk Bulge, shooting down a Ju-87 dive bomber. The very next day, Kozhedub won a second aerial victory, shooting down another Ju-87, and in an air battle on July 9 he was able to shoot down 2 German Me-109 fighters at once. Already in August 1943, Ivan Kozhedub became squadron commander. The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal was received by the squadron commander of the 240th IAP, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Kozhedub, on February 4, 1944 for 146 combat missions, in which he shot down 20 German aircraft.

Since May 1944, Kozhedub fought on a new modification of the Lavochkin fighter - La-5FN (board number 14), which was built with money from the collective farmer of the Stalingrad region V.V. Koneva. Just a few days after receiving it, he shoots down a Ju-87 with it. Over the next six days, the ace pilot chalked up 7 more enemy aircraft. At the end of June he transfers his fighter to K.A. Evstigneev (later twice Hero of the Soviet Union), and he himself transferred to the training regiment. But already in August, Ivan Kozhedub was appointed deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment of the IAP. At the same time, the regiment is undergoing a rearmament procedure, receiving new La-7 fighters. The ace pilot received a plane with tail number 27. Ivan Kozhedub would fly it until the very end of the war.

The second Gold Star medal of the Guard, Captain Ivan Kozhedub, was awarded on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions, in which he personally shot down 48 German aircraft. Once, during an air battle on a La-7 fighter, which was passing over enemy territory, Kozhedub’s plane was shot down. The engine of the car stalled and Ivan Kozhedub, in order not to surrender to the Germans, chose a target for himself on the ground and began to dive on it. When there was very little left to the ground, the fighter’s engine suddenly started working again and Kozhedub was able to pull the car out of the dive and returned safely to the airfield.

On February 12, 1945, Ivan Kozhedub paired with his wingman Lieutenant V.A. Gromakovsky patrolled the space above the front line, being in “free hunting” mode. Having discovered a group of 13 FW-190 fighters, Soviet pilots immediately attacked them, shooting down 5 German fighters. Three of them were chalked up by Ivan Kozhedub, two by Gromakovsky. On February 15, 1945, in a flight over the Oder, Kozhedub was able to shoot down a German Me-262 jet fighter flown by non-commissioned officer K. Lange from I./KG(J)54.

Among the enemy aircraft shot down by Ivan Kozhedub were:

21 FW-190 fighters;
18 Me-109 fighters;
18 Ju-87 bombers;
3 Hs-129 attack aircraft;
2 He-111 bombers;
1 PZL P-24 fighter (Romanian);
1 Me-262 jet aircraft.

La-5 and La-5FN

La-5 is a single-engine wooden low-wing aircraft. Like the LaGG-3 fighter, the main construction material The wood used in the plane's airframe was pine. Delta wood was used to produce some of the wing frames and spars. The wooden parts of the aircraft skin were glued together using special urea KM-1 or VIAM-B-3 resin glue.

The aircraft wing, composed of NACA-23016 and NACA-23010 profiles, was technologically divided into a center section and 2 two-spar consoles, which had a working plywood skin. The main landing gear was connected to the metal pipe using an end rib. Between the center section spars there were caissons for gas tanks, made of plywood, and in the bow there were domes for the landing gear wheels.
The plane's spars were made of wood special shelves made of delta wood (on fighters of the La-5FN modification, starting from 1944, metal spars were mounted.) Automatic slats, Frize-type ailerons with a duralumin frame, covered with percale, and Schrenk-type flaps were attached to the consoles with plywood sheathing. . The left aileron had a trimmer.

The stabilizer is two-spar, completely wooden with plywood working skin, the tail is cantilever. The stabilizer of the vehicle consists of 2 halves, which were attached to the power elements of the tail section of the vehicle. The elevator with trimmer had a duralumin frame, which was covered with canvas and, like the stabilizer, consisted of two halves. Control of the fighter was mixed: elevators and yaws using cables, ailerons using rigid rods. The flaps were released and retracted using a hydraulic drive.

The fighter's landing gear was retractable, double-supported with a tail wheel. The main landing gear had oil-pneumatic shock absorbers. The main wheels of the La-5 had dimensions of 650x200 mm and were equipped with air chamber brakes. The freely oriented tail support was also retracted into the fuselage and had a wheel measuring 300 by 125 mm.

The fighter's power plant consisted of a radial air-cooled M-82 engine, which had a maximum power of 1850 hp. and a three-blade variable pitch propeller VISH-105V with a diameter of 3.1 meters. The exhaust pipes were combined into 2 reactive-type manifolds. To regulate the engine temperature, frontal louvers were used, which were located on the front ring of the hood, as well as 2 flaps on the sides of the hood behind the engine. The aircraft engine was started using compressed air. An oil tank with a capacity of 59 liters was located at the junction of the metal truss and the wooden part of the fuselage. Fuel with a volume of 539 liters was in 5 tanks: 3 center section and 2 console.

In addition to the standard set of control and flight navigation instruments, the fighter's equipment included an oxygen device, a short-wave radio station RSI-4 and a landing light. The oxygen supply was enough for 1.5 hours of flight at an altitude of 8000 m.

The letters FN in the La-5FN markings stood for Forced Direct Fuel Injection and referred to the engine. This aircraft began to enter service with the troops in March 1943. Its ASh-82FN engine developed a maximum power of 1850 hp. and could withstand forced mode for 10 minutes of flight. This version of the La-5 fighter was the fastest. At the ground, the car accelerated to 593 km/h, and at an altitude of 6250 meters it could reach a speed of 648 km/h. In April 1943, a series of air battles between the La-5FN and the captured Bf.109G-2 fighter. Training battles demonstrated the overwhelming superiority of the La-5 in speed at low and medium altitudes, which were the main ones for air battles on the Eastern Front.

The La-7 was a further modernization of the La-5 fighter and one of the best production aircraft of the end of World War II. This fighter had excellent flight characteristics, high maneuverability and good weapons. At low and medium altitudes, it had an advantage over the last piston fighters of Germany and the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. The La-7, on which Kozhedub ended the war, is currently in the Central Museum of the Russian Air Force in the village of Monino.

The La-7 could be armed with two 20-mm ShVAK cannons or 3 20-mm B-20 cannons. The guns had hydromechanical synchronizers that prevented shells from hitting the propeller blades. Most of the La-7, like the La-5, was armed with two ShVAK cannons, which had 200 rounds of ammunition per barrel. The fighter's ammunition included armor-piercing incendiary and fragmentation incendiary shells weighing 96 grams. Armor-piercing incendiary shells at a distance of 100 meters normally pierced armor up to 20 mm thick. bombs weighing up to 100 kg could be suspended on two underwing units of the fighter.

Sources used:
www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=403
www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/la5.html
www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/la7.html
Materials from the free Internet encyclopedia "Wikipedia"

Biography

Ivan Nikittovich Kozhedub - Soviet military leader, ace pilot during the Great Patriotic War, the most successful fighter pilot in Allied aviation (64 victories). Three times Hero of the Soviet Union. Air Marshal (6 May 1985).

Nickname during combat operations as part of the Group of Soviet Military Specialists in Korea - “Krylov”.

Ivan Kozhedub was born in the village of Obrazhievka, Glukhov district, Chernigov province (now Shostkinsky district, Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a peasant - a church warden. He belonged to the second generation of Soviet fighter pilots who took part in the Great Patriotic War.

In 1934, Kozhedub graduated from school and entered the Chemical Technology College in the city of Shostka.

He took his first steps in aviation while studying at the Shostka flying club. At the beginning of 1940, he enlisted in the Red Army and in the fall of the same year he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, after which he continued to serve there as an instructor.

After the start of the war, he and the aviation school were evacuated to Kazakhstan, the city of Chimkent. On February 23, 1942, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of senior sergeant. In November 1942, Kozhedub was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division (from July 2, 1944, 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division), which was being formed in Ivanovo. In March 1943, as part of the division, he flew to the Voronezh Front.

The first air battle ended in failure for Kozhedub and almost became the last - his La-5 was damaged by a cannon fire from a Messerschmitt-109, the armored back saved him from an incendiary projectile, and upon returning the plane was fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft gunners, it was hit by 2 anti-aircraft shells. Despite the fact that Kozhedub managed to land the plane, full restoration he was not eligible, and the pilot had to fly on the “remnants” - the available aircraft in the squadron. Soon they wanted to take him to the warning post, but the regiment commander stood up for him. At the beginning of the summer of 1943, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant, then he was appointed to the post of deputy squadron commander. Shortly after this, on July 6, 1943, on the Kursk Bulge, during his fortieth combat mission, Kozhedub shot down his first German bomber Junkers Ju-87. The very next day he shot down the second, and on July 9 he shot down 2 Bf-109 fighters at once. The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Kozhedub (already a senior lieutenant) on February 4, 1944 for 146 combat missions and 20 downed enemy aircraft.

Since May 1944, Ivan Kozhedub fought on the La-5FN (side number 14), built at the expense of the collective farmer-beekeeper of the Stalingrad region V.V. Konev. In August 1944, having received the rank of captain, he was appointed deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment and began to fight on the new La-7 fighter. Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft.

By the end of the war, Ivan Kozhedub, by that time a guard major, flew the La-7, made 330 combat missions, shot down 62 enemy aircraft in 120 air battles, including 17 Ju-87 dive bombers, 2 Ju-88 and He bombers each -111, 16 Bf-109 and 21 Fw-190 fighters, 3 Hs-129 attack aircraft and 1 Me-262 jet fighter.

Kozhedub fought his last battle in the Great Patriotic War, in which he shot down 2 FW-190s, on April 17, 1945 in the skies over Berlin. Kozhedub received the third Gold Star medal on August 18, 1945 for high military skill, personal courage and bravery shown on the war fronts. He was an excellent shooter and preferred to open fire at a distance of 200-300 meters, rarely approaching at a shorter distance.

In his autobiography, Kozhedub claims that in 1945 he shot down two American P-51 Mustang aircraft of the US Air Force, which attacked him, mistaking him for a German plane.

I.N. Kozhedub was never shot down during the Great Patriotic War, and although he was shot down, he always landed his plane. Kozhedub also has the world's first jet fighter, the German Me-262, which he shot down on February 19, 1945, but he was not the first to do this - back on August 28, 1944, one shot down Me-262 was credited to American pilots M. Croy and J. Myers, and in total, until February 1945, American pilots were officially credited with shooting down about 20 aircraft of this type.

At the end of the war, Kozhedub continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy. At the same time, he remained an active fighter pilot, having mastered the MiG-15 jet in 1948. In 1956 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. During the Korean War, he commanded the 324th Fighter Aviation Division (324th IAD) as part of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps. From April 1951 to January 1952, the division's pilots scored 216 aerial victories, losing only 27 aircraft (9 pilots died).

From June 1962 to August 1963 - commander of the 76th air army. In 1964-1971 - Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1971 he served in the central apparatus of the Air Force, and since 1978 - in the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1970, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of Colonel General of Aviation. And in 1985, I. N. Kozhedub was awarded the military rank of Air Marshal.

He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the II-V convocations, and a people's deputy of the USSR.
Died on August 8, 1991. Buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

List of aerial victories

In official Soviet historiography, the result of Kozhedub’s combat activities looks like 62 enemy aircraft shot down personally. However, recent archival research has shown that this figure is slightly underestimated - in the award documents (from where it, in fact, was taken), for unknown reasons, two air victories are missing (June 8, 1944 - Me-109 and April 11, 1944 - PZL-24), meanwhile, they were confirmed and officially entered into the pilot’s personal account.

Total aerial victories: 64+0
combat sorties - 330
air battles - 120

According to Channel One, at the end of the Great Patriotic War, American pilots shot down soviet fighters. I.N. Kozhedub flew out and personally shot down two American fighters responsible for this act of aggression. Nikolai Bodrikhin’s book “Soviet Aces” gives slightly different circumstances of this episode: Kozhedub drove away the attackers from the American bomber German planes, after which he was attacked himself American fighter from a very long distance. Kozhedub shot down two American planes; judging by the words of a surviving American pilot, the Americans mistook Kozhedub’s plane for a German Focke-Wulf with a red nose.

Assignment of military ranks

Awards

Knight of the Seven Orders of the Red Banner (07/22/1943, No. 52212; 09/30/1943, No. 4567; 03/29/1945, No. 4108; 06/29/1945, No. 756; 06/02/1951, No. 122; 02/22/1968, No. 23 ; 26.06. 1970, No. 537483).

Knight of the Order of Alexander Nevsky (07/31/1945, No. 37500).
Knight of the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (04/06/1985).
Knight of two Orders of the Red Star (06/04/1955; 10/26/1955).
Knight of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR" II degree (02/22/1990).
Knight of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree (04/30/1975).
Foreign:
Knight of the Order of the Red Banner (Mongolia).
Knight of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland (GDR).
Knight of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland.
Knight of the Order of the National Flag (DPRK).

Ranks:

Honorary citizen of the cities: Balti, Chuguev, Kaluga, Kupyansk, Sumy, Zvenigorod and others.

Memory

A park in the city of Sumy (Ukraine) is named after Ivan Kozhedub; a monument to the pilot is installed near the entrance, as well as a street in the southeast of Moscow (Marshal Kozhedub Street). Also, streets in the cities of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan, Salavat, Balashikha, Semiluki (Russian Federation) are named in his honor.

Kharkov University is named after the Three-Time Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Nikitich Kozhedub Air Force(formerly KhVVAUL, HIL, KhVU), as well as Shostka Chemical Technology College.

On June 8, 2010, in the city of Shostka, in commemoration of Kozhedub’s 90th anniversary, a bust was erected near the Ivan Kozhedub Museum.

On November 12, 2010, a monument to Kozhedub was erected in Kharkov, on the territory of the Kharkov Air Force University.

Filmed about Kozhedub documentary"Secrets of the century. Two wars of Ivan Kozhedub."

In 2010, Ukraine celebrated the 90th anniversary of the hero’s birth at the state level. At the same time, a commemorative coin dedicated to Ivan Kozhedub was issued.

Named after Ivan Kozhedub Express train No. 118/117 between Sumy and Moscow.

A street in the Aviator microdistrict of the city of Balashikha, Moscow region, is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

A small street in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

A pioneer camp in the Moscow region (Odintsovo district, near Kubinka) is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

The model of the La-5 aircraft, on which I. N. Kozhedub made his first flight from the Urazovsky airfield during the war, was opened in May 1988 in the Belgorod region.