On August 8, 1991, in Moscow, at the age of 72, the ace pilot of the Great Patriotic War, three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal Ivan Kozhedub, died. His life path is in the Kommersant photo gallery.

The first air battle ended in failure for the future Hero of the Soviet Union and almost became his last - his La-5 was damaged by a cannon fire from a Messerschmitt-109, the armored back saved him from an incendiary shell, and upon returning the plane was fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft gunners. Only on July 6, 1943, on the Kursk Bulge, during his fortieth combat mission, Kozhedub shot down his first German bomber, the Junkers Ju-87.

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Ivan Kozhedub on February 4, 1944 for 146 combat missions and 20 downed enemy aircraft

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

Ivan Kozhedub fought his last battle in WWII, in which he shot down 2 FW-190s, on April 17, 1945 in the skies over Berlin. Throughout the war, Kozhedub was never shot down. Kozhedub received the third Gold Star medal on August 18, 1945 for high military skill, personal courage and bravery shown on the war fronts. In total, Ivan Kozhedub scored 64 aerial victories
In the photo: pilot Marina Chechneva and Ivan Kozhedub

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

In his autobiography, the pilot wrote that in 1945 he shot down two US Air Force P-51 Mustangs because they attacked him, mistaking him for a German plane.

Photo: RIA NOVOSTI

After the war, Ivan 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. And in 1985 he was awarded the military rank of Air Marshal. In addition, Ivan Kozhedub was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, as well as a people's deputy of the USSR

Photo: RIA NOVOSTI

On August 8, 1991, Ivan Kozhedub died of a heart attack. He is buried at Novodevichy Cemetery

Photo: histrf.ru

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Ivan Kozhedub was born on June 8, 1920 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. According to some reports, the real date of birth of the future pilot is July 6, 1922. Subsequently, he credited himself with two years to enter the technical school.

Photo: wikipedia.org

Ivan Kozhedub met his future wife Veronica (pictured) on a train at the end of 1945. They were married for almost fifty years, and they had a son, Nikita, and a daughter, Natalya.

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

In 1934, Ivan Kozhedub, after graduating from school, entered the Chemical Technology College in the city of Shostka, where he began training at the local flying club

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

In November 1942, Ivan Kozhedub was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division, later renamed the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, formed in Ivanovo. In March 1943, as part of the division, he flew to the Voronezh Front

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Ivan Kozhedub on February 4, 1944 for 146 combat missions and 20 downed enemy aircraft

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

Ivan Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 combat missions and 48 downed enemy aircraft

Photo: Photo archive of Ogonyok magazine

In his autobiography, the pilot wrote that in 1945 he shot down two US Air Force P-51 Mustangs because they attacked him, mistaking him for a German plane.

Photo: RIA NOVOSTI

On August 8, 1991, Ivan Kozhedub died of a heart attack. He is buried at Novodevichy Cemetery

Photo: histrf.ru

“Courage without hardening is a blank shot”