伊万·阔日杜布

Marshal of Aviation Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub (Russian: Иван Hикитович Кожедуб; Ukrainian: Іван Микитович Кожедуб, romanized: Ivan Mykytovych Kozhedub; 8 June 1920 – 8 August 1991) was a Soviet aviator who first came to prominence as a World War II fighter ace. Universally credited with over 60 solo victories, he is considered to be the highest scoring Soviet and Allied fighter pilot of World War II. Kozhedub is one of the few pilots confirmed to have shot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet, and the first Soviet pilot to have done so. He was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on three occasions (4 February 1944, 19 August 1944, and 18 August 1945). After World War II, he remained in the military and went on to command the 324th Fighter Aviation Division during Soviet operations in the Korean War.

During the remainder of his military career, Kozhedub accumulated additional titles as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1946-1962) and as Chairman of the Federation of Aviation Sports (1967-1987). He was promoted to Marshal of Aviation in 1985 and retired later that year, concluding 45 years of service in the Soviet Air Forces. Kozhedub lived in Moscow until he died in 1991, and was buried in Novodevichy cemetery.

Early life

Kozhedub was born on 8 June 1920 to a Ukrainian family in the village of Obrazhiivka, in Chernigov Governorate, located within what is now Shostka Raion of Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. After graduating from his seventh grade of school in his hometown in 1934 he went on to complete two more years of school in Shostka.……

World War II

Despite having started in the regiment as a regular pilot, he quickly mastered the new La-5 and was promoted to flight commander. He opened his tally on 6 July 1943 with the shootdown of a Ju 87 dive bomber. Kozhedub became friends with Kirill Yevstigneev, an accomplished flying ace; although they did not often fly together, Kozhedub acquired many of his tactics and, in a spirit of competition, they shared their experiences using different techniques.……

Post-war era

Upon returning to the USSR, Kozhedub attended the Air Force Academy, based in Monino, graduating in May 1949. He was originally to be posted as deputy commander of the 31st Fighter Aviation Division based in Baku, but — per orders 'from above' owing to his high status as a top flying ace — he was reassigned to the 324th Fighter Aviation Division.……

List of aerial victories

According to Soviet aces 1941–1945. The victories of Stalin's Falcons (Russian: Советские асы 1941—1945. Победы сталинских соколов) by Mikhail Bykov.

Until August 1944 Kozhedub was flying on Lavochkin La-5, after that Lavochkin La-7.

Alleged shootdown of two USAAF P-51 fighters

Russian historian Nikolay Bodrikhin, in Loyalty to the Motherland, Seeking the Fight (2006) and elsewhere, claims that while over Berlin on April 17, 1945 Kozhedub encountered a group of American B-17 Flying Fortresses under attack by Luftwaffe aircraft, and their P-51 escort mistook him for the enemy.……

Awards and honors

Soviet Union

Thrice Hero of the Soviet Union (4 February 1944, 19 August 1944, and 18 August 1945)

Two Order of Lenin (4 February 1944 and 21 February 1978)

Seven Order of the Red Banner (22 July 1943, 30 September 1943, 29 March 1945, 29 June 1945, 2 June 1951, 22 February 1958, and 26 June 1970)

Order of Alexander Nevsky (31 July 1945)

Order of the Patriotic War 1st class (11 March 1985)

Two Order of the Red Star (4 June 1955 and 20 October 1955)

Legacy

A military university in Kharkiv is named in his honor, the Kozhedub University of the Air Force.

On 8 May 2010 a monument to Ivan Kozhedub was opened in Slavy Park in Kyiv.

Ivan Kozhedub Street in the cities of Bila Tserkva, Bucha, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Lutsk, Cherkasy, Chuhuiv, Shpola.

There is Ivan Kozhedub Lane in the cities of Kremenchuk and Kropyvnytskyi.