| Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname | Русский Ахиллес ("Russian Achilles") |
| Born | June 8, 1920 Obrazhievka Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian SSR |
| Died | August 12, 1991 |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service/branch | Soviet Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940 — 1985 |
| Rank | Marshal of aviation |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | 2xOrder of Lenin 7xOrder of Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky 2xOrder of the Great Patriotic War 2x Order of the Red Star |
Marshal of Aviation Ivan Mykytovych Kozhedub (Ukrainian: Іван Микитович Кожедуб, Russian: Иван Никитович Кожедуб, June 8, 1920 — August 12, 1991) was a Soviet Ukrainian military aviator [1][2] and a World War II fighter ace. Arguably Kozhedub, as he revealed in his memoires, took a part in the Korean War as fighter pilot, whilst being a commander of Soviet aviation Corps. in Korea. He is credited with 64 +2 (P-51)[3] individual air victories, most of them flying the Lavochkin La-5. He is one of the few Soviet pilots to shoot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet.[4] He was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on three occasions (4 February 1944; 19 August 1944; 18 August 1945).
He was born in the village of Obrazhievka, a settlement in the Sumy region, Ukrainian SSR, the youngest of five children. Kozhedub learned to fly aircraft in the Shostkinsk aeroclub and joined the Soviet army in 1940. He graduated from the Chuguyevsk Military Air School in 1941 at the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, but he was retained as an instructor.[5] Kozhedub remained at the school for two years where he trained many young Soviet pilots.
Feeling his talents would be better used in combat, he requested a transfer to an operational unit and in March 1943 was posted, as a Starshii Serzhant (Senior Sergeant), to 240th IAP, one of the first units to receive the new Lavochkin La-5.[5] He operated on the Voronezh Front and, in July, over the Kursk battlefields. His first kill was a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, shot down over Pokrova on 6 July 1943. By 16 July, he had claimed eight air victories. He was promoted to Mladshii Leitenant (Junior Lieutenant). Then his unit moved towards Kharkov. At this time, he usually flew escort for Petlyakov Pe-2 twin-engine bombers.[5] During World War II, he then served as a fighter pilot in several areas (Steppe Front, 2nd Ukrainian Front, 1st Belorussian Front) and at different ranks, starting from senior airman up to the deputy commander of the air regiment. He claimed his 61st and 62nd victories – his final claims – over Berlin on 16 April 1945.
Kozhedub holds the record for the highest number of confirmed air combat victories of any Soviet or Allied pilot (effectively the Allied "Ace of Aces") during World War II.[4] He is regarded as the best Soviet flying ace of the war, and is associated with flying the Lavochkin La-7. He was also reputed to have a natural gift for 'deflection shooting', i.e. the rare ability to hit targets from very oblique angles.
Kozhedub's World War II record consists of:
In 1949, Kozhedub graduated from the Air Force Academy.
In April 1951, promoted to Polkovnik (colonel), he commanded the 324th IAD (Fighter Air Division), dispatched to Antung, on the China-North Korea border, to fly the MiG 15[4] during the Korean War on the North Korean side. He was not given permission to participate in combat missions. His division however,trained North Korean pilot LT No Kum-Sok, who in 1953, defected to South Korea with a prized MiG-15bis, which is associated with Operation Moolah.
Kozhedub was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin three times (1944, 1944, 1945), seven Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Red Star, Order of the Patriotic War First Class, Order of Alexander Nevsky, and numerous medals.
According to «Soviet aces 1941—1945. The victories of Stalin's Falcons» (Russian: «Советские асы 1941—1945. Победы сталинских соколов») by Mikhail Bykov.
| ## | Date | A/c type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06.07.1943 | Ju 87 | west of Zavidovka |
| 2 | 07.07.1943 | Ju 87 | station Gostishchevo |
| 3 | 09.07.1943 | Bf 109 | Krasnaya Polyana |
| 4 | 09.07.1943 | Bf 109 | east of Pokrovka |
| 5 | 09.08.1943 | Bf 109 | Prelestny |
| 6 | 14.08.1943 | Bf 109 | Iskrovka |
| 7 | 14.08.1943 | Bf 109 | Kolomna |
| 8 | 16.08.1943 | Ju 87 | Rogan |
| 9 | 22.08.1943 | Fw 190 | Lyubotin |
| 10 | 09.09.1943 | Bf 109 | north of Iskrovka |
| 11 | 30.09.1943 | Ju 87 | south-west of Borodayevka |
| 12 | 01.10.1943 | Ju 87 | west of Borodayevka |
| 13 | 01.10.1943 | Ju 87 | west of Borodayevka |
| 14 | 02.10.1943 | Bf 109 | Ploskoye |
| 15 | 02.10.1943 | Ju 87 | Petrovka |
| 16 | 02.10.1943 | Ju 87 | south-west of Andreyevka |
| 17 | 02.10.1943 | Ju 87 | south-west of Andreyevka |
| 18 | 04.10.1943 | Bf 109 | north-west of Borodayevka |
| 19 | 05.10.1943 | Bf 109 | south-west of Krasny Kut |
| 20 | 05.10.1943 | Bf 109 | west of Kutsevalovka |
| 21 | 06.10.1943 | Bf 109 | Borodayevka |
| 22 | 10.10.1943 | Bf 109 | Dneprovo-Kamenka |
| 23 | 12.10.1943 | Ju 87 | north of Ploskoye |
| 24 | 12.10.1943 | Bf 109 | south of Petrovka |
| 25 | 12.10.1943 | Ju 87 | south of Domotkan |
| 26 | 29.10.1943 | Ju 87 | Krivoy Rog |
| 27 | 29.10.1943 | He 111 | west of Budovka |
| 28 | 16.01.1944 | Bf 109 | Novo-Zlynka |
| 29 | 30.01.1944 | Bf 109 | east of Nechayevka |
| 30 | 30.01.1944 | Ju 87 | west of Lipovka |
| 31 | 14.03.1944 | Ju 87 | Osiyevka |
| 32 | 21.03.1944 | Ju 87 | Lyebyedin — Shpola |
| 33 | 11.04.1944 | PZL P.24 | Syrka |
| 34 | 19.04.1944 | He 111 | north of Iaşi |
| 35 | 28.04.1944 | Ju 87 | south-east of Vulturu |
| 36 | 29.04.1944 | Hs 129 | Horleşti |
| 37 | 29.04.1944 | Hs 129 | Horleşti |
| 38 | 03.05.1944 | Ju 87 | Târgu Frumos — Dumbrăviţa |
| 39 | 31.05.1944 | Fw 190 | east of Vulturu |
| 40 | 01.06.1944 | Ju 87 | Cuza Vodă |
| 41 | 02.06.1944 | Hs 129 | west of Stânca |
| 42 | 03.06.1944 | Fw 190 | Rediu Ului — Tătăr |
| 43 | 03.06.1944 | Fw 190 | Rediu Ului — Tătăr |
| 44 | 03.06.1944 | Fw 190 | north-west of Iaşi |
| 45 | 07.06.1944 | Bf 109 | Pârliţa |
| 46 | 08.06.1944 | Bf 109 | Cârpiţi |
| 47 | 22.09.1944 | Fw 190 | north-west of Strenči |
| 48 | 22.09.1944 | Fw 190 | south-west of Ramnieki — Daksty |
| 49 | 25.09.1944 | Fw 190 | north-west of Valmiera |
| 50 | 16.01.1945 | Fw 190 | south of Studziana |
| 51 | 10.02.1945 | Fw 190 | north-west of Mohrin airfield |
| 52 | 12.02.1945 | Fw 190 | west of Kinitz |
| 53 | 12.02.1945 | Fw 190 | west of Kinitz |
| 54 | 12.02.1945 | Fw 190 | lake Kitzer-See |
| 55 | 17.02.1945 | Me 262 | east of Alt Friedland |
| 56 | 19.02.1945 | Bf 109 | north of Fürstenfelde |
| 57 | 11.03.1945 | Fw 190 | north of Brünchen |
| 58 | 18.03.1945 | Fw 190 | north of Küstrin |
| 59 | 18.03.1945 | Fw 190 | north-west of Küstrin |
| 60 | 22.03.1945 | Fw 190 | north of Zeelow |
| 61 | 22.03.1945 | Fw 190 | east of Gusow |
| 62 | 23.03.1945 | Fw 190 | station Werbig |
| 63 | 17.04.1945 | Fw 190 | Wriezen |
| 64 | 17.04.1945 | Fw 190 | Kinitz |
As with other famous figures, some myths have sprung up around Kozhedub's life. One story is that once he encountered a group of American B-17 Flying Fortresses under attack by Luftwaffe aircraft.[6] The story goes on to suggest that his aircraft was mistaken by American escort fighters for the enemy and attacked. Kozhedub, having no other option, defended himself by shooting down two of the P-51 Mustangs. So far, this story is not confirmed completely. Film footage exists that had been touted as Kozhedub's actual gun camera film from the event. However, it is highly suspect, as the footage was shot using Zeiss equipment, which was used primarily by the Luftwaffe, and the aircraft shown in the footage are shown with drop tanks attached. This would seem to contradict the story that Kozhedub was jumped by the P-51s, as the attacking fighters would normally drop these tanks before entering combat. A more likely story is that the gun camera footage was from a Luftwaffe aircraft which attacked American aircraft in an unrelated incident. However, another aircraft was shown without drop tanks, which can mean that the first pilot was unable or forgot to release his tanks, or perhaps even decided not to do so.