Ivan Kozhedub

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub, a Soviet pilot, became famous during World War II as a fighter ace. He is widely recognized for over 60 solo victories, making him the top-scoring Soviet and Allied fighter pilot of the conflict. Kozhedub was among the few pilots confirmed to have downed a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet, and he was the first Soviet aviator to achieve this. He received the Hero of the Soviet Union award three times: in February 1944, August 1944, and August 1945. Following the war, he stayed in the military and later led the 324th Fighter Aviation Division during Soviet involvement in the Korean War.

Born on 8 June 1920 in the Ukrainian village of Obrazhiivka, in what is now Sumy Oblast, Kozhedub finished seventh grade in 1934 and completed two more years of school in Shostka. He worked as a librarian there until finishing ninth grade in 1936, then attended the Shostka Chemical Technology College from 1936 to 1940. Alongside his studies, he trained at a local aeroclub, graduating in 1939. He joined the Red Army in February 1940 and graduated from the Chuhuiv Military Aviation School of Pilots in January 1941, learning to fly the UT-2, UTI-4, and I-16. He stayed on as a flight instructor, continuing to train pilots after the school evacuated to Shymkent in autumn 1941 due to the German invasion. Sent to Moscow in November 1942, he was assigned to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment but did not reach the front until March 1943, when the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division deployed to the Voronezh Front.

Starting as a regular pilot, Kozhedub quickly mastered the La-5 and became a flight commander. He scored his first victory on 6 July 1943, shooting down a Ju 87 dive bomber. He befriended fellow ace Kirill Yevstigneev, learning tactics from him and sharing techniques in a competitive spirit. His wingman, Vasily Mukhin, also became an ace. Kozhedub steadily increased his victories, becoming a squadron commander, and tallied 14 shootdowns in the first half of October 1943. On 10 October 1943, he was nominated for Hero of the Soviet Union for 146 sorties, 27 aerial battles, and 20 victories; he received the award on 4 February 1944.

In July 1944, his regiment was redesignated the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, and Kozhedub was nominated for a second gold star for 46 victories in 256 sorties. He was soon reassigned as deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, a "free-hunting" unit flying the new La-7, on the initiative of Chief Marshal of Aviation Aleksandr Novikov. There, he rarely flew escort or ground-support missions, allowing him and his men to accumulate more victories. In mid-February 1945, on a free-hunting mission south of Frankfurt with wingman Dmitry Titarenko, Kozhedub shot down an Me 262 jet, becoming the first Soviet pilot to do so. When they encountered the jet, Kozhedub accelerated from low to full speed; as the Me 262 banked left and slowed, startled by Titarenko's tracer fire, Kozhedub downed it.

By war's end, Kozhedub had flown 330 sorties, engaged in 120 dogfights, and shot down 64 enemy aircraft. All his victories came in La-5F, La-5FN, and La-7 fighters, and he strongly favored Lavochkin designs, meeting with Semyon Lavochkin to discuss improvements. He was nominated for a third gold star in May 1945, becoming thrice Hero of the Soviet Union on 18 August 1945, and remained deputy commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in Schönwalde until September.

Kozhedub preferred short, intense attacks, often diving at targets from below and firing at extremely close range. This tactic was especially effective against Ju 87s, with 18 shootdowns of that type, matching Arseny Vorozheykin. The maneuver was too risky to teach young pilots. Though never shot down, he had several close calls but always managed to land his damaged aircraft.

After returning to the USSR, Kozhedub attended the Air Force Academy in Monino, graduating in May 1949. He was initially slated to become deputy commander of the 31st Fighter Aviation Division. During his later career, he served as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 1946 to 1962 and chaired the Federation of Aviation Sports from 1967 to 1987. He was promoted to Marshal of Aviation in 1985 and retired that year, ending 45 years of service. Kozhedub lived in Moscow until his death on 8 August 1991 and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery.