Dictionaries. Encyclopedias. History. Literature. Russian language » Biology » Soldiers of Victory: twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexei Semenovich Smirnov. Heroes Alexei Smirnov twice Hero of the Soviet Union

Soldiers of Victory: twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexei Semenovich Smirnov. Heroes Alexei Smirnov twice Hero of the Soviet Union

Smirnov Alexey Semenovich

Born on February 7, 1917 in the village of Paltsevo, Tver province. Like most of the heroes of this book, Smirnov recognized the need early - he was torn between school, household and extra work: his mother, who had lost her husband early, had seven children. After graduating from the 7th grade at the Bobrov School of Collective Farm Youth, Alexey worked as a stoker on a steam locomotive, then as a mechanic in the Santekhstroy trust. On his first flight, he took off from the airfield of the Kalinin Aeroclub. At the beginning of 1938, he received a referral to the Odessa Military Aviation School, which at the same time meant a call to the Red Army. After 7 months, the school was completed, Smirnov received a referral to a combat unit and a year later received a baptism of fire in the attack of the Finnish troops on the Karelian Isthmus.

He won his first victory in July 1941, shooting down the Me-109. On September 14, in a battle over the Pulkovo Heights, he himself was shot down, dragged a burning car across the front line and jumped out with a parachute ... The flight commander, Lieutenant Smirnov, returned from the hospital at the end of October. At the very beginning of 1942, his unit was sent to the Volkhov Front, where it covered the Ladoga Road of Life from the air. When in March the regiment was withdrawn for replenishment and rearmament, Art. Lieutenant Smirnov had 4 victories won on the I-153.

The 153rd IAP, where he served, was among the first regiments of the Soviet Air Force, fully equipped with Air Cobras. The regiment was completed according to the state 015/284: 2 squadrons, 20 aircraft. The pilots of the regiment continued their military career on the Voronezh Front. On July 23, 1942, Smirnov's "cobra" was shot down, and again, having reached the front line, he jumped out with a parachute. The Germans fired at him from the ground, but luck was on the side of the pilot - the wind carried him towards his own. In those difficult days, full of trials, bitterness and loss, fate made a gift to Smirnov: P. Ugljansky returned to the regiment - his close friend and wingman, wounded and shot down in an air battle almost a year ago. From now until the end of the war, their couple was inseparable.

In one of the battles in the area Staraya Russa a pair of Smirnovs, covered by a pair of Grachev - Rodin, in a difficult maneuverable battle, using cloudiness, managed to go into the tail of the four Me-109s and, at the same time opening fire, shoot down all 4 fighters.

Smirnov fought victorious battles on March 15, 1943, shooting down 2 FV-190s. Apart from Uglyansky's "draw" that happened in February, when he shot down a Fokker in a frontal attack, but he himself was forced to land a damaged aircraft on the ice of Lake Krugloye, these were the first Focke-Wulfs shot down by the regiment. The confident victories of Smirnov removed the psychological tension that is inherent in people before the expected meeting with the unknown. For 8 months of fighting (from December 1, 1942 to August 1, 1943), out of 63 aircraft regiments shot down by pilots, 23 were FV-190s.

Simple, shy and modest, like most of his associates, Smirnov surprised infrequent guests with his genuine sincerity. One of them, the author national anthem, the writer Sergei Mikhalkov, under the impression of his acquaintance, wrote a simple and memorable poem "Smirnov", which he dedicated to him:

... In one of the regiments,

In a combat squadron

dashing fighter,

Smirnov by name ...

In the air, however, there was no trace of the earthly simplicity and shyness of the pilot: his attacks and combat techniques were extremely aggressive, insidious and prudent. He succinctly outlined his experience on the instructions of the command in the book “The Components of Victory”, published in Leningrad in 1944.

In January 1945, Major Smirnov, commander of the Guards, was appointed deputy commander of the 28th Leningrad GIAP. He spent his last, 457 sorties, 72 air battles in the sky East Prussia. On the I-153, from June 30, 1942 on the P-39D-2 Aerocobra, and from August 1, 1943 on the P-39Ku Aerocobra, Smirnov personally shot down 34 aircraft and in group 1 enemy aircraft.

After the war, he commanded a regiment, then served in the Air Force of the Moscow Military District as an instructor pilot in piloting technique. He mastered the MiG-15 and MiG-17, had the class "Military Pilot 1st Class". In 1954 he was demobilized for health reasons. Lived and worked in Moscow. Died August 7, 1987

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (28.9.43; 23.02.45). He was awarded 2 Orders of Lenin, 5 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 2 Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st class, the Order of the Red Star, and medals.

From the book Penal battalions on both sides of the front author Pykhalov Igor Vasilievich

Mikhail Smirnov ROADS OF WAR Every person in his declining years has a desire to take stock of what he has lived and tell others about it. I will not be an exception. In the war, I witnessed the bitterness of our defeats, experienced all the hardships of fascist captivity and fully felt

From the book The Theory of the Pack [Psychoanalysis Great Struggle] author Menyailov Alexey Alexandrovich

From the book Rockets and People. hot days cold war author Chertok Boris Evseevich

7.49 Yu.P. Semenov (left) and L.V. Smirnov

From book Everyday life the nobility of Pushkin's time. Omens and superstitions. author Lavrentieva Elena Vladimirovna

From the book Everyday Life of a Russian Tavern from Ivan the Terrible to Boris Yeltsin author Kurukin Igor Vladimirovich

P. A. SMIRNOV [about him in the text]

From the book Arab-Israeli Wars author Smirnov Alexey Ivanovich

Alexey Smirnov Arab-Israeli wars Jews are ours cousins. We have coexisted for centuries. Zionism raised a problem and everything became impossible between Jews, Arabs and Christians. We can live in the same house, but none of us can take over the whole

From the book of Scythians author Smirnov Alexey Petrovich

Aleksey Smirnov Scythians Why Scythians? The time of the Scythians is a brilliant period of our ancient history. The name of this people is called a period covering about five centuries, during which the territory of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Siberia in the development of society occurred

From the book Commanders of the First World War [Russian army in faces] author Runov Valentin Alexandrovich

Smirnov Vladimir Vasilyevich Born on July 4, 1849 in Vyborg in the family of Major General Vasily Nikolaevich Smirnov (1817–1880), a participant Russian-Turkish war, St. George Knight. Educated in Polotsk cadet corps and the Pavlovsk School, which he graduated from

author Lobanov Mikhail Petrovich

From the book The Failed Russian Tsar Karl Philip, or the Swedish Intrigue of the Time of Troubles author Smirnov Alexey Konstantinovich

Alexei Smirnov The Failed Russian Tsar Karl Philip, or the Swedish Intrigue of the Troubled

From the book Stalingrad: Notes of the Front Commander author Eremenko Andrey Ivanovich

L. M. Smirnov G. B. Safiulin

From book Soviet aces. Essays on Soviet pilots author Bodrikhin Nikolay Georgievich

Smirnov Oleg Nikolaevich One of the best pilots of the 31st IAP, in 1944 a flight commander in the consolidated "squadron of hunters" N. Krasnov, which in itself was a recognition of high military skill and valor, which won 10 victories in its composition. Smirnov was born on July 11, 1919 in the village

From the book Stalin in the memoirs of contemporaries and documents of the era author Lobanov Mikhail Petrovich

Yu. N. Smirnov Stalin and the atomic bomb In the spring of 1942, based on undercover information, L.P. Beria first informed Stalin about the work on the creation of an atomic bomb that was unfolding in the West. A few months earlier, from the end of 1941, 28 -year-old Air Force cadet

From the book Heroes and trophies of the Great People's War. Issue 2nd author

Infantry Regiment Gryazovets ensign Aleksey Semenovich Semenov Ensign, acting junior officer, Aleksey Semenovich Semenov, comes from the peasants of the Pskov province, Opochetsky district, Zhandrinsky volost, the village of Tarasova Gora, was born on 17

author Uborevich Ieronim Petrovich

P.A. Smirnov, F.I. Kryuchkov. SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION. The British, Americans, French landed troops and occupied Murmansk, Kem, Onega, Arkhangelsk. Sent by V. I. Lenin to inspect the northern provinces, M. S. Kedrov began to organize detachments to repulse the enemy. But these groups were

From the book KOMANDARM UBOREVICH. Memoirs of friends and colleagues. author Uborevich Ieronim Petrovich

I. Ya. Smirnov. OUR COMMANDER. In February 1919, in the town of Bogorodsk (now Noginsk) near Moscow, I volunteered for the Red Army. He ended up in the 307th regiment of the 35th (later Siberian) rifle division 5th Army, and served in it until September 1923, until

February 7 - 100 years since the birth of the outstanding fighter pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.S. Smirnova

Alexei Semenovich Smirnov was born in the revolutionary year of 1917 in the village of Paltsevo, Tver province, into a poor peasant family with seven children. By nationality - Karelian. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1941. He became famous not in the victorious years of 1943-1945, but in the first period of the war, in the most difficult battles with the Luftwaffe, which had not yet lost their strike power ...

July 23, 1942, flying as part of the six to cover the troops in the Zemlyansk area, they met six Yu-88s, covered by two units of Me-109. The bombers were already preparing to bring down their cargo on the positions Soviet troops. Wasting no time, Smirnov attacked the leader and shot him down. Having completed a combat turn, he immediately, from a short distance, struck down one of the cover fighters. Smirnov's plane was also set on fire in this battle, he left it with a parachute and was picked up by a tankette of the 27th tank brigade. Tankers had previously captured a German pilot from a Me-109 shot down by Smirnov, and they also confirmed the downing of both German aircraft. For this battle, Senior Lieutenant A.S. Smirnov was awarded the Order of Lenin.

The ace's biography was common for that time. Graduated from incomplete high school, worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin railway station, as a stoker on a steam locomotive, worked at the Kalinin flying club.

In the Red Army since 1938. In the same year he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots, and since December - a pilot in the aviation units of the Moscow, and then the Leningrad military districts.

Member of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. He fought on the I-153 as part of the 153rd IAP (fighter aviation regiment). He made about 50 sorties, mainly for ground attack.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War from June 22, 1941 (junior lieutenant) - as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander of the 153rd IAP on the Leningrad, Volkhov, Voronezh, North-Western and Kalinin fronts. From June 22 to March 10, 1943, he made 167 sorties, of which 36 were for ground attack, 25 for reconnaissance, and the rest for escorting bombers and covering their troops.

On July 10, 1941, he won his first victory by shooting down the Me-109. In an air battle, he was seriously wounded, but managed to bring the plane to his airfield and land it.

From March 22 to June 12, 1942, the pilots of the regiment mastered the American Airacobra fighters coming to us under Lend-Lease, and from June 29, 1942, as part of the 244th Bomber Aviation Division (as an escort regiment), they began combat work as part of 2nd Air Army on the Bryansk, then (since July 7, 1942) on the Voronezh Front.

Writer Sergei Mikhalkov visited the regiment several times. Their first meeting took place in 1942.

“The writer’s attention was immediately attracted by the colorful figure of the fearless fighter Alexei Smirnov, whose fame thundered all over the front,” recalled the Hero of the Soviet Union in his book “Battle Routes”, in 1942 the deputy commander, and since September 1943 - the commander of the 6th th Air Army, later Colonel General of Aviation F.P. Polynin.

Impressed by the meetings with the pilot S.V. Mikhalkov wrote a poem "The Smirnovs":

"... In one of the regiments, in a combat squadron,

A dashing fighter, Smirnov by name ... "

There was no trace of the earthly simplicity and even shyness of the pilot in the air: he became bold and grasping, and his attacks and combat techniques were extremely prudent and cunning.

Pilot's articles appearing in army newspaper"The Falcon of the Motherland" were collected and published in a small book "The Components of Victory", published in Leningrad in 1944.

On November 22, 1942, the 153rd IAP was reorganized into the 28th Guards IAP. In May 1943, the regiment was given the honorary name Leningradsky.

In the summer of 1943, Smirnov specialized in reconnaissance aircraft of the enemy - FV-189, personally shooting down on July 27, August 8 and 17 three of these extremely nimble, well-armed and armored aircraft, referred to in the troops as a "frame", and sometimes, due to the frequent presence in the air, "foreman of the front" ... Our infantrymen especially hated them, "frames" corrected enemy fire.

By August 1943, the deputy commander of the guard squadron, Captain A. S. Smirnov, made 312 sorties, shot down 13 enemy aircraft in 39 air battles.

In September 1943, the regiment was transferred to the command of the 3rd Air Army, which operated on the Kalinin Front.

On October 7, 1943, at the head of six Aerocobras, he attacked and scattered a group of 21 Xe-111s. As a result of a 20-minute battle, the pilots of his six shot down 6 Xe-111, one of them - the leader, was the first in this battle to shoot down our ace. In October 1943, Major A.S. Smirnov - squadron commander of the 28th Guards IAP.

The most successful day for A.S. Smirnov became October 9, 1943, when, in three sorties in the Nevel area, he shot down 4 German aircraft (Xe-111, Xsh-126, 2 FV-190) for which he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

And in general, October became the most productive month for the hero - then he won 9 victories, the most significant in terms of downed types of German aircraft: 2 Xe111, 3 Yu-87, Khsh-126 and 3 FV-190.

By September 1944, Smirnov made 396 sorties, personally shot down 31 and in group 1 enemy aircraft. From January 1945 he fought as deputy commander of the 28th Guards IAP on the 3rd Belorussian Front.

Demonstrating high flying skills and creativity in air combat tactics, Major A.S. During the war years, Smirnov made 457 sorties on the I-153, MiG-3 and Aerocobra, conducted 72 air battles, shot down 34 enemy aircraft personally and 1 in the group, in addition, on June 27, 1943, he destroyed the enemy’s corrective reconnaissance balloon.

He made about 300 sorties in a pair, and later in a group with his wingman, and later the commander of the guard, captain P.D. Ugljansky, who won 12 personal and 1 group victory. In air battles A.S. Smirnov was wounded three times. Among the downed A.S. Smirnov aircraft 2 twin-engine He-111 and 1 Yu-88, three personally and one in the group shot down "frame" FV-189, 3 Yu-87, 2 reconnaissance Khsh-126 and even extremely rarely identified in Soviet fighter regiments, well armed forward and back German heavy twin-engine fighter Me-210. In total, he has 7 twin-engine cars on his account.

On October 22, 1944, for the exemplary performance of command assignments, the 28th Guards Leningrad IAP, where Smirnov fought, was awarded the Order of Kutuzov III degree. In total, during the war years, the pilots of the 28th Guards IAP shot down 406 enemy aircraft in air battles and destroyed 105 aircraft at airfields.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Smirnov commanded a fighter aviation regiment. In 1947 he graduated from the Higher tactical flight training courses for officers. Was one of the pioneers jet aviation. Since 1950 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting technique of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Mastered MiG-9, Yak-15, Yak-17, La-15, MiG-15, MiG-17. Military pilot 1st class. Since 1952 - Colonel.

Hero of the Soviet Union, outstanding ace of jet aviation E.G. Pepelyaev, who was very zealous in assessing his flying skills, spoke of him in superlatives: "A very strong pilot: accurate, calm, self-possessed."

Since 1954, Colonel A.S. Smirnov in reserve.

He lived in Moscow. He worked at a school, then at a film studio for educational films. Sometimes he came to the Victory Day celebrations, sitting somewhere on the side and covering the golden Stars with his left hand raised to the lapel of his jacket, went unnoticed.

Once holding a solemn meeting in DOSAAF, three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal A.I. Pokryshkin noticed him when the meeting had already begun. Alexander Ivanovich, apologizing, stopped the speaker, invited A.S. Smirnov to the presidium, briefly introduced him to those present, who responded with a standing ovation, after which he suggested returning to the rules of the meeting.

Aleksey Semyonovich was an exceptionally modest person, rather even a silent man. “I fought like everyone else, I was just a little lucky,” he briefly answered questions from unfamiliar people and correspondents.

He was married and raised a daughter and a son.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union A.S. Smirnov (09/28/1943, No. 1213; 02/23/1945, No. 4182) was awarded: two Orders of Lenin (08/14/1942; 09/29/1943); five - the Red Banner (12/3/1941; 05/3/1942; 04/30/1943; 09/3/1944; 02/22/1955), the Order of Alexander Nevsky (10/11/1943), two Orders of the Patriotic War, I degree (05/15/1945; 03/11/1985) , Order of the Red Star (3.11.1953), medals.

A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. S. Smirnov was installed in the city of Rameshki, Tver Region. One of the MiG-23s in service with the Soviet Air Force was named after him.

In the State Tretyakov Gallery there is a bust of A. S. Smirnov by the People's Artist of the USSR N.V. Tomsky.

Eternal memory to the Hero!

Especially for "Century"

The article was published as part of the socially significant project “Russia and the Revolution. 1917 - 2017" with the use of state support funds allocated as a grant in accordance with the order of the President Russian Federation dated 08.12.2016 No. 96/68-3 and on the basis of a competition held by the All-Russian public organization"Russian Union of Rectors".

7. 2. 1917 - 7. 8. 1987

Smirnov Alexey Semyonovich - deputy commander and squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Division.

Born on February 7, 1917 in the village of Paltsevo (now the Rameshkovsky district of the Tver region) into a peasant family. Karelian. Member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1941. He graduated from an incomplete secondary school, worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin railway station.

In the Red Army since 1938. In the same year he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation Pilot School, and since December 1938 - a pilot in the aviation units of the Moscow and then the Leningrad military districts. Member of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-40.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941 - as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander on the Leningrad, Volkhov, Voronezh, North-Western and Kalinin fronts.

By August 1943, the deputy squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (5th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 6th Air Army, North-Western Front) Guard Captain A.S. Smirnov made 312 sorties, shot down 13 enemy aircraft in 39 air battles.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 28, 1943 for military exploits and shown courage and courage Smirnov Alexei Semyonovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 1213).

Since October 1943, Major A.S. Smirnov - squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (5th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 11th Fighter Aviation Corps, 3rd Air Army) on the 1st and 2nd Baltic Fronts. By September 1944, he made 396 sorties, personally shot down 31 and in group 1 enemy aircraft.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 23, 1945, for the successful command of the squadron and the courage and courage shown in air battles in Belarus and East Prussia, Smirnov Alexei Semenovich was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 4182).

Since January 1945 Smirnov A.S. fought as deputy commander of the Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment on the 3rd Belorussian Front.

Demonstrating high flying skills and creativity in air combat tactics, A.S. During the war years, Smirnov made 457 sorties, conducted 72 air battles with the enemy, and shot down 34 enemy aircraft.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov A.S. commanded an aviation regiment. In 1947 he graduated from the Higher tactical flight courses for the improvement of officers. Since 1950 - senior instructor-pilot in piloting technique of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. In 1952 he was awarded military rank"Colonel". Since 1954 - in reserve. He lived in Moscow, where he died on August 7, 1987. He was buried in Moscow at the Kuntsevo cemetery.

He was awarded 2 Orders of Lenin, 5 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 2 Orders of the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star, and medals.

Bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Smirnov A.S. installed in the city of Rameshki, Tver region.

Affiliation

USSR USSR

Type of army Years of service Rank

: Invalid or missing image

Battles/wars Awards and prizes

Alexey Semyonovich Smirnov(January 25 [February 7], Paltsevo village, Tver province - August 7, Moscow) - Soviet ace pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Biography

Demonstrating high flying skills and creativity in air combat tactics, A.S. Smirnov during the war years made 457 sorties, conducted 72 air battles with the enemy, and shot down 34 enemy aircraft.

After the war

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Smirnov commanded an aviation regiment. In 1947 he graduated from the Higher tactical flight training courses for officers. Since 1950 - senior instructor pilot in piloting technique of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. In 1952 he was awarded the military rank of colonel. Since 1954 - in reserve. Lived in Moscow. He worked as a projectionist in the film library of the RONO of the Leningrad region. Died August 7, 1987. He was buried in Moscow at the Kuntsevo cemetery.

Awards

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 23, 1945, for the successful command of the squadron and the courage and bravery shown in air battles in Belarus and East Prussia, Smirnov Alexei Semenovich was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 4182).

  • .

An excerpt characterizing Smirnov, Alexei Semyonovich

Returning home, Pierre could not sleep for a long time, thinking about what had happened to him. What happened to him? Nothing. He only realized that the woman he knew as a child, about whom he absentmindedly said: “Yes, good,” when he was told that Helen was beautiful, he realized that this woman could belong to him.
“But she is stupid, I myself said she was stupid,” he thought. - There is something nasty in the feeling that she aroused in me, something forbidden. I was told that her brother Anatole was in love with her, and she was in love with him, that she was whole story, and that Anatole was expelled from this. Her brother is Ippolit... Her father is Prince Vasily... This is not good, he thought; and at the same time as he was reasoning like this (these reasonings were still unfinished), he forced himself to smile and realized that another series of reasonings had surfaced because of the first ones, that at the same time he was thinking about her insignificance and dreaming about how she would be his wife, how she could love him, how she could be completely different, and how everything he thought and heard about her could be untrue. And he again saw her not as some kind of daughter of Prince Vasily, but saw her whole body, only covered with a gray dress. “But no, why didn’t this thought occur to me before?” And again he told himself that it was impossible; that something nasty, unnatural, as it seemed to him, dishonest would be in this marriage. He remembered her former words, looks, and the words and looks of those who had seen them together. He remembered the words and looks of Anna Pavlovna when she told him about the house, remembered thousands of such hints from Prince Vasily and others, and he was horrified that he had not bound himself in any way in the performance of such a thing, which, obviously, was not good. and which he must not do. But at the same time as he was expressing this decision to himself, from the other side of his soul her image surfaced with all its feminine beauty.

In November 1805, Prince Vasily had to go to four provinces for an audit. He arranged this appointment for himself in order to visit his ruined estates at the same time, and taking with him (at the location of his regiment) his son Anatole, together with him to call on Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky in order to marry his son to the daughter of this rich old man. But before leaving and these new cases, Prince Vasily had to resolve matters with Pierre, who, however, recent times spent whole days at home, that is, at Prince Vasily, with whom he lived, he was ridiculous, excited and stupid (as a lover should be) in the presence of Helen, but still did not make an offer.
“Tout ca est bel et bon, mais il faut que ca finisse”, [All this is good, but it must be ended] - Prince Vasily said to himself once in the morning with a sigh of sadness, realizing that Pierre, who owed so much to him (well, yes Christ be with him!), does not do very well in this matter. “Youth ... frivolity ... well, God bless him,” thought Prince Vasily, feeling his kindness with pleasure: “mais il faut, que ca finisse. After Lelyna's name day tomorrow, I will call someone, and if he does not understand what he must do, then this will be my business. Yes, my business. I am the father!”
Pierre, a month and a half after Anna Pavlovna's evening and the sleepless, agitated night that followed, in which he decided that marrying Helen would be a misfortune, and that he needed to avoid her and leave, Pierre after this decision did not move from Prince Vasily and with horror felt that every day he was more and more connected with her in the eyes of people, that he could not return to his former view of her, that he could not tear himself away from her, that it would be terrible, but that he would have to connect with her own destiny. Perhaps he could have abstained, but not a day passed that Prince Vasily (who rarely had a reception) would not have an evening at which Pierre was supposed to be, if he did not want to upset the general pleasure and deceive everyone's expectations. Prince Vasily, in those rare moments when he was at home, passing Pierre, pulled his hand down, absently offered him a shaved, wrinkled cheek for a kiss and said either “see you tomorrow” or “for dinner, otherwise I won’t see you” , or “I stay for you,” etc. But despite the fact that when Prince Vasily remained for Pierre (as he said it), he did not say a few words to him, Pierre did not feel able to deceive his expectations . Every day he said to himself one and the same thing: “We must, finally, understand her and give ourselves an account: who is she? Was I wrong before or am I wrong now? No, she is not stupid; No, she's a beautiful girl! he said to himself sometimes. “She is never wrong about anything, she has never said anything stupid. She doesn't say much, but what she says is always simple and clear. So she's not stupid. She has never been embarrassed and never is embarrassed. So she's not a bad woman!" Often it happened to her to begin to reason, to think aloud, and each time she answered him either with a short, but incidentally said remark, showing that she was not interested in it, or with a silent smile and look, which most palpably showed Pierre her superiority. She was right to dismiss all reasoning as nonsense compared to that smile.
She always turned to him with a joyful, trusting smile that applied to him alone, in which there was something more significant than what was in the general smile that always adorned her face. Pierre knew that everyone was only waiting for him to finally say one word, to step over a certain line, and he knew that sooner or later he would step over it; but some kind of incomprehensible horror seized him at the mere thought of this terrible step. A thousand times during this month and a half, during which he felt himself drawn further and further into that abyss that terrified him, Pierre said to himself: “But what is this? It takes determination! Don't I have it?"
He wanted to make up his mind, but he felt with horror that in this case he did not have that determination that he knew in himself and which really was in him. Pierre was one of those people who are strong only when they feel completely pure. And from the day that he was possessed by that feeling of desire that he experienced over Anna Pavlovna's snuffbox, an unconscious sense of the guilt of this desire paralyzed his resolve.

Smirnov was born on February 7, 1917 in the village of Paltsevo (Rameshkovsky district, Kalinin region), into a peasant family. After leaving school, he worked as a mechanic at the Kalinin station. He studied flying at the Kalinin Aeroclub. In 1938 he graduated from the Odessa Military Pilot School. As part of the 153rd IAP, he took part in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.

The beginning of the Great Patriotic War met in the 153rd IAP (Leningrad Front), flew reconnaissance, attack and cover his aircraft. In July 1941, on an I-153 biplane, he won his first victory - he shot down a Bf.109. Before re-equipping the regiment on the I-16, he shot down 4 aircraft.

On September 14, 1941, he was wounded in one of the battles and managed to drag the damaged car to the front line, after which he used a parachute. He landed in the neutral zone, from where our soldiers helped him get out, and spent more than a month in the hospital. After treatment, at the end of October, he returned to the regiment. By December 1941, he won 3 more victories.

At the beginning of 1942, the regiment was transferred to the Volkhov Front and was used to protect the "Road of Life". In the summer of 1942, the 153rd IAP was sent to the Voronezh Front, where Smirnov was given the rank of Senior Lieutenant. On June 30, 1942, the regiment, one of the first, was re-equipped with the American P-39 Airacobra. On these machines, Alexei Smirnov achieved significant success in battles on the Voronezh, North-Western, Kalinin and 3rd Belorussian Fronts, becoming a real air Ace. On July 23, 1942, Smirnov led 6 Aerocobras to intercept a Ju.87 group covered by fighters near Zemlyansk. With a surprise attack, he destroyed one "Thing" and damaged the Bf.109.

On November 22, 1942, the 153rd IAP was transformed into the 28th GvIAP and moved to the northern sector of the front. In February 1943, Smirnov destroyed an Fw.190. In March 1943, Aleksey again fought the newest Fw.190 fighter on the Soviet-German front. The battle was on the horizontal. Both cars - "Cobra" Smirnov and the German "Fokker" - turned out to have the same turn time. It turned out that the German could not go into the tail of the Cobra, and Smirnov could not go into the tail of the Fw.190. And then Aleksey, using his rich experience in piloting technique, set in motion the trimmer, using the external slip technique ... Having reduced the radius of the turn to the limit, he went into the tail of the enemy and shot him down. In the spring of 1943 he became Captain and Squadron Leader. By May 1943, the total number of aircraft destroyed by him was approaching twenty.

On August 3, 1943, northwest of Vitebsk, Alexei Smirnov, during a "free hunt", suddenly attacked and destroyed one of the 8 Fw.190s heading to the rear of the Soviet troops. The German fighter crashed and exploded, burying I./JG54 commander Major Gerhard Homut, who by then had 63 victories, under the rubble.

On August 19, Captain Smirnov's group again met in an air battle with the Grunherz pilots. However, this time the opponents had an equal composition - 12 against 12 and dispersed only after the fuel was completely depleted, having lost two Yaks and two Focke-Wulfs. On this day, the commander of the 5th staffel, Ober-Lieutenant Max Shtots (189 victories), who jumped out of a burning Focke-Wulf by parachute, was captured. Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Koller (49 victories) died. In 1943, such results of the battle no longer satisfied the command of the 28th GvIAP, therefore, immediately after the group returned, a thorough analysis of the tactical mistakes made by the pilots was arranged.

On September 28, 1943, Alexei Smirnov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for 13 personal victories won in 39 air battles and 312 sorties (as of August 1943). By the end of September, he brought their number to 18.

The most successful day for Smirnov was October 9, 1943, when he shot down 4 German aircraft and was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 3 days later. At the end of 1943, the regiment was transferred to the 1st Baltic Front. In 1944, Smirnov became a Major. In January 1945 he became a regimental commander and took part in the final battles over Berlin.

On February 23, 1945, Alexei Smirnov was awarded the second Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union for 31 personal and 15 group victories won in 396 sorties (as of September 1944). At the beginning of 1945, the regiment was transferred first to the 3rd, then to the 2nd Belorussian Front. Smirnov's follower in many cases was Peter Uglyansky (14 victories). Once they shot down 4 Bf.109s at once.

Alexey Smirnov finished the war with 34 personal and 15 group victories, 72 air battles and 457 sorties (100 of them for ground attack). Awarded with Orders Lenin (twice), Red Banner (five), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st Degree (twice) and Red Star.

After the war, he remained in the Air Force. He graduated from the Higher Flight - Tactical KUOS in 1947. He commanded the IAP, then he was a pilot - instructor in piloting technique of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1954, Colonel Smirnov has been in reserve. Lived in Moscow, worked in the public education system. Died August 7, 1987. The bronze bust is installed in the mountains. Rameshki.

Similar articles

  • Good June Morning Wishes Questions for Reflection

    Good morning, sunny, June day! I'm not afraid of melancholy today, laziness will not overcome, The mood is on the rise and I'm ready to fly, To free myself from the city shackles! To choose from: fishing, beach, picnic, cottage, In any case, waiting me today...

  • Hyundai Greta user manual

    This compact crossover of South Korean origin attracts attention at first sight. Its new "angular" design is unusually good and indicates the high endurance of the machine, as well as the fact that its owner is not afraid of tough ...

  • Hyundai Creta Owner's Manual

    No one doubts the usefulness of books. Since the invention of writing and paper, books have become the main source of information for mankind. In the automotive industry, this moment is given special attention. In today's article...

  • Carpenter's Day in Russia. Who is a carpenter

    Despite the active popularization of professional woodworking equipment, carpenters are still in demand. There are a large number of operations that the machine is not able to handle ...

  • Parents' last call speech

    Wonderful school years fly like swift-winged birds, leaving the most precious memories in the life of every person about the first friendship, love, real mutual assistance, the help of comrades. The last, eleventh year of study for the guys becomes ...

  • Penrose patterns and quasicrystals

    To think the unthinkable and affirm that it is still conceivable is a phenomenon of geometry. A.D. Aleksandrov Class: 8-9 Objectives: Formation and development of students' ideas about new mathematical objects and mathematical concepts ....