(4. 3. 1920 - 14. 12. 2000)
P Abel Plotnikov Artemyevitch bomber pilot fought in the 82 Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment. Born 04 п?п°я€я?п° 1920 in the village of Chase Altai region in a peasant family. Russian by nationality. Member of the CPSU since 1944. After the 27-th school in Barnaul worked for an electrical car-repair plant, and simultaneously studied at the flying club. In the Soviet Army in 1938. In 1940 he graduated from the Military Aviation School. P.A. Plotnikov Great Patriotic War began a private pilot, flight commander was then, the squadron carried out 343 sorties. He participated in battles in the South, the Transcaucasus, Voronezh, Steppe, 1 st and 2 nd Ukrainian Fronts. Down 3 enemy planes, sank 6 military transports, destroyed 7 enemy trains, 3 railway bridge, over two hundred and fifty cars, a large number of guns, tanks, vehicles and many other military equipment of the enemy.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Paul Artemyevitch Plotnikov awarded on Aug. 19, 1944.
. In the Torah the Gold Star Medal "awarded June 27, 1945.
. In 1951, P.A
. Plotnikov graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy, and in 1960, the General Staff Academy. In 1966 he was awarded the rank of major general aviation and the honorary title - Honored Military Pilot of the USSR. Until 1975 he served in command and staff positions in the army and the central office of the Air Force. Bronze bust of P.A. Plotnikov established in 1953 in Barnaul, in Liberty Square. Died Dec. 14, 2000. Ivankovskoe buried at a cemetery in Moscow.
W ate November 1943. Above the frontline airfield, almost touching the treetops, the clouds raced. Intelligence reported that the fascist command intensively throws reserves through railway junction Smela. It was necessary to strike at the site from the air. On the solution of this problem regimental commander, sent two of the best crews of bombers-P.A. Plotnikov and I.D. Pashkova.
The first took off Pashkov, for him, after 15 minutes, carpenter. Some time Pavel Plotnikov flying in the clouds. But on the front edge of the wing pilot saw a barely noticeable white patches. "Icing" with annoyance thought Plotnikov. It is threatened by the fact that the aircraft weight may increase and the engine would not keep him in the air. The car started to shake. Under the weight of ice, it could have collapsed to the ground. To avoid this, you need to get out of the clouds. Plotnikov has decided to break their. He gently handed the helm of yourself and the airplane began to decline. Arrow altimeter showed 200 ... 150 ... 100 ... 75 meters, and the land is not visible. It can be run against the high trees or house! I wanted to take the helm himself, but an effort of will forced himself to continue the pilot reduced. Clouds came to an end at a height of 50 meters. Crew members sighed with relief when he saw the earth, powdered newly fallen snow. Eyes were blinded by habit. Navigator difficulty identified area.
Plotnikov took the plane under the bottom edge of the clouds. Below are increasingly appearing on a white background darkening craters from explosions of shells, the sinuous lines of trenches.
Soon, the front line, "reported the navigator.
Plotnikov increased speed to maximum and at low altitude slipped danger zone. Flashed in front of a winding ribbon of the Dnieper. The height of the lower edge of the cloud began to rise. When the plane approached the station Smela, Plotnikov Pashkova saw the plane, and behind him two enemy fighters. They already went into the attack, trying to take a Soviet plane in a vise and knock him.
First Plotnikov wanted to divert the fighters themselves. But this time the aircraft Pashkova vigorously maneuvering, had gone from under attack in clouds. Fascist fighters remained at the bottom, it podkaraulivaya. Fight with them could derail the combat mission. After all, for dropping bombs on the railway station the bombers had to be out of the clouds.
Plotnikov changed the decision. His plane disappeared into the clouds and flew toward the enemy fighters. In order not to lose them, the pilot for a moment, jumped down and hid again.
The planes were already quite close, only a few tens of meters. The Soviet pilot came from behind and at close range fired. Queue, two, three ... After the fourth stage one Nazi plane caught fire and crashed to the ground. The bomber shot down a fighter-a rare case!
No Plotnikov photographed fragments of downed aircraft, the second fascist fighter tried to attack him. But the Soviet bomber again went into the clouds. While this was an unusual battle, Pashkov went to the station swept from the north and dropped bombs.
Plane Plotnikova headed west. The Soviet pilot decided to go for goal from the rear, to distract enemy fighters from the target area and easily deliver a good ball. His case was justified. Enemy anti-aircraft guns and machine guns opened fire on the bomber Plotnikova only when the bomb has already exploded and the plane departed from the goal.
Specifying Command executed. Both the Soviet crew returned safely to their base. The regimental commander praised them for their skill, mutual aid in battle.
P Abel Plotnikov arrived at the front in October 1941. Not all at once he became a sniper air. The first flights were not all effective.
Group of Soviet bombers, including the crew Plotnikova, was given the task to attack the advancing German troops. When the Soviet planes were approaching the front line, they saw ahead of the fiery explosions of antiaircraft artillery caps. Some time later the aircraft pulled to the glittering road machinegun.
Pavel Plotnikov tried to sustain a given combat course, to accurately reach the target. But his eyes involuntarily detained for rupture broke out anti-aircraft shells, machine-gun routes, flitting from right to left.
"Here it is, the first test," thought the young pilot. Fortunately, the air was not fascist fighters.
-Bombs dropped!-Relieved to hear the voice of the navigator Plotnikov. The pilot could not even see where the bombs fell. Navigator-reported in the vicinity of the enemy.
With some difficulty, the crew brought the aircraft to their base: affected tension. Went out of the plane tired.
Pilots gladly lay down under the wing of the plane. But soon came the command:
-Prepare for departure.
And so every day. Sometimes commit 4-5 sorties. Remained only a dream. The enemy planes had numerical advantage. Compensate our pilots had to increase the number of sorties a day. Well, and complete their education, acquire the necessary skills directly in the fighting. Yes, it was a difficult time. Not a single Soviet aircraft was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft guns and machine guns. Ghibli our pilots and fighter aircraft from attack by the fascist.
P Aulus Plotnikov particularly remember one of the air battles in November 1941. Then the crew performed the task of exploration of the enemy. The plane had already formed in the opposite direction, when the gunner-radio operator Mikheyev said that the attack two enemy fighters. They suddenly fell to the bomber from the sun. Plotnikov whirled his plane to escape from under the attack.
Enemy fighters have slipped far from the Soviet bomber. Plotnikov vigorously pressed the steering wheel away. And while Nazi planes unfolded, bomber sped swiftly to the ground. But his speed was much less than the fighters, and they are rapidly approaching Soviet plane when he was at low level. However, the land, against the background of local objects bomber was seen worse than at high altitude, it merged with the terrain, and it is difficult for aiming a fascist pilots.
But ahead Plotnikov saw the yellow box mown wheat. Against this background the Soviet bomber is seen as the palm. And let go nowhere.
Worked feverishly thought. What to do? A second, two, three ... and all will be over.
The enemy fighters attempted to use this moment to attack and quickly rushed to the peak. At any moment a shower of fire could collapse on the Soviet bomber.
The decision came immediately. Plotnikov abruptly took over the Gaza Strip motors and vigorously pulled the steering wheel. Bomber soared, the speed of its flight immediately fell. Enemy pilots were not expecting this, slipped forward, their attack foiled. Moreover, when the output of a dive, an enemy fighter himself has come under fire of our bomber. Navigator Zaporozhko crew immediately took advantage of this and a long queue flashed Nazi aircraft. Fallen down on the wing, he fell to the ground. The second destroyer, abruptly gaining height, turned and headed west. Following Mikheev he sent a long bursts.
Plotnikov lined his plane, he added speed motors and headed to their base. Glancing down, he saw the smoldering wreckage of downed an enemy plane.
... In April 1942, it was necessary to bomb a large enemy transport in Taganrog port. In this task the crew had been sent Plotnikova. Overcoming a strong antiaircraft fire, a brave crew fought his way to the goal. At low altitude it was dangerous to enter, as the Nazis around the port were placed densely antiaircraft guns and machine guns. A high-altitude craft seemed hardly noticeable point. Only a master could send a bomb here. Carpenters did it. Attacking the goal, it is a direct hit blew transport.
In August of that year he was ordered to bomb the crossing near the town of Armavir. And this job Paul Artemyevitch fulfilled with honor.
In September 1943, a group of dive bombers under the command Plotnikova bombed the railroad bridge across the Dnieper, on which the German High Command transferring reserves to the front. The bridge was covered by heavy flak. But it failed to stop the Soviet pilots. The bridge was put out of action for a long time. Soon the same fate befell another bridge across the River Dnieper in the Kremenchug.
In October 1943 the Soviet Information Bureau of the message the whole country learned about the bold heroic feat of Soviet pilots. Twelve dive bombers under the command of Hero of the Soviet Union Polbin returning from a mission after the bombing of the railway junction of the enemy and met a large group of Nazi aircraft, . flying fighter escort to bomb our ground troops,
.
Bombers, as you know, are not intended to attack aircraft in the air, the more fighters. But the Soviet pilots could not allow the fascists bombed our troops with impunity. They are easily cut into the thick of enemy planes, pouring their fire. It was shot down seven enemy planes. One of them destroyed Pavel Plotnikov.
... About dnazhdy in part order arrived Front commander: to destroy the crossing of the Dniester river near the town of Dubossary.
When the order became known to the pilots, they are, as usual, took up the map to explore the area for upcoming activities. The east and west of the Dniester, he walked along the railway lines. They connected the highway and river crossing. Consequently, ferries were the vulnerable link, violating that could cut communication for a long time the western bank of the Dniester in the east. Bomb the crossing means to delay the movement of the fascist reserves.
Several dive bombers took off, heading towards the Dniester. Crews headed to the ferry. The sky was calm, and it seemed nothing could stop them drop their bombs on target. But ahead flared gap flak, followed by another, third. They appear more and more. Hats explosions getting closer and closer. Shrapnel banging on plating aircraft. Force of the explosion threw them from side to side. From the pilots required more effort to sustain the combat course. But the aircraft piloted by Senior Lieutenant Zinoviev, banked sharply turned around and went to the ground. The other two bombers continued to fly to the target. However, it was difficult to take aim, and dropped bombs at the crossing were not included.
After some time, was sent another link dive bombers. The enemy met them as heavy fire. One Soviet plane was shot down. And this departure did not bring success.
Time passed, but the order has not yet been implemented. And then the regimental commander decided to send to the ferry bomber crew Pavel Plotnikov. Took off from the airfield, the aircraft entered the clouds Plotnikova, and hiding them from enemy fighters, soon proved to be far from the ferry. Enemy bomber met a storm of fire. But the pilot stubbornly fought his way to the goal. That's barely noticeable stripe crossing the river-crossing.
Battle-rate-handed navigator.
It is now impossible to turn off. It is necessary to accurately follow the line of a given path, despite fire. Crossing is getting closer and closer. Right and left anti-aircraft shells were exploding, but the pilot brought the plane with a firm hand in a dive.
Rapidly-dive plane. The pilot just sends it to the target. At a given height navigator Yashin presses release gear, and the bombs are flying down.
-Bombs were the target. Crossing exploded!-Happy gunner-radio operator reported Mikheev, watching the results of impact.
Now Plotnikov sent his plane to another crossing. This changed abruptly over the Dniester. The plane turned around and went vigorously at low altitude over the middle of the river, hiding from anti-aircraft fire over the high steep banks. In the distance could be seen crossing. As it dragged on cars, guns, columns of soldiers. Here she is getting closer and closer. Already seen as a rushed about Nazis. The bomber jumped on the ferry and the move to drop a bomb. But she only raised water fountain. A few minutes Plotnikov deployed aircraft and again, now at a slight angle to the ferry, went on her. This time the blow was accurate.
Order command executed. In a departure crew of Pavel Plotnikov detonated two crossing. The way the nazi reserves barred.
A ichnoe skill, extracted in hot battles, Pavel Plotnikov passed young pilots. In October 1944 he was appointed squadron commander of the Guards Regiment.
In January 1945 the squadron under the command of Plotnikova was assigned to attack the accumulation of trains at a railway station Opocno. The brave commander just kept their charges on the target. But the Nazi anti-aircraft guns opened fire. The gaps have closed shells like the sky. Young pilots seemed to get to the station is no longer. But they saw in front of the aircraft commander, who, skillfully maneuvering, led them forward. I passed. One by one the bombers swooped down on the enemy trains standing on the tracks Station. In the end they were seen smoking locomotives.
High-explosive bombs explosions rocked the air. As shown by photographs, was hit by sniper. Were destroyed dozens of cars with vehicles, military equipment, the Nazis. Railway station for a long time out of service.
Squadron guardsmen Paul Plotnikova crushed the enemy and in Germany. Particularly distinguished it in the bombing of the airfield Lamsdorf. Here guardsmen in one sortie destroyed 21 enemy aircraft and detonated benzosklad.
F. Vazhiny
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Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) People of the immortal exploits. Moscow submarine v.2 1975
