(24. 7. 1920 - 22. 12. 1980)
A LEXANDER V. Rakov, Guard lieutenant, commander of the 165-th Guards Red Attack Air Regiment, was born July 24, 1920 in a. Ulybovke Volsky District, Saratov Region. Russian. He graduated 9 years of high school and flying club. In 1940, voluntarily entered Engels Military Aviation School, where he graduated in 1942.
. From July 1943 to victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, fought in part 2, 17-air armies and aviation unit, Major General Aviation AN
. Vitruka at Voronezh, 1 and 3 of the First Ukrainian Front. Participated in the Battle of Kursk, the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Thrice wounded. For military distinction was awarded two Orders of Red Banner (1943 - 2), Order of the Patriotic War of degree 1 (1944), a medal for the liberation of Belgrade and three other medals, as well as the Yugoslav Order of Guerrilla Star, 1-st degree.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Alexander Vasilyevich Rakov awarded Oct. 26, 1944 for 110 combat missions in the Il-2, . causing great damage to the enemy and for displaying valor and courage.,
. In 1946, a
. V. Rakov resigned from the Soviet Army on the disease. Lieutenant, retired, disabled veteran 2-nd group. Mr. Hab. Volsk. Died Dec. 22, 1980.
With howling first sortie Alexander Rakov considered one of the most difficult. It is July 5, 1943, when German troops began an offensive at Kursk. Group Ilyushin, which included flying Rakov, was ordered to strike at the attacking enemy tanks in the area, Butovo. When approaching the front line attack aircraft were fired upon with artillery fire. Skillfully using protivozenitny maneuver, pilots lay on the combat course and dropped bombs on a concentration of enemy tanks. On the second pass Rakov dropped to an altitude strafing and rockets set fire to the enemy tank.
At this time, from behind the clouds suddenly appeared the German fighters. On cancer swooped down at once three "Messer". Soviet pilot does not lose his head, took the fight and successful gun-machine-gun burst knocked out a vulture. The next moment, the enemy machine-gun fire pierced the fuselage "sludge". Rakov was wounded, but continued to straggle "Messers" up until the aid does not come comrades. Bleeding, he made another run-up and fired at the enemy motorized infantry advancing behind tanks.
Particularly distinguished Rakov the winter of 1944 when surrounded and smashing the Korsun-Shevchenko enemy. In mid-February, Hitler's command launched a strong counter-attacks in order to help his doomed Division. Long bloody battles ensued. German divisions advancing from the south, came to Lysyanka. In the north there is trying to break through and surrounded by part. Our troops on the ground waiting for help from the pilots, but dense fog and heavy snow paralyzed the work of the military aviation.
. February 15, when the onslaught of the enemy in the area Lysyanka was particularly strong in the air with great difficulty, managed to raise four best crew, including crew Rakov
. With the Kiev airport Zhulyany pilots headed to the Korsun-Shevchenko. Snowstorm prevented orientation. A few minutes of the flight was delayed aircraft lights ice screws iced over, started shaking motors. For this reason, the IL-2 Lieutenant Basinsky, who was walking in a pair with cancer, has failed and the pilot made an emergency landing at Vasilkova. Rakov continued flying, maintaining contact with command post 2-Air Army. Approaching the end, he heard the voice of Colonel General aviation. Krasowski: "Eagles!" Homeland of you remember! Stay on track goal - Nazi tanks! "
Rakov just dropped bombs on a target and struck two tanks, then machine-gun fire strafed enemy motorized infantry. After four passes, having exhausted his ammunition, Rakov returned to the airfield.
---
Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.2. M.: Voeniz.1988.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
