(9. 2. 1920 - 21. 12. 1990)
Mr. rigory A. Rechkalov. Born February 9, 1920 in the village Zaikova Irbitsky district of Sverdlovsk region in a peasant family. Russian by nationality. Member of the CPSU since 1942. In the Soviet Army in 1938. In 1939 he graduated from the Perm military aviation school. During the Great Patriotic War, GA. Rechkalov participated in the battles in the South, the North-Caucasian, 1, 2 and 4 of the First Ukrainian Front, was a flight commander, squadron navigator, and then deputy commander of the 55 (16 Guards) Fighter Regiment. Held 122 air battles, in which he personally shot down 56 aircraft and in group battles - 6 enemy planes. He was awarded many orders and medals of the Soviet Union.
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Grigory Andreevich Rechkalova awarded May 24, 1943.
. In the Torah the Gold Star Medal "awarded July 1, 1944.
. Fter WWII GA
. Rechkalov in 1951 graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy. He has held several senior posts in the Air Force of the Soviet Army. Since 1957, Major General Aviation. Since 1959, was in reserve, had lived and worked in Moscow. Wrote the book "smoky skies of war," "Away from his youth" and "In the skies of Moldova.
. Died Dec. 21, 1990.
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IN THE GLORY OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS
. June 22, 1941 Gregory Rechkalov returned from the city, where he was sent to the medical commission check eyesight
. He could not distinguish colors, and the Commission made a negative conclusion. "Do not fly me now," - thought Gregory. Frustrated, he left the train at platform. And then the terrible news: the war. Gregory, without hesitation, straight from the station, jumped into the truck first got the car, drove to the airstrip. The regiment was leading the fighting against the Nazis in the south-west of Ukraine. Going to the regimental commander, Gregory reported on his grief. Anyone reading the opinion, said:
- What a misfortune, can not distinguish colors! Alien aircraft from their differences?
- The difference, Comrade Commander.
- So, you see, - pointed out the window, continued the commander, - out is "The Seagull" Number 13, sit down and fly.
Together with other pilots Rechkalov the first day, six times and second seven stormed to his "Seagull" the enemy. Reseeding then on I-16, he accompanied the bombers and attack aircraft, air battles waged. And this is the first joy: in a dogfight Gregory shot down Nazi aircraft S-88, 12 "Junkers" were carrying payloads to reset it to Chisinau. Three Soviet pilots, among them Rechkalov, crashed into their system and daring attacks forced to unload far from the goal.
About dnazhdy, when fighters escorted "seagulls", stormed the Nazi column in the cockpit Rechkalova there was a dry crack in the face started to bleed, right foot slipped from the pedal. Hardly have lasted it to the airfield, barely put the car, but get out of the cabin forces are no longer enough.
Gregory spent several months in hospital, endured three operations. And as soon as the wounds healed, begged his doctor to prescribe a part. Once the doctor said angrily:
- Well, we write, but give the restriction will fly in the rear light aircraft.
A few days Rechkalov went to flight school. First thing he asked:
- What do you have for airplanes?
- Only the U-2, - said staff officer.
- So, there was a mistake - nervously said Rechkalov and picked up his suitcase, went back to the headquarters of the Air Force District.
- Are you for a laugh I was sent there? After all, I fighter! - Were pressing it to the officer who issued him an order to go to school.
But he was adamant. Only the district commander of the Air Force after a long conversation Rechkalova allowed to send in a spare Fighter Regiment, which went retraining pilots for "laggs" and "yaki". But Gregory was drawn to the place where were his fellow-countrymen, to the front. He wrote a report to send him to the army. Denied. Writes the second, third ... And here was to disturb the leg: a fragment. We put Rechkalova for operation. More than two weeks he spent in hospital. When discharged, he came to the regiment commander to ask to leave home. Before that there were cases when the pilots were on furlough went to the front, in its part. Regimental commander, taking Rechkalova, said:
- Okay, you're on crutches, anywhere from me can not get away.
And let. Gregory drove for a couple of days in Sverdlovsk, to relatives, and even with a crutch in his hand went to the region of Rostov-on-Don, where the regiment fought in his native.
The train him someone gave a fresh issue of the newspaper. From it he learned that the regiment was given the name of the Guards. Gregory was glad he was eager to meet with friends and live together with them under the banner of the Guards to smash the fascists.
In nov front, military life. Gregory Rechkalov quickly entered her. Mastering the accumulated experience of the pilots of the regiment, he seeks and uses new tactics of air combat, courageously fighting with the enemy. Within a short time makes more than a hundred flights, . assault is to destroy dozens of vehicles, . artillery, . rail cars and a lot of the enemy; in 20 air battles, . conducted during this time, . Rechkalov shot down six enemy aircraft - four personal and two in group,
. In late December 1942 for these successful actions Rechkalov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
At the front were new planes. I received them and 16-th Guards Fighter Regiment. Day and night the pilots mastered a new car. In April 1943, at the height of the air battle in the Kuban, clashed.
Stood spring sunny days. In the Kuban skies from dawn until late at night rushed dozens of friends and strangers aircraft. "There was no departure - recalls Gregory Rechkalov - that we have not fought. Initially, the Nazis acted insolently. Pop up a group, in bulk, look, then one or another of our aircraft, crimson, flies to the ground. But we quickly saw through the tactics of fascist pilots and have adopted new methods: to walk in pairs, but not the links, it is best to use for radio communications and guidance systems, aircraft echelon of the so-called "shelf". It is in these days in our regiment was born "falcon kick", developed by Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin ". Gregory Rechkalov, then serving in the squadron Pokryshkin, was his faithful assistant.
... In osmerka fighter jets flew in the direction of the front line, accompanying Stormoviks. Suddenly the bottom left there were nine IU-109 IU l ten-110. Not noticing the Soviet fighters, they went into battle against the storm troopers. Rechkalov realized that one should not lose a second. Instantly voiced command: "Attack!" Cool diving, Soviet pilots suddenly dumped on top "Messerschmitt". Rechkalov sees the silhouette of an enemy aircraft is increasing in sight. Involuntarily the hand tends to press the trigger. But reason dictates: "Sooner, sooner, to beat - so sure, with a small distance". Nazi pilots trying to sharply turn away, but too late. The fiery trail sews his car.
"As the way came" falcon kick ", - thinks Rechkalov and, using a high speed, advanced at the expense of a steep dive, gaining altitude to attack enemy aircraft again ...
This was the second air battles, conducted over the Kuban land April 21, 1943 Eight Rechkalova. Like the first, it ended in complete victory: "Messerschmitt" failed to break through to the Soviet attack. Lost a few cars, they take a hike. Two of them were shot down by Gregory Rechkalova.
Day after day, were added five-pointed stars on the scarlet Rechkalova plane and lined up in a common line. In the Kuban add them 19!
In fierce battles with the enemy Gregory understood the basic precept fighter: "give your opponent the first. Since the attack are not hurry - Wait time. The attack was certain, from close range, a single burst.
About dnazhdy eight fighters under the command of Rechkalova cover for ground troops in the area of the River Dairy. When patrol almost expired, Rechkalov noticed at the bottom right a large group of "Junkers" - no less than 50.
They were about fifteen kilometers from the front. They covered the two-level fighter.
- Attack on the forehead - solves Rechkalov.
This decision was based on surprise and on the use of all the firepower, shock group.
- Clubs, protected us, we go into the attack, - he handed the lead the second quartet, and rebuild your group to "bearing" and charged the enemy in the forehead. From a distance of 200 meters, he knocked leading Nazis. Almost simultaneously, turn on another S-87. He lit the pilot i.i. Golubev. Continuing to fire, Soviet fighters have gone through the whole system of bombers. Six, in which it was shot down by aircraft dropping their bombs began to go. The whole system S-87 scattered.
Having battle turn, Rechkalov with his wingman again found himself above the bombers. But at this point in the tail of his plane began to come pair Messers ". It said a senior lieutenant in. Zherdev and decided to link their fight. One, he knocked on the bends. Seeing that Zherdev beats "Messers, Rechkalov, diving, caught sight of the lead pair of bombers and pulled the trigger. Check all pierced another of the Junkers.
The Germans rushed about. Taking advantage of the panic, drove Rechkalov turn in the third S-87, which exploded in the air by their own bombs.
Soviet pilots killed in that battle five "Junkers" and one "Messerschmitt". Rechkalova has managed to hit three aircraft.
Soon Gregory Rechkalov appeared at the airfield with the Order of Alexander Nevsky in the chest. It was a reward for the successful reunification of victory in battle against the superior forces of the enemy.
... H ow a late evening in the regiment came the order: Departure of several pairs of fighters "free hunters" to prevent acts of enemy planes "hunters", . Transport and Communication machines, . disrupt the movement of trains, . individual vehicles, etc.,
. Morning Rechkalov with his wingman was instructed to "sweep". Passionately fond of it like that to fly over the battlefield or far behind enemy lines to seek out their own goals and suddenly destroy them ...
It was a dogfight. Rechkalov, going to a height of 5 thousand - 6 thousand meters, watching him. Suddenly, two ME-109, apparently, too "hunters", gaining height, went into our territory. Rechkalov missed them by themselves, and then dived in the back and a short burst from a distance of 50 meters, an aircraft struck. Second left on its territory.
Shortly before the expulsion of Hitler from the Crimea Rechkalov "hunt" over the sea for transport aircraft, and the delivery for the trapped enemy ammunition, fuel and food. In one of the gloomy days, he noticed three U-52.
"Gasoline is taken to the Crimea", - he thought the pilot. And he was not mistaken. When whipped him and his wingman two "Junkers crashed into the sea, the water ran a huge flame.
ц? Does the days and months. Our troops are moving farther and farther to the west, freeing their homeland from invaders, destroying them in their own lair. The Germans were thrown into battle new reserves, and our pilots had a day to participate in two, three or even four air battles, took part in them, and Gregory Rechkalov.
... The regiment was in combat readiness. Suddenly came the division commander Guard colonel AI. Pokryshkin. At the command post, he opened the card and explained the task.
- In this area - pointing to a map, he said - moved our tanks. Maybe in a few minutes later, there "Focke-Wulf", should not prevent them from there, cover of the tank. Clear? Fly out!
"I gave the command - tells Rechkalov. - Less than five minutes, we were in the air. Below us seemed mountains covered with snow. We knew that the German airfield is located somewhere in the mountains. And on their white background we saw the silhouettes of enemy planes. These were "the Focke-Wulf-190, which were used not only as fighters, but also as an attack bombers. To attack the airfield we could not: to meet up fascist fighters.
We engaged the enemy with the Quartet Focke-Wulf ". Berezkin and Sukhov, breaking into the structure of German planes shot down immediately by one FW-190. We are ready to settle scores with the remaining two planes, when we fell on top of another eight "Focke-Wulf". They quickly dropped their bombs and clashed with us. I managed to knock one of them, and another, which I attacked from the side, started to run away. I rushed to the chase ...
At the sixteenth minute of the battle we were able to disperse "Focke-Wulf". Five of them were shot down "...
With. Fedoseev
Additional Links:
Biography of the hero at Red Falcons.
In a couple of "hundredths" - Memoirs of Golubeva George Gordeevich.
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. Sources:
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1) People of the immortal exploits. Moscow submarine v.2 1975
