(17. 3. 1918 - 5. 6. 1944)
M Lefebvre ARCEL Commander 3rd Squadron ( "Cherbourg") Aircraft Regiment "Normandie" 303rd Fighter Air Division (1-Air Army, 1 st Belorussian Front), Senior Lieutenant. Born March 17, 1918 in the town of Les Andelys (France) in a working class family. Frenchman. He graduated from flight school. He worked as an instructor pilot. In 1938, drafted into the army.
In 1940, defending his country, fought against the Nazi invaders. After the disgraceful truce, the French government with the Nazis, he fled to the British, for that at home was sentenced to death. In the UK, joined the Free French movement Б• Б•?.
At the end of November 1942, among other volunteers arrived in the Soviet Union, in Ivanovo, which began forming fighter squadron Normandie Б• Б•?. Winter 1942-1943 period the French pilots and techniques mastered the Yak-1. 22 March 1943 the squadron flew to the front, which came in the 204 th Bomber Division (1-Air Army, Western Front). In their first combat sorties Lefebvre has shown dedication, exceptional courage and fearlessness. Since April, the squadron fought in the 303rd Fighter Division.
W imoy 1943-1944, the squadron was withdrawn to the rear, where the regiment was re -. Being in Tula on reorganization, Lieutenant Lefebvre led the retraining of newly arrived from England and North Africa, French pilots in the Yak-9 and successfully coped with this task. For military merit and airmanship, he was appointed commander of the squadron.
In spring 1944, the regiment Normandy Б• Б•? rejoined the 303rd Fighter Air Division (1-Air Army, 1 st Belorussian Front). Squadron Lefebvre was considered the best in the regiment. Squadron pilots typically perform the most responsible tasks of command: accompanied and protected the Soviet bombers in the air and ground attack, blocked the enemy's airfields, circled over his airfield. Sam Lefebvre made 105 sorties, 30 air battles personally knocked 8 and in group 3 enemy planes.
28 May 1944 in aerial combat fighter Lefebvre was hit, and he was wounded. At the burning plane, he flew across the front line and landed on its airport, while receiving severe burns. He was taken to a hospital in Moscow.
. June 4 Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR he was given the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
. June 5 from wounds and burns Lefebvre died.
. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, Red Banner, World War 2 degrees
. Order of the Soviet Defense Minister Lieutenant Lefevre ever enrolled in the lists of the Soviet Air Regiment.
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Biography provided by AE Melnikov
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. Sources:
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1) "Red Star" 14.10.1970. 2) Vorobyev MV, Khrapchenkov AK
. In the battles at Smolensk land. - M., 1975.
3) de Joffre F. Normandie-Niemen ": Memoirs of a pilot. - Moscow: Military Publishing, 1982.
4) AD Zaitsev, Roshchin II, Solovyov VN. Enrolled perpetuity. Kn. 1. M.: Politiz, 1990.
5) wing to wing. - M., 1976.
6) Lukashin, VI. Common enemy. - Moscow: Military Publishing, 1976.
7) Forever in the ranks. Album. - Issue. 2. - M.: Voeniz, 1973.
