(18. 6. 1918 - 14. 5. 1981)
M ihail A. Zuev, Guard Captain, Squadron. 73rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment Stalingrad. Born June 18, 1918 in Art. Yershovo Ershovskogo district of Saratov region. Russian. After graduating from high school in 1937 entered the Military Aviation School.
. Since the beginning of World War II victory over Germany fought on the Western Front, and then in the 8 th and 2-air armies at Stalingrad, Southern, 4 and 1 Ukrainian Front
. Participated in the defense of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, the liberation of Ukraine, the Crimea, Poland, Czechoslovakia, defeating the enemy in Germany. Double shot. For military distinction and impeccable service in the Soviet Army was awarded four Orders of the Red Banner (1942 - 3, . 1957), . Order of Alexander Nevsky (1945), . Red Star (1952), . medals "For Military Merit" (1947), . "For the Defense of Moscow", . "For the Defense of Stalingrad, . "For the capture of Berlin", . "For the liberation of Prague" and four other medals.,
. W tion of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" Mikhail Aleksandrovich Zuev awarded on Feb. 4, 1944 over 335 combat missions and personally shot down 12 enemy aircraft.
. In 1958, MA
. Zuev was fired from the Soviet Army. Reserve colonel, lived and worked in Mr.. Kiev
.
M ihaila Zueva can rightly be called a hero of the Battle of Stalingrad: in the sky over the river, he fought 103 days, carried out 46 armed sorties and spent 25 air battles, during which shot down 8 enemy aircraft
. Here, on the ground at Stalingrad, he shed his blood and has earned for its glorious military affairs two Orders of Red Banner. On the high military skill of the pilot, his selfless courage shown by the numerous examples.
. October 26, 1942 Eight Yak-1, led by Zuev, accompanied by our bombers, who had the task to strike at the enemy concentration in the central airport of Stalingrad
. When approaching the goal of our pilots have met with 24 Me-109 fighters, have taken violent attacks to disrupt the plaque. Zuev first attacked the enemy planes, connected to the fight and gave the opportunity for our Pe-2 aiming bombed. In air combat with superior enemy group Zueva shot down three "Messers"; one of them killed the commander of the group.
During the fight in the air, one of our bombers was heavily damaged and lagged behind the overall system. Zuev personally shield him from attack by the Nazis until until he landed at his airfield.
. For excellent performance of the combat mission of the bomber command announced Zuev gratitude.
. November 3, completing the exploration of the enemy, Zuev returned to their base
. When landing on him suddenly attacked by two German fighter-hunter who appeared from behind the clouds.
The Germans had every advantage in height and speed and anticipated an easy victory. It seemed that nothing could save from death Zueva. However, the pilot managed to wriggle out from under the first blow. Forcing the engine, he gained height and joined battle with the enemy. Air battle, watching it all, who at that time was at the airport, lasted 15 minutes. In one attack, Zuyev managed to set fire to a vulture, which fell on the edge of the airfield. The second enemy fighter ignominiously fled the battlefield. The pilot of downed plane Zuev was captured. He was an ace Germanic Air Force and for their actions has been awarded four iron crosses.
Last sortie Stalingrad Zuev made on December 8. In the battle with 10 transport aircraft S-52 flying with the ammunition to the encircled, Zuev knocked one of them, but he himself was seriously wounded. However, after four months of the brave pilot returned to the regiment and in subsequent battles won a number of new exciting victories.
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Sources:
1) Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary. V.1. M.: Voeniz.1987.
2) Rumyantsev.N.M. People legendary heroism ". Saratov. 1968
