Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov February 6, 1923 (86 years old) (19230206) Place of birth ... Wikipedia

Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich Encyclopedia "Aviation"

Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich - A. N. Efimov Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich (b. 1923) - Soviet military leader, marshal of aviation (1975), candidate of military sciences (1966), honored military pilot of the USSR (1970), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945). Graduated from Voroshilovgrad ... ... Encyclopedia "Aviation"

- (b. 1923) Russian military leader, Air Marshal (1975), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945). During the Great Patriotic War in assault aviation, squadron commander and navigator of an air regiment; 222 sorties. Since 1969 1st deputy, in 1984 91 ... Large encyclopedic Dictionary

- (b. 6.2.1923, Kantemirovka, now the Voronezh region), Soviet military leader, colonel general of aviation (1969), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (10/26/1944 and 8/18/1945). Member of the CPSU since 1943. Born into a working class family. AT Soviet army from May 1941. ... ...

- (b. 1923) Soviet military leader, Marshal of Aviation (1975), Candidate of Military Sciences (1966), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (1970), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945). Graduated from Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation School (1942), Military ... Encyclopedia of technology

- (b. 1923), Air Marshal (1975), Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945). During the Great Patriotic War in assault aviation, squadron commander and navigator of an air regiment; 222 sorties. Since 1969 1st Deputy, in 1984 1990 Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

- (born 02/06/1923) attack aircraft pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR, State Prize Laureate, Air Marshal (1975), Cand. military. sciences. Participant of the Great Patriotic War from August 1942 Was ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia

Efimov is a Russian surname, one of the 250 most common Russian surnames. Known carriers: Contents 1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5 D ... Wikipedia

I Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich (b. 6.2.1923, Kantemirovka, now the Voronezh Region), Soviet military leader, colonel general of aviation (1969), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (26.10.1944 and 18.8.1945). Member of the CPSU since 1943. Born into a family ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• Moscow on the front line, Bondarenko Alexander Yulievich, Efimov Nikolai Nikolaevich. This book is based on the materials of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, covering little-known pages of the Second World War, with a special emphasis on defense ...
• Bitter summer of 1941, Nikolai Nikolaevich Efimov, Alexander Yulievich Bondarenko. "For a correct analysis and assessment of military events, it is important that all historical facts were considered with a professional understanding of the merits of the case, with deep regard to the specifics of a particular ...

6.2.1923

Efimov Alexander Nikolaevich - Commander of the 198th Assault Squadron and Navigator of the 62nd Assault Aviation Regiments of the 233rd Assault Aviation Division of the 4th Air Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front.

Born on February 6, 1923 in the village of Kantemirovka (today an urban-type settlement in the Voronezh region) in the family of a railway worker. Russian. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the town of Millerovo, Rostov region, where in 1940 he graduated from school No. 2. In 1941 he graduated from the Lugansk flying club.

In the army since May 1941. In 1942 he graduated from the Lugansk Military Aviation Pilot School.

Member of the Great Patriotic War since August 1942 as a pilot of the 594th Assault Aviation Regiment. He took part in battles on the Western and 2nd Belorussian Fronts near Vyazma, Smolensk, in Belarus, Poland and Germany. From November 1942 - pilot, flight commander, navigator and squadron commander of the 198th Assault Aviation Regiment. By July 1944 - Squadron Commander of the 198th Assault Aviation Regiment (233rd Assault Aviation Division, 4th Air Army, 2nd Belorussian Front), Senior Lieutenant A.N. Efimov flew 100 combat missions to reconnaissance and attack troops, airfields, crossings and enemy railway echelons.

For courage and heroism shown in battles, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 26, 1944, Senior Lieutenant Alexander Nikolayevich Efimov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 4845).

From April 1945 - navigator of the 62nd Assault Aviation Regiment. In total, during the war years, he made 222 sorties in an Il-2 attack aircraft, he personally and as part of a group destroyed 85 enemy aircraft at airfields and 7 in air battles, a lot of enemy manpower and equipment.

For courage and heroism shown in battles, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 18, 1945, Captain Alexander Nikolayevich Efimov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 73/2).

After the war, he held various command positions in the Air Force. In 1951 he graduated from the Air Force Academy (Monino). He commanded a regiment, division. In 1957 he graduated Military academy General Staff. He was deputy commander of the 30th Air Force (in the Baltic Military District). In 1964-1969. commanded an air army in the Carpathian military district. Since March 1969 - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.

From December 1984 to July 1990 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. 1990-1993 - chairman State Commission for use airspace and air traffic control. Since August 1993, Air Marshal A.N. Efimov - retired.

Lives in Moscow. Chairman of the Russian Committee of War Veterans and military service; Chairman of the Commission for Cooperation with public organizations veterans, reserve officers and retired officers under the President of the Russian Federation; Deputy Chairman of the Russian Organizing Committee "Victory", headed by the President of the Russian Federation; Chairman of the Council of the International Association of Veteran Organizations; member of the Central Council for Veterans Affairs of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation; member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (since 2006).

Marshal of Aviation (April 29, 1975), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (1970), Doctor of Military Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Military Academy of Aviation and Aeronautics. Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1984).

He was awarded 3 Orders of Lenin (November 26, 1944, 10/31/1967, 09/04/1981), the Order of the October Revolution (02/19/1988), 5 Orders of the Red Banner (05/29/1943, 02/21/1944 ., 24.10.1944, 21.02.1969, 05.02.1973), Order of Alexander Nevsky (1.08.1944), 2 Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (05.11.1943, 11.03.1985 g.), Orders of the Red Star (30.12.1956), "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd degree (17.02.1976), russian orders - "For Services to the Fatherland" 2nd (2008), 3rd (2003) and 4th (1998) degrees, Courage (1997), medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation, foreign orders and medals.

Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1946-1950. and 1974-1989, People's Deputy of the USSR in 1989-1991. Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1986-1990.

His bronze bust was installed in the city of Millerovo, Rostov region.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov.

06.02.1923 – 31.08.2012

He was born on February 6, 1923 in the village. Kantemirovka of the Voronezh region. At an early age, he moved with his mother to the city of Millerovo. He spent his childhood and adolescence in the town of Millerovo, so he always considered Millerovo his homeland. In 1940, Alexander graduated from high school number 2, then it was located at st. Lunacharsky, 22. At school, Efimov organized a circle of young model aircraft, took an active part in glider competitions, made glider models.

After graduation, he entered the flying club named after. Levanevsky in the city of Lugansk. A year passed quickly there. Lessons in theory, climbing a glider, the first training flights with an instructor on a PO - 2 plane, noisy arguments in the evenings. When the exams began in April 1941, Sasha Efimov passed them perfectly and was enrolled in the school of military pilots.

Alexander Nikolaevich graduated from the flight school in June 1942, receiving the rank of junior sergeant. The young man was eager to go to the front. Soon, Efimov was sent to the reserve aviation regiment, and then transferred to the assault aviation regiment.

A.N. Efimov made his first sortie in the fall of 1942. It was during the battles near Rzhev. Some time passed and Efimov was entrusted with the command of a small aviation unit. Efimov often flew behind enemy lines, took part in the attack on enemy echelons approaching the front. During these battles Alexander Nikolaevich developed and successfully applied in practice new tactics of battle. So he gradually mastered the complex profession of an attack pilot - to perfection.

After A.N. Efimov made 19 sorties, he received the first government award - the Order of the Red Banner, and during the battles near Vyazma and Yelnya was awarded the order World War 1 degree.

Efimov's flying skills grew rapidly. In the most dangerous and difficult moments of the battle, he did not lose his composure or calmness.

In 1943, Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov took part in the battles on the Oryol-Kursk Bulge. Once Efimov received a task to bomb an enemy echelon approaching a railway station located in the rear of the enemy.

It so happened that the commander of the covering fighter group by mistake went to escort another four Ilovs, while Efimov's group was left without cover.

- We go to the target, we go to the target. Tighter build! - the slaves heard on the radio the confident voice of Efimov and the group, closing the formation, followed the commander.

A powerful bombardment was launched by the Ilyushins on the railway station. The pilots and gunners saw how the cars were on fire, how the shells exploded. The first call was followed by the second, the second - the third, as a result of which the trains were smashed to smithereens. At this time, a pair of Messerschmitts crept up to the attack aircraft. They rushed to the attack, but met a staunch rebuff from the air gunners.

Attack aircraft made nine approaches to the target then, simultaneously firing at the trains and repelling the attacks of fighters. After repelling 5 enemy attacks and fighting 17 enemy aircraft, Efimov and his comrades withdrew from unequal fight winners.

The day of July 13, 1943 will never be erased from the memory of Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov. Here is his story: “Under the cover of a pair of fighters, our four attack aircraft made a successful bombing strike against enemy firing positions. We were already returning back when the leader of the group, Captain Malinkin, broadcast on the radio: "Attention!" And then I saw what made the commander sharply change course. To the left, over our front edge, closing a circle, spewing fire, German planes spun, storming our infantry. There were 13 Messerschmitts and 4 Fockewulf-190s. We established their exact number later. But at that moment, the commander decided to help the infantry, and each of us took this decision without the slightest hesitation. 6 our planes against 17 German ones. The unequal, stubborn air battle began with a daring attack by the Ilyushins.

Cover fighters tied up the Fokkers in battle, and thus, for each attack aircraft, there were 4 Messer-110s. But the effect of the surprise attack fully justified itself: the order of battle of the Messers was disrupted, their leader darted to the side, and the rest of the vultures stopped behind him.

The air battle lasted 27 minutes. It was very heavy. My air gunner Sergeant Dobrov was wounded, an enemy shell disabled the machine gun. The fuselage, wings and tail of the aircraft were riddled - about 400 holes were counted by the mechanics in my Ilya. Our squadron commander Captain Malinkin was killed in this battle. He died helping the infantry. "

In the days of the battles on the Oryol-Kursk Bulge, a joyful event took place in the life of the glorious pilot - Alexander Nikolaevich was accepted into the ranks of the CPSU (b). Soon he was appointed squadron commander, which was always entrusted with the most important tasks.

On the Second Belorussian Front, Alexander Nikolaevich was appointed regimental navigator. On June 26, 1944, the soldiers of his unit solemnly celebrated a joyful event in the life of Efimov - on this day he made the hundredth combat mission.

A little later, the front-line newspaper in its article "170 sorties of Captain Efimov" wrote about our fellow countryman: "The scouts reported that a large number of German vehicles, artillery and manpower had accumulated at the crossing over one water line. An experienced attack pilot, Captain Efimov and Junior Lieutenant Babkin, turned to the commander with a request to allow them to fly out to destroy the crossing ... "

Returning from this flight, during which a huge amount of enemy equipment and soldiers were destroyed, Captain Efimov received the fifth award - the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

Efimov had to take part in the battles near Grodno, Konigsberg, Stettin and other cities.

In October 1944 for the excellent performance of the command missions and the courage shown in battles to Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

During the Great Patriotic War, Efimov grew from a senior sergeant to a guard major.

Alexander Nikolayevich Efimov often joked: “I am particularly lucky with the number 2. To begin with, my plane had number 2, the squadron was the second in the regiment. When I was 22, I had 222 sorties on my account, and on August 18, 1945, I was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

High flying skills, firm will to win, persistence, endurance, purposeful courage of Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov were highly appreciated by the Motherland. Two gold stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, several military medals - a well-deserved reward were on the chest of Major A.N. Efimova - a participant in the Victory Parade in Moscow.

In 1951 he graduated from the Air Force Academy, in 1957 - from the Military Academy of the General Staff, served on command positions in the Air Force, he is a laureate of the USSR State Prize, a candidate of military sciences since 19.03.1966.

From December 1984 to July 1990, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR; from 1993 to 1993 Chairman of the State Commission on the Use of Airspace and Air Traffic Control. On April 29, 1975, Efimov was awarded the title of "Marshal of Aviation". He is an Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (), Doctor of Military Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Academy of Aviation and Aeronautics Sciences, laureate of the USSR State Prize ().

FROM august 1993 Air MarshalA. N. Efimov - retired.

Every year on February 6, on the birthday of Alexander Nikolayevich Efimov, a rally in memory of the glorious compatriot is held at the monument in Millerovo.

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Computing Systems and Networks (until April 2005 - Department of Electronic Computing Machines) of the Institute of Management and information technologies (IWIT).

Region scientific interests - mathematical statistics, signal theory, control theory, intellectual property.

Books (2)

Predicting random processes

The brochure tells about ideas and methods of predicting the values \u200b\u200bof random processes. The simplest prediction algorithms are considered, properties of predictive filters are demonstrated.

The main properties of the forecasting algorithms in combination with the summation and cyclic polling algorithms are shown. The technical devices that use the forecasting operation are considered. The brochure is intended for the general reader.

Elite groups, their origin and evolution

About one mathematical model and the literary reminiscences caused by it.

The main advantage of the article is its focus on practical results. And although it itself was written back in the days of the Communist Party, its applicability for solving today's problems never ceases to amaze.

Reader Comments

Rustem / 03/19/2016 read the article by this author "Elite groups, their emergence and evolution". In my opinion, liberal-scholastic chatter is for an inexperienced reader, in order to inculcate a flawed paradigm of perception of reality and history into the reader's mind under the guise of science.

Denis / 21.11.2012 Maxim Gureev, yes, the work "Elite Groups" belongs to Efimov.

/ 1.09.2011 Dear A.N. (sorry, I don’t know your I.O.) I also have several publications on predicting random processes, but I don’t have the last version of your book, it’s not in the public space of St. Petersburg either. Perhaps you have seen my works in the magazines "Radiotekhnika", "Radiotekhnika i elektronika", "Izv.Vuzov.Radioelektronika". I will be glad if you establish contact with me. V.A. Golovkov.

Maxim Gureev / 17.07.2011 Good day!
I would like to ask if this author owns the following work:
Efimov, A. Elite groups, their emergence and evolution [Text] / A. Efimov // Knowledge is power. - 1988. - No. 1.
??

Born on February 6, 1923 in the village of Kantemirovka, now the village of the Voronezh region, in the family of a railway worker. In 1940 he graduated from school number 2 in the town of Millerovo, Rostov region. Since 1941 in the ranks of the Red Army, in 1942 he graduated from the Voroshilovgrad military aviation school of pilots.

In August 1942, with the rank of sergeant, he was assigned to the 198th ShAP, acting on Western front... As an attack pilot he took part in battles near Vyazma, Rzhev, Bryansk, Smolensk, in Belarus, Poland, and Germany. He was a flight and squadron commander, navigator of an air regiment.

By July 1944, the squadron commander of the 198th Volkovysk Assault Aviation Regiment (233rd Assault Aviation Division, 4th Air Army, 2nd Belorussian Front) Senior Lieutenant A.N. Efimov made 100 successful combat missions for reconnaissance and ground attack , airfields, crossings and enemy railway echelons.

On October 26, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for courage and military valor shown in battles with enemies.

By April 10, 1945, the navigator of the 62nd Assault Aviation Grodno Order of the Suvorov Regiment (233rd Assault Aviation Yartsevskaya Red Banner Division), Captain A. N. Efimov, made 200 successful sorties. In total, he personally destroyed 28 enemy aircraft at airfields, 9 railway echelons, 65 guns, 47 tanks, and up to 2,000 fascists. After 58 air battles, he shot down 7 enemy aircraft (1 personally and 6 as part of a group).

In 1951 he graduated from the Air Force Academy, and in 1957 from the Military Academy General Staff... He served in command positions in the Air Force. Since 1969, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, since 1984 - Air Force Commander - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Honored Military Pilot. Since 1975 Air Marshal. Candidate of Military Sciences. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 2, 9 - 11 convocations. Lived and worked in Moscow. Author of books: "Over the Battlefield", "Soviet Air Force".

Decorated with the orders: Lenin (three times), Red Banner (five), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree (twice), Red Star, "For service to the Motherland in Armed Forcesakh USSR "3rd degree; medals, foreign orders. A bust was installed in the city of Millerovo, Rostov region.

* * *

In the park on the central street of the city of Millerovo in the Rostov region, surrounded by tall chestnuts and silver fir trees, stands a bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, now Marshal of Aviation - Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov. In the first 100 sorties, he destroyed 12 enemy aircraft, 25 tanks, and many other equipment. Its last, 222nd combat mission, flew on May 8, 1945. For special merits in mastering aviation technology, high indicators in the education and training of flight personnel and many years of flight work in the aviation of the Armed Forces of the USSR he was assigned honorary title "Honored Military Pilot of the USSR".

The life path of Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov did not develop at all the way his father, a hereditary railroad worker, wanted. For decades, until the end of his days, Nikolai Gerasimovich worked as the head of the track distance. Naturally, he believed that his son would follow in his footsteps. But no. The son chose another path - the sky. His passion for aviation originated in school, in the mid-1930s. And who did not dream of becoming a pilot then? Yes, almost all young people.

Sasha attended the school aviation club, where the boys made the simplest flying models with rubber motors. In Millerovo, under Osoviachim, a gliding school operated, which had several US-4 gliders. It was attended by high school students. The guys enthusiastically mastered the theory and looked forward to independent flights. Finally they took place. That day, August 18, 1938, Alexander Nikolaevich will never forget. He took off for the first time. Let it to a small height, but it rose, hovered above the ground. This feeling is beyond words!

So Alexander laid, without exaggeration, the beginning of a new dynasty - the Efimov dynasty of aviators. After all, not only his children, but also his grandson, Alexander, devoted his life to aviation.

Immediately after graduation high school in 1940, Sasha entered the Voroshilovgrad Aero Club, and in May 1941 - at the Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation School of Pilots, which he graduated from in July 1942 and immediately went to the front. He was assigned to the 198th Assault Aviation Regiment of the 233rd Assault Aviation Division.

Alexander, as they say, was lucky: he was assigned to the 2nd squadron of Captain V.A.Malinkin, who was rightfully considered one of the best commanders. Even before the war, Viktor Malinkin was an instructor in an aeroclub, then flew fighters, then retrained as an attack pilot. Under his leadership, the formation of the pilot Yefimov began. And very successfully: he quickly got into battle formation.

Like all front-line soldiers, Alexander Nikolaevich remembers his first sortie on a combat mission. Attack aircraft then struck at the Osuga railway station in the Kalinin region. The enemy hit hard, he suffered heavy losses. The first flight brought the young pilot a lot of joy because he had successfully completed the task.

To the beginning Battle of Kursk Alexander was already a mature pilot. He was promoted in rank and position, sent to lead the group on important assignments. He became deputy squadron commander.

The tasks followed one more difficult than the other, the situation was sometimes the most incredible. The pilots often had to fight in clearly unfavorable conditions, with superior forces enemy. The battle that took place in mid-July 1943 was firmly engraved in the memory of Alexander Nikolaevich.

The Battle of Kursk was unfolding in full width. The enemy, unable to break the resistance of the Soviet troops, stopped the offensive and turned back. The 198th Attack Aviation Regiment was ordered to strike in the Bolkhov area at the retreating enemy, destroy his tanks and manpower in the villages of Sorokino, Ukolitsy. To accomplish this task, the regiment commander allocated two groups of attack aircraft. The second in the 4 "Ilov", which included the crew of Efimov, was led on a mission by Captain Malinkin.

A short flight - and the attack aircraft are already at the target, near the village of Sorokino. But what is it? There are no retreating columns here. The enemy's defense is clearly visible from above. The Germans managed to gain a foothold: dig trenches for the infantry, put tanks and self-propelled guns in the trenches, equip positions for artillery and mortars. Such a surprise!

Malinkin decides to attack tanks and self-propelled guns first as the most dangerous targets. The captain makes a U-turn and rushes to the enemy. The rest of the crews follow. Powerful PTABs fly at enemies. Explosions - and flames are thrown up. German tanks are burning.

The group makes a new approach and smashes enemy batteries with cannons and eres, fires manpower from machine guns.

Now you can go home. The stormtroopers are heading back. Soon the pilots saw a large group of enemy aircraft bombing with impunity. soviet troops... We must rescue our infantry, disperse the enemies. And there were 13 multipurpose Me-110 and 4 FW-190 escort fighters. The forces are clearly unequal. But this did not frighten Captain Malinkin. "Attack, follow me!" he orders over the radio.

A mortal fight ensued. Malinkin shoots down one Messer with powerful fire from the cannons. The Germans immediately set fire to the car of junior lieutenant Zinovsky. The fight continues. Shooter Efimov manages to knock out another "Messer". However, Alexander soon remains without a follower - the plane of Lieutenant Petrov falls to the ground. The loss is huge!

The carousel in the air does not stop for a single second. With incredible efforts "Ilam" manages to push the enemy back and cover its infantry. But using their absolute superiority, the Germans act impudently, attacking continuously.

“Commander, the squadron commander's plane has been shot down,” Alexander heard the voice of his air gunner, Sergeant Yuri Dobrov. Efimov turned his head to the right and saw Malinkin's car pull down to the east. He could not cover the Captain, the Messers were pressing. Now Alexander was left alone against a pack of enemies. He kept maneuvering, throwing the IL-2 to the left, to the right. And the Me-110, like kites, pounced on him. Here is one of them, not counting, jumped forward of the attack aircraft. Efimov instantly pressed the triggers of cannons and machine guns and with concentrated fire smashed the enemy plane to shreds. It exploded in the air.

Efimov was already leading an attack aircraft over the very tops of the trees, making it difficult for the Messeram to maneuver. Suddenly they lagged behind the "Ila". Alexander understood: they ran out of fuel, and the enemy withdrew from the battle. That was exactly what he was counting on.

Of the entire group, only the crew of Alexander Efimov returned to their airfield. Mechanic Sergeant Yuri Konovalov looked at the car and sighed heavily: there was no living space on it, it was all riddled with shrapnel and bullets, and fragments of pine needles stuck out of the oil cooler.

It was, perhaps, the most difficult battle of Senior Lieutenant Efimov. But he steadfastly withstood the inhuman tests. He withstood and thought: why were they, quite experienced pilots, so badly patted by the Germans? Alexander puzzled for a long time and came to the conclusion: tactical methods of battle were outdated. We must look for new ones. And he sought, persistently improved his and his subordinates' combat flying skills, honed the art of maneuver.

On July 13, 1943, after the death of Captain Malinkin, Senior Lieutenant Efimov was appointed commander of the 2nd Squadron. And at that time he was only 20 years old!

* * *

Fly to photograph the enemy's front line, ”the regiment commander once ordered to Alexander Efimov. - What it is, I will not explain, you yourself know. 6 fighters will cover you.

There is! - Alexander answered shortly.

Yes, Efimov knew perfectly well what hell they were sending him to. He began to carefully prepare for departure. In his plane, in the cockpit of the air gunner, the regimental craftsmen adapted the aerial camera so as to make perspective photographing of enemy ground objects.

At the appointed time, Alexander took the Il into the air and headed for the city of Mstislavl, where he was met by escort fighters. Below is the front edge of the enemy's defense. Efimov dropped to a height of 50 meters and under the noses of the Germans at high speed went low along the front line. Meanwhile, the air gunner was taking photographs. Efimov drove the car in such a way to create the most favorable conditions for photographing. The Germans opened furious fire.

Having finished the first run, Alexander turns around and makes the second, then the third. Moreover, at a height of no more than 20 meters. A sea of \u200b\u200bfire is raging around the stormtrooper, but he stubbornly does his job. Finally the photography is complete. With the climb, Efimov leaves the front line. The photographs turned out to be extremely successful and very valuable. The commander of the 2nd Belorussian Front declared gratitude to the crew.

* * *

By June 1944, Alexander Efimov made 100 sorties. His gunner, Sergeant Yu. P. Dobrov, had shot down 4 enemy aircraft by that time (2 of them were in the group). In the spring of 1945, they took part in the battles over the territory of Poland, having carried out the 200th sortie near Gdansk. Captain A. N. Efimov made his last sortie on May 5, 1945 to the port of Svinemunde, located on the Baltic Sea, already as navigator of the 62nd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment.

In total, during the war, he made 222 successful sorties, of which 47 were for reconnaissance. He personally and as part of a group destroyed 85 enemy aircraft at airfields and 7 in air battles. And how much equipment and manpower the enemies lost from the fire of his attack aircraft! There are hundreds of them. On October 26, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for heroism, courage, courage, and high combat skill, and on August 18, 1945 he was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

Alexander Nikolaevich could not imagine himself without aviation. After the end of the war, he remained in the combat formation of the Air Force. In 1951, A. N. Efimov graduated from the Air Force Academy, and in 1957 - from the General Staff Military Academy. A competent, educated officer (in 1970 he received the title of "Honored Military Pilot of the USSR"), A. N. Efimov is rapidly advancing in his service: he is in command of an air regiment equipped with Il-10 aircraft. Then the air division with MiG-15 and MiG-17, Air army... In 1975 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal.

In 1984, A. N. Efimov was appointed to the highest post in aviation - the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. He spent 6 years in this position. In the same 1984, he was awarded the USSR State Prize for testing new weapons. Since 1990 - Chairman of the State Commission on the Use of Air Transport and Air Traffic Control under the government of the country.

A. N. Efimov was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd, 9th - 11th convocations, People's Deputy of the USSR (1989 - 1991), a deputy of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, Ukrainian and Latvian SSR. He is a professor, candidate of military sciences.

AT last years Air Marshal A. N. Efimov - Chairman of the Commission for Interaction with Public Organizations of Veterans, Reserve Officers and Retired Officers under the President of the Russian Federation, President of the International Charitable Public Foundation "Victory - 1945".

* * *

Attack aircraft on the Legstriss airfield (Danzig).

Fortified on the outskirts of the city. Danzig, the Germans put up stubborn resistance to our advancing troops. Fierce battles went on day and night. Every meter of land, every house was taken with a fight. Danzig, completely blocked by our troops, was covered by a strong air defense system. Despite the proximity of the front line, Legstriss airfield continued to operate. The aircraft were dispersed far beyond the working field: between hangars, houses, at a distance of up to 1000 - 1500 meters from the working field. Occasionally, the Germans took the planes off the highway to the city and sheltered them between houses.

On March 25, 1945, I received an order with a group of 16 Il-2s to strike at artillery and mortar positions and the accumulation of enemy equipment in the Oliva area. Our unit was based at the Marienburg airfield. The group was supposed to cover 8 Yak-3 from the same airfield.

The battle formation of the group is fours in the right "bearing". In each of the last 3 fours, I assigned crews to suppress FOR the enemy.

Approaching the NBP - Carthauses, I contacted the guidance station and received a new task: "To strike at the Legstriss airfield."

According to intelligence, there were many aircraft at the airfield prepared for relocation. In the hangars, preparations were underway for loading disassembled aircraft on barges, which could not leave by flight.

By radio, I alerted the entire group and the leader of the cover fighter group to retarget. I decided to attack the target in pairs with the left "circle" and then close it. In plain text, I conveyed to the leading fours about the method of attacking the target. The Legstriss airfield was located next to the target previously given to us, so no recalculations had to be made, only increased the course by 2 °, hoping to reach the eastern part of the airfield to make it easier to attack.

I walked to the front line with a climb of 2000 - 2200 meters. I crossed the front line with a decrease at an increased speed (340 km / h). The Germans, accustomed to the calculations of 290 - 300 km / h for the Il-2, could not immediately inflict defeat on the group. All the breaks fell far in the tail. We went all the way to the goal under heavy fire from the Germans, who were trying to upset the group's battle formation. They approached the airfield at an altitude of 800 - 900 meters. The group stretched out in a line along the front. Having approached the airfield, the attack began with the left turn. Behind the airfield, they opened fire on the group, but could not inflict a serious defeat. The crews specially assigned to suppress the AFA silenced them on the second approach.

Having entered the "circle" in pairs, the group began to attack the airfield. Due to the large dispersion of aircraft, each had to choose a target. The group made 3 passes. Coming out of the attack, I headed for the center of Danzig. The Germans did not expect such a maneuver and, after becoming silent, at the first moment did not fire any fire. The group stretched out in pairs in a chain behind the leader. Not reaching the city center 2 km, I turned sharply to the right, at the same time giving a command to the group. Cutting off the "circle", the group quickly took up battle formation, gradually gaining height.

The group had no losses, only 4 aircraft received minor damage. At the Legstriss airfield, 14 aircraft and a hangar were burned, in which there were up to 20 different aircraft prepared for evacuation.

The results of the attack were confirmed by ground units, photographs and cover fighters.

(From the collection - "One hundred Stalin's falcons in battles for the Motherland". Moscow, "Yauza - EKSMO", 2005.)