Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich - squadron commander of the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (258th Fighter Aviation Division, 7th Air Army, Karelian Front), Guards Major;
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, Chief Marshal aviation.

Born on August 3 (16), 1914 in the village of Malaya Kirsanovka of the Malo-Kirsanovka volost of the Taganrog district of the Don Cossack Region (now the village of Malokirsanovka, Matveyevo-Kurgan district of the Rostov region). Russian. In 1930 he graduated from the 7th grade of the school in the village of Fedorovka (now the Neklinovsky district of the Rostov region). From 1930 he lived in the city of Taganrog (now the Rostov region). In 1933 he graduated from the school of tram drivers. In 1933-1934 he worked as a mechanic at the aircraft plant number 31 in Taganrog. In 1935 he graduated from the workers' faculty at the Taganrog Industrial Institute.

In the army since July 1935. In 1938 he graduated from the Stalingrad Military Aviation School. He served in the Air Force as a flight commander in a fighter aviation regiment (in the Leningrad Military District).

Member of the Soviet-Finnish War: November 1939 - March 1940 - flight commander of the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment. He flew 101 sorties on I-15bis and I-153 fighters. On December 25, 1939, his plane was shot down and made an emergency landing on its territory. In January 1940, his plane was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire and escaped by parachute.

He continued to serve in the Air Force as a flight commander and deputy squadron commander of a fighter aviation regiment (in the Leningrad Military District).

Participant of the Great Patriotic War: in June-July 1941 - deputy squadron commander of the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment, July 1941 - May 1944 - deputy commander and commander of an air squadron, assistant regiment commander for air rifle service and deputy commander of the 145th (from April 1942 - 19- 1st Guards) Fighter Aviation Regiment. He fought on the Northern (June-August 1941) and Karelian (August 1941 - May 1944) fronts. He took part in the defense of Leningrad, Murmansk and the Arctic, covering allied convoys. On March 27, 1943, he was shot down in an air battle on the R-39 Airacobra plane and escaped by parachute.

For courage and heroism shown in battles against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, to the guard major Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

From May 1944 - commander of the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. He fought on the Karelian Front (May 1944 - January 1945). Participated in the Svir-Petrozavodsk and Petsamo-Kirkenes operations.

In total, during the war, he flew 367 sorties on MiG-3, LaGG-3 and R-39 Airacobra fighters, personally shot down 13 enemy planes and 24 in a group in 79 air battles.

After the war, until November 1948, he continued to command the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (in the Belomorsk Military District; the city of Petrozavodsk, Karelia).

In 1949 he graduated from the Lipetsk Higher Officer Tactical Flight Courses of the Air Force. In 1949-1950 - deputy commander of the 175th fighter aviation division, in December 1950 - November 1951 - commander of the 145th fighter aviation division (in the Group soviet troops in Germany). From November 1951 - deputy commander, and in December 1953 - December 1955 - commander of the 71st Fighter Aviation Corps (in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany).

In 1957 he graduated from the Higher Military Academy ( Military academy General Staff). From December 1957 - Deputy Commander for Combat Training, and in October 1959 - August 1961 - 1st Deputy Commander of the 30th Air Army (in the Baltic Military District; headquarters in Riga, Latvia). In August 1961 - July 1967 - Commander of the 48th Air Army (in the Odessa Military District; headquarters in the city of Odessa, Ukraine).

In July 1967 - March 1969 - 1st Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. From March 1969 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

During his leadership, the country's Air Force achieved the highest development and rise. Commander-in-Chief, his deputies and Main Headquarters The Air Force has done a great job of creating mixed strike and front-line aviation formations of the High Command Reserve.

For his great contribution to improving combat readiness and equipping the Air Force with modern aviation technology and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated August 15, 1984, the Chief Marshal of Aviation was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Gold Star medal.

Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU since 1971. Deputy of the Supreme Soviets of the Ukrainian SSR of the 6-7th convocations (in 1963-1971) and the USSR of the 8-11 convocations (since 1970).

Chief Marshal of Aviation (1972), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (08.16.1966). He was awarded 4 Orders of Lenin (05/01/1943; 08/15/1974; 02/21/1978; 08/15/1984), the Order of the October Revolution (05/04/1972), 5 Orders of the Red Banner (05/01/1942; 07/13/1942; 02/22/1955; 12/30. 1956; 02.22.1968), Orders of Kutuzov 1st degree (11/4/1981), Alexander Nevsky (11/5/1944), Patriotic War 1st degree (09/22/1943), 2 Orders of the Red Star (11/15/1950; 04/29. 1954), the Order For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR "3rd degree (02/17/1976), the medal" For Military Merit "(11/06/1945) and other medals, foreign awards - the Order of the British Empire, 4th class (05.1944), 2 Orders of Sukhe-Bator (Mongolia; 1971 , 11.06.1981), the Order of the Renaissance of Poland 3rd degree (10.1973), Scharnhorst (GDR; 04.1983), "For Services to the Fatherland" in gold (GDR; 03.1977), "For Services in Aviation" (Peru; 1972), People's Republic Bulgaria 1st degree (09/14/1974), Red Banner (Hungary; 05/16/1978) Red Banner (Czechoslovakia; 10/06/1982) and other foreign awards.

Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1983, for a set of works on the adoption of the Kh-55 air-to-surface cruise missile for the Tu-95MS, Tu-95M-55 and Tu-160 aircraft).

Bronze busts of P.S. Kutakhov were installed in the village of Malokirsanovka and the city of Lyubertsy, Moscow Region. In Moscow, on the house in which he lived, and in Taganrog, on the building of the school in which he studied, memorial plaques were installed. Streets in the village of Murmashi (Kola district of the Murmansk region) and the village of Malkirsanovka, as well as gymnasium No. 41 in the city of Lyubertsy, Moscow region, are named after him. In 1985-1998, the name of P.S. Kutakhov was borne by the Armavir Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. The fishing trawler "Pavel Kutakhov" is named after him (port of registry - the city of Murmansk).

Notes:
1) Awarded for completing 262 combat missions and participating in 40 air battles, in which he personally shot down 7 enemy aircraft as part of a group of 24 (as of February 1943);
2) Some sources contain information about 14 personal and 28 group victories, which is not supported by documents.

Military ranks:
Lieutenant (09/22/1939)
Senior Lieutenant (10/14/1941)
Captain (2.02.1942)
Major (06/29/1942)
Lieutenant Colonel (10.24.1944)
Colonel (06/27/1950)
Major General of Aviation (05/31/1954)
Lieutenant General of Aviation (04/27/1962)
Colonel General of Aviation (02/23/1967)
Air Marshal (02/21/1969)
Air Chief Marshal (3.11.1972)

Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the USSR, Chief Marshal of Aviation P.S. Kutakhov

Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov was born on August 3 (16), 1914 in the village of Malokirsanovka, Taganrog District of the Don Army Region (now Matveyevo-Kurgan District, Rostov Region) into a large peasant family. In 1918, his father died of typhus. In Malokirsanovka then there was only primary School, and Pavel, after finishing the three-year school in 1924, went to study in the village of Fedorovka, which is 18 km from his native village. In 1930, he moved to Taganrog, where he continued his studies in high school, and then entered the tram factory school. In 1934, after graduating from the FZU, he was sent to the aircraft plant №31 named. Dimitrov. He combined his work at the plant with his studies at the workers' faculty at the industrial institute. In August 1935, following a Komsomol draft, he entered the Stalingrad Military Pilot School. He started flying on a U-2 plane.

After graduation in February 1939, Lieutenant Kutakhov arrived at the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment near Leningrad, where he soon became a fighter flight commander. In the fall of 1939, he flew several flights to the area of \u200b\u200bthe Red Army's combat operations in Western Belarus.

He took part in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940, during which he flew 131 combat missions in an I-16 fighter. On December 25, 1939, Kutakhov's plane was shot down and landed in the neutral zone. For two nights, the pilot, together with the regiment engineer B. Chernyshev and the flight technician I. Kuptsov, took the plane apart, and on the third night he dragged the fighter to his airfield. Subsequently, the pilot continued to fly this machine. It was here, on the Karelian Isthmus, that he demonstrated his flying skills, showed such qualities as courage, the ability to take risks and take responsibility. With the end of hostilities, the days of intense combat training began again, as a result of which in the spring of 1941 the district newspaper "Defender of the Motherland" named P.S. Kutakhova "a model of the Red Army soldier."

At the start of World War II, Lieutenant Kutakhov continued to command a link of fighters in the Vyborg region (Leningrad Front). In July 1941, he was transferred to the Karelian Front in the 145th Fighter Aviation Regiment, where he served first as a deputy commander and then as a squadron commander. Participated in the defense of Murmansk and Kandalaksha, accompanied caravans of Lend-Lease transport ships.

It was in this direction that the German command strove with the blows of its 5th air fleet disable the Murmansk port in order to prevent the passage of our allies' convoys through the Barents and White Seas and disrupt the work of the Kirovskaya railroad... During the battles, P.S. Kutakhov showed selfless bravery and heroism, having won the glory of one of the best air fighters of the Karelian Front. In the winter of 1942, a new modification of the German Me-109 fighter appeared at the front. It was distinguished by the speed of attack and the execution of a "slide" that the old "Me-109" could not have done. The information about the new plane became more and more, but it was not possible to shoot it down.

Kutakhov noticed that these aircraft in battle are usually kept to the side and above, the car is weak in turns and heavy in a combat turn. In the next air battle, Kutakhov used his knowledge about this aircraft, its weaknesses and shot down the enemy. So the front pilots were able to get acquainted with the newest German Me-109F fighters.

In May 1942, while repelling a raid by enemy aircraft on the Kitsa station, six Soviet fighters led by Kutakhov had to fight eight enemy aircraft. True to his principle, the squadron leader attacked first. With a swift maneuver, our pilots split the enemy formation. The fascist pilots were at a loss and did not even think of hitting the trains. In this battle, several enemy aircraft were destroyed, one of which the pilot personally shot down.

On May 15, 1942, the four, led by Kutakhov, met 20 enemy Me-110 and Me-109 aircraft at the front line. But even a fivefold superiority did not bring success to the Nazis. Having lost three Me-109s and not shooting down a single Soviet aircraft, they abandoned their combat mission.

On July 25, 1942, a note about PS was published in the newspaper of the 14th Army "Sentinel of the North". Kutakhov under the heading "Teacher". She characterized the 27-year-old pilot not only as a master of air combat, but also as an experienced teacher of subordinates. The note said: “Captain Kutakhov is a veteran of the unit, the keeper of its glorious traditions. The pilots call him father. He patiently teaches and educates young people. Prepares her for new fierce aerial battles. For a young air fighter, Kutakhov will always find a word of approval, a sparkling joke. No matter how difficult or difficult the situation was, he will not get confused, skillfully organizes the battle. This is understandable: he is confident in himself, in the strength of Soviet weapons, in his friends, many of whom he himself raised. "

Achievements in the performance of combat missions, courage and military skill of the personnel of the 145th Fighter Aviation Regiment were highly appreciated by the command: in April 1943, the regiment received the name of the Guards Regiment and was transformed into the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.

For the skillful command of the squadron, high flying skills, courage and courage shown in battles, for 7 personally shot down enemy aircraft and 24 as part of a group in 40 air battles by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943 Major Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

Major A.E. Novozhilov, who later became the commander of the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, recalled: “The brightest and most colorful figure in the regiment was the pilot Pavel Kutakhov. Thin, tall, with a lively expressive face and broad energetic gestures ... In short moments of rest, he literally charged his comrades with cheerfulness and humor, and in battle he served as an example of stamina, courage and flying skill. He had an excellent command of piloting technique, knew how to use the slightest favorable conditions in battle and emerged victorious from the most difficult situations. "

In addition, during the short breaks between the battles of P.S. Kutakhov, comprehending his personal combat experience, himself prepared a series of articles on military operations for publication soviet pilots: "Friendly attacks", "From a short distance", "Success was decided by mutual aid", "Combat maturity", "Escort of bombers by fighters", "Ace's place in aerial combat."

In the period from July 1943 to September 1944, P.S. Kutakhov served as assistant commander and then deputy commander of the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Squadron Commander of the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Guards Major P. S. Kutakhov after the battle

In September 1944, he was appointed commander of the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, whose personnel under his command flew 1998 sorties, destroying 39 enemy aircraft. At the end of 1944, the regiment mastered the new Yak-9 fighter in a short time and without flight accidents.

In the fall of 1944, during the Petsamo-Kirkenes offensive operation the correspondent of the newspaper "Boevaya Vakhta", describing the actions of the 20th Aviation Regiment, described its commander as follows: “A master, wiser by the experience of many battles, Pavel Kutakhov knows what is needed to win, which gives rise to success in battle, and in his own stern and wise manner brings up young guardsmen. He is fighting, and young people see his amazing skill of maneuvering, adopting the rapid pace of Kutakhov's attacks. It is difficult to meet, perhaps, a simpler and more accessible person than Kutakhov. And at the same time, few can boast of such endurance, few are able to so vigilantly notice the main thing and see the big behind the small. Kutakhov is strict and demanding, does not give indulgence to anyone in his regiment, if he notices carelessness, slovenliness. Without further ado, the commander knows how to make it clear that the endurance and self-discipline that he requires from subordinates in battle are formed from the discipline of the formation, skillful and persistent execution of orders. "

In 1944, King George VI of Great Britain awarded Major P.S. Kutakhov with the Order of the British Empire of the 4th class for high flying skills and exploits in the protection of northern convoys.

The poet Bronislav Kezhun, who served in the 14th Army, dedicated the following lines to the pilot:

Once again the team - and again without fear,
Looking into the blue of heaven,
Fighter - Major Kutakhov
Leads his falcons into battle ...

In total, during the Great Patriotic War, the pilot flew 367 sorties in I-16, LaGG-3 and P-39 Airacobra fighters, conducted 79 air battles, shot down 14 enemy aircraft personally and 28 as part of a group. He managed to achieve such high successes in battles thanks to the constant improvement of piloting techniques, maneuvers and the use of weapons.

Major Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov in the cockpit of the American-made P-39 Airacobra fighter. Karelian front

After the war, the guard lieutenant colonel P.S. Kutakhov commanded an air regiment in the Arctic for a few more years, and then was sent to the Higher Officer Tactical Flight Courses in Lipetsk, although his description noted: and general education to the extent necessary for the full and successful command of an aviation regiment. " After graduating with honors in 1949, he was sent to the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany, where in December 1950 he was appointed commander of the 145th Fighter Aviation Division. From November 1951, he served as deputy commander, and from December 1953 to December 1955, he served as commander of the 71st Fighter Air Corps in the Baltic Military District.

During his flight work, P.S. Kutakhov has mastered about 30 types of aircraft, of which 7 are jet aircraft, including the MiG-21 and its modifications, the Su-7b, and the Yak-28.

In the period from 1955 to December 1957 he studied at the Higher Military Academy. K.E. Voroshilov (now the Military Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces), after which he was appointed to the post of deputy commander of the 30th Air Force of the Baltic Military District for combat training. From October 1959 he served as the 1st Deputy Commander of the 30th Air Force, and in August 1961 was appointed commander of the 48th Air Force in the Odessa Military District. In 1962, Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov received the rank of "Lieutenant General of Aviation", and 4 years later he was among the first honorary title "Honored Military Pilot of the USSR".

Adopting a new aviation technology demanded the development and application in practice of new tactical methods of air combat, the delivery of assault strikes against ground targets. This necessitated a deep understanding of the aircraft. This is how the concept "technique - aerodynamics - tactics" was born, following which allowed the 48th air army to achieve tangible results: for a number of years, the formation was recognized as the best in the Air Force in terms of the level of combat training.

Serving on command positions, P.S. Kutakhov attached paramount importance to the organization and conduct of combat training, often he himself gave lectures on the method of flight training and flew as an instructor. His obligatory requirement was to train pilots in conditions as close as possible to combat.

In July 1967, Colonel-General of Aviation Kutakhov was appointed First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the USSR, and in March 1969, Marshal of Aviation P.S. Kutakhov becomes Air Force Commander. In 1972 he was awarded military rank "Air Chief Marshal".

Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov, in the course of his career, actively introduced combat experience into flight practice, made a great contribution to the development of the first generations of jet aircraft, to the development of tactics and operational art of using the Air Force. He put forward and actively implemented the idea of \u200b\u200bmassive air strikes in a limited time. He taught this to aviation associations and formations. For example, the air force exercise conducted under his leadership in 1975 was distinguished by a large scale. Two air armies and the air force of the Belorussian district took part in it. Soviet aviation operated from airfields in the GDR, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the USSR.

Air Chief Marshal Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich

Air Force Commander Marshal P.S. Kutakhov P.S. (9th from left in beret)
with pilots of the 135th Fighter Aviation Regiment
at the Beni Suef airbase in Egypt. 16-18.02.1972

The commander-in-chief constantly took care of creating the most favorable conditions for the flight and engineering personnel: the improvement of the air garrisons, the provision of housing and decent wages for their labor. He ensured that military pilots who were commissioned for health received pensions from the higher-paid last flying position, and not from the one from which they retired.

The Chief Marshal of Aviation P.S. Kutakhov on modern fighters up to 60 years of age. In 1983 he became a laureate of the Lenin Prize, and for his great contribution to the development of the Air Force, increasing their combat readiness, equipping with modern aviation technology and in connection with his 70th birthday in August 1984 was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

During his service, P.S. Kutakhov was awarded four Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, five Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Kutuzov 1st degree, Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree, two Orders of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces" 3rd degrees and many foreign awards.

Air Chief Marshal Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov died on December 3, 1984 from a massive heart attack during a working trip to Star City. Bronze busts of P.S. Kutakhova were installed in the village of Malokirsanovka and the town of Lyubertsy, Moscow Region. In Moscow, on the house in which the Hero lived, and in Taganrog, on the building of the school in which he studied, memorial plaques were installed.

The grave of the Chief Marshal of Aviation P.S. Kutakhova
on Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow

The name of P.S. Kutakhova was assigned to the Armavir Higher Military Aviation Red Banner School of Pilots and a fishing trawler of the Murmansk Shipping Company. Now the name of the marshal is a gymnasium in the city of Lyubertsy, his personal belongings and photographs are kept in the museum of his native village of Malokirsanovka.

Taras Levchenko, lieutenant colonel.
Deputy Head of the Research Department
institute military history Military academy
General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

16.8.1914 - 3.12.1984

Kutakhov Pavel Stepanovich - squadron commander of the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (258th Fighter Aviation Division, 7th Air Army, Karelian Front), Guards Major; Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the country, Chief Marshal of Aviation.

Born on August 3 (16), 1914 in the village of Malokirsanovka today, Matveyevo-Kurgan District, Rostov Region. Russian. In 1930 he graduated from the 7th grade of the school. From 1930 he lived in the city of Taganrog, Rostov region. In 1933 he graduated from the tram driver school. He worked as a mechanic at an aircraft plant in Taganrog. In 1935 he graduated from the workers' faculty at the Taganrog Industrial Institute.

In the army since August 1935. In 1938 he graduated from the Stalingrad Military Aviation Pilot School. He served in combat units of the Air Force (in the Leningrad Military District).

Member of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940. as a flight commander of the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment; flew 131 sorties in an I-16 fighter. In one of the air battles he was shot down, escaped by parachute.

Member of the Great Patriotic War: in June 1941 - May 1944 - deputy commander and commander of the air squadron of the 145th (from April 1942 - 19th Guards) fighter aviation regiment, in May 1944 - January 1945 - Commander of the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. By February 1943, he made 262 sorties, in 40 air battles personally shot down 7 and in a group of 24 enemy aircraft.

For courage and heroism shown in battles, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, Guard Major Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 1026).

During the war he fought on the Leningrad and Karelian fronts. He took part in the defense of Leningrad, Murmansk and the Arctic, covering allied convoys, and the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation. During the war, he flew 367 sorties in I-16, LaGG-3 and R-39 Aircobra fighters, personally shot down 14 and in a group of 28 enemy aircraft in 79 air battles.

After the war he continued to serve in combat units of the Air Force (in the Arctic). In 1949 he graduated from the Lipetsk Higher Officer Tactical Flight Courses. He commanded a division (in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany) and a corps (in the Baltic Military District). In 1957 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. In 1957-1959. - Deputy Commander for Combat Training, 1959-1961. - First Deputy Commander of the 30th Air Force (Baltic Military District). In 1961-1967. commanded the 48th Air Army (Odessa Military District). In 1967-1969. - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. Since March 1969 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the country.

During his leadership, the country's Air Force achieved the highest development and rise. At the insistence of P.S. Kutakhov were again (after the "Khrushchev" reduction) formed and armed with modern technology hundreds of aviation regiments. The Commander-in-Chief, his deputies and the General Staff of the Air Force did a great job of creating mixed strike and front-line aviation formations of the Reserve of the High Command.

For his great contribution to improving combat readiness and equipping the Air Force with modern aviation technology and in connection with the 70th birthday by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 15, 1984 Chief Marshal of Aviation Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second Gold Star medal (No. 123 / II).

Chief Marshal of Aviation (1972), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (1966), Lenin Prize Laureate (1983). He was awarded 4 Orders of Lenin (05/01/1943, 08/15/1974, 02/21/1978, 08/15/1984), the Order of the October Revolution (05/04/1972), 5 Orders of the Red Banner (05/01/1942 ., 07/13/1942, 02/22/1955, 12/30/1956, 02/22/1968), Orders of Kutuzov 1st degree (4/11/1981), Alexander Nevsky (5/11/1944) , Patriotic War 1st degree (09/22/1943), 2 Orders of the Red Star (11/15/1950, 04/29/1954), the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces" 3rd degree (02/17/1976), medals, Order of the British Empire, 4th class (1944) and other foreign awards. Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU since 1971 Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR since 1970

Bronze busts of P.S. Kutakhova were installed in the village of Malokirsanovka and the city of Lyubertsy, Moscow Region. In Moscow, on the house in which the Hero lived, and in Taganrog, on the building of the school in which he studied, memorial plaques were installed. A street in the village of Malokirsanovka, as well as a gymnasium in Lyubertsy, are named after him.

Born on August 16, 1914 in the village of Malokirsanovka, Kurgan District, Rostov Region, in a peasant family. In 1918 my father died, the family was in dire need. He graduated from 7 classes, the school of factory apprenticeship in Taganrog and the Rabfak at the Leningrad Industrial Institute. He worked as a mechanic at an aircraft plant. In 1935 he joined the Red Army, graduated in 1938 from the Stalingrad Military Aviation Pilot School. He served in one of the regiments of the Leningrad Military District. Participant of the campaign to Western Ukraine and Western Belarus in 1939 and Soviet-Finnish war 1939 - 1940, where he flew 31 sorties.

Who was

At the beginning of the war, Lieutenant Kutakhov in the army, fought in Karelia as part of the 145th (19th Guards) IAP, then (from September 1944) the commander of the 20th Guards Iap. For courage and heroism in the fight against the enemy on May 1, 1943, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After the war, Lieutenant Colonel Kutakhov remained in the Air Force. In 1948, he enrolled in advanced training courses for command personnel in Lipetsk, and after graduation, he was appointed to the post of deputy division commander in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. After some time, Pavel Kutakhov becomes the commander of the aviation corps. In 1957 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff, served as deputy commander of the air force of the Baltic Military District in Riga. In August 1961, P.S. Kutakhov - Commander of the Air Force of the Odessa Military District. Since 1967 he has been the first deputy commander-in-chief, since 1969 - the commander-in-chief of the Air Force, deputy minister of defense of the USSR. Air Chief Marshal (1972), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR. On August 15, 1984, he was awarded the second Gold Star medal for his great contribution to improving combat readiness and equipping the country's Air Force with modern technology and in connection with his 70th birthday.

What is famous for

One of the first in the Air Force, the spacecraft flew around the imported Airacobra fighter and on May 15, 1942 won its first victory on it. The manner of battle of Pavel Kutakhov consisted in performing maneuvers that were unexpected for the enemy, striving to bring confusion into his ranks, at all costs to prevent aimed bombing at the covered objects. As commander-in-chief of the Air Force, he paid great attention to the adoption of new models military equipment, who sought to fly around personally. Gave a "ticket to the sky" aircraft Tu-22, Tu-95MS, Su-24, Su-25, MiG-25, Yak-38 and many others. During the period of increased deployment of missile forces, P.A. Kutakhov opposed the unjustified reduction of the Soviet air force, directed his forces, knowledge and experience to strengthen the air army. He paid great attention to improving the efficiency of the aviation engineering service.

Battle locations

During the war years he fought in Karelia, covered the port of Murmansk, the base of the Northern Fleet, the Kirov railway, the White Sea-Baltic Canal.

Cases of manifestation the highest degree heroism

In a stubborn battle on June 21, 1943, he shot down one of the most effective german aces in the North, the commander of an enemy air group.

Circumstances of death

State awards

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded four Orders of Lenin, five Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Red Star, Orders of the Patriotic War 1 degree, Alexander Nevsky, Kutuzov 1 degree, "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3 degrees, as well as foreign orders.

Born on August 16, 1914 in the family of a poor peasant in the village of Malokirsanovka, Rostov Region. The family had four sons and a daughter. In early 1919, my father died of typhus.

At that time, there was only an elementary school in Malkirsanovka, and Pavel went to study in the village of Fedorovka, 18 kilometers from Malkirsanovka.

In 1933 he moved to Taganrog, settled on Aptekarskaya Street. For some time he studied in high school near the New Market (now high school No. 9, the Kutakhov Museum was established at the school).

Then he entered the tram factory school. In 1934, after graduating from the FZU, he was sent to the aircraft plant number 31 named after Dimitrov.

Soon Pavel Kutakhov entered the evening workers' school. In August 1935, on the Komsomol appeal, he entered the Stalingrad military school pilots. He started flying on a U-2 plane.

In 1938, with the rank of lieutenant, he arrived in a regiment near Leningrad. He soon became a fighter flight commander. Made several flights during the invasion of Poland.

During the war with Finland, Kutakhov flew 131 sorties. In one of the battles, he was shot down and parachuted down behind enemy lines, returning on foot to the location of the Soviet troops.

The Great Patriotic War

At the outbreak of World War II, Lieutenant Kutakhova was the commander of a fighter flight stationed in the Vyborg area. Here he opened his victory score by shooting down a German plane. Later he was transferred to the Karelian Front, where at first he was deputy commander, then - squadron commander. Participated in the defense of Murmansk, Kandalaksha and the Kirov railway.

Accompany caravans of Lend-Lease transport vessels.

He was one of the most famous fighter pilots of the Karelian Front. The Boevaya Vakhta newspaper wrote in May 1943:

In total, during the war years, PS Kutakhov flew 497 sorties, conducted 79 air battles, in which he shot down 28 aircraft personally and 14 with partners. He has received many awards.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, Kutakhov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1944, Major Kutakhov commanded a Guards regiment. There were ten Heroes of the Soviet Union in his regiment.

In 1944, King George VI awarded Major Kutakhov's Guards the Order of the British Empire, 4th class, for high flying skills and exploits in guarding northern convoys.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel Kutakhov commanded a regiment in the Arctic for several years, and then was sent to the Higher Officers' Flight Tactical Courses in Lipetsk. He graduated with honors in 1949 and was assigned to the group of Soviet troops in Germany. He served as an aviation division commander.

Then he was transferred to the Baltic States, where he mastered supersonic fighters. Graduated from the Military Academy in 1957 General Staff... In 1966, he, the commander of the aviation of the Odessa military district, lieutenant general of aviation, was among the first to be awarded the title of "Honored Military Pilot of the USSR".

In 1967, Colonel-General of Aviation P. S. Kutakhov was appointed first deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Force of the USSR. In March 1969, Air Marshal Kutakhov became Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Force. In 1972 he was awarded the title of Chief Air Marshal.

Kutakhov was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of four convocations, since 1961 he was elected a delegate to all party congresses. Since 1971 - member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Kutakhov flew modern fighters up to the age of 60.

In 1984 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time. He died on December 3, 1984 from a massive stroke. Buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Memory

• His name was borne by Armavir VVAUL (Armavir VAI) before being reorganized and incorporated into the Krasnodar VAI.
• A bronze bust of P.S.Kutakhov was installed in his native village Malkirsanovka.
• In the village of Malokirsanovka there is a museum dedicated to the life and work of P. S. Kutakhov.

State awards

• 4 Orders of Lenin;
• Order of the October Revolution;
• Order of Kutuzov, 1st degree;
• 5 Orders of the Red Banner;
• Order of Alexander Nevsky;
• Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree;
• 2 Orders of the Red Star;
• Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree;
• Holder of many orders and medals of foreign countries.

Family

Son Vladimir Pavlovich Kutakhov - Lieutenant General of Aviation, Deputy Head of the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor.