Fedorov Ivan Evgrafovich was born on February, 10th (23), 1914 in
Kharkov (
Ukraine). He has left school after 5 classes in 1928. After that, he worked as a toolmaker at an engine-building factory in Lugansk (1929-1930). Since February, 1932 Fedorov was in Red Army. He ended a military aviation school of pilots in Lugansk in August, 1932. Then, he served in front parts of the Air Forces as the younger pilot and the commander in
Zhitomir (
Ukraine). Ivan Fedorov participated in operations in
Spain since May, 1937 till January, 1938. On a plane I-16 he has brought down two planes of the opponent. Fedorov Ivan Evgrafovich also was a participant of the Great Domestic war. During this war he has made hundred fourteen fighting starts on fighters Yak-7 and Yak-9, he has lead fifteen air fights in which he has brought down personally eleven and in group-one plane of the opponent. For courage and the heroism shown at a test of the new aviation technics, to colonel Fedorovu Ivan Evgrafovich was given a rank of the Hero of Soviet Union. Since March, 1954 he was in a stock. Up to 1974 worked as the head of department in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the
USSR. Fedorov Ivan Evgrafovich was rewarded with order of Lenin, four awards of the Red Banner, order of Alexander Nevskyy, four awards of Domestic war. Also he was rewarded with the Red Star, medals and many foreign awards.
http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=414
Good work, I had not read about this pilot before so it is interesting that he is from Kharkov originally. Seems he was honored greatly for his accomplishments. Good work putting the URL at the end. Now, did you read your Readers Digest article yet?
Comment by kristinagray — March 6, 2007 @ 7:44 am