Aleksandr Mironenko Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 19.04.1918 Country: Ukraine

Alexander Mironenko Biography

Alexander Alexandrovich Mironenko was a fighter pilot and major in the Soviet Air Force. He was born on April 19, 1918, in the village of Yahniky, now in the Lohvitsky District of the Poltava Region, Ukraine. He came from a working-class family. Mironenko received a higher education and joined the Naval Aviation of the Soviet Navy in 1937.

In 1940, Mironenko graduated from the Eisk Military Aviation School for Naval Pilots and was assigned to the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet. When the Great Patriotic War began, he served on the front lines. By May 1944, he became the commander of the 13th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was part of the 9th Assault Aviation Division of the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet.

During his time in the military, Mironenko flew a total of 629 combat sorties to provide cover for his aircraft, ships, and bases. He personally shot down 12 enemy planes and another 4 planes as part of a group in 32 aerial battles. On July 22, 1944, for his courage and bravery in combat, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Mironenko completed over 700 successful combat sorties during the war, engaging in approximately 50 aerial battles and shooting down a total of 20 enemy planes individually and 10 as part of a group.

After the war, Mironenko continued his service in the Navy. In 1948, he graduated from the Naval Academy, and in 1969, he completed the Higher Aviation Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. He then served in command positions in the Navy, eventually becoming a Colonel-General in the Air Force.

From 1974 to 1982, Mironenko served as the Commander of Aviation for the Navy. He was a distinguished Soviet military pilot and a candidate of naval sciences. He received numerous awards, including the Orders of Lenin (twice), the October Revolution, the Red Banner (three times), Ushakov 2nd degree, the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Red Star (three times), and the "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd degree, as well as various medals.

Mironenko passed away on July 17, 1999, and was buried at the Troekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.