Aleksey Kostenko Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 25.02.1910 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Alexey Kostenko

Alexey Kostenko was born on February 25, 1910, in Lozovaia, Kharkiv Oblast. He attended a 7-year railway school from 1918 to 1925 and then studied at the Kremenchug Technical School from October 1925 to June 1928, specializing in mechanical engineering. After completing his studies, he worked at the Lozovaia steam locomotive depot as a fireman, assistant locomotive engineer, and locomotive engineer from June 1928 to October 1930. He then enrolled at the Kharkiv Institute of Railway Transport Engineers from October 1930 to May 1932.

In May 1932, Kostenko was called into the 8th Military Aviation School for Pilots in Odessa, which he graduated from in 1933. He furthered his training at the Courses for Squadron Commanders at the Myasnikov 1st Military School of Pilots in Sevastopol-Kacha, completing them in 1934. From July 1934 to April 1938, he served in the 13th Fighter Aviation Squadron of the Leningrad Military District in Gatchina, initially as a squadron commander and then as a separate unit commander. Until October 1938, he served in the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Leningrad Military District in Pushkin as a squadron commander.

In 1937 and 1939, Kostenko participated in the May Day air parades over Red Square. He served as a squadron commander in the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Leningrad Military District in Pushkin until January 12, 1940. As part of the 25th Fighter Aviation Regiment, he took part in the Red Army's campaign in Western Ukraine from September 18 to 28, 1939, and in the war with Finland from November 30, 1939, to March 13, 1940. He flew 38 combat missions and personally shot down two enemy aircraft.

During the Great Patriotic War (World War II), Kostenko served as the commander of the 181st Fighter Aviation Regiment, the commander of the 269th Fighter Aviation Division, and the commander of the 101st and 310th Anti-Aircraft Defense Fighter Aviation Divisions. He participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk, and the preparations for the Berlin operation.

After the war, Kostenko continued to serve in the country's Air Defense Forces. In 1952, he graduated from the Aviation Faculty of the K.E. Voroshilov Higher Military Academy, which was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of the Suvorov 1st Degree. He held several high-ranking positions, including commanding the 310th and 106th Anti-Aircraft Defense Fighter Aviation Divisions, the 37th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Corps, the fighter aviation of the Kharkiv Corps of the Air Defense Forces, and serving as the deputy commander of the Northern Group of Forces for the Air Defense Forces and the commander of the Kuibyshev Corps of the Air Defense Forces. In 1959, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of Aviation.

Kostenko received numerous awards and decorations throughout his career, including the Order of the Red Banner (four times), the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Degree, the Order of the Red Star, and various medals. He retired due to illness in 1960 and passed away on July 4, 1966, in Kharkiv.