Evgenij Turenko Fighter pilot, major general of aviation, Heroes of the Soviet-Finnish war Date of Birth: 13.12.1905 Country: Ukraine

1. Biography of Evgeny Turenko
2. Participation in the Soviet-Finnish War
3. Appointment as Chief of the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School
4. Participation in the Great Patriotic War

Biography of Evgeny Turenko

Evgeny Turenko was a fighter pilot, an Air Force Major General, and a Hero of the Soviet Union. He was born into a peasant family in Ukraine and completed his primary education before working on a collective farm. In 1926, he was conscripted into the Red Army and later graduated from the Leningrad Military-Theoretical School of Pilots in 1928. Turenko joined the Communist Party in 1931 and completed additional training at the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy in 1933.

Participation in the Soviet-Finnish War

During the Soviet-Finnish War, Turenko served as the commander of the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment in the 59th Fighter Aviation Brigade of the Air Force's 7th Army in the Northwestern Front. By March 1940, he had completed 35 combat sorties, targeting enemy forces. The regiment lost 10 aircraft in battles and 4 in accidents and disasters. On March 21, 1940, Major Turenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and valor in fighting against the Finnish White Guards. He was presented with the Gold Star Medal No. 271.

Appointment as Chief of the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School

In May 1940, Turenko was appointed as the Chief of the Borisoglebsk Red Banner Military Aviation School named after V.P. Chkalov. On June 18, 1941, Colonel Turenko became the commander of the 59th Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Defense Forces, consisting of the 182nd and 185th Fighter Aviation Regiments. The formation of the division began shortly before the war in Minsk, but its personnel were only 70-80% complete, and there was a lack of equipment.

Participation in the Great Patriotic War

During the early days of the Great Patriotic War, Minsk was captured by the enemy, leading to the decision to send the "horseless" division for further formation and replenishment in the country's interior. On September 3, 1941, the 3rd Reserve Aviation Group was formed based on the 59th Fighter Aviation Division. Colonel Turenko was appointed as the commander of the 2nd Reserve Aviation Group in the Leningrad Front.

The 2nd Reserve Aviation Group was formed on August 18, 1941, based on the 56th Fighter Aviation Division. It consisted of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, the 41st, 283rd, and 515th Fighter Aviation Regiments, the 504th Assault Aviation Regiment, the 10th Dive Bomber Aviation Regiment, and the 121st and 138th Bomber Aviation Regiments. Initially, the aviation group operated on the Volkhov and Bryansk Fronts, and in May-June 1942, on the Leningrad Front. In August 1942, the 2nd Reserve Aviation Group was transformed into the 278th Fighter Aviation Division.

From September 17, 1942, to September 3, 1945, Colonel Turenko commanded the 246th Fighter Aviation Division of the 12th Air Army in the Zabaykalsky Front. The division was stationed in Mongolia. From August 15, 1945, to September 3, 1945, the 246th Fighter Aviation Division participated in the Soviet-Japanese War. Due to the lack of enemy resistance in the air, the fighters mainly engaged in ground attacks against Japanese forces and reconnaissance.

In August 1945, the division was awarded the honorary title "Mukden" for its distinguished actions during the Khingan-Mukden Operation. On September 8, 1945, Colonel Turenko was promoted to the rank of Air Force Major General.

After the war, he continued to serve in the Air Force until 1951 when he entered the reserves. Turenko lived in Petrozavodsk. He was buried in the "Peski" cemetery.