Evgeniy Mariinskiy Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 27.01.1923 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Evgeny Mariinsky

Evgeny Petrovich Mariinsky, a fighter pilot and a Guards Lieutenant, made a total of 156 combat flights during his military career. He personally shot down 17 enemy aircraft in 48 aerial battles. He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, Red Banner, and the Patriotic War 2nd Class (twice), as well as the Order of the Red Star and several medals.

Evgeny Mariinsky was born on January 27, 1923, in the city of Balta, Odessa Oblast, in a family of civil servants. He completed 10 grades of secondary school and lived in Moscow before the war. In Moscow, he graduated from the Central Aero Club and studied at the Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute. In 1941, he joined the Red Army and graduated from the Vyzhnikovskaya Military Aviation School of Pilots in 1942. From October 1943, he served in active combat duty and participated in battles near the Dnieper River, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Germany, and other locations. By January 1945, he became the commander of the 129th Fighter Aviation Regiment and had completed 156 combat flights, personally shooting down 17 enemy aircraft. By the end of the war, as a Senior Lieutenant, he had achieved 210 successful combat flights, participated in 60 aerial battles, and personally shot down 20 enemy aircraft. On June 27, 1945, Mariinsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor demonstrated in battles against the enemy.

After the war, Mariinsky continued to serve in the Air Force and was demobilized in 1954 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then enrolled in the journalism faculty of Moscow State University, which he completed in 1961. While living in Moscow, he worked at the Molodaya Gvardiya publishing house and edited the almanac "Podvig" (1961-1980). He authored several books, including "Vnizu - peredniy kray", "Do zemli 15 santimetrov", "Zharkoe leto boyev", "Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily" (co-authored with Lebedev A.G.), "Tropoy podviga", "Podvig na Visle", and "Ya dralsya na 'Aerokobre'". Mariinsky was also honored with the Orders of Lenin, Red Banner, and the Patriotic War 2nd Class (twice), as well as the Order of the Red Star and several medals.

Among his valuable documents, Evgeny Mariinsky keeps a small booklet printed on poor quality paper, which symbolizes the power of the working people in the young Soviet Republic and their readiness to defend this power against the enemies. This booklet is his father's military ID. His father was one of those who fought against the White Guards during the Civil War, serving as a division commander and successfully fulfilling his duties. His commissar was Ivan Ivanovich Lepse, an old Bolshevik and later the chairman of the Central Committee of the Union of Metalworkers.

However, Mariinsky's father had to part ways with the army after the Civil War due to health issues. He could no longer take on any responsible work due to his health condition. The Mariinsky family lived in the town of Ananyev, in the Odessa Oblast. Although his father did not have a particularly challenging and responsible job, he performed his duties diligently, even in minor tasks like working for the MTS (Mobile Telecommunication Service) when they were established. Mariinsky fondly remembers his father.

Evgeny Mariinsky's father was an example for him and his four brothers. They all loved and looked up to their father and tried to fulfill his expectations. In 1940, Mariinsky completed secondary school and immediately went to Moscow. He chose Moscow because there was a well-known Geological Prospecting Institute, and for several years, he had dreamed of becoming a geologist. Of course, there was also youthful romanticism involved, with mountains, taiga, and all the attributes of a free and nomadic life under the open sky. But there was seriousness too, respect for the work of a geologist, gained from what he had read and studied. Therefore, he decided to pursue this dream and took the entrance exams for the institute and was successful. However, fate had other plans for him.

In 1940, Mariinsky and a few others were called to the Komsomol committee. They were informed that the country needed competent military defenders and skilled military personnel. As a result, they were sent to the Central Aero Club named after V.P. Chkalov. They received theoretical training, studied the technical aspects of aviation, and then started flying. Their instructor, Lyubushkin, had a deep passion for the sky. He personally knew Chkalov and shared many stories about him. He taught them how to fly and encouraged them to be brave and honest individuals. In February 1941, Mariinsky completed the aero club and was sent to the military aviation school for fighter pilots. Soon after, war broke out.

Mariinsky did not see combat until 1943, as he initially served in a reserve aviation regiment. His first memorable aerial battles were near the Dnieper River, followed by engagements in the Yassy-Kishinev operation, Romania, and Poland. He eventually found himself fighting in the skies over Berlin. Mariinsky was fortunate to be part of the 129th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, which had a distinguished record of achievements. Alongside courageous fellow pilots and reliable friends, Mariinsky fought bravely in the skies above Moscow, Stalingrad, the Kursk bulge, and near Lvov. The regiment shot down a total of 546 enemy aircraft, destroying significant enemy forces and equipment. Ten pilots from his regiment received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Throughout the war, Mariinsky mainly flew the P-39 "Aircobra" aircraft with the tail number "4". His dedicated mechanic, Nikolay Volkov, was responsible for maintaining his aircraft. One of the most memorable moments in Mariinsky's military career was his baptism of fire on January 6, 1944, near Krivoy Rog. He was ordered to destroy an enemy reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft, the FW-189. Despite facing enemy fire, Mariinsky successfully shot down the enemy aircraft, paving the way for his future victories. He wrote a letter to the party organization, requesting to become a member of the Communist Party, following this first victory.

Mariinsky had many other significant aerial battles, with one of the most notable occurring on May 30, 1944, near Târgu Frumos. In this battle, Mariinsky shot down a Messerschmitt Me-109 fighter aircraft that was chasing his comrade, Fyodor Arkhipenko, in his "Aircobra". However, the battle also resulted in the death of one of his closest friends, Viktor Korolyov.

After fighting in Romania, Poland, and participating in the Berlin operation, Mariinsky flew his final combat missions on the MiG-15, the first mass-produced jet fighter. The war had taken a toll on his health, and he could not remain in the military. He had to make a drastic change in his life and start anew.

Unable to pursue a career as a geologist due to his health condition, Mariinsky decided to turn to journalism. He enrolled at Moscow State University's journalism faculty and graduated in 1961. He began writing articles and eventually authored several books. He served as the editor of the "Podvig" almanac, published by Molodaya Gvardiya. The almanac focused on lesser-known or unknown heroes of the Great Patriotic War, aiming to preserve the memory of those who shed blood for their Motherland. Mariinsky dedicated his life to recording the history of the war and the heroes who fought for victory.

Evgeny Mariinsky's wartime experiences and his dedication to preserving the memory of his fellow soldiers and their heroic deeds will forever be remembered.