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Grigoriy GesFighter pilot
Date of Birth: 07.04.1916
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Grigory Ges
Grigory Ges was born on April 7, 1916 in the village of Vasilyevka, now a settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region, into a working-class family. After completing secondary school, he worked as a club manager and accountant. In September 1937, he joined the Red Army and graduated from the school of junior aviation specialists. In 1941, after graduating from the Bataysk Military Aviation Pilot School, he worked as a pilot-instructor.
Fighter Pilot in World War II
Ges became a fighter pilot in the Great Patriotic War in October 1944. He flew the Yak-9 as part of the 17th Fighter Aviation Regiment. He completed 21 combat missions, engaged in 20 aerial battles, and personally shot down 5 enemy aircraft. For his bravery and achievements, Ges was awarded the Order of Lenin twice and the Order of the Red Star three times.
Participation in the Korean War
After the war, Ges continued his service in the Air Force. During the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, he served as the commander of the 1st Squadron of the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. Ges completed around 120 combat missions and destroyed 9 enemy aircraft in aerial battles.
One time, after a battle, Ges reported that he had shot down another American aircraft. According to him, he fired from a short distance and the enemy plane exploded in the air. Other pilots participating in the engagement confirmed his account. However, the film from the synchronized photogun, which could serve as evidence of a successful attack, was not clear. The battle took place at a high altitude, and the photogun's glass fogged up during the dive, resulting in a blurry photo. The command faced a dilemma and could not report the destroyed aircraft to higher headquarters, although they believed Ges and his comrades. The doubts were dispelled by the mechanic who conducted the post-flight inspection of the fighter. Ges brought a piece of belted ammunition from the Colt-Browning machine gun, which came from the enemy plane that exploded in the air, in the wing of his MiG.
On October 10, 1951, for the successful execution of command tasks and the displayed courage and bravery, Grigory Ges was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Upon returning to the Soviet Union, Grigory Ivanovich continued his service in the Air Force. He retired as a Major in 1957 and lived in the city of Elektrostal in the Moscow region. Grigory Ges passed away on January 7, 1968. He was honored with the Order of Lenin twice and the Order of the Red Star three times.
