Ivan Zabolotny Fighter pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Date of Birth: 12.07.1916 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Ivan Zabolotny

Ivan Nikolaevich Zabolotny was born on July 12, 1916, in the village of Shipovatoye, which is currently part of the Veliko-Burlyaksky district in the Kharkov region of Ukraine. He was born into a peasant family and was of Ukrainian descent. Ivan joined the Communist Party at a young age and completed his education at a professional-technical school, where he graduated from the 7th group.

In 1930, Ivan moved to the city of Grozny, where he worked as an apprentice and later as a typesetter at the Checheno-Ingush National Publishing House. During this time, he also pursued his interest in aviation by joining an aero club.

On October 22, 1937, Ivan enlisted in the Red Army and in 1938, he graduated from the 8th Odessa Military Aviation School named after P.D. Osipenko as a pilot. He served in the fighter aviation unit of the Moscow Military District.

When the Great Patriotic War broke out in June 1941, Ivan actively participated in combat. On October 12, 1941, while on patrol near Voskresensk, he spotted a Ju-88 bomber. With precise aim, Ivan first shot down the gunner. The German aircraft attempted to escape to the west, but Ivan pursued it and near Lopasnya, he set it on fire, causing it to explode in the air due to the ignited fuel tanks.

Just two days later, while patrolling the same area with A. Mityushin, they encountered another Ju-88 near Kolomna. Both Ivan and Mityushin immediately launched a frontal attack, and the heavily loaded bomber, carrying bombs, caught fire and crashed into the ground, where once the regiments gathered on the Kulikovo Field.

On January 4, 1942, Ivan Zabolotny rammed an enemy plane during an aerial battle near Moscow while flying a MiG-3 aircraft. He engaged in a total of 110 combat missions, personally destroying 10 enemy aircraft in 20 aerial battles while defending Moscow against fascist aviation raids.

On March 4, 1942, Ivan Zabolotny was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Several places were named in his honor, including a typography in Grozny, a street in the city, a pioneer group, and the Shipovatskaya middle school, where a bust of Ivan Zabolotny stands at the entrance. He was forever immortalized in the annals of the military unit.

Unfortunately, Ivan Zabolotny went missing in action on June 27, 1942. His bravery and heroism will always be remembered, and he was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin.