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Mihail LihovidFighter pilot
Date of Birth: 28.02.1922
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Mikhail Likhovid
Mikhail Sergeevich Likhovid was born on February 28, 1922, in the village of Mogritsa, currently located in the Sumy district of the Sumy region, in a peasant family. In 1934, he moved to the city of Luhansk (Voroshilovgrad) and worked at a factory. After completing secondary school, he entered the Moscow Institute of Civil Air Fleet Engineers. In 1940, he joined the Red Army and a year later graduated from the military aviation school for pilots.
He participated in the Great Patriotic War starting from June 1941, serving in the 298th Fighter Aviation Regiment based in Voznesensk on the Southern Front, in the area of the southern part of the Bug River. He was a pilot in the 2nd Squadron, flying an I-16 aircraft with the number "8" on its tail. In late 1942, the regiment was withdrawn for rearmament with the R-39 "Aerocobra" aircraft and returned to combat in March 1943 on the North-Caucasian Front, participating in battles in the Kuban region.
Subsequently, he took part in the operation to liberate the Donbass. In September 1943, the regiment was transformed into the 104th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. In early 1944, he fought on the 4th Ukrainian Front, engaging in battles for the liberation of Crimea and Chisinau. In July 1944, the regiment was transferred to the 2nd Ukrainian Front to participate in the Lvov-Sandomierz operation. On August 12, 1944, while preparing the aircraft for evacuation from the forced landing site near the city of Rava-Russka (Lvov region), Mikhail Likhovid was captured by a Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) gang, doused with gasoline, and burned alive.
Achievements and Awards
During the period of combat operations as the deputy commander of the 104th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 7th Fighter Aviation Corps, 8th Air Army, 1st Ukrainian Front), Senior Lieutenant M. S. Likhovid made 208 combat sorties and took part in 44 air battles, personally shooting down 16 enemy aircraft and 11 more as part of a group. He inflicted significant damage to the enemy through assault actions and destroyed 7 enemy aircraft on the ground. On June 27, 1945, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage shown in battles against the enemy. He was also decorated with the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner (thrice), and various medals.
Initially, he was buried in the city of Rava-Russka. After the war, his remains were reburied on the Hill of Glory in Lviv. A locomotive repair brigade at the Voroshilovgrad Locomotive Repair Plant, a residential district, and School No. 25 in the city of Voroshilovgrad were named after him to honor his memory.
