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Mihail SmilskiyFighter pilot
Date of Birth: 05.09.1920
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service and World War II
- Combat Career
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Post-War Career
- Command of Fighter Training Center
- Honors and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Mikhail Ivanovich Smilsky was born on September 5, 1920, in the village of Mokhnacha in present-day Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. After completing seven grades of secondary school, he worked at the Kyiv Auto Repair Plant.
Military Service and World War II
In 1939, Smilsky was drafted into the Red Army and graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School a year later. He served in a fighter aviation regiment.
With the outbreak of World War II, Smilsky was deployed to Lviv Oblast. On June 22, 1941, he flew his fighter into the air as enemy bombers attacked the airfield. He immediately engaged in combat with enemy aircraft.
Combat Career
Smilsky subsequently flew in support of ground forces in Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad. By February 1943, as a squadron commander in the 504th Assault Aviation Regiment, he had successfully completed 60 combat missions against enemy troop concentrations.
Hero of the Soviet Union
On May 1, 1943, Smilsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and bravery in combat. He continued to fight in Ukraine, Belarus, and Konigsberg, eventually becoming a regiment commander. By May 1945, he had flown over 200 combat sorties and destroyed 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat and 24 on the ground.
Post-War Career
After the war, Smilsky continued his service in the Air Force. He graduated from the Higher Flight-Tactical Officer Improvement Courses in 1947 and trained Chinese pilots. He also served as an aviation consultant at Dovzhenko Film Studio and worked in the Kharkiv Defense Society (DOSAAF).
Command of Fighter Training Center
For ten years after the war, Smilsky led the USSR Air Force's Fighter Pilot Training Center in Volchansk. In 1970, he retired from military service with the rank of Colonel.
Honors and Legacy
Smilsky was awarded numerous decorations, including the Order of Lenin (twice), Order of the Red Banner (three times), Order of Suvorov 3rd Class, Order of Alexander Nevsky, Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, and Order of the Red Star. The central square of Volchansk is named after him.
