Petr Belyasnik Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 21.12.1917 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Petr Belyasnik

Petr Belyasnik, a fighter pilot and Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, was born on December 21, 1917, in the village of Vovna, now in the Shostka District of the Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. He came from a peasant family and had limited education. After completing his schooling, Belyasnik worked as a turner at a factory in the city of Makhachkala, Dagestan.

In 1939, Belyasnik joined the Red Army and a year later graduated from the Kachinskaya Military Aviation School as a pilot. With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, he served on the front lines in the 126th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was part of the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps of the Moscow Air Defense Forces.

On July 31, 1941, Belyasnik, along with five other pilots from his regiment, attacked a German airfield, destroying around 30 bombers on the ground. The 6th Fighter Aviation Corps not only protected Moscow but also provided cover for the Western and Kalinin Fronts, conducted aerial reconnaissance, and patrolled along railways and highways.

On January 30, 1942, while covering our troops in the Volokolamsk-Sychyovka-Vyazma area, Belyasnik, along with Lieutenant E. Lozovoy and Lieutenant G. Shorokhov, engaged in a battle with 13 enemy aircraft. They shot down three Messerschmitts and forced the others to flee.

For his bravery, Belyasnik was awarded the Order of the Red Banner by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 9, 1941, for personally shooting down three enemy aircraft and participating in the destruction of seven more as part of a group. In February 1942, the corps engaged in over 100 aerial battles, shooting down 54 enemy aircraft. Belyasnik's courage and skill were recognized alongside other pilots.

During the war, Belyasnik flew four different types of fighter planes. However, his trust in the American P-40 Tomahawk was shaken after his close friend, Hero of the Soviet Union, Stepan Ridny, died due to a technical failure. In response, Belyasnik purchased his own fighter plane using his personal funds.

In 1942-1943, Belyasnik actively participated in fundraising for the defense of Moscow. He contributed 30,000 rubles, which were used to build a new fighter aircraft for the "Moscow" aviation unit. He requested that the aircraft be given to him and pledged to use it to destroy the German invaders. Belyasnik's selflessness inspired many citizens, and he was presented with a new La-5 fighter plane with the nickname "Kaputanu Belyasnik" (Captain Belyasnik).

By the end of the Battle of Moscow, Captain Belyasnik had flown 123 combat missions, including 15 reconnaissance missions, 15 ground attack missions, and 37 escort missions. He engaged in 33 aerial dogfights, shooting down six enemy aircraft himself and 10 more as part of a group. The 126th Fighter Aviation Regiment was then transferred to the Stalingrad front, where Belyasnik shot down four enemy aircraft within just four days.

Belyasnik's combat record continued to grow rapidly. By the beginning of 1943, he had personally shot down over 20 enemy aircraft and participated in the destruction of more. In February 1943, Captain Belyasnik had completed 250 combat sorties and engaged in 78 aerial battles, personally shooting down nine enemy aircraft and 17 more as part of a group.

For his extraordinary service, Belyasnik was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on April 28, 1943. He flew his personalized aircraft until February 1945, completing around 300 combat sorties and engaging in over 40 aerial battles. By the end of the war, he had achieved a total of 15 personal victories.

After the war, Belyasnik was transferred to the flight test department at the Air Force Research Institute. He conducted state trials of various aircraft, including the SR-2, Yak-25RV-I, and Yak-27R. Belyasnik retired as a Colonel in 1964 and was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, the Patriotic War 1st Class, and the Red Star twice, along with other medals. He passed away on July 4, 2002.