Sergey Shirov Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 06.02.1916 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Sergey Shchirov

Captain S.S. Shchirov, a fighter pilot, completed 258 combat flights and shot down 14 enemy aircraft personally and 3 in a group in 38 aerial battles. On December 13, 1942, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor demonstrated in battles against the enemy. He was born on February 6, 1916, in the village of Akimovka (now a settlement) in the Akimovsky District of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast into a peasant family. In 1927, he moved to the city of Sevastopol. He graduated from the 5th grade and the School of Power Engineering at the "Crimean Energy" association and the Melitopol Aero Club. Starting from 1932, he served in the Red Army. In the fall of 1938, he was sent to the Kachin Military Aviation School for training. From the first days of the Great Patriotic War, he served in the active army. On the Southwestern Front, he personally shot down 2 enemy aircraft in aerial battles and 1 in group battles. From June 24, 1942, Senior Lieutenant S.S. Shchirov fought on the North Caucasus Front. In the battles for Tuapse, he became the most successful Soviet fighter pilot. He served as the deputy commander of the 518th Fighter Aviation Regiment (236th Aviation Division, 5th Air Army). From August 1942, he commanded squadrons. From July to October 1942, he made about 120 combat flights, including 12 for attacking enemy troops and military equipment.
By November 1942, he became an instructor in piloting techniques at the 87th Fighter Aviation Regiment (236th Fighter Aviation Division, Western Front). Captain S.S. Shchirov completed 258 combat flights, shot down 14 enemy aircraft personally and 3 in a group in 38 aerial battles. On December 13, 1942, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor demonstrated in battles against the enemy. After the war, he continued his service in the Air Force. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel since 1945. In November 1949, he was illegally convicted. On December 26, 1950, he was deprived of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1953, he was rehabilitated. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on April 14, 1989, in connection with the termination of the criminal case due to the absence of elements of the crime, the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on December 26, 1950, regarding the deprivation of his title of Hero of the Soviet Union and combat awards, was annulled. He was awarded the Orders of Lenin (twice), the Red Banner, the Kutuzov 3rd degree, Alexander Nevsky, the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Red Star, as well as medals and a foreign order. He died on April 7, 1956, in Kazan.