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Stepan HarchenkoFighter pilot
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Biography of Stepan Kharchenko
- Combat Experience
- Service on the Western Front
- Heroic Actions
- Victories and Awards
- Final Actions and Loss of a Friend
Biography of Stepan Kharchenko
Stepan Ivanovich Kharchenko was born in 1914 in the village of Rusalovka, Kiev region. He joined the Komsomol in 1931 and, like many of his peers, enrolled in the Odessa Military Flight School in 1934. After completing his training, he became an instructor at the same school. In November 1938, he was transferred to the Kirovobad Military Flight School, where he served as an instructor for a year before volunteering for the Soviet-Finnish War.
Combat Experience
During his time in the Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment, Kharchenko, as a flight leader, completed 66 combat sorties and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. When the Great Patriotic War began, Kharchenko was already an experienced pilot. Alongside his comrades, he defended Odessa, Sevastopol, and Feodosia. He developed a close bond with Dmitry Simonov, a seasoned fighter pilot and participant in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939.
Service on the Western Front
In the spring of 1942, Kharchenko and Simonov were transferred to the Western Front and continued their service as part of the 523rd Aviation Regiment. By then, they had completed nearly 100 combat sorties each. Simonov personally shot down four enemy aircraft and one as part of a group, while Kharchenko destroyed two enemy planes. In April 1942, their commander, Anatoly Golubov, emphasized the importance of sharing their combat experience with their subordinates.
Heroic Actions
Kharchenko and Simonov were appointed commanders of the 1st and 2nd squadrons, respectively. They underwent intensive training on the new LaGG-3 fighter aircraft. On July 1, 1942, under the command of Captain Kharchenko, a group of six LaGG-3s bombed an enemy train loaded with ammunition. The lead bombs hit the front wagons, while the following strikes targeted the rear. The mission was a success.
Victories and Awards
Ten days later, Kharchenko and his squadron engaged in a fierce aerial battle with ten Ju-87 dive bombers and six Me-109 fighters. Despite the odds, the Soviet pilots, demonstrating determination and unity, shot down three enemy planes. One LaGG-3 was lost, and two pilots were wounded. In July 1942, Kharchenko was awarded his second Order of the Red Banner for his successful combat actions on the Western Front.
During the war, Kharchenko completed 250 combat sorties, personally shooting down nine enemy aircraft and five more as part of a group. In 1943, the regiment transitioned to the more advanced La-5 fighter aircraft. Kharchenko proudly flew his own named aircraft with the inscription, "From the collective farmers of the Gorky region to the aviators of the Western Front."
Final Actions and Loss of a Friend
On February 23, 1943, the 25th anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy, Captain Kharchenko rallied his subordinates, emphasizing the importance of fighting fiercely on this special day. In a battle near Zhizdra, Kharchenko engaged in an intense dogfight with two German fighters. Skillfully maneuvering his aircraft, he managed to shoot down one enemy plane. The other pilot came straight towards him, and a fiery explosion followed. The wreckage of both aircraft fell to the ground. It remains unknown whether the collision was accidental or a deliberate ramming by Kharchenko.
Sadly, Kharchenko's best friend, Captain Dmitry Simonov, who had become a navigator in the regiment, died in aerial combat near Yelnya on the day the city was liberated by Soviet forces.
