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Stepan PonomarchukBomber pilot, Heroes of the Soviet-Finnish war
Date of Birth: 26.03.1913
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Stepan Ponomarchuk
Early Life and Military CareerStepan Ponomarchuk was born on March 26, 1913, in Gaysin, Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine, to a working-class family. He completed seven years of schooling and later worked as a turner in a railway depot. Ponomarchuk joined the Red Army in 1934 and graduated from the 7th Military Aviation School in Stalingrad in 1937. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1939.
Hero of the Soviet Union
During the Soviet-Finnish War, Ponomarchuk served as the military commissar of the 5th Squadron of the 14th Army's Murmansk Aviation Group. By January 1940, he had completed 10 combat missions, bombing enemy troop concentrations and airfields, inflicting significant damage on the enemy forces. For his exceptional bravery and dedication to the party and the socialist homeland, Ponomarchuk was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on February 5, 1940.
World War II and Later Years
Ponomarchuk continued to serve in the Red Army during World War II. He served as the commissar of the 158th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 7th Fighter Aviation Corps. In January 1942, he became the commander of the 158th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Later, on July 7, 1943, he took command of the 103rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Guards Leningrad Fighter Aviation Corps.
Ponomarchuk also participated in the Soviet-Japanese War, commanding the 103rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Far Eastern Front. After the war, in 1950, he completed the Higher Flight and Tactics Courses for Officer Improvement.
In 1958, Ponomarchuk retired from the military and settled in Bryansk, Russia. He lived there until his passing.
Throughout his military career, Stepan Ponomarchuk demonstrated exceptional flying skills, heroism, and earned high respect among his comrades. His bravery and dedication to the Soviet Union were recognized with numerous awards, including two Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st Class, the Order of the Red Star, and several medals.
