Tihon Juchkov Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 04.07.1922 Country: Belarus

Biography of Tikhon Zhuchkov

Tikhon Zhuchkov was a fighter pilot who was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (three times), the First Degree of the Patriotic War, the Red Star, and various medals. He was born on July 4, 1922, in the village of Bohotets, now in the Chausky district of the Mogilev region in Belarus, to a family of civil servants. He completed seven grades at an incomplete secondary school in 1937 and the Mogilev Aeroclub in 1941. He worked as a lathe operator at an automobile repair plant. In June 1941, he joined the Naval Fleet. In 1942, he graduated from the Eisk Naval Aviation School for Pilots. He served in the naval aviation and participated in the Great Patriotic War from September 1942. He began his combat activities in November of the same year, serving as a pilot, a squadron commander, and a deputy commander of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Baltic Fleet Air Force. He distinguished himself in breaking the blockade of Leningrad, liberating the Leningrad region and the Baltic Republics. ... Two German fighters suddenly attacked from behind the lead aircraft in our group. Pilot Zhuchkov saved the commander. By rushing head-on towards the enemy, he shot down one of them and drove away the other... This is not the only instance where Tikhon Zhuchkov saved the lives of his comrades. He helped them shoot down 20 enemy planes. He, himself, never missed an opportunity to attack the enemy. Zhuchkov was the favorite wingman of Soviet Union Hero, well-known fighter pilot Dmitry Tatarenko. By October 1944, Zhuchkov was the deputy commander of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (1st Guards Fighter Aviation Division, Baltic Fleet Air Force) with the rank of Senior Lieutenant. He carried out 237 combat sorties for escorting aviation, conducting bombing attacks, reconnaissance, and aerial photography of enemy ships and airfields. In 31 air battles, he personally shot down 10 enemy aircraft and 11 in a group. On March 6, 1945, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor in battles against the enemy. By the end of the war, he had completed 257 successful combat sorties on LaGG-3, La-5, and La-7 fighters, including 85 reconnaissance missions. He engaged in 37 aerial battles, shooting down 11 enemy aircraft personally and 12 in a group with his comrades. After the war, Tikhon Sviridovich continued to serve in the Baltic Fleet Air Force. From February 1947 to October 1950, he was involved in flight testing at the State Red Banner Scientific and Test Institute of the Air Force. He conducted a series of tests on experimental engines in aircraft. From 1950, he served again in combat units of the Air Force in the Kiev Military District. He held positions as a deputy commander of an aviation regiment and an inspector-pilot. He achieved the rank of Military Pilot 1st Class in 1957. From August 1960, Guards Lieutenant Colonel T.S. Zhuchkov served in the reserves. He lived in Moscow and worked as a dispatcher at the Central Dispatch Service of Civil Aviation. He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (three times), the First Degree of the Patriotic War, the Red Star, and various medals. He passed away on March 9, 1987, and was buried at the Kuntsevo Cemetery.