Timofey Hrukin Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General of Aviation Date of Birth: 21.06.1910 Country: Russia

1. Biography of Timofey Khryukin
2. Pursuit of Knowledge
3. World War II
4. Stalingrad Battle
5. Later Career

Biography of Timofey Khryukin

Timofey Khryukin was born on June 21, 1910, in the small coastal town of Yeysk. His father, Timofey Efimovich Khryukin, worked as a driver and bricklayer, while his mother, Natalya Arsentevna Khryukina (Timoshenko), was a laundry worker in military barracks. They lived in poverty, and three of Timofey's brothers died in infancy. In 1918, they moved to the village of Privolnaya, south of Yeysk, but the family was torn apart by the Civil War. Timofey's father joined the army, and his mother sent his older brother to work as a farmhand. In search of a better life, Timofey traveled to Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, and ended up in a colony for orphaned children, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1922, he returned to Privolnaya and worked as a farmhand. Here, he became a pioneer and later joined the Komsomol. In 1925, he found work as a blacksmith's assistant in the Yeysk depot and later worked as a fisherman in the village of Primorsko-Akhtarsk, going out to sea for fishing expeditions.

Pursuit of Knowledge

Timofey's thirst for knowledge led him to a close friendship with the local teacher, Mikhail Lavrentievich Erokhno, who taught him to read and instilled a love of reading. As he grew older, Timofey became the secretary of the local Komsomol cell and later the district committee. In the evenings, he studied physics and mathematics, often losing himself in books. In 1930, Timofey Khryukin arrived in Krasnodar on a Komsomol voucher and enrolled in a workers' faculty. Two years later, he was selected by a medical commission for pilot training schools in Kuban. In 1933, Timofey graduated from the Lugansk Military Aviation Pilot School and became a junior commander. In 1936, as a lieutenant commanding a squadron of the 10th high-speed bomber aviation squadron in Smolensk, he volunteered to go to Spain. Fighting in the Republican Army, Timofey flew SB bombers and eventually led an aviation squadron. For his actions in the Spanish Civil War, Timofey Khryukin received his first combat award, the Order of the Red Banner.

World War II

In 1938, Timofey Khryukin married Polina Dmitrievna Tkachenko, his childhood friend. Polina became a reliable "rear commander" for Timofey Timofeevich, giving birth to their seven children and supporting him as they moved from one garrison to another. Timofey Khryukin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on February 22, 1939. The citation only mentioned his "exemplary performance of command tasks." These tasks were carried out in China, where Timofey arrived in the spring of 1938 as a captain in the rear aerodrome of Lanzhou. He led a bombing group, replacing F. Polynin, who would later become a Hero of the Soviet Union and a lieutenant general in command of the 6th Air Army and the Air Force of the Polish Army.
During his time in China, Timofey Khryukin faced intense combat as the Japanese attacked Soviet positions. He flew without fighter cover, often defending against Japanese fighters on his own. The success of these missions depended on the tight formation of the Soviet aircraft, which allowed for coordinated fire. Timofey Khryukin's leadership played a significant role in the victories they achieved. After returning from China, Timofey Khryukin participated in the Soviet-Finnish War as the commander of the Air Force of the 14th Combined Arms Army. By the start of the Great Patriotic War, he had accumulated over 100 combat sorties.

Stalingrad Battle

Timofey Khryukin's most significant battle was the Battle of Stalingrad. As the commander of the 8th Air Army, he faced the German 4th Air Fleet, which had a significant advantage in numbers. The Soviet aviation suffered heavy losses, as their aircraft were outmatched by German fighters. Despite the challenges, Timofey Khryukin managed to maintain the combat effectiveness of his units and improve coordination with ground forces. The 8th Air Army played a crucial role in defending Stalingrad, providing air support and engaging in intense battles with the enemy. Timofey Khryukin's leadership and determination were instrumental in the defense of the city.

Later Career

After the Battle of Stalingrad, Timofey Khryukin continued to serve as a commander in various positions. He played a significant role in the air defense of the Soviet Union and made significant contributions to the war effort. Timofey Khryukin retired from the military in the rank of general-lieutenant and lived a quiet life until his death.

Timofey Khryukin's courage, leadership, and dedication to the Soviet Union earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union twice. His military career and contributions to the defense of the Soviet Union will always be remembered.