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Vasilij MiuhlikAttack pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union.
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Biography of Vasiliy Mykhlik
- A Dream to Become a Pilot
- Becoming a Skilled Combat Pilot
- Continuing the Fight on the Leningrad Front
- Continued in the next message...
Biography of Vasiliy Mykhlik
Vasiliy Mykhlik is a Soviet war hero and a decorated pilot. He was born in 1922 in a peasant family and was of Ukrainian nationality. Mykhlik joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1944 and began his military service in the Soviet Army in 1940. He trained as a cadet at the 1st Volsk Aviation Technical School named after Lenin's Komsomol and graduated in 1941.
During the Great Patriotic War, Mykhlik became a skilled combat pilot and was assigned to fly the IL-2 attack aircraft. He served as a flight leader and squadron commander, completing 188 combat missions. For his exemplary execution of combat tasks, courage, bravery, and heroism, Mykhlik was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on February 23, 1945. He was also awarded the second "Gold Star" medal on June 29, 1945, along with numerous other orders and medals.
After the war, Mykhlik attended the Red Banner Military Air Academy and continued his service in the Soviet Army until 1966. He retired as a colonel and currently resides in Moscow.
A Dream to Become a Pilot
Even in school, Vasiliy Mykhlik had a dream of becoming a pilot. After finishing high school, he enrolled in the 1st Volsk Aviation Technical School named after Lenin's Komsomol. However, the Great Patriotic War broke out while he was still in training. In September 1941, Mykhlik graduated from the school and was sent as an aviation mechanic to a reserve fighter aviation regiment, where young pilots were undergoing training. While Mykhlik was dedicated to his work as a mechanic, his long-standing dream of becoming a pilot never left him. He wished to take to the skies and fight the Nazis who had invaded his homeland, Krivoy Rog, where his mother and sisters still lived. He watched with envy as pilots who had completed their training were sent to the front.
His persistence and determination eventually made his dream come true. Mykhlik was sent for pilot training, and in a short period of time, he became a skilled attack aircraft pilot. He studied the experiences of experienced soldiers and prepared himself passionately for battle. Finally, the long-awaited day arrived when Mykhlik flew his first combat mission as part of a squadron, conducting airstrikes in the Kozelsk region.
Becoming a Skilled Combat Pilot
Mykhlik prepared meticulously for each flight, studying the route, the front line, and the enemy's positions. He made necessary markings on his flight map to navigate the complex battlefield. After receiving concise instructions from his commander, the pilots quickly dispersed to their aircraft. Mykhlik entered the cockpit and started the engine with a familiar motion. One by one, the planes took off and assumed their positions in the formation, heading towards the target.
Mykhlik tried his best to maintain his position in the group, as he knew his skills as a pilot would be judged based on this. He also had to keep an eye on the terrain and find the target. Even when the group reached the designated target and the lead pilot gave the command to drop bombs, Mykhlik couldn't envision what was happening on the ground and where his bombs were landing. However, his more experienced colleagues reassured him, saying, "Don't worry, you'll learn to find any target and recognize the enemy wherever they are. Just focus on staying in formation, you're doing great!"
With each flight, Mykhlik became more adept at understanding the battlefield. He learned to "read" the field of battle, noticing things he hadn't seen during his early flights. He not only learned from the experiences of his senior comrades but also sought out new tactical methods for conducting combat. His modest but praising senior comrades saw the potential in him, saying, "Vasiliy will be a great pilot." And they were right.
As part of a six-plane IL-2 formation, Mykhlik flew on another mission to attack a large German motor convoy stretching along the Bryansk-Karachev road. Approaching the target, Mykhlik noticed that the convoy was being protected by enemy fighters from the air. In addition, the Soviet attackers faced heavy anti-aircraft fire. Skillfully maneuvering, the pilots and air gunners repelled the fighter attacks, broke through to the target, and unleashed their deadly payload on the enemy. However, the intense resistance from enemy fighters in the air prevented the attack aircraft from making more than one pass on the convoy. Nevertheless, even in a single pass, the group managed to destroy and disable up to 30 enemy vehicles. Mykhlik was commended by the division commander for the excellent execution of the mission.
The front line was engaged in fierce battles, and the ground forces relied on the support of the pilots. The mere presence of our attack aircraft in the sky uplifted the soldiers, giving them strength. The aviators conducted extensive combat operations to disrupt enemy rail transport to the front lines by destroying bridges, military convoys at railway stations, and on the road. On one occasion, aerial reconnaissance discovered an enemy train loaded with military equipment on the Bryansk-Karachev railway. The order was given to destroy it, and Mykhlik was among the pilots assigned to the task. Upon discovering the convoy, the pilots launched an immediate attack. Their accurate bombing caused the train to derail.
During his time serving on the Bryansk and Western Fronts, the young pilot completed numerous successful combat missions, becoming a mature aerial warrior. He earned the respect and recognition of his comrades. In the battles near Orel, Mykhlik displayed high combat skill, courage, and heroism, earning him the orders of the Red Star and the Red Banner. He went from being an ordinary pilot to a skilled leader, commanding his own squadron and becoming a source of pride for his regiment.
Continuing the Fight on the Leningrad Front
In January 1944, with significant combat experience, Mykhlik and his unit arrived on the Leningrad Front. At that time, Soviet forces were breaking the blockade of Leningrad. The task assigned to the attack aircraft pilots was to strike enemy defenses, railway convoys, enemy troops, and equipment. The pilots had to fly multiple missions, sometimes several times in a short winter day and in various weather conditions.
One of the crucial tasks for the attack aircraft pilots during this period was to destroy enemy artillery positions that hindered the advance of Soviet troops. To achieve this, aviation and artillery commanders often coordinated their actions, creating a planned battle table that defined the areas of action for both artillery and attack aircraft.
The artillery units usually operated from predetermined positions within reach, while the attack aircraft targeted the artillery positions located deeper inside enemy territory.
On one winter day in 1944, an artillery commander informed the aviation commander that there were two enemy artillery batteries firing on our troops' battle formations on the eastern outskirts of a heavily fortified position, and a flak battery was located on the western outskirts. It was decided to destroy these batteries through joint efforts.
Mykhlik's group was assigned to carry out this task. The group leader gathered the flight crews and briefed them on the mission. Each pair knew what they had to do, when and how to maneuver.
According to the plan, our artillery opened fire on the enemy batteries first. Five minutes later, Mykhlik's group, led by him, approached the enemy artillery positions and conducted a bombing run. Then the aircraft formed a combat formation and made four attacks with rocket projectiles and cannons. As a result of the combined efforts of the attack aircraft and artillery, the enemy batteries were suppressed, and our ground forces used this opportunity to advance.
During one of the flights, Mykhlik's aircraft was damaged by enemy fire. The right wing caught fire, but with unwavering dedication, he continued the attack. As the group returned to their territory, two German fighters pursued Mykhlik's burning and poorly maneuverable aircraft. The machine gun fire damaged the aileron control and the rudder. However, in those critical seconds, the air gunner managed to target one of the enemy aircraft and shot it down.
With a burning and poorly controllable aircraft, Mykhlik couldn't continue flying. The altitude was rapidly decreasing, and he had to make an emergency landing in the forest.
When the crashing noise subsided, silence ensued. "Seems like I'm alive," Mykhlik thought. "But what about the gunner?" The pilot jumped out of the cockpit and rushed to assist his comrade.
Gunfire and German voices could be heard nearby. The IL-2 had crashed around 200 meters from an enemy flak battery that had been firing at the attack aircraft. In the chaos of battle, the German gunners hadn't heard the plane crash. But there was no time to waste.
Mykhlik and his gunner hurriedly disappeared into the forest. For three days, they made their way towards their own forces. On the fourth day, they managed to cross the front line unnoticed. Soviet soldiers provided the necessary assistance, and the pilot and gunner were reunited with their comrades who had been concerned about their fate.
Mykhlik led many IL-2 groups on attack missions, skillfully utilizing the formidable weapons of his aircraft. He conducted reconnaissance flights, providing valuable information to the command that often determined the success of the ground forces' battles.
A particularly memorable episode during this time was when Mykhlik's group was assigned to cover the landing of our troops on the island of Dago during the battles for the liberation of the Baltic coastal islands. It was early October, and the weather was poor, with rain and low-hanging clouds. When Mykhlik approached the island, he noticed the airborne troops landing. Their vanguard was already engaged in battle near a small settlement not far from the coast. Without radio navigation stations, the pilots had to find their targets themselves. And for that, they had to fly extremely low and "iron" the ground to spot the hidden Nazis among the rocks.
The distance between the Germans and our units was only about 100 meters. At such a close range, there was a risk of hitting our own troops, but Mykhlik led the group into the attack. He had confidence in his subordinates, knowing their unwavering resilience, skill, and determination. Despite heavy enemy fire, the group made 16 passes on the enemy positions and only retreated when they ran out of ammunition, as our paratroopers launched a decisive assault.
Reporting on the situation on the island, Mykhlik requested permission to repeat the flight to assist our infantry. His request was granted, and this time he flew with his best wingman, Alexander Artemyev. The battlefield where the previous battle had taken place was now under the control of our infantry. The pilots had to "feel" the ground again and search for targets. Once again, the pair made 16 passes. Mykhlik and his wingman's accurate fire aided the paratroopers in occupying a significant portion of the island.
This was Mykhlik's final combat mission on the Leningrad Front. In the autumn of 1944, his unit became part of the 3rd Belorussian Front. As one of the talented and experienced officers, Mykhlik was appointed the commander of an aviation squadron and was promoted to the rank of captain. The squadron participated in the breakthrough of the heavily fortified German defenses on the approaches to East Prussia and the destruction of an encircled enemy formation.
A commander of a Guards Corps, who worked closely with Mykhlik's squadron, described one of their strikes: "Exactly at 13:30, two pairs of IL-2s appeared over the target area in the Knauten-Sheferay area near the paper factory. After making a turn, the attack aircraft successfully attacked the targets from all types of weapons. The enemy was mostly destroyed, and the remaining paralyzed part couldn't offer serious resistance. The attack of the attack aircraft was executed precisely and on time. This was utilized by the advancing infantry and artillery, resulting in the complete accomplishment of the combat mission."
During a flight of Mykhlik's group on a mission to destroy encircled enemy troops southwest of Königsberg, they contacted the ground control stations 15-20 kilometers from the front line. As they approached the battlefield, Mykhlik commanded, "Assume combat formation!" The guide aircraft of the target acquisition crew, which had been waiting for the group, identified a target, "Battery south of point N." Mykhlik quickly located the target on the map and maneuvered through the enemy's anti-aircraft fire, leading his group in the attack. Explosion after explosion... Descending from an altitude of 300-400 meters, the group made a successful attack with rockets and cannons. The accurate fire of Mykhlik and his comrades helped our infantry eliminate up to a company of enemy soldiers and officers. The attack aircraft were on schedule and precisely targeted. This facilitated the infantry and artillery's subsequent actions, resulting in the complete accomplishment of the combat mission.
