Yakov Mihaylik Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 07.05.1922 Country: Russia

Content:

1. Birth and Early Life
2. Parents: Danila Dmitrievich and Kharitina Timofeevna Михайлик
3. Military Career
4. Deployed to Moscow to defend the city against German air raids
5. Participated in the Battle of Stalingrad from August 1942
6. Fought on the Don Front and in the Battle of Kursk (1943)
7. Advanced to the rank of junior lieutenant
8. Promoted to senior lieutenant in August 1944
9. Awards and Recognition
10. Post-War Career
11. Retired and worked at the Ministry of Railways

Birth and Early Life

Born on May 7, 1922, in the village of Maksimovka, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine

Parents: Danila Dmitrievich and Kharitina Timofeevna Михайлик

Graduated from 7th grade in 1938
Worked as a mechanic at Kremenchug Depot

Joined the local aeroclub and performed familiarization flights on the U-2 aircraft

Military Career

World War II
Early Service
Enlisted in the Red Army on February 26, 1940
Trained at the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School
Graduated in June 1941 as a sergeant

Assigned to the 211th Fighter Aviation Regiment, flying Yak-1 fighters

Deployed to Moscow to defend the city against German air raids

Combat Debut and Injuries
Scored his first aerial victory in March 1942, downing a Ju-88 bomber
Shot down in his next combat mission over Medyn
Sustained multiple shrapnel wounds
Stalingrad and Subsequent Operations

Transferred to the 8th Reserve Aviation Regiment and later to the 237th Fighter Aviation Regiment

Participated in the Battle of Stalingrad from August 1942

Transitioned to the 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment on January 10, 1943

Fought on the Don Front and in the Battle of Kursk (1943)

Aerial Victories and Decorations
Recorded 9 aerial victories in the Battle of Stalingrad

Awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad"

Advanced to the rank of junior lieutenant

Shot down two Fw-190s in the Battle of Kursk
Promoted to lieutenant in July 1943
Post-World War II Career
Served as deputy commander of a squadron
Transitioned to American P-39 "Aerocobra" aircraft in October 1943
Participated in combat operations on the 1st Belorussian Front

Scored numerous aerial victories in support of Il-2 and Pe-2 bombing raids

Promoted to senior lieutenant in August 1944

Fought over Germany in 1945

By May 1945, had completed 316 combat sorties and achieved 25 confirmed kills (17 individually, 6 as part of a group)

Awards and Recognition

Awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on May 15, 1946

Decorated with the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner (x3), the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the Patriotic War (1st degree), and the Order of the Red Star (x3)

Post-War Career

Continued to serve in the Soviet Air Force until 1976, reaching the rank of colonel

Retired and worked at the Ministry of Railways

Wrote memoirs titled "Falcon Family" and "I am Sokol. I go on the attack!"

Aviation

Leonid Ryzhiy	Valentin Figichev	Nikolay Ostryakov
Sergey Kramarenko	Polina Osipenco	Petr Sgibnev