Major General Hero of the Soviet Union Minaks memories. Naval pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Minakov lives in the Vyborg region. From the biography of the Hero

Minakov Vasily Ivanovich - commander of the 5th Guards Order of Constance Patriotic War mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the 2nd Guards Sevastopol mine-torpedo aviation division named after N.A. Tokarev Air force Black Sea Fleet, Guards Senior Lieutenant.

Born on February 7, 1921 in the village of Illarionovsky, Pyatigorsk district, Terek province (now the city of Mineralnye Vody Stavropol Territory) in a peasant family. Russian. Member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1943. Graduated from 9 classes high school. He studied at the flying club in the city of Pyatigorsk in the same region.

Since November 1938 - in the Navy. In December 1940 he graduated from the Yeisk Naval Aviation School named after I.V. Stalin. From March 1941 - a pilot, from May 1941 - a junior pilot, from January 1942 - a pilot of the 4th mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the Pacific Fleet Air Force.

In the battles of the Great Patriotic War since June 1942, when he was enlisted as a flight commander in the 36th mine and torpedo regiment of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force. From October 1942 - in the 5th Guards mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the Air Force of the Black Sea Fleet: pilot, from June 1943 - flight commander, from May 1944 - deputy squadron commander. Participated in the defense of the Caucasus, in the liberation of the Crimea, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria.

By October 1944, the commander of the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the Guard, Senior Lieutenant V.I. Minakov flew 182 sorties on an Il-4 aircraft, including 71 at night. On his combat account, guns, tanks, railway cars, warehouses, vehicles and a lot of enemy manpower.

With combat and torpedo strikes, he destroyed 13 enemy transports (including 7 personally and 6 in a group) with a total displacement of 36,500 tons, 5 dry cargo and 7 high-speed landing barges, 4 patrol boats, 1 minesweeper, 1 tugboat. Destroyed 4 ammunition depots, 4 railway stations, a crossing over the Don River. In air battles, he shot down 4 enemy aircraft.

At order of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 5, 1944 for the courage and heroism shown during the liberation of the Crimea from the Nazi invaders, guard senior lieutenant Vasily Ivanovich Minakov awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

In total, during the war years, V. Minakov’s combat account included 206 sorties (including 71 at night), of which 108 were for bombing attacks on sea and land targets, 31 for torpedo attacks, 28 for air reconnaissance, 28 for mine laying, 7 for dropping cargo to partisans, 3 for landing scouts, 1 for covering ships. The most grandiose success was the sinking on May 10, 1944 off the Crimean coast as part of the Teya transport group with a displacement of 2773 tons with 3,500 enemy soldiers on board. Twice wounded.

After the fighting on the Black Sea in the Great Patriotic War, in January 1945 he was sent to study and in July of the same year he graduated from the Higher Aviation Courses of the Navy Air Force in Mozdok. He returned to his regiment as a deputy squadron commander, and from May 1946 he himself became a squadron commander. From December 1947 - assistant, from July to December 1949 - deputy commander of the 68th mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the 19th mine-torpedo aviation division in the Baltic.

In 1952 he graduated from the Naval Academy named after K.E. Voroshilov, in December of this year he was appointed commander of the 52nd Guards Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the 89th Mine and Torpedo Aviation Division in the Air Force of the 5th Fleet (Pacific Ocean). From December 1955 - commander of the 128th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Division of the Air Force of the Baltic Fleet. In 1961 he graduated military academy of the General Staff and in June of the same year he was appointed chief of staff - first deputy commander of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet. In the 1960s, he was on a long business trip in Egypt, solving the issues of organizing the naval aviation of the United Arab Republic.

In February 1971 he was appointed head of the 30th Research Institute of Aviation and Cosmonautics in Leningrad. Supervised the development of aviation technology. During this time, the employees of the institute participated in the creation of five types of aircraft and 7 types of helicopters, most of which are still in service with domestic aviation, and dozens of samples of aviation technical complexes were also created. Since October 1985 - in reserve.

Author of 16 books about naval pilots, including "The Angry Sky of Taurida", "Heroes of the Black Sea Sky", "Baltic Falcons", "About you, combat friends - northerners", "Torpedo bombers attack!", "Through the fiery sky", " Autographs over the seas of three oceans”, “On the wings of naval aviation”.

Lived in the Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg. Died October 8, 2016. He was buried at the Nikolsky cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.

Major General of Aviation (02/18/1958), Candidate of Naval Sciences (1974), Associate Professor.

Awarded the Order of Lenin (1944), October revolution(1981), 3 Orders of the Red Banner (1942, 1945, 1965), Order of Alexander Nevsky (1944), 2 Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree (1944, 1985), 2 Orders of the Red Star, Order "For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR "3rd degree (1980), medals, as well as the Order of the Red Banner (People's Republic of Bulgaria).

In the city of Mineralnye Vody, on the Alley of Heroes, a stele with his bas-relief is installed.

Hero of the Soviet Union, naval pilot Vasily Ivanovich Minakov passed away. On October 8, 2016, at the 96th year of his life, the Hero of the Soviet Union, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, a patriot and defender of the Fatherland, who devoted himself to serving the Motherland, Major General of Aviation Vasily Ivanovich Minakov, died. Vasily Ivanovich Minakov was born on February 7, 1921 in the village of Illarionovsky (now the city of Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Territory) into a peasant family. In 1938, Vasily Minakov was called up to serve in the ranks of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet. Two years later, in December 1940, he graduated from the Yeisk naval school them. I. V. Stalin. For passing further service sent to the Pacific Fleet Air Force, where from March 1941 he held the positions of a pilot, from May - a junior pilot, and from January 1942 - a pilot of the 4th mine-torpedo air regiment. Since July 1, 1942 - a participant in hostilities as a flight commander of the 36th mine-torpedo air regiment in the Black Sea Fleet. In October 1942 he was assigned to the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment. From June 1943 he was a flight commander, from May 1944 - deputy squadron commander. Piloted Il-4 bomber. He took part in the defense of the Caucasus, the liberation of the Crimea, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. In 1943 he joined the CPSU(b). By October 1944, Senior Lieutenant V. I. Minakov made 182 sorties, of which 71 were night missions. With bomb and torpedo attacks, he sank 13 transports of the German naval forces (including 7 personally) with a total displacement of 36,500 tons, 5 dry cargo ships, 7 high-speed landing barges, 4 patrol boats, 1 minesweeper, 1 tugboat. One of the greatest achievements of a combat pilot during the liberation of Crimea was the sinking on May 10, 1944, as part of the German transport group Thea, with a displacement of 2773 tons; on board were 3,500 enemy soldiers and officers. In addition, he destroyed 4 ammunition depots, 4 railway stations and a crossing over the Don. Shot down 4 Luftwaffe aircraft in aerial combat.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 5, 1944, for the courage and heroism shown during the liberation of the Crimea from the Nazi invaders, Guards Senior Lieutenant Vasily Ivanovich Minakov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. In total, during the war, V. I. Minakov made 206 sorties, of which 108 were bombing attacks on various sea and land targets, 31 were for torpedo attacks, 28 for aerial reconnaissance, 28 for minelaying, 7 for dropping cargo for partisans, 3 for landing scouts, 1 for covering ships.

Post-war years Back in January 1945, a young but experienced pilot was sent to study at the Higher Aviation Courses of the Navy Air Force in Mozdok, which he graduated after the Victory, in July 1945. Returning to his 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment, V. I. Minakov became deputy squadron commander, and in May 1946 - commander. In December 1947 he was transferred to Baltic Fleet assistant commander of the 68th mine-torpedo air regiment of the 19th mine-torpedo air division. From July to December 1949 he was deputy regiment commander. In 1950-1952, V. I. Minakov studied at the Voroshilov Naval Academy, after which he was appointed commander of the 52nd Guards Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the 89th Mine and Torpedo Air Division of the Air Force of the 5th Fleet on the pacific ocean. In December 1955 he returned to the Baltic as commander of the 128th Guards mine-torpedo air division of the Baltic Fleet Air Force. Here, in 1958, V. I. Minakov was awarded the rank of Major General of Aviation. After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces in 1961, he became chief of staff - first deputy commander of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet. In the 1960s, he spent several years in the United Arab Republic, where he helped organize the Egyptian naval aviation. In February 1971, V. I. Minakov was appointed head of the branch of the 30th Central Research Institute of Aviation and Cosmonautics in Leningrad, where he led the development of aviation technology, in particular 5 types of aircraft and 7 types of helicopters. In 1974 he was awarded the degree of candidate of naval sciences; It has academic title associate professor Man active life position, Vasily Ivanovich Minakov was one of the organizers of the veteran movement in Russia. Before last days He was Vice President of the Interregional public organization"Council of Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes Russian Federation and full cavaliers of the Order of Glory of the city of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. His suggestions and advice were important to support veterans in preparation for the celebration of anniversaries. military history our country. He made a huge contribution to patriotic education youth, cadets of military schools and cadet corps. The memory of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation Vasily Ivanovich Minakov will forever remain in our hearts, ”says the obituary signed by Matvienko V.I., Poltavchenko G.S., Drozdenko A.Yu., Makarov V.S., Kartapolov A.V., Govorunov A.N., Albin I.N., Bondarenko N.L., Kazanskaya O.A., Kirillov V.V., Markov O.A., Movchan S.N., Mokretsov M .P., Brodsky M.N., Rublevsky V.V., Golovin A.N., Serov K.N., Rzhanenkov A.N., Abdulina R.Yu., Bogdanov L.P., Vorobieva Zh.V. ., Kolabutin V.M., Maksimov A.S., Fomenko G.D., Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation and full cavaliers of the Order of Glory of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

Minakov Vasily Ivanovich

Hero of the Soviet Union (1944), Candidate of Naval Sciences (1974), Major General of Aviation (1958).

Born February 7, 1921 in the city of Mineralnye Vody, now the Stavropol Territory, in a peasant family. Russian.

Graduated from 9 classes. He studied at the flying club in Pyatigorsk.

In the Navy since 1938. In 1940 he graduated from the Yeysk Naval Aviation School.

In the battles of the Great Patriotic War since 1942. Member of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks since 1943. During the war years he was a flight commander of the 5th Guards Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment of the 2nd Guards Mine and Torpedo Aviation Division of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force.

IN AND. Minakov made 206 sorties, during which 13 transports were sunk (7 personally and 6 in a group), 5 dry cargo and 7 landing barges, a tugboat, a minesweeper, 4 patrol boats, and 4 enemy aircraft were shot down.

After the war he continued to serve in the Navy. In 1952 he graduated from the command faculty of the Naval Academy named after K.E. Voroshilov, in 1961 - the Military Academy of the General Staff. Supervised the research center of naval aviation.

Since 1985 - in reserve.

He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, two Orders of the Red Star, Orders of Alexander Nevsky, "For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces" of the 3rd degree.

Deputy Chairman of the Council of Heroes of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

Aviation of the Russian fleet. Book. 1. St. Petersburg, 1996, p. 148 (port.), 154.
Varganov Yu.V. and others. Naval Academy in the service of the Fatherland. Mozhaisk, 2001, p. 109.
Naval Academy. 2nd ed., rev. and additional L., 1991, p. 314.
Heroes of the battles for the Crimea. Simferopol, 1972, p. 168–169.
Heroes of the Soviet Union. T. 2. M., 1988, p. 81.
Heroes of the Soviet Union Navy. 1937–1945 M., 1977, p. 323.
Dotsenko V.D. Fleet. War. Victory. 1941–1945 SPb., 1995, p. 177.
Their names will never be forgotten. Book. 1. Stavropol, 1968, p. 187–188.
Biographical marine dictionary. SPb., 2000, p. 260.

Vasily Ivanovich Minakov(February 7, Terek province, RSFSR - October 8, St. Petersburg, Russia) - Soviet naval pilot, participant in the Great Patriotic War, Major General of Aviation, Hero of the Soviet Union ().

Biography

Military service

In 1938, Vasily Minakov was called up to serve in the ranks of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet. Two years later, in December 1940, he graduated. For further service, he was sent to the Pacific Fleet Air Force, where from March 1941 he held the positions of a pilot, from May - a junior pilot, and from January 1942 - a pilot of the 4th mine-torpedo air regiment.

In October 1942 he was assigned to the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment. From June 1943 he was a flight commander, from May 1944 - deputy squadron commander. Piloted Il-4 bomber. He took part in the defense of the Caucasus, the liberation of the Crimea, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

By October 1944, Senior Lieutenant V. I. Minakov made 182 sorties, of which 71 were night missions. With bomb and torpedo attacks, he sank 13 transports of the German naval forces (including 7 personally) with a total displacement of 36,500 tons, 5 dry cargo ships, 7 high-speed landing barges, 4 patrol boats, 1 minesweeper, 1 tugboat. One of the greatest achievements of a combat pilot during the liberation of Crimea was the sinking on May 10, 1944, as part of the German transport group Thea, with a displacement of 2773 tons; on board were 3,500 enemy soldiers and officers. In addition, he destroyed 4 ammunition depots, 4 railway stations and a crossing over the Don. Shot down 4 Luftwaffe aircraft in aerial combat.

Highest award

In total, during the war, V. I. Minakov made 206 sorties, of which 108 were bombing attacks on various sea and land targets, 31 were for torpedo attacks, 28 for aerial reconnaissance, 28 for minelaying, 7 for dropping cargo for partisans, 3 for landing scouts, 1 for covering ships.

Postwar years

Back in January 1945, a young but experienced pilot was sent to study at the Higher Aviation Courses of the Navy Air Force in Mozdok, which he graduated after the Victory, in July 1945. Returning to his 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment, V. I. Minakov became deputy squadron commander, and in May 1946 - commander.

Literary activity

  • Front to the sky. Notes of a naval pilot. - M.: Publishing house DOSAAF, 1977. - 208 p.
  • Winged battleship commanders. Notes of a naval pilot. - M.: Publishing house DOSAAF, 1981. - 384 p.
  • Angry sky of Taurida. - M.: Publishing House of DOSAAF, 1985. - 352 p.
  • Torpedo bombers attack. - L., Lenizdat, 1988. - 317 p.
  • About you, fighting friends-northerners. - Murmansk: Prince. publishing house, 1989. - 190 p.
  • Through the fiery sky From the essay notes of a naval military pilot-Pacific. - Khabarovsk: Prince. publishing house, 1989. - 175 p.
  • On the wings of naval aviation. - Stavropol: Prince. publishing house, 1990. - 252 p.
  • Baltic falcons. Notes of a naval pilot. - St. Petersburg: Polytechnic, 1995. - 422 p.
  • Autographs over the seas of three oceans. Notes of a naval pilot. - St. Petersburg: Polytechnic, 1998. - 422 p.
  • Heroes of the Black Sea sky. Notes of a naval pilot. - St. Petersburg: Helikon Plus, 2002. - 720 p.

Awards

  • three orders of the Red Banner (1942, 1945, 1965);
  • two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st class (1944, 1985);
  • Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree (1980);
  • Order of the Red Banner (People's Republic of Bulgaria);
  • medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.

Public acceptance

On the Alley of Heroes of the city of Mineralnye Vody, a stele with a bas-relief of the Hero of the Soviet Union V. I. Minakov was installed.

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Notes

Links

. Site "Heroes of the Country".

An excerpt characterizing Minakov, Vasily Ivanovich

- Appeal! Oh yes! Pierre began looking in his pockets for papers and could not find them. Continuing to flap his pockets, he kissed the hand of the countess as she entered and looked around uneasily, obviously expecting Natasha, who did not sing anymore, but did not come into the drawing room either.
“By God, I don’t know where I’ve got him,” he said.
“Well, he will always lose everything,” said the countess. Natasha entered with a softened, agitated face and sat down, silently looking at Pierre. As soon as she entered the room, Pierre's face, previously cloudy, shone, and he, continuing to look for papers, looked at her several times.
- By God, I'll move out, I forgot at home. Certainly…
Well, you'll be late for dinner.
- Oh, and the coachman left.
But Sonya, who went into the hall to look for the papers, found them in Pierre's hat, where he carefully put them behind the lining. Pierre wanted to read.
“No, after dinner,” said the old count, apparently foreseeing great pleasure in this reading.
At dinner, at which they drank champagne for the health of the new St. George Cavalier, Shinshin told the city news about the illness of the old Georgian princess, that Metivier had disappeared from Moscow, and that some German was brought to Rostopchin and announced to him that it was champignon (as Count Rostopchin himself told), and how Count Rostopchin ordered the champignon to be released, telling the people that it was not a champignon, but just an old German mushroom.
“They grab, they grab,” said the count, “I tell the countess even so that she speaks less French.” Now is not the time.
– Have you heard? Shinshin said. - Prince Golitsyn took a Russian teacher, he studies in Russian - il commence a devenir dangereux de parler francais dans les rues. [It becomes dangerous to speak French on the streets.]
- Well, Count Pyotr Kirilych, how will they gather the militia, and you will have to get on a horse? said the old count, turning to Pierre.
Pierre was silent and thoughtful throughout this dinner. He, as if not understanding, looked at the count at this appeal.
“Yes, yes, to the war,” he said, “no!” What a warrior I am! And yet, everything is so strange, so strange! Yes, I don't understand myself. I do not know, I am so far from military tastes, but in these times no one can answer for himself.
After dinner, the count sat quietly in an armchair and with a serious face asked Sonya, who was famous for her skill in reading, to read.
– “To the capital of our capital, Moscow.
The enemy entered with great forces into the borders of Russia. He is going to ruin our dear fatherland, ”Sonya diligently read in her thin voice. The Count, closing his eyes, listened, sighing impetuously in some places.
Natasha sat stretched out, searchingly and directly looking first at her father, then at Pierre.
Pierre felt her eyes on him and tried not to look back. The countess shook her head disapprovingly and angrily at every solemn expression of the manifesto. She saw in all these words only that the dangers threatening her son would not end soon. Shinshin, folding his mouth into a mocking smile, obviously prepared to mock at what would be the first to be mocked: at Sonya's reading, at what the count would say, even at the very appeal, if no better excuse presented itself.
Having read about the dangers threatening Russia, about the hopes placed by the sovereign on Moscow, and especially on the famous nobility, Sonya, with a trembling voice, which came mainly from the attention with which she was listened to, read last words: “We will not hesitate to stand among our people in this capital and in other states of our places for consultation and leadership of all our militias, both now blocking the path of the enemy, and again arranged to defeat it, wherever it appears. May the destruction into which he imagines to cast us down upon his head turn, and may Europe, liberated from slavery, glorify the name of Russia!
- That's it! cried the count, opening his wet eyes and halting several times from snuffling, as if a flask of strong acetic salt was being brought to his nose. “Just tell me, sir, we will sacrifice everything and regret nothing.”
Shinshin had not yet had time to tell the joke he had prepared on the count's patriotism, when Natasha jumped up from her seat and ran up to her father.
- What a charm, this dad! she said, kissing him, and she again looked at Pierre with that unconscious coquetry that returned to her along with her animation.
- That's so patriotic! Shinshin said.
“Not a patriot at all, but simply ...” Natasha answered offendedly. Everything is funny to you, but this is not a joke at all ...
- What jokes! repeated the Count. - Just say the word, we will all go ... We are not some kind of Germans ...
“Did you notice,” said Pierre, “that he said: “for a meeting.”
“Well, whatever it is…
At this time, Petya, whom no one paid any attention to, went up to his father and, all red, in a breaking voice, now rough, now thin, said:
“Well, now, papa, I will say decisively - and mother too, as you wish, - I will decisively say that you will let me into military service because I can't... that's all...
The countess raised her eyes to heaven in horror, clasped her hands and angrily turned to her husband.
- That's the deal! - she said.
But the count recovered from his excitement at the same moment.
“Well, well,” he said. "Here's another warrior!" Leave the nonsense: you need to study.
“It’s not nonsense, daddy. Obolensky Fedya is younger than me and also goes, and most importantly, anyway, I can’t learn anything now, when ... - Petya stopped, blushed to a sweat and said the same: - when the fatherland is in danger.
- Full, full, nonsense ...
“But you yourself said that we would sacrifice everything.
“Petya, I’m telling you, shut up,” the count shouted, looking back at his wife, who, turning pale, looked with fixed eyes at her younger son.
- I'm telling you. So Pyotr Kirillovich will say ...
- I'm telling you - it's nonsense, the milk has not dried up yet, but he wants to serve in the military! Well, well, I'm telling you, - and the count, taking the papers with him, probably to read it again in the study before resting, left the room.
- Pyotr Kirillovich, well, let's go for a smoke ...
Pierre was confused and indecisive. Natasha's unusually brilliant and lively eyes incessantly, more than affectionately addressed to him, brought him to this state.
- No, I think I'm going home ...
- Like home, but you wanted to have an evening with us ... And then they rarely began to visit. And this one is mine ... - the count said good-naturedly, pointing to Natasha, - it’s only cheerful with you ...
“Yes, I forgot ... I definitely need to go home ... Things ...” Pierre said hastily.
“Well, goodbye,” said the count, leaving the room completely.
- Why are you leaving? Why are you upset? Why? .. - Natasha asked Pierre, defiantly looking into his eyes.
"Because I love you! he wanted to say, but he did not say it, blushed to tears and lowered his eyes.
“Because it’s better for me to visit you less often ... Because ... no, I just have business to do.”
- From what? no, tell me, - Natasha began decisively and suddenly fell silent. They both looked at each other in fear and embarrassment. He tried to smile, but could not: his smile expressed suffering, and he silently kissed her hand and went out.
Pierre decided not to visit the Rostovs with himself anymore.

Petya, after receiving a decisive refusal, went to his room and there, locking himself away from everyone, wept bitterly. Everyone did as if they had not noticed anything when he came to tea silent and gloomy, with tearful eyes.
The next day the Emperor arrived. Several of the Rostovs' servants asked to go and see the tsar. That morning, Petya spent a long time dressing, combing his hair and arranging his collars like the big ones. He frowned in front of the mirror, made gestures, shrugged his shoulders, and finally, without telling anyone, put on his cap and left the house from the back porch, trying not to be noticed. Petya decided to go straight to the place where the sovereign was, and directly explain to some chamberlain (it seemed to Petya that the sovereign was always surrounded by chamberlains) that he, Count Rostov, despite his youth, wants to serve the fatherland, that youth cannot be an obstacle for devotion and that he is ready ... Petya, while he was getting ready, prepared many beautiful words that he would say to the chamberlain.
Petya counted on the success of his presentation to the sovereign precisely because he was a child (Petya even thought how surprised everyone would be at his youth), and at the same time, in the arrangement of his collars, in his hairstyle and in a sedate, slow gait, he wanted to present himself as an old man. But the farther he went, the more he entertained himself with the people arriving and arriving at the Kremlin, the more he forgot to observe the degree and slowness characteristic of adults. Approaching the Kremlin, he already began to take care that he was not pushed, and resolutely, with a menacing look, put his elbows on his sides. But at the Trinity Gate, in spite of all his determination, people who probably did not know for what patriotic purpose he was going to the Kremlin pressed him against the wall so that he had to submit and stop, while at the gate with a buzzing under the arches the sound of carriages passing by. Near Petya stood a woman with a footman, two merchants and a retired soldier. After standing for some time at the gate, Petya, without waiting for all the carriages to pass, wanted to move on before the others and began to work decisively with his elbows; but the woman standing opposite him, on whom he first directed his elbows, angrily shouted at him:
- What, barchuk, pushing, you see - everyone is standing. Why climb then!
“That’s how everyone will climb,” said the footman, and, also beginning to work with his elbows, squeezed Petya into the stinking corner of the gate.

Naval pilot Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Minakov made 206 sorties, sank 32 enemy ships. He was wounded, burned, fell, exploded, but survived.

Chose fate

June 22, 1941, I met near Vladivostok on Pacific Fleet, recalls the veteran. - It was a day off, and we, young pilots, went to the river: we swam, played volleyball, got acquainted with the girls. And suddenly, anxiety. In an hour and a half, our airfield was unrecognizable. The crews were given bombs, and we waited for further orders. We waited a day, a week, a month, six months…

It turned out that big politics intervened in the fate of the lieutenants. The Air Force base in the Pacific was needed by the Headquarters to protect against the Japanese - in Moscow they were afraid that a German ally would attack from the east. And only when, on December 7, 1941, Japan struck at Pearl Harbor, unleashing a war with the United States, Stalin boldly transferred troops to the west, strengthening the front. This decision became one of the main ones in the fate of Vasily Minakov. The squadron commander gathered the pilots and read the order: 6 planes are sent to the north, 3 to the south. But who - where? To make everything fair, they decided to cast lots, putting a few rolled pieces of paper in their cap. Minakov got southern front. So he ended up on the Black Sea in the 5th Guards Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment.

Vasily Ivanovich still remembers the date of the first sortie well. July 1, 1942. Night. An order came from Moscow - to evacuate the inhabitants of Sevastopol. Under the cover of darkness, minesweepers with women, children, and the wounded were to go to sea. Minakov's regiment covered them from the air.
The Germans have arrived. Our task is to prevent them from accurately dropping bombs. What we just didn’t do: wedged in, drove away, went head-on. The holes were "rolled up" by them to us, and we to them, but the main thing is that all of our three ships arrived safely at the port of destination.

Saved by the helmet

Forever he remembered the battle of August 18, 1942. Then it was necessary to strike at the tanks concentrated near Novorossiysk.

We were told: be sure to take helmets, - the combat general is transferred to the past. - And I always flew just in a helmet, the helmet was uncomfortable, so it usually dangled near the seat. But here for some reason I put it on. And just pulled, as hell began. Three shells exploded near my plane, and a large fragment hit the metal. The whole face was covered in blood. If it wasn't for her, it's over.

Helmet saved, but the crew was on the verge of death. From a terrible blow, Minakov, who was holding the helm, lost consciousness and hung on his belts. The plane began to fall from a height of 4 thousand meters. It seemed that death was inevitable. And suddenly, when 500 m remained to the ground, Vasily came to his senses. Moreover, Il leveled out, gained altitude and flew to his own. He was greeted with double joy: they saw how the car went into a dive, and they thought that he had died. He left the fragment as a keepsake and after many years gave it to the museum, and fellow soldiers gave him a helmet-talisman as a reminder of that time.

During the entire war, he made 206 sorties, including 70 night ones, which was considered certain death. He sank enemy ships, attacked the enemy convoy. But the most dangerous was the work with torpedoes.

After all, what is a torpedo bomber? This means that the plane descends 20-30 meters above the water level, overcoming crazy barrage fire, and drops shells, - says the veteran. - One against 150-200 anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns. Few survived. You can't go wrong either. If you press the holder button early - the projectile can "jump over" the ship. Too late - will pass under the bottom. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate everything accurately.

Minakov's crew acted brilliantly, destroying 32 enemy ships of various classes. It was he who, in May 1944, in a group of bombers, sent the German transport "Thea" to the bottom, on board of which there were 3,500 enemy soldiers and officers. For this operation, our countryman was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

Vasily Minakov turned out to be involved in historical events. In October 1944, Winston Churchill once again flew to the Soviet Union to negotiate with Stalin and the Allies. Vasily Minakov was among those who met the British Prime Minister at the Sarabuz airport near Simferopol. Having set foot on the Crimean land, the English leader approached the Soviet officers, shook hands with them, including Vasily.

However, few people know that then Churchill came with his daughter, - Vasily Ivanovich reveals the details. - For distinguished guests near the airfield, as they say now, a VIP zone was prepared: the floors of the hut were covered with carpets, tables were set with good food and champagne. Churchill's daughter liked everything so much that when the high-ranking father left for Massandra, she stayed with her entourage and danced with our military with pleasure.

For dashing, he was called "Terkin at sea", and for vitality - charmed. How could it be otherwise, when one day in the next battle a fragment pierced the engine of his aircraft, several rows of skin, but ... got entangled in the cable for dropping missiles. Lucky and partners who flew with Vasily. For four years of battles, 10 navigators were replaced in his crew and only one was seriously wounded. And he never changed his faithful Il-4 during the war.
- I look - all in holes, there is no living place, but they repaired it and we fly further, - Vasily Minakov speaks of a living friend about a fighting friend.

Mystic, but the bomber was shot down when Vasily Ivanovich was sent on vacation, and another officer took his car ...

Prayer on a leaf

Was it scary?

Of course, it's scary, - the veteran does not deny, - but only when they give you a task, you prepare for the flight. And when he got into the car, he rose into the sky, he was no longer afraid. You have to maneuver, get away from the enemy. Why should he bring me down? No, I'm his!

However, Vasily Ivanovich had reliable protection. His fiancée Tamara, with whom he had been friends since childhood, wrote him a prayer by hand in a student notebook. This leaflet, like the photo of his beloved, Vasily always wore on his chest. In 1942, they met by chance, and he promised: "If I stay alive, I will come and get married." He kept his word. In 1945 he arrived - Hero of the Soviet Union, 5 orders, Gold Star. And he simply said, "Let's go." He was 24 years old. Together they lived for more than 60 years, celebrated a diamond wedding. They raised a son, a daughter, and now their grandchildren are happy.

After the war, Vasily Minakov returned to the Baltic, led the Air Force of the Northern Fleet, and received the rank of major general. And then for 15 years he headed the Central Research Institute of Aviation and Cosmonautics in Leningrad, was engaged in the development of aviation technology, new types of aircraft. And never for a moment forgot about what he had to endure. He wrote 18 books about everyday life and exploits of the war, dedicated to naval pilots. Now Vasily Ivanovich is 94, he lives in the Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg.

When I talk about my life, many do not believe, - says the hero. - But all this was with me and my comrades. Today they are trying to rewrite history, to humiliate the feat of our soldiers - this is vile. We have done everything for the Victory and we will not give it away to anyone.

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