Mikhail Karpeyev
Mikhail Karpeyev | |
---|---|
Native name | Михаил Поликарпович Карпеев |
Born | 21 November 1922 Yakimovo, Second World War |
Awards | Soviet Union: Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Lenin Twice Order of the Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Twice Order of the Patriotic War First Class Order of the Red Star Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class Ukraine: Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Third Class Defender of the Motherland Medal |
Mikhail Polikarpovich Karpeyev (
Born into a peasant family in 1922, Karpeyev graduated from school shortly before the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. He had attended the local aeroclub in his youth and was in the Red Army, enrolled in the Sverdlovsk Military Aviation School for Pilots, on the outbreak of war. Quickly transferred to the frontlines as a pilot, he went on to serve in many of the most active theatres of the war for the Soviets. He was seriously injured during the siege of Leningrad, spending six months in hospital, before returning to active service. Flying the Polikarpov Po-2, and later the Ilyushin Il-2, Karpeyev rose to the rank of guards lieutenant while engaging in numerous dangerous sorties. He carried out bombing runs, attacks on military targets, aerial reconnaissance missions, and supply runs to partisans behind enemy lines. By the end of the war Karpeyev had made 310 combat sorties, destroying large quantities of enemy equipment and infrastructure. In recognition of his courage and achievements, in June 1945 he received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Karpeyev remained in the Soviet military after the war, carrying out further training, and graduating from the
Early life and career
Karpeyev was born on 21 November 1922 into a Russian peasant family in the village of Yakimovo (now part of the city of
Wartime service
Karpeyev first began flying sorties around
By 1945 Karpeyev was a deputy squadron commander, and flew as a lead pair. On 5 January 1945 he carried out an aerial reconnaissance mission around Kussen , penetrating enemy lines for 20 km (12 mi) at a height of 200 m (656 ft). Despite heavy opposition from enemy anti-aircraft fire and fighters, Karpeyev was able to complete the mission, additionally destroying two cars and starting a fire as he returned to his own lines.[1] A week later, on 12 January, Karpeyev again carried out a reconnaissance mission, flying with four cameras on his aircraft, supported by five Ilyushin Il-2s and twelve Yakovlev Yak-3s. His aircraft was badly damaged by heavy anti-aircraft fire, but he was able to complete the mission and make it back to base.[1] Another sortie on 14 January targeted enemy forces, with Karpeyev setting a tank on fire, suppressing three anti-aircraft gun positions, and killing up to ten enemy troops.[1]
The following month, on 15 February, Karpeyev was again carrying out aerial reconnaissance, this time of retreating enemy forces along the Vistula Spit. He made four sorties that day, again killing up to ten enemy troops.[1] On 21 February, flying an Ilyushin Il-2, he attacked artillery positions, destroying two field guns, killing up to five troops, and starting a fire.[1] On 11 March, again flying an Ilyushin Il-2, he led an attack on vessels southwest of Königsberg, bombing and sinking a barge.[1] Karpeyev was then awarded the Order of the Red Banner, for courage and valour having successfully completed 24 combat sorties in the Ilyushin Il-2 against enemy units.[1]
Karpeyev continued to be heavily engaged with enemy forces over the following months until the end of the war. On 24 March 1945 he carried out a sortie in the region of Bregde, and despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, made five approaches to the target, destroying a tank, at least two artillery batteries, and starting a fire.[1] On 16 April he flew four sorties, each time approaching at low altitude to attack enemy forces, despite heavy anti-aircraft fire.[1]
Mission totals and reward
By May 1945 Karpeyev had carried out 100 sorties in the Ilyushin Il-2 against enemy forces, and 85 nighttime bombing sorties on the Polikarpov Po-2. He had also flown Polikarpov Po-2s on ten reconnaissance missions, and five to deliver food to partisan forces.[7] He had flown 110 combat missions after being wounded, making a total of 310 combat missions.[1][8] He had personally destroyed or damaged 15 tanks, 4 self-propelled guns, 27 transport vehicles, 17 field guns, and up to 20 carts and 17 residential buildings, killing some 200 enemy troops.[7] He had also suppressed anti-aircraft fire from 40 enemy guns, started up to 50 fires, and flown 8 reconnaissance missions.[1][5] On 29 June 1945 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet awarded Karpeyev the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, number 8727, with the accompanying Order of Lenin, number 55021.[1][3][4][8]
Postwar service
With the end of the war, Karpeyev remained in the armed forces, travelling to
Retirement and later life
Karpeyev retired from the military on age grounds on 1 April 1978, leaving with the rank of
Karpeyev lived in Kharkiv for the last years of his life, dying there on 7 June 2021 at the age of 98.[1][3] He had received numerous awards and honours over his long career. In addition to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and the Order of Lenin, he had received two Orders of the Red Banner, on 14 July 1944 and 19 April 1945, the Order of Alexander Nevsky on 29 April 1945, two Orders of the Patriotic War First Class, on 7 February 1945 and 11 March 1985, the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" Third Class, 29 medals, and the title of Merited Railway Worker .[1][5] He was an honorary citizen of Kharkiv since 2013, and received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Third Class from Ukraine.[2][3][4][7] His name is recorded in Kaliningrad on the memorial Heroes of the Storming of Königsberg.[1] After a farewell ceremony at the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University, he was buried in the village of Rohan, in Kharkiv Oblast on 9 June.[2] At the time of his death he was the last Hero of the Soviet Union living in Kharkiv Oblast.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Kashcheyev, Sergey. "Карпеев, Михаил Поликарпович" (in Russian). Heroes of the Country. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "В Харькове прощаются с последним Героем Советского Союза" (in Russian). sq.com.ua. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Danushchuk, Nadezhda (8 June 2021). "В Харькове умер последний Герой СССР легенда авиации" (in Russian). Obozrevatel. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Карпеев Михаил Поликарпович" (in Russian). city.kharkov.ua. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Карпеев Михаил Поликарпович" (in Russian). Museum of the Great Patriotic War, Moscow. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Карпеев Михаил Поликарпович" (in Russian). Общественный проект Приволжского федерального округа. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
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value (help) - ^ a b c "КАРПЕЕВ Михаил Поликарпович" (in Russian). Чувашская Энциклопедия. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Герой Советского Союза Михаил Карпеев отпраздновал 95-летие" (in Russian). redpost.com.ua. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2021.