Nikolai Kirtok
Nikolai Kirtok | |
|---|---|
Ukrainian SSR | |
| Died | 25 September 2022 (aged 101) Moscow, Russia |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service/ | Soviet Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1976 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit |
|
| Commands held | 143rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Nikolai Naumovich Kirtok (Russian: Николай Наумович Кирток; Ukrainian: Микола Наумович Кирток; 6 December 1920 – 25 September 2022) was a Soviet pilot who served during World War II. Kirtok flew 210 missions, mainly as a pilot of an attack aircraft, and in the summer of 1945, received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.[1][2][3]
Early life
Kirtok was born on 6 December 1920 in the village of Marynivka in Mykolaiv Oblast of
During his childhood, he lived in
Military career
World War II
In 1939, he was drafted into the ranks of the
Kirtok began flying missions in the
He distinguished himself during the Battle of Berlin in 1945, when he twice led a group of Il-2s to destroy enemy artillery and mortar positions on the southwestern outskirts of Berlin on 24 April. With a well-aimed air strike, the group managed to successfully destroy four artillery batteries.[1][5]
During the period from 27 July 1943 to 11 May 1945, Kirtok made 210 successful sorties in the face of strong opposition from German anti-aircraft artillery and fighter aircraft. According to his combat account, he destroyed and damaged 38 enemy
On 24 June 1945, he took part in the
By the decree of the Presidium of thePost war
After the war, he continued to serve in the
From February 1976, Kirtok was transferred to the reserves.[1]
Later life and death
After his retirement from the military, he worked as a design engineer at the
On 6 December 2020, he turned 100 years old.[10][11] Kirtok died on 25 September 2022, at the age of 101.[12]
Awards and decorations
His awards include:[1]
|
Hero of the Soviet Union (27 June 1945) |
|
Order of Lenin (27 June 1945) |
|
Order of the Red Banner, three times (26 October 1943, 19 March 1944, 19 May 1945) |
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|
Order of Alexander Nevsky (USSR) (8 March 1945) |
|
Order of Alexander Nevsky (Russia) (7 December 2020) |
|
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class, twice (31 October 1943, 11 March 1985) |
|
Order of the Red Star |
|
Order "For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR", 3rd class (30 April 1975) |
|
Medal "For Battle Merit" |
|
Medal of Zhukov |
|
Medal "For the Liberation of Prague" (1945) |
|
Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" (1945) |
|
Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (1945) |
- jubilee medals
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Serdyukov, Igor. "Николай Наумович Кирток". www.warheroes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Кирток Николай Наумович". www.victorymuseum.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Последние четверо: как живут в Москве военные герои Советского Союза". www.rpgdom.ru (in Russian). 8 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Кирток Николай Наумович". airaces.narod.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Николай Кирток: я дрался на Ил-2". iremember.ru (in Russian). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Кирток Николай Наумович". pobeda1945.su (in Russian). Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "ОН НЕ РАЗ СМОТРЕЛ СМЕРТИ В ГЛАЗА". www.army.ric.mil.ru (in Russian). 19 February 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Esquivias, José María Ballester (26 September 2022). "Nikolai Kirtok (1920–2022) Héroe ucraniano de la toma de Berlín" [Nikolai Kirtok (1920–2022) Ukrainian hero of the taking of Berlin]. El Debate (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 September 2022.
El balance fue convalidado por sus superiores y el 27 de junio de 1945, un decreto del Presidium del Soviet Supremo de la URSS hizo del joven piloto un héroe de la Unión Soviética, «por el cumplimiento ejemplar de las misiones de combate del mando para destruir el personal y el equipo del enemigo y por el valor y el heroísmo de los guardias demostrados al mismo tiempo», recibiendo en la misma tanda la Orden de Lenin y la medalla de la Estrella de Oro. Tres días antes había participado en el Desfile de la Victoria en la Plaza Roja de Moscú, presidido por Stalin. [The balance was validated by his superiors and on June 27, 1945, a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR made the young pilot a hero of the Soviet Union, "for the exemplary fulfillment of the command's combat missions to destroy the enemy's personnel and equipment and for the courage and heroism of the guards shown at the same time", receiving in the same batch the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. Three days earlier he had participated in the Parade of Victory on Red Square in Moscow, presided over by Stalin.]
- ^ "100 лет Герою Советского Союза, полковнику Николаю Наумовичу Киртоку!". heroesxxcentury.ru (in Russian). 6 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Новая высота фронтового лётчика". www.redstar.ru (in Russian). 4 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "День рождения отмечает Герой Советского Союза Николай Наумович Кирток". soyuzveteranov.ru. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Скончался Герой Советского Союза Кирток Николай Наумович" [Hero of the Soviet Union Kirtok Nikolay Naumovich Died] (in Russian). Retrieved 26 September 2022.
External links
Media related to Nikolai Kirtok at Wikimedia Commons