Peter Pilytov
On December 17, 1941 the pilot On December 17, 1941 the pilot Peter Pilytov set out on a mission to escort 9 Li-2 transport planes which carried women and children from Leningrad to an airfield near Novaya Ladoga. Normally transport planes were protected by several fighter planes, especially when they carried passengers. However, these were unusual circumstances and he had to scrable his P-40 "Kittyhawk" alone...
Pilyutov led a wing of 4 fighter planes when he arrived at the Komendantsky airfield in Lenignrad, however a couple of planes were urgently recalled to Kronstadt while another one was damaged during a sudden artillery raid. The shelling might have destroyed the planes with the children who had already boarded them, and this prompted the commanders order the planes to take off immediately.
The Li-2's were flying at an extremely low altitude while the escorting fighter flew just under the rim of the clouds. This made it more convenient for the pilots to observe the surroundings while maintaining low visibility for the enemy.
Peter Pilyutov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1943, ending the war in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with 14 confirmed kills. set out on a mission to escort 9 Li-2 transport planes which carried women and children from Leningrad to an airfield near Novaya Ladoga. Normally transport planes were protected by several fighter planes, especially when they carried passengers. However, these were unusual circumstances and he had to scrable his P-40 "Kittyhawk" alone...
Pilyutov led a wing of 4 fighter planes when he arrived at the Komendantsky airfield in Lenignrad, however a couple of planes were urgently recalled to Kronstadt while another one was damaged during a sudden artillery raid. The shelling might have destroyed the planes with the children who had already boarded them, and this prompted the commanders order the planes to take off immediately.
The Li-2's were flying at an extremely low altitude while the escorting fighter flew just under the rim of the clouds. This made it more convenient for the pilots to observe the surroundings while maintaining low visibility for the enemy.
Pilyutov led a wing of 4 fighter planes when he arrived at the Komendantsky airfield in Lenignrad, however a couple of planes were urgently recalled to Kronstadt while another one was damaged during a sudden artillery raid. The shelling might have destroyed the planes with the children who had already boarded them, and this prompted the commanders order the planes to take off immediately.
The Li-2's were flying at an extremely low altitude while the escorting fighter flew just under the rim of the clouds. This made it more convenient for the pilots to observe the surroundings while maintaining low visibility for the enemy.
In the area of Novaya Ladoga the group of planes was suddenly by 5 German Me-109F fighters. The enemy anticipated an easy victory, being unable to see the Soviet fighter. Utilising the element of surprise, Pilyutov came down literally like a thunder out of the blue upon the leading enemy plane and shot it down with the first volley of his machineguns. This shocked the enemy at first. However, having realised they were dealing with just one plane, the Germans decided to finish it off.
In a cruel dogfight Pilyutov managed to set one more Messershmitt on fire, but his plane was hit as well and his motor died. He made a rough landing on the ice of the Ladoga lake. Circling around his broken machine, the enemies continued showering him with their autocannons and machineguns. The pilot sustained 21 wounds and managed to stay alive until help arrived. His missuion was accomplished successfully - all 9 transport planes reached their destination and the civilians' lives were saved. One month later Pilyutov recovered from his wounds and came back to frontline service.
In a cruel dogfight Pilyutov managed to set one more Messershmitt on fire, but his plane was hit as well and his motor died. He made a rough landing on the ice of the Ladoga lake. Circling around his broken machine, the enemies continued showering him with their autocannons and machineguns. The pilot sustained 21 wounds and managed to stay alive until help arrived. His missuion was accomplished successfully - all 9 transport planes reached their destination and the civilians' lives were saved. One month later Pilyutov recovered from his wounds and came back to frontline service.
Pilyutov led a wing of 4 fighter planes when he arrived at the Komendantsky airfield in Lenignrad, however a couple of planes were urgently recalled to Kronstadt while another one was damaged during a sudden artillery raid. The shelling might have destroyed the planes with the children who had already boarded them, and this prompted the commanders order the planes to take off immediately.
The Li-2's were flying at an extremely low altitude while the escorting fighter flew just under the rim of the clouds. This made it more convenient for the pilots to observe the surroundings while maintaining low visibility for the enemy.
In the area of Novaya Ladoga the group of planes was suddenly by 5 German Me-109F fighters. The enemy anticipated an easy victory, being unable to see the Soviet fighter. Utilising the element of surprise, Pilyutov came down literally like a thunder out of the blue upon the leading enemy plane and shot it down with the first volley of his machineguns. This shocked the enemy at first. However, having realised they were dealing with just one plane, the Germans decided to finish it off.
In a cruel dogfight Pilyutov managed to set one more Messershmitt on fire, but his plane was hit as well and his motor died. He made a rough landing on the ice of the Ladoga lake. Circling around his broken machine, the enemies continued showering him with their autocannons and machineguns. The pilot sustained 21 wounds and managed to stay alive until help arrived. His missuion was accomplished successfully - all 9 transport planes reached their destination and the civilians' lives were saved. One month later Pilyutov recovered from his wounds and came back to frontline service.
Peter Pilyutov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1943, ending the war in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with 14 confirmed kills.
In a cruel dogfight Pilyutov managed to set one more Messershmitt on fire, but his plane was hit as well and his motor died. He made a rough landing on the ice of the Ladoga lake. Circling around his broken machine, the enemies continued showering him with their autocannons and machineguns. The pilot sustained 21 wounds and managed to stay alive until help arrived. His missuion was accomplished successfully - all 9 transport planes reached their destination and the civilians' lives were saved. One month later Pilyutov recovered from his wounds and came back to frontline service.
Peter Pilyutov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1943, ending the war in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with 14 confirmed kills.
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