George Beregovoy: “I am a pilot. Profession Man
15 April is the birthday of the only front-line cosmonaut Georgy Timofeevich Beregovoy. The years of the birth of the future hero relate to the most difficult period stories Russian state, so his childhood was held in conditions of harsh life. A native of the Ukrainian SSR, the village of Fedorovka in the Poltava province, he graduated from the 8 classes of the Enakiyevo secondary school, and then began his career at a metallurgical plant. In a short interview, Mikhail Beregovoy’s brother told reporters that Georgy Timofeevich grew up like all boys naughty and pugnacious. In the years of youth, the future Hero successfully combined work and training in a local flying club.
In 1938, Beregovoi joined the ranks of the Red Army. Since December 12, George Timofeevich has been studying at the military school of aviators named after The proletariat of Donbass and ends it nine days before the start of World War II. He successfully mastered the control of IL-2 and was appointed commander of the assault squadron in the guards assault regiment aviation № 90.
During the war period, Beregovoi makes more than 180 sorties, while he is shot down three times, he is injured, but continues to fight against the Nazis. Georgy Timofeevich received the first Star of the Hero on October 26 in 1944 for exemplary conduct of military operations on the instructions of the command in the fight against invaders. In an interview, Viktor Georgievich Beregovoy’s son talks about how his father spoke about military exploits and military everyday life. A special skill was considered the ability to get close on combat vehicles to a distance of two meters and, having released the helm, demonstrate free hands to the pilot of the second attack aircraft. The goals were set by a variety of different, bombed Coastal enemy Tanks, echelons, as well as crossings and strategically important points. The Hero of the USSR also participated in the famous raid on the German airfield near Lviv.
Returning to his homeland after the war, Beregovoy entered the Higher Officers' School and graduated from it in 1948. In addition, he passed the hero and test pilot courses. The further life of the front-line soldier turned out to be entirely devoted to the work in the GK NII VVS as a tester. From the 1948 of the year to the 1964 of the year, he raised dozens of jets and other types of new-generation aircraft to the sky. Beregovoy tested such models as the MiG-19P, I-320, Yak-K, Tu-128 and others. During the test-testing period, the front-line soldier was given the title of Honored Test Pilot of the USSR. For the brave and competent behavior in an emergency situation when flying to the Su-9, the pilot was given a movie camera. Rewarding was carried out personally by designer Sukhoi. In addition, in 1956, he graduated from the Air Force Academy, later named after the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
In the 43 of the year at a regular medical commission, one of the doctors joked that with such health as that of the Coastal One can safely sign up as an astronaut. Georgy Timofeevich accepted this joke as a guide to action and in 1963, he achieved admission to the cosmonaut corps. To achieve this goal, the Coastal had to complete a flight training program on Soyuz ships, as well as to overcome the most difficult tests. N.P. provided invaluable assistance. Kamanin, who knew the front-line pilot from the war. He helped to settle the issue with the age requirement, since only people younger than 35 were admitted to the squadron. According to the stories of contemporaries, the front-line soldier did not feel his age, although he was the most adult of the team members. He was even friendly called "grandfather". Leonov, in his memoirs about Beregovoy, responds respectfully, since, in his opinion, it was quite difficult to learn from the young. George Timofeevich, being the most experienced pilot and hero, managed to overcome himself and master all the specifics of space flights. He was not inferior in terms of physical indicators to any of the team members, and tirelessness and optimism allowed him to become the main contender for being sent into orbit.
Finally, on October 26 1968, on the Soyuz-3 ship, the Coast went to the icy arms of space. The flight did not last much less than four days, during its attempt to dock with the Union-2, operating in unmanned mode. For this flight, the front-line astronaut received his second Hero Star. The value of the flight of the Union-3 is difficult to overestimate. He was not only a repetition of the tragically known Soyuz-1 launch with cosmonaut Komarov on board, but also turned out to be complicated by the need to make the first attempt to dock the ships in outer space. After the death of the brave astronaut, five more launches of unmanned ships were made, all of which were successful. However, the psychological barrier after the tragedy remained. Particularly confusing to designers, testers, analysts and other specialists was the requirement to dock in the shaded orbit. Given the process of adaptation to the conditions of space flight, it was almost impossible to perform such an operation.
Despite the fact that the docking was not possible, Beregovoy brought valuable experience and observations to Earth, which were then taken into account in subsequent flights.
George Timofeevich, unlike many great people and heroes, had the gift of words and left his works to descendants. “Angle of attack”, “Face of courage”, “Three heights” and much more contain unique descriptions and stories, as well as reflections of a great man, a true patriot and a warrior. Beregovoy began to write since 1971, his first works were devoted to wartime and aviation, he also described space travel. The value of his memoirs is very high, as the astronaut very accurately and clearly describes the state of a person when adapting to the state of weightlessness, and also tells a lot of interesting things about his time in orbit.
Georgy Timofeevich himself in his memoirs tells about the sensations that he experienced, going into the unknown depths of space. The author says that this flight could not be called a serial flight, as, incidentally, it is impossible to speak about serial production in space flights in general. Each new start and flight is inherently unique, so even when going into orbit thirty-three, he felt like a pioneer. He told the readers about the fear of randomness, which can close the door to the ship once and for all for the 47 summer cosmonaut. Even in the dining room, where members of the team, to which, apart from Beregovoy, Shatalov's 2 number and Volynov's 3 number, were fed, were fed, the staff had to wear gauze bandages. Light runny nose or high blood pressure could in one instant send Beregovoy from the position of the main candidate to the reserve. Fortunately, unforeseen complications did not arise, and the flight took place.
Georgy Timofeevich said that the ace, in the first place, is distinguished by the ability to attach to the machine, to feel it as if it were a living being. Only in the presence of the specified ability the pilot can be called as such. Interestingly, he felt the same thing while flying aboard the Soyuz-3. He was also preparing for space travel, trying to establish contact with this huge machine. In his memoirs, Beregovoi notes that it is much more difficult to get used to controlling the ship because it is not possible to feel it in dynamics - the ship has no control phase on the runway.
The astronaut described the docking process and explained the reason for the failure. He tried to get close to the unmanned Soyuz-2, focusing on the signal lights, but at a distance of 30 meters I realized that the ship should be turned over. The astronaut decided to rectify the situation. Only one random error caused by poor coordination due to the adaptation period resulted in the impossibility of further convergence. Time was lost and the fuel was wasted, so further maneuvers became dangerous. As the cosmonaut put it, his condition was normal, but his mood was spoiled. Despite the failed attempt to dock, the flight of the Coastal still was heroic, and the Soviet leadership acknowledged this.
Since 1972, Georgy Timofeevich has become the head of the Gagarin Center, which specializes in training the new generation of cosmonauts. After nine years of fruitful work, he retired with the rank of lieutenant general. During his tenure as Head of the Center, Beregovoy defended his Ph.D. thesis at the Lesgaft Institute of Physical Culture and received a Ph.D.
An active and energetic character did not allow the pilot and astronaut to live in idleness. He received many awards for his intellectual and social activities, was a deputy of the Supreme Council for eight years, participated in amateur activities. In addition, the Coast was an honorary citizen of the cities of three countries of Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria. The hero of June 30 died in 1995, during an unsuccessful heart operation in Moscow. He was buried in the Novodevichy cemetery, station number 11. The bright memory of him until today is a link between Ukraine and Russia.
During his glorious life, the front-line cosmonaut received the Hero title twice, and was also awarded the Orders of Lenin, Red Banner, Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3 degree, Alexander Nevsky, Red Star, World War II and many more awards, medals, titles, valuable gifts and thanks. On the chest of this great man 28 awards and 11 commemorative medals, among which there were foreign ones, should show off.
Recently, in Ukraine, the 90 anniversary of the Hero was pompously celebrated. The father and son of the Volkovs, the current president and even Alexey Leonov came to Yenakiyevo. The school where he studied twice Hero was named after him, and in the city a real Beregovoy Museum was created. In the collection you can see photos, space tools and astronaut things. In honor of George Timofeevich in the territory of the flying club the Church of St. George the Victorious was erected.
In 1938, Beregovoi joined the ranks of the Red Army. Since December 12, George Timofeevich has been studying at the military school of aviators named after The proletariat of Donbass and ends it nine days before the start of World War II. He successfully mastered the control of IL-2 and was appointed commander of the assault squadron in the guards assault regiment aviation № 90.
During the war period, Beregovoi makes more than 180 sorties, while he is shot down three times, he is injured, but continues to fight against the Nazis. Georgy Timofeevich received the first Star of the Hero on October 26 in 1944 for exemplary conduct of military operations on the instructions of the command in the fight against invaders. In an interview, Viktor Georgievich Beregovoy’s son talks about how his father spoke about military exploits and military everyday life. A special skill was considered the ability to get close on combat vehicles to a distance of two meters and, having released the helm, demonstrate free hands to the pilot of the second attack aircraft. The goals were set by a variety of different, bombed Coastal enemy Tanks, echelons, as well as crossings and strategically important points. The Hero of the USSR also participated in the famous raid on the German airfield near Lviv.
Returning to his homeland after the war, Beregovoy entered the Higher Officers' School and graduated from it in 1948. In addition, he passed the hero and test pilot courses. The further life of the front-line soldier turned out to be entirely devoted to the work in the GK NII VVS as a tester. From the 1948 of the year to the 1964 of the year, he raised dozens of jets and other types of new-generation aircraft to the sky. Beregovoy tested such models as the MiG-19P, I-320, Yak-K, Tu-128 and others. During the test-testing period, the front-line soldier was given the title of Honored Test Pilot of the USSR. For the brave and competent behavior in an emergency situation when flying to the Su-9, the pilot was given a movie camera. Rewarding was carried out personally by designer Sukhoi. In addition, in 1956, he graduated from the Air Force Academy, later named after the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
In the 43 of the year at a regular medical commission, one of the doctors joked that with such health as that of the Coastal One can safely sign up as an astronaut. Georgy Timofeevich accepted this joke as a guide to action and in 1963, he achieved admission to the cosmonaut corps. To achieve this goal, the Coastal had to complete a flight training program on Soyuz ships, as well as to overcome the most difficult tests. N.P. provided invaluable assistance. Kamanin, who knew the front-line pilot from the war. He helped to settle the issue with the age requirement, since only people younger than 35 were admitted to the squadron. According to the stories of contemporaries, the front-line soldier did not feel his age, although he was the most adult of the team members. He was even friendly called "grandfather". Leonov, in his memoirs about Beregovoy, responds respectfully, since, in his opinion, it was quite difficult to learn from the young. George Timofeevich, being the most experienced pilot and hero, managed to overcome himself and master all the specifics of space flights. He was not inferior in terms of physical indicators to any of the team members, and tirelessness and optimism allowed him to become the main contender for being sent into orbit.
Finally, on October 26 1968, on the Soyuz-3 ship, the Coast went to the icy arms of space. The flight did not last much less than four days, during its attempt to dock with the Union-2, operating in unmanned mode. For this flight, the front-line astronaut received his second Hero Star. The value of the flight of the Union-3 is difficult to overestimate. He was not only a repetition of the tragically known Soyuz-1 launch with cosmonaut Komarov on board, but also turned out to be complicated by the need to make the first attempt to dock the ships in outer space. After the death of the brave astronaut, five more launches of unmanned ships were made, all of which were successful. However, the psychological barrier after the tragedy remained. Particularly confusing to designers, testers, analysts and other specialists was the requirement to dock in the shaded orbit. Given the process of adaptation to the conditions of space flight, it was almost impossible to perform such an operation.Despite the fact that the docking was not possible, Beregovoy brought valuable experience and observations to Earth, which were then taken into account in subsequent flights.
George Timofeevich, unlike many great people and heroes, had the gift of words and left his works to descendants. “Angle of attack”, “Face of courage”, “Three heights” and much more contain unique descriptions and stories, as well as reflections of a great man, a true patriot and a warrior. Beregovoy began to write since 1971, his first works were devoted to wartime and aviation, he also described space travel. The value of his memoirs is very high, as the astronaut very accurately and clearly describes the state of a person when adapting to the state of weightlessness, and also tells a lot of interesting things about his time in orbit.
Georgy Timofeevich himself in his memoirs tells about the sensations that he experienced, going into the unknown depths of space. The author says that this flight could not be called a serial flight, as, incidentally, it is impossible to speak about serial production in space flights in general. Each new start and flight is inherently unique, so even when going into orbit thirty-three, he felt like a pioneer. He told the readers about the fear of randomness, which can close the door to the ship once and for all for the 47 summer cosmonaut. Even in the dining room, where members of the team, to which, apart from Beregovoy, Shatalov's 2 number and Volynov's 3 number, were fed, were fed, the staff had to wear gauze bandages. Light runny nose or high blood pressure could in one instant send Beregovoy from the position of the main candidate to the reserve. Fortunately, unforeseen complications did not arise, and the flight took place.
Georgy Timofeevich said that the ace, in the first place, is distinguished by the ability to attach to the machine, to feel it as if it were a living being. Only in the presence of the specified ability the pilot can be called as such. Interestingly, he felt the same thing while flying aboard the Soyuz-3. He was also preparing for space travel, trying to establish contact with this huge machine. In his memoirs, Beregovoi notes that it is much more difficult to get used to controlling the ship because it is not possible to feel it in dynamics - the ship has no control phase on the runway.
The astronaut described the docking process and explained the reason for the failure. He tried to get close to the unmanned Soyuz-2, focusing on the signal lights, but at a distance of 30 meters I realized that the ship should be turned over. The astronaut decided to rectify the situation. Only one random error caused by poor coordination due to the adaptation period resulted in the impossibility of further convergence. Time was lost and the fuel was wasted, so further maneuvers became dangerous. As the cosmonaut put it, his condition was normal, but his mood was spoiled. Despite the failed attempt to dock, the flight of the Coastal still was heroic, and the Soviet leadership acknowledged this.Since 1972, Georgy Timofeevich has become the head of the Gagarin Center, which specializes in training the new generation of cosmonauts. After nine years of fruitful work, he retired with the rank of lieutenant general. During his tenure as Head of the Center, Beregovoy defended his Ph.D. thesis at the Lesgaft Institute of Physical Culture and received a Ph.D.
An active and energetic character did not allow the pilot and astronaut to live in idleness. He received many awards for his intellectual and social activities, was a deputy of the Supreme Council for eight years, participated in amateur activities. In addition, the Coast was an honorary citizen of the cities of three countries of Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria. The hero of June 30 died in 1995, during an unsuccessful heart operation in Moscow. He was buried in the Novodevichy cemetery, station number 11. The bright memory of him until today is a link between Ukraine and Russia.
During his glorious life, the front-line cosmonaut received the Hero title twice, and was also awarded the Orders of Lenin, Red Banner, Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3 degree, Alexander Nevsky, Red Star, World War II and many more awards, medals, titles, valuable gifts and thanks. On the chest of this great man 28 awards and 11 commemorative medals, among which there were foreign ones, should show off.
Recently, in Ukraine, the 90 anniversary of the Hero was pompously celebrated. The father and son of the Volkovs, the current president and even Alexey Leonov came to Yenakiyevo. The school where he studied twice Hero was named after him, and in the city a real Beregovoy Museum was created. In the collection you can see photos, space tools and astronaut things. In honor of George Timofeevich in the territory of the flying club the Church of St. George the Victorious was erected.
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