Catherine Zelenko. The girl who committed the ram
“Deputy commander of the squadron of the 135 th aviation regiment of the Southwestern Front, female pilot, senior lieutenant E.I. Zelenko, after completing a combat mission in the area of Sumy, was attacked by seven German fighters. In the ensuing air battle, the brave pilot of one of them hit a machine gun with fire, and rammed the second. An enemy plane crashed to the ground. E.I. Zelenko died. This was the first case of an air ram committed by a pilot. ” These are lines from the book "The USSR in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Short Chronicle".
It was the first female ram in the world. The first and only! What are the awards he received? Unfortunately, at that time this particular feat was not appreciated in any way. The reason is that he became known much later. However, for all previous military merits of Catherine Zelenko, the regiment commander introduced her to the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union. Here is what was written in the presentation: "In July, in the region of the town of Propoysk, Comrade Zelenko led a group of close bombers into German tank the column. As a result of a bold and decisive raid, up to 45 tanks and 20 vehicles with infantry were destroyed ... In the area of Bykhovo station in August 1941 a group of bombers came under heavy fire over an enemy force grouping. Despite the shelling, Comrade Zelenko fulfilled the task perfectly, while destroying the fascist infantry battalion and not losing a single plane ... E.I. Zelenko headed for the most difficult tasks, participated in air battles 12 times, during the period of combat work she completed 40 sorties ... During the air battle near Romny she was shot down. "
Unfortunately, the title of Hero was then not awarded to the Hero: the regimental command did not know about her battering ram and, of course, did not indicate it in the submission. Therefore, E.I. Zelenko was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin.
When it became known about Ekaterina Zelenko's ram, many people joined in the search for materials about her life and exploits: colleagues, Sumy Veterans Committee and its then chairman Kolesnikov, teachers and students of the Anastasyevka school, in the sky over which the brave female pilot made her ram. G. Bocharov told about the feat in Komsomolskaya Pravda, in his book Knights of the Fifth Ocean, Colonel General A. Rytov wrote, in a detailed essay Taran covered the events of that day Sumy journalist P. Nesterenko. The former commander of the regiment in which Zelenko fought, Lieutenant-General A. Pushkin and Honored Test Pilot N. Rusakova shared their memories in the press. The writer I. Stadnitskaya, who studied the documents of a number of museums of Ekaterina Zelenko and met with her colleagues, introduced the pilots to their readers. In many publications, the main idea was that this feat deserves a high reward. And the organization of veterans of the Great Patriotic War, fellow pilots demanded that the appropriate authorities assign it the name of Hero. And almost 50 years after the accomplishment of a unique feat, Ekaterina Zelenko was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Katya Zelenko was born in Kursk in 1916 year. Her family was big and friendly. Native pilots say that she dreamed of flying from an early age, she looked at the planes flying with delight. Moreover, even the preschool girl climbed onto an old barn and, opening an ordinary umbrella, jumped off the roof. Hurt, but not crying. If she had not remembered this “flight” in a letter to her sister after two decades, it would be difficult to believe in the fact of the jump.
Katya finished seven years in Kursk. Then in Voronezh I entered aviation technical College. But she, most likely, was not going to become a technician or pore over a drawing board. She was drawn into the sky to fly a plane, to conquer the heights. And here on every corner posters are pasted up with calls: "Youth - on the plane!", "Boys and girls, go to the Voronezh flying club!"
Katya appeared in the flying club. Together with six girls she was accepted. There Katya became friends with Nina Rusakova, who later became an honored test pilot. It was not easy for girls at that time. As Nina Ivanovna recalls, they were returning home late at night, and at two o'clock in the morning they got up and walked across the city to the airfield. At four o'clock in the morning, flights began, at nine — classes at the technical school, at fourteen o'clock — theory at the flying club. And so - every day.
In November, the Commission of the Orenburg Military School of Pilots arrived in Aeroclub 1933 to select the best cadets. Of the six girls in the school took only two. Both girls on the Komsomol leave went to Orenburg.
Rusakova recalled that in Orenburg they lived in the same room, learned, however, from different instructors, but Nina Ivanovna knew that Katya mastered the program faster, as they say, with knowledge of the matter. Zelenkova girl was stately, taut and strong. Preferred short haircut. Never in any way inferior to cadets-young men. She studied perfectly.
There is not much information about Katya Zelenko’s pre-war life. Lt. Col. B. Minevrin, who collected materials about the pupils of the Orenburg Aviation Pilot School, with the help of eyewitnesses, restored the picture of Katya's first independent flight — the cadet ... It was a cold February morning. Female students arrived at the airfield where control flights with the squad commander were expected. Katya Zelenko, having heard the “By planes!” Command, abruptly climbed into the cabin, fastened her seat belts. Having started the engine, she taxied at the executive start, gave gas, and the plane
rose to the sky When the flight in a circle was completed, the squad leader, smiling, said: “Fly well! Now fly alone. ” “There is one fly!” Katya blurted out. Independent flight girl performed brilliantly. And the highest honor of her skill was the word of the instructor: "Excellent."
The fact that Kati completed the main course of the Orenburg Flight School in less than 11 months speaks about the seriousness of Katy’s approach to studying and mastering her flying skills. Already in December 1934, Katya Zelenko, at the age of 18, became a military pilot. It was distributed to the Kharkov Aircraft Carrier.
Soon after arriving at the part, the young pilot participates in the district competitions in piloting techniques. Katya ranks first on them. The inspector, who returned with her from the flight, said to Catherine: "You are flying competently." In the submission of Catherine Zelenko to the assignment of her military rank ahead of time, the commander wrote: “The good qualities are well developed. Energetic. Decisive. The fire training is excellent. It can successfully transfer its knowledge to subordinates.” The same submission indicated that Ekaterina Zelenko flies six types of aircraft. The following record was preserved in the personal file of the woman-pilot: "She is excellent in combat and political training. She flies successfully day and night. She is a good athlete. Nominated as a flight commander. Awarded the title" Senior Lieutenant t.
From the first days of the Winter War, Katya asks to go to the front. Her request was not immediately satisfied: women were not then sent to the front. It was necessary for the girl to convince the authorities that she urgently needed to go to the front and the command gave way. She was enrolled in the 11 Light Bomber Regiment. Katya immediately wrote a letter to Pavel Ignatenko (to her future husband): “Today I am going down to the front - wish me luck. I can well imagine that war will be a difficult test for me, but I am sure of myself: I will withstand, overcome any difficulties. By the way, I’ll have to postpone my studies at the academy. Until we completely defeat the enemy. "
Katya was the only pilot who fought over the Karelian Isthmus. She flies on a PZ plane and blows bombardments at enemy fortified points. During the flights destroys the Finnish battery, successfully bombing the enemy ammunition depot. For courage and skillful performance of combat tasks, Zelenko is awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Battle.
The submission to Ekaterina Zelenko’s award stated: “In the operations of the 8 Army, 9 hours are flying, 8 are flying sorties. A brave, brave pilot. Fighting sorties performs with considerable desire, in difficult weather conditions and tense air conditions are always cold-blooded and persistent. fired by anti-aircraft artillery, bravely continued the battle and the task performed perfectly. " When mi Kalinin handed an order to the girl in the Kremlin, he whispered to Kate: "We will be photographed, sit beside me." The photographer captured this exciting event in the life of a young female pilot.
On the eve of World War II, Yekaterina was entrusted with a responsible assignment. It was necessary to conduct military tests at that time the newest passing bomber Su-2. Zelenko is entirely involved in complex and unsafe work.
At the same time, Katya remained an ordinary young woman, she was only 24-th year. Pilot loved by all who surrounded. Being the only woman in the air regiment, it was she who created comfort and was an example for pilots.
Colonel-General A.G. Rytov wrote about the pre-war everyday life of the Katya Regiment. “Once,” recalls Andrei Gerasimovich, “I arrived at a regiment stationed at a near-aerodrome at the aerodrome. There were several houses along the coast, pilots lived in them. I went to one. There are no dust on the windows, gauzes are made of windows, the table is covered a tablecloth, and on it even a spruce twig with pretty cones in a jar flaunts. "This is order!” I expressed my praise to the pilots. - Well done. Who does create such comfort? ”The pilots stand and smile. Then one of them proudly replies : “Our hostess does not tolerate confusion.” “What is the “I ask.“ And the real thing is. There is one behind that curtain, ”the pilot answers and points to the curtain of cotton that hangs on the telephone wire. And indeed: the edge of the curtain rose, and the girl came out. He was wearing boots, a tunic was well fitted, belted by an officer’s belt. Three cubes glittering in blue buttonholes. “Senior Lieutenant Ekaterina Zelenko!” She bravely reported.
With the beginning of World War II, Catherine at the front. Conducts air battles, bombing important enemy targets, flies reconnaissance. On one such battle, Lieutenant-General Aviation Hero of the Soviet Union A.I. Pushkin recalled: “At the very beginning of July, 1941, our army led the hardest defensive battles near Bobruisk. The Nazis stubbornly rushed to the Dnieper. It was necessary to assist our ground troops. I told the following to stop the mechanized column of the Hitlerites who advanced from Bobruisk. The group commander appointed Ekaterina Zelenko. The pilots coped with the task perfectly. They attacked the enemy convoy, burned dozens of tanks and trucks, destroyed a large number of living silts of the enemy. In this battle, our Katyusha proved to be a skillful, knowing the business leader, an excellent pilot. "
Then there were new sorties, new air battles. And she always behaved bravely, like a real ace. Referring to the memories of fellow pilots. “Until 1941, I served in one of the aviation bombers in Kharkov, commanded by Nikolai Kamanin, one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union,” recalled the former navigator of the link, communications commander of the squadron 135 of bbap I. Pavlenko. “I remember Katya very well: of medium height, with pleasant features, she had a neat haircut and was very fond of wearing a military uniform, which, by the way, sat nicely on her tightly folded sports figure.” Former military pilot S. Komarov wrote about Zelenko: “Kate was all respected in the regiment. First, she was a little older than many pilots by age. At that time she was already 25-26 years old. Secondly, she was an experienced pilot. That's why she enjoyed great prestige among us. I remember well her last flight - 12 of September of 1941 of the year. And he remembered me because Katya that day flew on a mission for the third time. "
This third flight was the last in her life - a tragic and at the same time heroic departure. What happened that day? This morning Katya got up early. The day was overcast, the fog did not dissipate for a long time. But as soon as the sun peeped through the torn clouds, Zelenko managed to make a reconnaissance flight twice. At the same time in the second departure of its Su-2 was damaged, and the girl sadly waited for his repair to end. At lunch the regiment received the alarming news that the fascist tanks had broken through our front. It was necessary to immediately conduct reconnaissance and clarify the situation. Catherine again volunteered to make the flight. She was assigned Su-2 deputy regiment commander A. Pushkin. Together with the captain Lebedev Komes, Zelenko flew out on reconnaissance. It was necessary to explore the combat situation in the area of Romain-Nezhin-Priluki-Pyryatin-Lubin. Find out the direction of advance of the tank column of General Guderian, the number of fascist combat vehicles and transfer the data to the command.
When our planes were already returning to their airfield, suddenly seven German fighters Bf.109 appeared in the sky near the village of Anastasyevka.
This is what Pavlyk, who was a navigator on the Zelenko plane, said: “After completing the reconnaissance mission, we turned to our airfield. Our Su-2 attacked seven Messerschmitts. I was firing fire. The ammunition ran out. At that moment, one of the fascist fighters blocked the sight glass, Zelenko pressed the ShKAS trigger. Hitler's aircraft caught fire and steeply went to the ground. However, we also hooked. I reported to her that I was wounded. Zelenko gave the order to leave the car and by all means get to her, to report on the results of intelligence. She continued to fight. ”
An unequal battle in the sky of a heroic pilot with a seven of fascist fighters took place in front of the eyes of local residents. It was these people who witnessed the brave ramming of a young female pilot. “I saw how the battle between ours and the fascist aircraft inflamed over the village,” recalls eyewitness M. Butko. - I noticed that our plane abruptly went to a rapprochement with the German. The planes collided and both began to fall. Red Star immediately flew down and caught fire. A German plane still flew two kilometers and also fell. I jumped to where our plane fell. Flames raged around. The body of the pilot was badly damaged. The fact that this girl learned from the documents. Found here the Komsomol card, order book and identity card. Near the wreckage, I saw the Order of the Military Red Banner, which I gave to my older comrades. ”
Local residents could not report the death of the brave pilots: the next morning the village was captured by the Nazis. “I am convinced,” General Lieutenant A. Pushkin recalled, “that she was ready for a feat. Since Zelenko was no longer able to destroy the German plane with machine gun fire, she decided to shoot it down with her car. Well, what will happen next? This, apparently, she did not think then. A ram is a very courageous action of a pilot, to which only courageous, resolute people resort. And exactly this was Katya. ”
The villagers buried Katya, and the Komsomol ticket was taken by Anastasia Panteleimonovna Marchenko, the teacher of the village school. After the war he was transferred to the Orenburg Aviation School.
On that day, the school forwarder brought another mail to headquarters. In one of the envelopes was a letter from the Sumy Komsomol Regional Committee and punched by a shard, bloodied with a Komsomol card. The letter reported: “In September 1941, during the air battle over one of the districts of the Sumy region, the courageous Yekaterina Ivanovna Zelenko, a student of the 1 th Chkalovsky Military Aviation School, fell to the death of the brave. During one battle, she shot down two Nazi planes. We give you a ticket for Katya Zelenko. Let this ticket, shot through with blood, help new cadets to better understand the price of heroism and casualties during the war years. ”
In the village of Anastasyevka Ekaterina Zelenko, a monument to the heroic female pilots was erected, her museum was created. The name of the heroine are the streets of several cities, and her bronze bust is installed in Kursk. In honor of her, "Katyusha" is the name of the planet discovered by researcher T. Smirnova of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.
Sources:
Zhukova L.N. I choose a ram. M .: Young Guard, 1985. C. 75-88.
Rytov A.G. Knights of the fifth ocean. M .: Voenizdat, 1968. C. 63-70.
Kuzmina L. Katya Zelenko goes to a ram // General Designer Pavel Sukhoi. M .: Young Guard. 1983. C. 71-75.
Krikunenko A. Air ram pilots // Wings of the Motherland. 2001. No.3. C. 30-32.
Minervin B. Komsomol ticket number 7463250 // Wings of the Motherland: Sat. articles. M .: DOSAAF USSR, 1983. C. 110-112.
Information