Photo of Hero of the Soviet Union I.G. Pokhlebaev

The original picture of the Hero is in satisfactory collector's condition. The size is 80*120 mm. Guarantee of authenticity.

Ivan Grigorievich Pokhlebaev (1917-2000) was a Soviet military pilot. Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Hero of the Soviet Union (1945). The Colonel.

In the battles with the Nazi invaders, Senior Sergeant I. G. Pokhlebaev served as a pilot of the 750th Mixed Aviation Regiment of the 217th Fighter Aviation Division of the 4th Air Army from August 26, 1942. He participated in the Battle for the Caucasus on the North Caucasian and Transcaucasian fronts. On March 13, 1943, in an air battle, Pokhlebaev's I-16 was shot down and caught fire. Ivan Grigorievich managed to escape the burning plane with a parachute, but suffered burns to his face and hands. After a short stay in the hospital in Yessentuki, he returned to the ranks. In the summer of 1943, I. G. Pokhlebaev underwent retraining on the P-39 Aerocobra aircraft.

During the battles for the liberation of Crimea from the Nazi invaders, the 101st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment provided air cover for the ground troops of the Separate Primorsky Army. In the period from February 1 to April 26, 1944, Senior Lieutenant I. G. Pokhlebaev flew 50 combat missions. In 29 battles, he shot down 12 more German aircraft (4 Me-109 and 8 FV-190). On April 30, 1944, the commander of the Guards regiment, Lieutenant Colonel A. N. Pavlikov, presented Ivan Grigorievich to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for 138 successful sorties and 18 downed enemy aircraft. The decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was signed on February 23, 1945. On April 30, 1944, the 329th Fighter Aviation Division, which included the 101st Guards Regiment, was transferred to the 8th Air Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front. In the battles for the city of Sevastopol from April 30 to May 8, 1944, I. G. Pokhlebaev made 44 more sorties, during which he shot down his last documented enemy aircraft, the German fighter Me-109.