Photo of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel P.A. Pilyutov

The original photo is in very good condition. The size is 83*112 mm. The reverse side is signed, the traces are pasted into the album. Guarantee of authenticity.

Pyotr Andreevich Pilyutov (December 23, 1906, Luchin, Mogilev province — March 24, 1960, Leningrad) was an ace pilot, a colonel in the Guards. Participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, who won 23 aerial victories.

He was born in the village of Luchin, now in the Rogachevsky district of the Gomel region, into a peasant family. Russian. He graduated from an incomplete secondary school. Since 1924, he has been a worker at a metallurgical plant in the city of Asha, Chelyabinsk region.

In the Red Army since 1928. He graduated from the 1st military School of Aviation Technicians named after K. E. Voroshilov in 1932, and the Kachin Military School of Pilots in 1935. In 1934, he participated in the rescue of Chelyuskin residents, as a mechanic for the famous pilot Kamanin, with whom he repeatedly landed on the ice of the Chukchi Sea. In 1938, he participated in the battles of Lake Khasan, in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Member of the CPSU since 1939.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. Deputy Commander of the 154th Fighter Aviation Regiment (275th Fighter Aviation Pushkin Red Banner Division, 13th Air Army, Leningrad Front).

On December 17, 1941, over Lake Ladoga, during a single sortie to cover transport aircraft from besieged Leningrad, Captain Pilyutov collided with 6 enemy fighters (one I-15 (according to other sources — I-16 or P-40 Kittyhawk) against six Heinkel 113 (according to other sources — 6 Bf 109 aircraft).). In an unequal air battle, he shot down 2 enemy planes and, despite being injured, managed to land his downed plane. By this time, he had flown 170 combat missions. The doctors who operated on the pilot counted 21 wounds on his body.

After some time, he re—entered service and in one of the very first battles in January 1942, shot down his former offender, the German ace, the German pilot, commander of the 1st squadron of the 54th Fighter squadron, Hauptmann Franz Eckerle (according to other sources, on February 14, 1942, Eckerle was shot down by the commander of the 5th ae of the 5th iap by Dmitry Lavrentyevich Petrukhin). In aerial battles, he personally shot down 6 and 4 enemy aircraft as part of a group.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 10, 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Pyotr Andreevich Pilyutov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal (No. 885) for exemplary performance of command combat missions and heroism and courage.

On May 28, 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Pyotr Andreevich Pilyutov was appointed commander of the 29th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. By May 9, 1945, Guard Lieutenant Colonel P. A. Pilyutov had made 344 sorties, conducted 74 air battles, shot down 14 enemy aircraft personally and 1 as part of a group (according to confirmed data) (according to the Hero's flight book, he had more victories — 17 personal and 6 group). Participated in the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on Red Square on June 24, 1945.