06-24-2014, 02:19 PM
Pilot Lebedev - memoirs
“On September 10th 1941, two days after the siege of Leningrad began, I received orders to transport Army General Georgy Zhukov, who had been appointed commander of the Leningrad Front, to the encircled city. I understood the importance of this task very well.
The morning was overcast. Exactly on time Zhukov arrived at the airfield. He was accompanied by generals MS Khozin, I. Fedyuninsky and other military leaders.
Before Zhukov climbed into the cabin, I told him the whole shape of the readiness of the aircraft and the flight crew. Zhukov listened to my report, nodded and easily climbed the iron ladder. He was followed by others.
Before flying from Tikhvin I had to decide about the cover. While co-pilot Dzugutov finished final preparations for departure, I ran to the command post. There I was waiting for the Major, who had to pick a group of fighters for the escort. We quickly agreed on the details of the flight. I flew first, and I-16 had to catch up with me and secure our landing.
Over Lake Ladoga the weather was cloudy. Then it brightened, the visibility improved. And then out of nowhere Dzugutov exclaimed - "Messerschmitt!". Our nerves were strained to the limit. Imagine if we had not brought the fighter escort! Our "hawks" rushed to intercept enemy aircraft.
Our fighter escort consisted of two attacking groups. The first regiment was headed by navigator, Captain Panyukov; the second - Kiyanchenko. They immediately attacked the Nazis, trying to pull them as far away from our aircraft as they could. This plan didn’t fail. They gradually moved the fight to the Karelian Isthmus. In the vicinity of Cape Cul, Senior Lieutenant A.P Silant'ev (now Marshal), shot down one "Messer". Our fighters did their job and cleared the way for us. There were no more complications along the way. The plane landed at the airport and Georgy silently shook my hand.
“On September 10th 1941, two days after the siege of Leningrad began, I received orders to transport Army General Georgy Zhukov, who had been appointed commander of the Leningrad Front, to the encircled city. I understood the importance of this task very well.
The morning was overcast. Exactly on time Zhukov arrived at the airfield. He was accompanied by generals MS Khozin, I. Fedyuninsky and other military leaders.
Before Zhukov climbed into the cabin, I told him the whole shape of the readiness of the aircraft and the flight crew. Zhukov listened to my report, nodded and easily climbed the iron ladder. He was followed by others.
Before flying from Tikhvin I had to decide about the cover. While co-pilot Dzugutov finished final preparations for departure, I ran to the command post. There I was waiting for the Major, who had to pick a group of fighters for the escort. We quickly agreed on the details of the flight. I flew first, and I-16 had to catch up with me and secure our landing.
Over Lake Ladoga the weather was cloudy. Then it brightened, the visibility improved. And then out of nowhere Dzugutov exclaimed - "Messerschmitt!". Our nerves were strained to the limit. Imagine if we had not brought the fighter escort! Our "hawks" rushed to intercept enemy aircraft.
Our fighter escort consisted of two attacking groups. The first regiment was headed by navigator, Captain Panyukov; the second - Kiyanchenko. They immediately attacked the Nazis, trying to pull them as far away from our aircraft as they could. This plan didn’t fail. They gradually moved the fight to the Karelian Isthmus. In the vicinity of Cape Cul, Senior Lieutenant A.P Silant'ev (now Marshal), shot down one "Messer". Our fighters did their job and cleared the way for us. There were no more complications along the way. The plane landed at the airport and Georgy silently shook my hand.
