Boris Feoktistowitsch Safonow
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Boris Safonov ( Russian Борис Феоктистович Сафонов ., Scientific transliteration Boris Safonov Feoktistovič ; born 13 jul. / 26. August 1915 greg. 1915 in Sinyavino ( Tula Governorate ); † the 30th May 1942 on the Barents Sea ) was a Soviet pilot .
Life
He first learned in Tula at the railway school, joined the OSSOAWIACHIM in 1930 , where he came into contact with glider pilots and obtained his glider license in 1932. In 1933 he began his military service. Safonov completed his pilot training at a military flight school in Katscha in 1937 and then went to the naval pilots of the Northern Fleet , where he became chain commander in 1940.
Safonow was at the beginning of the " Great Patriotic War " squadron commander in the 72nd SAP WWS-WMF (72nd Mixed Air Regiment of the Air Force of the Naval Navy ). In 234 combat missions in the Murmansk area , he shot down at least 20 enemy aircraft. Other sources speak of 39 kills. 14 aerial victories can be confirmed from German sources. This makes him the most successful Soviet fighter pilot of 1941. Safonov achieved his first aerial victory on June 24, 1941 when he shot down a Junkers Ju 88 (W.Nr.8173 of the 6th / KG 30 ).
In October 1941 he became commander of the 78th IAP WWS-WMF (78th Fighter Regiment of the Air Force of the Naval War Fleet), later the 2nd GwSAP WWS-WMF (2nd Mixed Guard Regiment of the Air Force of the Naval War Fleet). This regiment was initially equipped with Hawker Hurricane , but later converted to American Curtiss P-40 "Warhawk". British pilots who trained the Soviets on the hurricane were amazed at the flying skills of Safonov, who immediately mastered the hurricane.
He was killed while escorting convoy PQ-16 . At around 10:35 a.m. he radioed that he had shot down three opponents (his last three kills were only confirmed on the basis of this radio message), but that he had to make an emergency landing because of engine damage. His navy P-40E was never seen again. Safonov probably died of hypothermia after the emergency landing in the Barents Sea. His body was not found.
He was twice named Hero of the Soviet Union for his high kill numbers . The first award took place on September 16, 1941 in the rank of captain. The second award took place posthumously on June 14, 1942. In addition, on March 17, 1942, he was one of the few Soviet pilots to be awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross for his services during Operation Benedict .
Act
Safonov became famous in particular because he achieved the majority of his kills with a Polikarpow I-16 against aircraft accompanied by superior German Messerschmitt Bf 109s . Safonov was regarded by his comrades as the “lead wolf” who repeatedly gave courage to the other fighter pilots in an almost hopeless situation. He scored most of his kills against individually flying reconnaissance aircraft , but some Bf 109s were also among them. The shooting down of individual Ju 88s with an I-16 required great skill, as the bomber was faster than the fighter. Under his leadership, the Soviet fighter pilots succeeded in what was not possible on any other front in the far north: they struck a stalemate with the Luftwaffe, which did not succeed in ensuring superiority in the air. That was one of the key factors in preventing Murmansk from being captured by the mountain troops. This success was also due to the numerical weakness of the air force. In a direct comparison, the WWS lost more aircraft than the Germans, but they were never able to completely eliminate the Northern Sea aviation forces.
Web links
- Article Boris Feoktistowitsch Safonow in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE) , 3rd edition 1969–1978 (Russian)
Individual evidence
- ^ Olaf Groehler : Air battles of the Second World War: Air battles 1941/42 over the North Sea in Flieger-Jahrbuch 1977, transpress, Berlin, p. 135.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Safonow, Boris Feoktistowitsch |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Борис Феоктистович Сафонов |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | soviet pilot |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 26, 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sinyavino |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 30, 1942 |