Arkady Fyodorovich Kovachevich (; 3 May 1919 28 November 2010) was a Soviet flying ace and regimental commander during World War II who went on to become a general-lieutenant.
Early life
Kovachevich was born on 3 May 1919 to a Ukrainian working-class family in Chernogoriya. Before being drafted into the Red Army in 1937 he attended technical school in Kirovgrad, where he trained an aeroclub. After graduating from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots in 1938 he was assigned to the 27th Fighter Aviation Regiment; there he quickly mastered
MiG-3
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 () is a Soviet fighter- interceptor used during World War II. It was a development of the MiG-1 by the OKO (opytno-konstruktorskij otdel — Experimental Design Department) of Zavod (Factory) No. 1 in Moscow to rem ...
and received a promotion to flight commander.
World War II
Immediately upon the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Kovachevich and the rest of his regiment began flying sorties to defend the Moscow region. On 11 October 1941 he shot down his first enemy aircraft, a
Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a monoplane fighter aircraft that was designed and initially produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Together with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the Bf 109 formed the backbone of the ...
, after which he quickly increased his tally of aerial victories. Having participated in the battle for Moscow, he went on to fly the
La-5 in the
Battle for Stalingrad until being transferred to the
9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 9th "Odessa" Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was a "regiment of aces" unit in the Soviet Air Forces
The Soviet Air Forces (, VVS SSSR; literally "Military Air Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics"; initialism VVS, sometimes r ...
as a squadron commander. By then he had already tallied thirteen solo aerial victories, for which he was nominated for the title Hero of the Soviet Union in February 1943, which he received on 1 May that year. He continued to fly in combat, and was wounded during a mission, but remained in the regiment and continued active service upon recovery. During the battle for Crimea he was promoted to assistant commander for flight training, and subsequently deputy regimental commander in April 1944. After the death of regimental commander
Anatoly Morozov in June he was made acting commander, but held the position only briefly before being sent to study at the Air Force Academy and replaced by
Vladimir Lavrinenkov
Vladimir Dmitrievich Lavrinenkov (; 17 May 1919 – 14 January 1988) was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Forces who became a flying ace during the Second World War and was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for being one of the to ...
. Throughout the course of the war he totaled 20 solo and 7 shared shootdowns accumulated over the course of roughly 520 sorties, piloting the MiG-3, La-5,
Yak-1
The Yakovlev Yak-1 () was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 239.
The Yak-1 was a man ...
, and
P-39
The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by th ...
fighters.
Postwar
After graduating from the air force academy with honors in 1948 he received another post as regimental commander, where he mastered piloting new fighter jets, but made his last flight in 1957. Having graduated from the Military Academy of General Staff in 1954 he was able to remain in the military for a while, serving as deputy chief of the Air Force Academy before retiring in 1987. He lived out the remainder of his life in Monino, where he died on 28 October 2010.
Awards
*
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union () was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society. The title was awarded both ...
(1 May 1943)
*
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...
(1 May 1943)
*
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution (, ''Orden Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii'') was instituted on 31 October 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was conferred upon individuals or groups for services furthering communis ...
(27 December 1982)
* Three
Order of the Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner () was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. It was the highest award of S ...
(31 July 1942, 26 August 1943, and 3 May 1944)
*
Order of the Patriotic War
The Order of the Patriotic War () is a Soviet Union, Soviet military Order (decoration), decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to Partisan (military), partisans for heroic deeds in the Easte ...
1st class (11 March 1985)
* Two
Order of the Red Star
The Order of the Red Star () was a military decoration of the Soviet Union. It was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 6 April 1930 but its statute was only defined in decree of the Presidium of the ...
(28 October 1941 and 2 November 1953)
*
(22 February 1977)
* campaign and jubilee medals
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovachevich, Arkady
1919 births
2010 deaths
Heroes of the Soviet Union
Recipients of the Order of Lenin
Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner
Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni
Soviet lieutenant generals
Soviet Air Force generals
Soviet World War II flying aces