Pavel Vasilievich Rychagov(January 2, 1911, Nizhnie Likhobory (now Moscow) - October 28, 1941, the village of Barbysh near Kuibyshev) - Soviet ace pilot and military leader, lieutenant general of aviation (1940), Hero of the Soviet Union (1936).

A street in the north of Moscow, in the area of ​​the former Nizhny Likhobor (General Rychagov Street), is named after P.V. Rychagov.

Brother Rychagov Viktor Vasilievich - taught at MGMI (Moscow Irrigation and Reclamation Institute) at the department of Pumps and pumping stations (head of the department)

Biography

In 1930 he graduated from the Leningrad Military Theoretical School of Pilots, and in 1931 - the 2nd Military School of Red Air Fleet Pilots in the city of Borisoglebsk.

After graduating from aviation school, he was assigned to the 109th aviation squadron of the 36th fighter aviation brigade of the Ukrainian Military District, stationed in Zhitomir.

In 1933 he became a flight commander, and a few months later he became the commander of an aviation detachment and brought it to the advanced units.

At the beginning of 1936, senior lieutenant Rychagov was awarded the Order of Lenin for his success in combat, political and technical training. In October, Rychagov’s air squadron was sent in full force to Spain.

From November 1936 to February 1937, as a flight commander, he participated in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), shooting down 6 enemy aircraft.

At the beginning of February 1937, he was recalled from Spain along with the surviving pilots of his detachment. Conferred the extraordinary military rank of Major. He was appointed commander of the 65th Fighter Squadron, 81st Aviation Brigade. In December 1937, he was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st convocation.

Since December 1937 - senior military adviser on the use of Soviet volunteer pilots in China during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), commander of Soviet aviation. Commander of the Moscow Military District Air Force (March-April 1938), Primorsky Group of Forces, OKDVA, Far Eastern Front (April-September 1938), 1st Separate Red Banner Army (September 1938-1939), commander of the 9th Army aviation during the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940).

In 1938, at the suggestion of Stalin, Rychagov was accepted as a member of the CPSU (b) without undergoing candidate experience. Recommendations were given by Stalin and Voroshilov.

In senior positions

In 1940, at the age of 29, he was appointed to senior management positions in the Red Army Air Force.

From June 1940 - Deputy Chief of the Red Army Air Force, from July - 1st Deputy Chief of the Red Army Air Force, from August 1940 (at the age of 29) appointed Head of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force.

From February to April 1941 - at the same time Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation.

"Flying Coffins" Incident

P.V. Rychagov is known for the fact that, being the deputy NCO of the USSR for aviation, at the meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Defense headed by Stalin, held on April 9, 1941, on the issues of strengthening discipline in aviation, the question Stalin about the reasons for the high accident rate in the Air Force, replied “... you are making us fly on coffins!”

The minutes of the meeting stated: “On average, 2-3 aircraft die every day... in accidents and catastrophes, which amounts to 600-900 aircraft per year...” Admiral I. S. Isakov, who was present at the meeting, qualified this incident as a rare case of manifestation of Stalin’s rage:

We were talking about the accident rate in aviation, the accident rate was high. Stalin, as was his habit... smoked a pipe and walked along the table. First one and then another explanation for the accident rate was given, until the turn came to... Rychagov. He... was generally young, and he looked like a perfect boy in appearance. And so, when it was his turn, he suddenly said:

There will be a lot of accidents, because you are making us fly on coffins!

It was completely unexpected, he blushed, lost his temper, and there was absolutely deathly silence. Only Rychagov stood, not yet recovered from his cry, purple and excited, and Stalin stood a few steps away from him. Stalin devoted a lot of effort to aviation, studied it a lot and understood issues related to it.

Undoubtedly, this remark from Rychagov in this form sounded like a personal insult to him, and everyone understood this. Stalin stopped and was silent. Everyone was waiting for what would happen. He stood there, then walked past the table, in the same direction in which he had walked. He reached the end, turned around, walked back the entire room in complete silence, turned again and, taking the pipe out of his mouth, said slowly and quietly, without raising his voice:

You shouldn't have said that!

And he went again. Again he reached the end, turned again, walked the entire room, turned again and stopped almost in the same place as the first time, again said in the same low, calm voice:

And he was the first to leave the room.

, RSFSR, USSR

Pavel Vasilievich Rychagov(January 2 (15), 1911, Nizhniye Likhobory (now Moscow) - October 28, the village of Barbysh near Kuibyshev) - Soviet ace pilot and military leader, lieutenant general of aviation (), Hero of the Soviet Union ().

He was shot without trial on October 28, 1941. In 1954 he was posthumously rehabilitated.

In 1975, a street in the north of Moscow, in the area of ​​the former Nizhny Likhobor (General Rychagov Street), was named after P.V. Rychagov.

Brother Rychagov Viktor Vasilievich - taught at the department of Pumps and pumping stations (head of the department)

Biography

Born into a peasant family in the village of Nizhnie Likhobory, near the Likhobory railway station. In my childhood I played lapta and flew a kite. In 1928 he graduated from a seven-year school, after which he briefly worked at a factory as a packer.

Soon he was called up for military service in the Red Army. Sent to the Leningrad Military Theoretical School of Pilots.

In 1930 he graduated from the Leningrad Military Theoretical School of Pilots, and in 1931 - the 2nd Military School of Red Air Fleet Pilots in the city of Borisoglebsk. There he mastered the U-1 training aircraft and the R-1 reconnaissance aircraft.

As a cadet, Rychagov encountered an emergency situation for the first time during a training flight. Shortly after takeoff, his engine failed, causing the plane to catch fire. Rychagov could not leave the training machine, since military pilots then flew without parachutes. There was no way to land; there was a lake and a forest right ahead. Nevertheless, Rychagov did not lose his presence of mind, managed to turn the plane sharply almost 90 degrees, switched the winged machine into gliding mode and landed safely on the edge of the forest.

After graduating from aviation school, Pavel was assigned to the 109th Aviation Squadron of the 36th Fighter Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Military District, stationed in Zhitomir.

In 1933, Rychagov became a flight commander, and a few months later he became the commander of an aviation detachment and led him to advanced units. Since November 1935 - instructor of the aerobatics and aerial shooting squadron of the 8th Military Pilot School.

At the beginning of 1936, for success in combat, political and technical training and training of subordinates, Senior Lieutenant Rychagov was awarded the Order of Lenin. In October, Rychagov's air detachment in full force was sent to Spain.

At the beginning of February 1937, he was recalled from Spain along with the surviving pilots of his detachment. Returning from Spain, Rychagov visited Paris, where he bought a gift for his wife and the spouses of his colleagues, and also visited a brothel. In Moscow, for his exploits in Spain, Rychagov was awarded the extraordinary military rank of major. He was appointed commander of the 65th Fighter Squadron, 81st Aviation Brigade. In 1937 he entered the Air Force Academy. N. E. Zhukovsky, but did not study there for long because of a new business trip to China, where Soviet aviation suffered serious setbacks in air battles between China and Japan. In December 1937, Rychagov was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st convocation.

From December 1937 - senior military adviser on the use of Soviet volunteer pilots in China during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-), commander of Soviet aviation - under the pseudonym "General Batalin". Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District (March-April), Primorsky Group of Forces, OKDVA, Far Eastern Front (April-September 1938), 1st Separate Red Banner Army (September 1938-1939), commander of aviation of the 9th Army during the Soviet-Finnish War ( 1939-). For successful leadership of the Air Force's actions in the battles near Lake Khasan in 1938, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Brigade commander - April 1938, division commander - February 9, 1939, corps commander - April 11, 1940, lieutenant general - summer 1940.

In 1938, at the suggestion of Stalin, Rychagov was accepted as a member of the CPSU (b) without undergoing candidate experience. Recommendations were given by Stalin and Voroshilov.

In senior positions

In December 1940, at a meeting of the senior command staff of the Air Force, Rychagov made a report “Air Forces in an Offensive Operation and in the Struggle for Air Supremacy.” Discussing the interaction of aviation with ground forces, Rychagov campaigned for a distributed air force, divided into army and front-line aviation. This idea was rejected by the generals, who did not like the proposal to distribute aircraft to corps and divisions.

"Flying Coffins" Incident

A fatal role in the fate of Rychagov was played by the meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Defense headed by Stalin on April 9, 1941, dedicated to the issues of overcoming accidents and strengthening discipline in aviation. Being the deputy USSR NPO for aviation (in fact, the deputy minister of defense of the USSR), when asked by Stalin about the reasons for the high accident rate in the Air Force, Rychagov sharply replied, “... you are making us fly on coffins!”

The minutes of the meeting stated: “On average, 2-3 aircraft die every day... in accidents and catastrophes, which amounts to 600-900 aircraft per year...” Admiral I. S. Isakov, who was present at the meeting, qualified this incident in his memoirs written much later than the events , as a rare case of manifestation of Stalin's rage:

We were talking about the accident rate in aviation, the accident rate was high. Stalin, as was his habit... smoked a pipe and walked along the table. First one and then another explanation for the accident rate was given, until the turn came to... Rychagov. He... was generally young, and he looked like a perfect boy in appearance. And so, when it was his turn, he suddenly said:

There will be a lot of accidents, because you are making us fly on coffins!

It was completely unexpected, he blushed, lost his temper, and there was absolutely deathly silence. Only Rychagov stood, not yet recovered from his cry, purple and excited, and Stalin stood a few steps away from him. Stalin devoted a lot of effort to aviation, studied it a lot and understood issues related to it.

Undoubtedly, this remark from Rychagov in this form sounded like a personal insult to him, and everyone understood this. Stalin stopped and was silent. Everyone was waiting for what would happen. He stood there, then walked past the table, in the same direction in which he had walked. He reached the end, turned around, walked back the entire room in complete silence, turned again and, taking the pipe out of his mouth, said slowly and quietly, without raising his voice:

You shouldn't have said that!

And he went again. Again he reached the end, turned again, walked the entire room, turned again and stopped almost in the same place as the first time, again said in the same low, calm voice:

And he was the first to leave the room.

Arrest and execution

On April 12, 1941, Rychagov was removed from his post. The immediate cause was, as stated in the protocol, “laxity and indiscipline in the Air Force,” Rychagov’s attempt to hide from the government a serious disaster on January 23, 1941, during the flight of an aviation regiment from Novosibirsk through Semipalatinsk to Tashkent, in the code of which “due to a gross violation of elementary rules During the flight, 3 planes crashed, 2 planes crashed, killing 12 and injuring 4 crew members.”

After being removed from his post, Rychagov was sent to study at the Military Academy of the General Staff. Arrests soon began among Air Force leaders. Those arrested were charged with “participation in a military conspiratorial organization, on whose instructions they carried out enemy work aimed at defeating Republican Spain, reducing the combat training of the Red Army Air Force and increasing the accident rate in the Air Force.”

On June 24, 1941, Rychagov was arrested by the NKVD right in the building of the military commandant's office of the Kursk station, where he and his wife, having learned about the start of the war, urgently arrived by train from a vacation in Sochi. Maria Nesterenko was arrested at the Central Airfield two days later. During the investigation, beatings and torture were regularly used against those arrested. The former head of the Investigation Unit of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lieutenant General Vlodzimirsky, testified during interrogation on October 8, 1953:

In my office, measures of physical coercion were actually used... against Meretskov, Rychagov,... Loktionov. They beat the arrested people with a rubber stick, and they naturally moaned and groaned. I remember that Rychagov was severely beaten once, but he did not give any evidence despite the beating.

Witness P.P. Semenov testified:“... In 1941, when Vlodzimirsky occupied office No. 742, and I was in the reception room, I witnessed Vlodzimirsky beating those arrested ... Loktionov, Rychagov and others. The beating was brutal. The arrested, beaten with a rubber truncheon, roared, groaned and lost consciousness.”

Witness Bolkhovitin A.A.. about the circumstances of the case against Rychagov, he gave the following testimony: “... During the interrogations that I conducted, Rychagov did not admit guilt in enemy activities and testified about some of his non-partisan actions. Wlodzimirsky tried in every possible way to obtain testimony from Rychagov admitting his anti-Soviet activities, although there was no convincing and verified data incriminating him. At the direction of Wlodzimirsky, at the beginning of July 1941, a confrontation was held between Smushkevich and Rychagov. Before this confrontation, Vlodzimirsky sent the head of the first department of the investigative unit of the NKGB of the USSR Zimenkov and his deputy Nikitin to my office. Nikitin, on the instructions of Vlodzimirsky, in order to “prepare” Rychagov for a confrontation, brutally beat Rychagov. I remember that Rychagov immediately told Nikitin that he was no longer a pilot, since during this beating his eardrum was broken. After that, they brought Smushkevich into my office and the confrontation began. Smushkevich, judging by his appearance, had obviously been beaten several times. During the investigation and confrontation, he gave vague testimony about Rychagov’s affiliation with the military conspiracy and his espionage activities. Rychagov denied the charge of espionage.”

The investigation dragged on, and due to the threat of the Germans approaching Moscow, many of those arrested on various cases were evacuated.

“Despite the lack of objective evidence of Rychagov’s guilt in committing serious state crimes, he, along with 25 others arrested without trial, was shot on the criminal order of Beria, and enemies of the people Kobulov and Vlodzimirsky in 1942 retroactively falsified the conclusion about the execution of Rychagov, knowingly falsely indicating it states that the accusation against him has been proven. The case of Pavel Vasilyevich Rychagov was closed by the USSR Prosecutor's Office due to the lack of corpus delicti in his actions and he was posthumously rehabilitated. Prosecutor General of the USSR

Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant General of Aviation

RYCHAGOV PAVEL VASILIEVICH

02.01.1911-28.10.1941

Pavel Vasilyevich Rychagov was born on January 2, 1911 into a peasant family in the village of Nizhnie Likhobory near Moscow (now the territory of the Northern District of the capital). After graduating from seven-year high school, he helped his father run the household. In his free time, he played lapta, flew a kite, and was fond of sports. He was a leader and a recognized authority among local kids.

Having seen an airplane for the first time in his life, Pavel was fascinated by this new technology and literally fell in love with aviation. Rychagov, without hesitation, submits an application with a request to be sent to study at one of the flight schools. His dream was realized. In 1928, Pavel Rychagov became a cadet at the Leningrad Air Force Military Theoretical School.

Pavel Rychagov made an excellent fighter pilot. He absolutely loved flying, quickly mastered any type of aircraft and was a master of the car. They say about such people that this is a pilot from God. During one of the training flights on cadet Rychagov’s plane, an engine failure occurred. The plane caught fire and began to lose altitude. The situation was darkened by the fact that the pilots at that time did not have parachutes. It was not possible to land the plane immediately, since there was a forest and a lake in front of it. Without giving in to panic, Pavel Rychagov managed to make a turn of almost 90 degrees. Gliding on a falling plane, he managed to land at the edge of the forest.

The years of study flew by quickly and unnoticed. In 1930, Rychagov graduated from the Leningrad Air Force Military Theoretical School, and in 1931, from the 2nd Military Pilot School. OSOAVIAKHIM in Borisoglebsk.

In November 1931, for further service, Pavel Rychagov was sent to the 3rd Aviation Squadron in the Ural Military District. Then he was transferred to the 109th Aviation Squadron of the 36th Fighter Aviation Brigade, stationed in Zhitomir. He serves as a junior pilot and continues to master flight techniques, showing examples of courage and composure in flights. In the winter of 1932, during a training flight on a U-2 aircraft, a critical situation arose. One of the skis took a vertical position. It was impossible to land the plane in this condition. Having ordered the co-pilot to keep the car in a horizontal position, Pavel Rychagov climbed out of the cockpit onto the wing and began kicking the ski. Although not immediately, he managed to return it to its normal position. Thus, the plane was saved from an imminent landing accident.

Soon people in the brigade started talking about Rychagov. The reason for this was the miracles that he performed during flight tests of new aircraft entering the squadron. “Not a single pilot was able to withstand such a crazy load that Rychagov withstood. During one flight without landing, he performed up to 250 aerobatic maneuvers in the air. Forty figures at an altitude of 5000 meters. Then I climbed to 6000 - and here again forty. 7000 - another forty. Flying without an oxygen mask, another person would have lost consciousness without figures at this altitude. Having completed the required forty figures, Rychagov caught his breath a little and performs another forty, forty loops, coups, turns and combat turns: from the ground through binoculars you can see how his tiny airplane goes on a rampage in a transparent, unattainable height. Then he drops to 6000 and here he turns forty again. One floor below - another forty!.. At the ground, by way of relaxation and light entertainment, he easily performs twenty to twenty-five figures and finally sits down. What kind of powerful health you must have to withstand such a flight!” (1)

In September 1933, Pavel Rychagov became flight commander. He was always distinguished by his energy and cheerful disposition. He passionately loved football and his Harley motorcycle, and devoted all his free time to them. Soon Rychagov led the aviation detachment and brought it to the forefront. This is what Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation G.N., recalls about that time. Zakharov, who commanded a flight in Rychagov’s squadron: “Rychagov in my memory remains one of the best fighter pilots I have known in my long flying life. Having become a detachment commander, he could not be just a detachment commander - he had to be the best detachment commander. And for this, the aviation detachment had to be brought into the best. And Rychagov achieved this. We were the first in the squadron to begin all new programs, and were the first to master night flights. And flying at night at that time was very difficult. In modern times, it can be considered that there were no instruments on the plane at all.

Speed, altitude, fuel, oil, two or three more indicators - that’s all that dials and pressure gauges gave the pilot. There are no means of communication. It is no coincidence, obviously, that the pilot's eyes were considered the main instrument on a fighter... The detachment was the first to master night flights, and, of course, our commander was the first in the detachment to fly at night. Rychagov always did everything first, and only then passed on what he had tested and studied to his subordinates. Perhaps this is the only reason why many ordinary pilots who had to serve with Pavel Rychagov subsequently became extraordinary masters of both aerobatics and air combat.

One winter, one of our guys landed awkwardly and put all the blame on the skis: they say, it’s unusual and inconvenient to land on them - you can’t figure it out exactly... Pavel threw his glove on the runway and immediately jumped onto the plane. Having made a circle, he landed in such a way that his skis slammed that glove into the snow. The argument was too convincing for anyone else to want to blame skiing on their own lack of prudence and inability.

The military ambition of our commander to keep only the first place for the detachment was quite understandable. This was a property of Pavel Rychagov’s nature. He forced us to defeat our opponents in both football and volleyball and even created a small amateur orchestra when the period of all kinds of amateur competitions began” (2).

It is no coincidence that the command entrusted Rychagov’s detachment with all important tasks, be it representing the unit at major maneuvers or testing a new secret weapon. It was under the leadership of Pavel Rychagov that 8-kilogram bombs with a remote fuse were tested against bombers and firing PC shells from aircraft. But the main test lay ahead for the young commander.

Before the I-16 fighter was put into mass production, its prototypes were given for testing to the unit where Pavel Rychagov served. Here is what is said about those times in the history of the Kyiv Military District: “The air squad commanded by P.V. was widely known in the district. Leverages. The commander himself performed up to 250 aerobatic maneuvers in one flight. While testing the I-16 aircraft, he made 110 takeoffs and landings without rest. All the pilots who came to the detachment of P.V. Rychagov, became, under his leadership, masters of air combat and shooting snipers” (3).

Since November 1935, Senior Lieutenant Pavel Rychagov has been an instructor in the aerobatic and aerial shooting squadron of the 8th Military Aviation Pilot School.

In May 1936, Rychagov’s squadron, flying I-15 fighters, took part in the May Day parade in Moscow. On May 2, all parade participants were lined up at the Central Airfield, where they met with I. Stalin, K. Voroshilov, S. Ordzhonikidze, M. Tukhachevsky and others. Many parade participants were awarded state awards and valuable gifts. For outstanding personal success in mastering combat aviation equipment and training subordinates, Senior Lieutenant P.V. Rychagov was awarded the Order of Lenin. He celebrated the news of his award in a very original way, conducting a long low-level flight at an altitude of 5 meters from the ground. When asked if he was afraid to fly at such a low altitude, Pavel Rychagov replied: “It’s scary for someone who is not confident in his car and in himself.”

From this time on, the career of a young, talented pilot began to take off. His name became widely known among the pilots of the Air Force of the Soviet Union. He is eager to go into battle, striving to test himself and the flying knowledge he has acquired. And soon such an opportunity was given to him. The command decided to send him as a military specialist to help the Republican government of Spain, where the national revolutionary war began.

On October 28, 1936, on the motor ship “Karl Lepin” P. Rychagov, at the head of 15 fighter pilots, arrived in the Spanish port of Cartagena. Under the pseudonym Pablo Palancar, he becomes the commander of a squadron of I-15 fighters. With all his characteristic energy and fearlessness, Pavel Rychagov enters into combat. A short, stocky man with clear eyes, everyone liked him for his cheerful disposition, courage and flying skill.

On November 4, 1936, 9 I-15 fighters from Rychagov’s squadron first flew to defend Madrid from rebel air raids. An air battle ensued, in which they were opposed by 12 Ju-52 bombers, 5 Romeo-37 bis and 9 CR-32 fighters. During that day and until two hours the next, Rychagov’s pilots shot down 7 enemy aircraft in five air battles.

This is what Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation G.N., recalls about that time. Zakharov: “The Republican pilots were lucky with their presenter. Pavel Rychagov was created by nature for this role. Many pilots knew how to fly beautifully and fought superbly, but not every one of them could be a leader. What Pavel Rychagov did in battle defied explanation - it was his element, in which the talent given to him by nature was revealed.

Each time, as the I-15 approached an enemy group, Rychagov inexplicably guessed the only moment when to attack. Sometimes the intensity of the barrage baffled the pilots. The bombers walked in tight formation. Their riflemen opened fire so heavily that it was difficult to get within working range. And their cover was reliable. With the advent of our fighters, the enemy bombers stopped flying without cover” (4).

In air battles, the squadron, and later Rychagov’s fighter group, inflicted serious damage on the rebel aircraft and deprived them of air supremacy. Participant in those battles, Hero of the Soviet Union, Aviation Major General G.N. Zakharov recalls: “Our group is in the air. Junkers are flying to Madrid. Above them are Heinkels and Fiats. We are above everyone. Rychagov stays above the formation of bombers. The fire from them becomes too dense. It seems to me that all the routes are aimed at us - the head link of the group. But Pavel is unperturbed - he walks as if it were not bullets, but festive fireworks. Suddenly his plane dives sharply. Now just to keep up with him. We fall through the ranks of enemy vehicles. Rychagov maneuvers and throws his fighter steeply upward. We follow him... We jump out right under the belly of the leading Junkers, and then Rychagov opens fire. I also press the trigger. After me, Kovtun hits the Junkers. The bomber begins to roll, but still pulls” (5).

Along with the first victories came the bitterness of losses. An analysis of the causes of death of the pilots revealed that most of them were wounded or killed after attacks from behind. On the I-15 plane there was no armored backrest on the pilot's seat. The technicians proposed removing the 30-kilogram battery from the cabin and using the freed weight to build an armored backrest. But making any changes to the design of the aircraft was strictly prohibited. The commander's consent was required. “Rychagov did not immediately agree with this bold idea. After listening to the engineer, he pointed his finger at a tall oak tree and said thoughtfully:

For such an innovation, you and I will both hang on this tree.

But it was clear that the thought of the pilot’s insecurity also haunted him. And a few days later he gave the go-ahead for modifications... The first homemade backrest, by order of Rychagov, was installed on the plane of the Spanish pilot Ergido, who in battle was always in the thick of the dump and caused the most holes. The very next day, Ergido returned from an unequal battle and brought back only a few bullet marks in his armored back” (6).

Even in the most difficult moments of the war, amid incessant air battles and losses, Pavel Rychagov remained himself. “Rychagov looks at us with his tired eyes. Pablo Palancar, whose name all of Spain knows, but whose face she cannot recognize, is still the same. Energetic, managerial, cheerful. He is not given a moment's peace. He reacts to requests instantly, sometimes even sooner than they have time to speak out.

Comrade commander, a new batch of ammunition...

Prepare urgently, make test shots.

Comrade commander, regarding...

I know. Attach those two to Artemyev, let him fly with them and check.

He walks with his chest forward, his hand in his pocket, tenaciously sees everything, every now and then making jokes.

Pedro, come on!

The ball is rolled back to him, he irresistibly shoots with his left - into the top corner of the goal.

Football and motorcycle are his passions. The commander often starts running along with everyone else, fortunately there is no shortage of battles. The Spaniards are fans of this game, every car has a ball, or even in reserve, every suitable minute is filled with a football brawl” (7).

On November 16, 1936, at 4 p.m., an air battle broke out over Madrid. Soviet pilots under the command of Pavel Rychagov met seven fascist bombers under the cover of eight fighters. Fearlessly, Rychagov accepted the battle. While defending himself, he shot down one fascist and disabled another with an effective technique.

Soon ten more enemy fighters appeared. The air battle lasted about half an hour. During the battle, Rychagov got carried away in pursuit of the Junkers, became separated from his unit and came under crossfire from bombers and heavy machine guns from fighters.

G.N., who took part in that battle. Zakharov recalls: “..."Rychagov's Chaika" was hit and almost lost control. She walked with a large list - the control cables were obviously damaged. Kovtun and I covered the commander’s car, and I tried to explain to Pavel that he needed to jump. I saw how Rychagov wanted to force the car to obey, how he furiously hit the edge of the side with his fist. When, in my opinion, it was too late to jump, Pavel suddenly left the car. He did it at such a low altitude that the parachute barely had time to open” (8).

Colonel General of Aviation A.G. Rytov recalls that Rychagov told him about the battle in which he was shot down and about his landing:

“It happened over Madrid,” Rychagov recalled. - The Nazis squeezed me tightly. No matter how I twisted, I couldn’t resist the seven alone. My plane caught fire. I feel like I won’t make it to the airfield. Where to jump? Below me are huge stone houses and church spiers. Madrid is a big city, and the battle took place over its center. But don't burn alive. Eh, I think it was not. Maybe I'll end up on the roof. He fell over the side, flew several meters and tore the ring. It shook me so much that my boots almost came off my feet. And the fascists, the bastards, hover around and fire machine guns. It's good for them. How does it feel for me to hang out under a white umbrella?

Rychagov gave his story not a tragic, but a humorous overtone.

I go down completely defenseless. Skim, I think. And there is no time to look down to choose a suitable site. Suddenly my leg was burned: some scoundrel had hit me. It’s good if I only escape with an injury. It’s a shame to die somewhere other than on the surface of the earth.

Enemy planes accompanied me almost to the rooftops. Then they left. I looked down - there was a wide street below me. The people there are like at a bazaar. They shout and wave their arms. The Spaniards are an expansive people, greedy for spectacles. And here the picture is much more interesting than a bullfight in the circus arena.

I tucked my legs in, preparing to land, and fell right into the crowd. People, understandably, fled. My wounded leg could not withstand the impact on the asphalt, and I fell on my side. I was immediately surrounded by people. They are making noise, thinking that he crashed. They carefully lifted him up and sat him down, but they didn’t think of unfastening the parachute straps. But it’s hard for me to breathe, there’s not enough air. When they saw that my leg was bleeding, they made even more noise. I don’t understand what they are shouting. Thank you, one senorina, so young, tore a colorful scarf from her head, bent over me and began to bandage my leg. “Wait!” I shout to her. “The overalls need to be cut.”

I guessed it, apparently, and asked one of the men to pull the boot off my foot and rip the leg of my pants. Then she carefully bandaged the wound...

When the confusion in the crowd passed, several stalwart men picked me up and carried me in their arms to the hospital. These Spaniards are soulful people. They treated us like brothers.

And one day,” continued Pavel Vasilyevich, “an important and, apparently, rich Spaniard came into my room with a translator.

“The lord saw,” said the translator, “how you fought over the city, how you shot down two Franco planes. He admires your courage.”

I nodded my head and thanked the guest, who did not take his large olive eyes off me. From time to time he put his hand to his chest. Then he began to speak passionately about something. When he finished his long speech, the translator explained:

“The lord is delighted with the exploits of your compatriots. He says that throughout their history, the Russians have more than once helped other nations in the fight against enemies. Now they have come to the aid of the working people of Spain.”

"Viva Rusia!" - the senor exclaimed.

Then he conveyed through the translator that as a sign of respect he was giving me a shipload of oranges and lemons.

"A whole ship?" - I was surprised.

“Yes, a steamer,” confirmed the translator.

“Tell the senor my many thanks,” I said. “But what am I going to do with so much fruit?”

“Like what?” the translator was surprised. “This is a fortune. You will become a rich man.”

I laughed heartily, but did not try to dissuade either the lord or the translator.

And what did you do with these fruits? - I asked.

He did not offend the senor. After all, he gave a gift from the heart. I turned to our comrades from the embassy and asked them to ensure the delivery of fruit to Spanish children evacuated to the Soviet Union” (9).

Later, on January 3, 1937, visiting journalist M. Koltsov asked Rychagov about the circumstances of that battle:

“And how does the jump onto the Madrid Boulevard count for you?

Lieutenant Palancar, small, dense, with mischievous eyes, answers quietly and slyly:

Consider it as you wish. Of course, I'm responsible for the wrecked car. And I am responsible for her. And, to tell the truth, I myself hesitated whether to jump. For a good fighter, there is little honor in jumping out of a plane while he can be used in some way. It’s the Italians, the Fiats, who have this style: as soon as you approach a pile of them, you just shoot at them - and there’s already chaos, smoke, continuous parachutes. And then there was a big fight, and my cables were broken. The car completely lost control. I still tried to save her. Even at two hundred and fifty meters I stood up, fell to the left and tried to somehow stay on my side. But nothing came of it. Then, already at about eighty meters, I decided to abandon the plane. If I think I’ll live, I’ll pay it off. He jumped and carried me straight to the rooftops. And my head, although strong, is no stronger than the stone houses of Madrid. It’s good that the wind is in our direction: with such crowded conditions, the wind can send you to the fascists. I sit down and think: is it conceivable to be so lucky as, for example, to jump into a bullring... Of course, such cases do not happen. But suddenly Castellana Boulevard appears below me. The same one on which I sighed so much for senoritas... Well, I jumped onto the sidewalk. The worst thing was here. The people of Madrid almost choked me with joy. The whole jacket was torn. And I’m gradually paying off the car, even with interest: I’ve already knocked down four Heinkels, God willing, we’ll knock down something else suitable” (10).

Representing P.V. Rychagov for the award, the command noted: “Commanding the I-15 squadron, he led numerous air battles and participated in them. The pilots of his squadron shot down about 40 enemy aircraft, 6 of which (five fighters, one bomber) were shot down by him personally. P.V. Rychagov always showed exceptional fearlessness, restraint and ability to lead battles everywhere, being a wonderful example for his subordinates” (11).

On December 31, 1936, by the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, 17 pilots and tankmen of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for the exemplary fulfillment of special and most difficult tasks of the Government to strengthen the defense power of the Soviet Union and the heroism shown in this matter. The next day, January 1, 1937, the list of military personnel was published in the Pravda newspaper. Number 5 was senior lieutenant Pavel Vasilievich Rychagov, the commander of the aviation flight of the N squadron.

As of January 7, 1937, in the I-15 squadron under the command of P.V. Rychagova was left with 15 aircraft out of 25 available at the beginning of November, and 16 pilots, incl. 5 Spaniards.

On February 6, 1937, Pavel Rychagov was recalled to the Soviet Union. By this time, his personal account (according to unconfirmed reports) included 15 downed aircraft. He managed to fly a total of 105 hours in Spanish skies.

On February 17, 1937, Rychagov prepared a 16-page report “Conclusions from the Business Trip” addressed to the People’s Commissar of Defense of the USSR. He proposes to modernize the I-15 fighter: make a retractable landing gear, increase the speed to 420-430 km/h, replace the “seagull” with a center section and instead of two rifle-caliber machine guns, install two heavy machine guns. As a result of this, according to Rychagov, the I-15 for the next 3-5 years “will be an ideal front-line fighter.” The beginning use of radio stations on airplanes (there were none on the I-15 in Spain) is not considered by Rychagov as a significant assistance to the pilot during an air battle. He proposes to remove “extra” instruments from the plane so that they do not interfere with the pilot, leaving only a set corresponding to the fighters of the First World War.

Regarding issues of tactics, Rychagov points out that the first battle is of great importance - if it is carried out successfully, then everything will go well. Psychologically, this is true. But this does not mean that in the future everything will be just fine for the pilot. Rychagov himself could have understood this if he had remembered not the first air battle on November 13, 1936, when 2 Soviet pilots (Petr Purtov and Karp Kovtun) were killed.

Regarding bomber attacks, it is indicated that the first attack is carried out by a group, and each one conducts the second independently. At the same time, Rychagov does not mention that he himself was shot down during such actions, when he single-handedly attacked the Junkers formation. The report is no better with information about covering objects. Rychagov notes that duty in the air did not justify itself, since the enemy bombs after the fighters leave the patrol zone. In this case, radio communications could be used effectively, but, as noted above, Rychagov proposed removing all “extra” devices from the aircraft.

Pavel Rychagov returned to his homeland surrounded by glory and honor: he was awarded the extraordinary military rank of “major” and appointed acting. commander of the 65th Fighter Squadron and is enrolled to study at the Air Force Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky. In 1937, Pavel Rychagov, as part of the Soviet military delegation, participated in the Hindon Air Parade in England, and in December he was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st convocation.

In November 1937, under the pseudonym “General Batalia,” Major Rychagov was sent to China to serve as an adviser on fighter aviation. He was entrusted with forming aviation groups and leading the combat activities of Soviet fighter pilots in battles with the Japanese invaders. Spanish combat experience P.V. Rychagova was very useful in the initial period, since the first groups of Soviet pilots did not have one, which had a negative impact in air battles.

This is how Hero of the Soviet Union Colonel General of Aviation F.P. describes that time in his memoirs. Polynin: “The next day after arriving in Hankow, I was invited to see the military attaché M.I. Dratvin. In his office was the chief adviser on the use of Soviet volunteer pilots in China, Pavel Vasilyevich Rychagov, who supervised all their activities. He was a strong man, short in stature, with a powerful build, with bold, slightly bulging eyes. His fame dates back to the times when he fought the Nazis in Spain. Journalist Mikhail Koltsov dedicated more than one essay to this man. In December 1937, he was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. P.V. Rychagov was one of the first to ask to fight in China” (12).

With the appearance of Rychagov, life at the Nanchang airfield immediately changed. He carried out a number of measures to improve the combat readiness of flying units. The air squad was divided into units, the external surveillance and warning system was reorganized, and the camouflage of aircraft and structures was improved. After reviewing piloting techniques, Rychagov introduced a new procedure for interaction in the air when repelling Japanese air raids. On his instructions, the I-15 bis took over the escort fighters, and the I-16s attacked the bombers. Using his rich Spanish experience, Rychagov conducts analyzes of pilots’ combat operations and develops combat tactics.

Hero of the Soviet Union, Aviation Major General G.N. Zakharov, who at that time provided fraternal assistance to the Chinese people, recalls: “Pavel Vasilyevich no longer flew in China. Here he was required to have a different kind of skill than the ability to lead a group into battle. He was required to understand the military situation in its large-scale, strategic manifestations. In Spain, he was a brilliant executor of the plans of the Republican command. Here he had to see the war through the eyes of a high-ranking commander, against whom enemy headquarters and an established military school were working. And the school of Japanese militarism was not a weak one. And Rychagov proved himself to be a commander capable of planning and carrying out unexpected and very noticeable strikes for the enemy” (13).

Under the leadership of P.V. Rychagov carried out a number of successful operations. At the beginning of January 1938, he learned that a large number of Japanese aircraft were concentrated at one of the airfields in Nanjing. A raid by 26 Soviet bombers was planned and carried out. As a result, the airfield and 48 enemy aircraft were completely destroyed.

Rychagov warned F.P. Polynina: “The Japanese will probably try to get even for the defeat. Be prepared to repel a raid on airfields.” Rychagov turned out to be right. Two days later, a message was received from forward air surveillance posts: a large group of enemy bombers was heading for Hankow. Ahead and above her are fighters. We were familiar with the Japanese tactics. First of all, they sought to draw our fighters into battle in order to ensure freedom of action for their bombers. Rychagov, using the experience of fighting in Spain, proposed countermeasures. He divided the fighters into two groups. One of them entered into battle with enemy fighters, the other, unexpectedly for the enemy, rushed at the bombers. Finding themselves without cover, the bombers dropped their cargo anywhere and turned back. But many of them were unable to leave. Soviet fighters pursued the Japanese as long as they had enough fuel. Local residents later found downed Japanese planes in floodplains, swamps, and rice fields” (14).

As a result of the successful actions of Soviet volunteer pilots, by the end of January 1938, the Japanese aircraft fleet was depleted. Japan urgently requested help from its allies. Deliveries of new aircraft were carried out by German and Italian companies to the main base of the Japanese Air Force, located on the island of Taiwan. The equipment arrived disassembled in containers. Having learned about the next batch of arriving planes, Pavel Rychagov proposes to carry out a raid. He participates in the development of the plan and preparation of the operation, which was kept in the strictest confidence. The main difficulty was the target range - a distance of about 1 thousand kilometers. In addition, there was no convenient site near the sea for landing high-speed bombers and refueling them with gasoline.

“You’ll have to fly there directly,” said Rychagov. - And on the way back you will stop at a gas station here. - And he pointed to the Fuzhou airfield, located in the mountains, 230 km from the target.

On February 23, 1938, a rally was held at the Nanchang airfield. P.V. spoke to the crews of 28 SB bombers who were supposed to fly to bomb a base on the island of Taiwan. Leverages. In his brief farewell speech, he recalled that February 23 is the 20th anniversary of the Red Army, and called for celebrating this holiday with dignity. That same day, three successive air strikes dropped 280 bombs on a Japanese base in Taiwan, most of which hit their targets. The impact was so sudden that not a single enemy fighter had time to take off. As a result of the raid, the Japanese lost 40 aircraft (not counting those in containers); The hangars and a three-year supply of fuel burned down (16). All 28 Soviet SB bombers returned without losses. A group of 12 aircraft, led by mixed Soviet-Chinese crews, also taking part in the operation, lost 1 aircraft, which crashed during an emergency landing.

The destruction of the Japanese Air Force base in Taiwan received wide publicity and alarmed the whole world. This raid caused a state of shock among the Japanese. The base was out of action for a whole month and no planes took off from it. On March 8, 1938, for military distinction in China in the fight against the Japanese aggressors, P.V. Rychagov was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

At the end of March 1938, at the suggestion of Rychagov, three “eight” SB bombers, flying more than 1000 kilometers, destroyed a railway bridge across the Yellow River behind Japanese lines. As a result, the enemy offensive on the eastern section of the Longhai Railway towards Xuzhou was thwarted.

In China, as well as in Spain, luck again accompanied Pavel Rychagov, and the fantastic rise of his career continued. April 14, 1938 P.V. Rychagov was awarded the military rank of brigade commander and was appointed commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. However, almost immediately, in May 1938, he received a new appointment - commander of the Air Force of the Primorsky Group of the Far Eastern Front. And this despite the fact that he still remained non-partisan. But this “error” was soon corrected.

Just before leaving for the Far East, Rychagov was given an order to urgently report to Stalin’s dacha. “Stalin and Voroshilov were playing billiards. The young brigade commander reported his arrival. Stalin, without looking up from the game, said hello and, turning to the People's Commissar of Defense, said:

We appoint Comrade Rychagov as commander of aviation for the Far East, but he is a non-party member. What will people tell us, Kliment Efremovich?

Comrade Stalin, brigade commander Rychagov proved his appointment with the entire service,” Voroshilov, who was not expecting such a start to the conversation, answered in an excited voice. - He fought in Spain, China and everywhere in the Bolshevik way...

Would you, Comrade Voroshilov, give Rychagov a party recommendation?

I would give it, Comrade Stalin.

Well, then I’ll give it too,” Stalin turned to Pavel. - You see, Comrade Rychagov, the People’s Commissar wants the Central Committee to consider the issue of your admission to the party without undergoing candidate experience. I think the Central Committee will support the proposal. I wish you success” (17).

Pavel Rychagov was accepted as a member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) by a decision of the party Central Committee without undergoing candidate experience. Upon arrival in the Far East, he was given a party card on the second day.

The air force of the Primorsky group of the Far Eastern Front consisted of three air brigades (48th attack, 69th fighter and 25th high-speed bomber), several separate reconnaissance squadrons, about ten separate detachments and units. With all his characteristic energy, the new commander gets down to business.

Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal G.V. remembers Zimin: “In our training, a lot has changed radically with the appointment of brigade commander P.V. to the post of commander of the Primorsky Group Air Force. Rychagova. He was young, energetic, an excellent flyer and had extensive experience in fighting in Republican Spain and China. According to his instructions, group mass training battles began to be carried out, in which a hundred or more aircraft simultaneously participated. Usually, after the first attacks, the battle order of the parties was disrupted, and subsequently the battle was fought by individual crews and flights in a very difficult air situation. This situation was as close as possible to the real combat conditions of that time. During Air Force exercises across Primorye, as a rule, a large number of relocations to new operational and reserve airfields and maneuvers in parts were provided for. This gave serious practice to the flight personnel and helped them to thoroughly study the airfield network of their theater of operations...

Rychagov was a prominent figure in our aviation in the pre-war years. His fate is not without interest and, to a certain extent, indicative of those years. Short, strong, with a tenacious, appraising gaze, he was a man of action, action. This quality in people has always impressed me. He was probably the same age as me, and this alone, in my eyes, sharply distinguished him from those aviation commanders with high military ranks whom I saw during my years of study. They were pilots of the older generation, from whom Rychagov was distinguished in another way. In 1938, he already had, at that time, considerable practical combat experience both as a fighter pilot and as the commander of a large aviation group. In Spain, he shot down enemy planes himself. In China, our fighters under his command won many victories over Japanese aviation” (18).

The situation on the Far Eastern borders of the Soviet Union at that time was very tense. On July 29, 1938, Japanese troops invaded Soviet territory near Lake Khasan and captured the tactically important heights of Zaozernaya and Bezymyannaya. The Soviet command developed a plan to liberate the occupied territory and restore the state border of the USSR. Brigade commander P.V. Rychagov was assigned to lead the combat operations of the aviation group during the battles near Lake Khasan. Having assumed command of the air force, he ordered the shooting down of all Japanese aircraft violating the border.

Until August 1, 1938, the People's Commissar of Defense, fearing retaliatory strikes, did not allow the use of aviation. Only after Rychagov's report on the relocation was permission received to carry out bombing and assault strikes on the heights and firing positions of enemy artillery.

On August 1, 1938, 5 air raids were carried out on Japanese positions. The following areas were bombed and machine-gunned: the road near Digashedi, along which enemy reserves were advancing, heights “68.8” and Zaozernaya. At the same time, one SB plane was damaged by fragments of its bombs, caught fire and crashed. Only one crew member managed to jump out with a parachute.

At 7 a.m. on August 2, 1938, Soviet aviation attempted to strike the heights of Zaozernaya. 59 aircraft took part in the raid: 22 SB, 17 P-5ССС, 7 P-Z and 13 I-15. Having discovered fog in the combat area, they were forced to abandon the bombing, since due to poor visibility there was a high risk of an attack on friendly units. The planes took a reverse course and dropped unused bombs on one of the test sites. At 8 am, another group of aircraft from 24 SB struck from under the edge of the clouds from a height of 200 meters on the western slopes of the Zaozernaya heights. The enemy managed to damage one aircraft with rifle and machine-gun fire, but it was able to return to its airfield. By the end of the day, 7 aircraft (6 P-Z and one I-15) bombed the Bogomolnaya hill.

From August 3 to August 5, 1938, due to bad weather, aviation was practically inactive. Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal G.V. remembers Zimin: “Our squadron was relocated to the area of ​​Lake Khasan to the Barabash airfield. Four more aviation squadrons were also moved there. At a small field airfield, sandwiched on both sides by mountains, there were seventy-five aircraft. ...On August 5, 1938, an order was received that said: On August 6 at 9.00, ground troops go on the offensive. 10-15 minutes before this time it is necessary to launch a bomb strike on the Zaozernaya hill. After 9.00 bombing was prohibited. Anyone who does not have time to bomb the targets must drop bombs into the bay.

By the end of the day... the commander of the Air Force of the Primorsky group of the Far Eastern Front, divisional commander P.V., arrived at our airfield. Leverages. He clarified the task, inquired about how ready the pilots in the squadrons were to carry out a combat mission... The commander appointed me as the senior officer of the entire group. I reported to the division commander that in our group there was a captain, a squadron commander from the Pacific Fleet Air Force. Rychagov listened calmly and just as calmly confirmed his decision: he appointed me as senior...

On August 6, there was thick fog in the morning. About an hour before takeoff, it rose slightly, but the height of its lower edge did not exceed 50-60 meters. I was worried. Conditions for takeoff and landing at the airfield were already difficult. I didn’t know how the pilots of other squadrons were trained...

The pilot sent for reconnaissance returned safely... Having gathered the commanders, I clarified: take off in flights in tight formation, gather the entire group behind the clouds, at an altitude of 3500 meters along the route. The rest was worked out the day before.

I take off first. The plane is loaded with bombs. He has become heavier and the car is not easy to control. The pilots are following me in tight formation. Over the bay, through the “windows” that have appeared, we pass through the clouds and at an altitude of 3500 meters we set a course for the Zaozernaya hill. There is the greatest concentration of enemy troops there, and we need to bomb this hill. I slowed down so that the whole group could gather in battle formation. But how cloudy is the target, will we find the hill?.. Before the target, everyone must form a column of units. Bombing should have been carried out by dive-bombing units. After completing the mission, my squadron had to gain altitude and, if necessary, cover all the other aircraft of the group from attacks by Japanese fighters.

The weather improved, but we still didn’t have to bomb, since our group only reached the target at 9.00. The Japanese anti-aircraft gunners managed to open fire, and several of our aircraft were damaged. But there were no people shot down. We turned around, went out to the indicated area and, having dropped bombs, went to our airfield” (19).

Such ineffective actions of aviation in the combat area aroused the anger of the country's leader. Stalin contacted Marshal Blucher via direct wire and demanded that the bombers be raised. Blucher, citing zero visibility due to heavy fog, feared the defeat of civilians on the adjacent strip and large losses of aircraft during possible landing accidents. Stalin repeatedly interrupted the marshal's report and reproached him and Rychagov for their reluctance to fight. He made several insulting remarks about the latter, saying that he only knows how to fight “against some Phalangists and Moroccans.”

On the morning of August 6, 1938, there was dense fog over Lake Khasan, which prevented the use of aircraft. When the fog cleared, 89 SBs were lifted into the air. They were tasked with bombing Japanese positions at the Zaozernaya, Bezymyannaya and Bogomolnaya heights. It was also necessary to suppress the artillery batteries located on the Japanese side. Having broken up into groups in the air at intervals of 5-10 minutes, the bombers began to approach their targets. The last group of 44 SB bombed at 15:30. One plane was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft artillery fire. The second one, hit, reached its airfield.

At 16:30 the height of Zaozernaya was subjected to another massive raid by Soviet aviation. 86 aircraft took part in it (41 TB-3 bombers, 30 I-15 fighters and 25 I-16 fighters). Covering the work of the bombers, the fighters carried out assault strikes on the positions of the Japanese anti-aircraft gunners. Heavy TB-3 bombers dropped bombs of various calibers on enemy defenses, including 6 bombs weighing one ton each. As a result of bomb explosions, the heights of Zaozernaya were covered with clouds of dust. Many Japanese soldiers were killed, others were shell-shocked by the shock wave and covered with earth. The bombing left the aggressors in a state of shock. The Japanese were not immediately able to bring their ranks into order and belatedly opened fire on the Red Army soldiers who had gone on the offensive. Nevertheless, the enemy offered fierce resistance. Despite this, by the end of the day on August 6, the 118th Regiment of the 40th Infantry Division captured part of the Zaozernaya Heights, where the Soviet banner was hoisted. Until 19:00 on August 6, Soviet aviation operated in small groups, supporting the advance of ground forces.

Due to the fact that Japanese aviation practically did not participate in hostilities, Soviet I-15 fighters began to carry out assault strikes on enemy defenses and their near rear. From 18:30 on August 7, 1938, I-15s began constant patrols over the front line. There were up to 40 fighters in the air. The planes shot at moving groups of Japanese soldiers, gun and machine-gun crews dug in at the heights. SB bombers made 115 sorties during the day.

On August 8, Soviet aviation continued to process enemy positions. I-15s made 110 sorties per day. The SB in small groups bombed Japanese artillery positions in the Namchensandong, Chuusandon and Homoku areas. Attacks were made on the infantry west of the Bezymyannaya Height and on the artillery in the Nanbon area. As a result of such active actions by Soviet aviation, traffic on roads near enemy lines during daylight hours completely ceased. The planes even chased small groups of people, individual carts or horsemen. At 15:15 a telegram from the People's Commissar of Defense was received at front headquarters. It prohibited the massive use of aviation, since “flying en masse without much benefit is not only useless, but also harmful.” From August 9, 1938, the activity of the Soviet Air Force was sharply reduced.

On August 10, 1938, as a result of bloody battles, the enemy was defeated and Soviet territory was liberated. During the fighting at Lake Khasan, the Air Force of the Primorsky Group carried out more than a thousand sorties. The enemy managed to shoot down 2 aircraft with anti-aircraft fire: one SB and one I-15. The Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR dated September 4, 1938 No. 0040 noted that “the Japanese were defeated and thrown beyond our borders only thanks to the fighting enthusiasm of the soldiers, junior commanders, middle and senior command and political personnel, who were ready to sacrifice themselves defending honor and the inviolability of the territory of their great socialist Motherland, as well as thanks to the skillful leadership of operations against the Japanese by comrade. Stern and the correct leadership of comrade. Rychagov by the actions of our aviation.” For skillful leadership of the aviation group during the battles near Lake Khasan on December 8, 1938, brigade commander P.V. Rychagov was awarded the second Order of the Red Banner.

In September 1938, after the disbandment of the Far Eastern Front, Rychagov was appointed commander of the Air Force of the 1st Separate Red Banner Army.

February 9, 1939 P.V. Rychagov was awarded the military rank of division commander. In November 1939, in connection with the outbreak of the Soviet-Finnish War, he was recalled from the Far East and appointed commander of the 9th Army Air Force. At the beginning of the war, the aviation group he led consisted of only 39 aircraft, of which 15 were fighters. Then it was reinforced by the 10th high-speed bomber air brigade, the Special Air Group of Brigade Commander I.T. Spirin, 145th and 152nd fighter air regiments, 33rd separate reconnaissance squadron and 3rd transport air regiment (20).

In December 1939 - January 1940, the 9th Army suffered a crushing defeat. A number of formations were surrounded, dismembered and destroyed. Some of the personnel, abandoning their equipment and weapons, were able to escape from the encirclement. The surviving commanders were tried by a military tribunal and shot in front of their units.

The reason for the defeat was not only the harsh winter, for which the Red Army was completely unprepared. The adventurous offensive plan initially doomed the 9th Army to death. In severe frosts, units had to fight up to 30 km per day on off-road terrain. Resigned submission to illiterate orders, passivity and uncertainty of the command staff led to huge losses: in the 9th Army alone, 15 thousand people died, and more than 22 thousand were wounded and frostbite.

There were no large enemy defensive structures in the 9th Army's offensive zone, so its aircraft had to bomb Finnish troops, industrial areas and railway stations in the interior of the country. According to the assistant chief of the General Staff of the Red Army for the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ya.V. Smushkevich, interaction and support between army and air units in the 9th Army were poorly established (21).

Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant General of Aviation PTUKHIN EVGENY SAVVICH 03/03/1902-23/02/1942 Evgeny Savvich Ptukhin was born on March 3, 1902 in the family of a postal employee in Yalta. At the end of 1905, his father got a job as a manager of a stud farm and moved the entire family to Moscow.

Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant General of Aviation PUMPUR PETER IVANOVICH 04/25/1900-03/23/1942 Peter (Peteris) Ivanovich (Ionovich) Pumpur was born on April 25, 1900 in the family of a Latvian peasant in the Platersky volost of the Riga district of the Livonia province. After graduating from the parish