Evgeny Stepanov, Soviet fighter pilot: biography

Evgeny Stepanov (years of life: 1911-1996) is a famous Soviet fighter pilot, who was the first to carry out a night ram in the air. This event took place in October 1937 in the troubled Spanish sky. Wide masses about this feat was little known because of the non-disclosure of participation in the Spanish war of the Soviet military.

For a long time it was believed that the first night ram was held in August 1941: the Soviet pilot Victor Talalikhin near Moscow disabled the enemy bomber He-111.

Night ram Yevgenia Stepanova

October 28, 1937, carrying over Barcelona on his I-15 combat duty, at an altitude of 2000 meters Stepanov Eugene Nikolaevich discovered an enemy bomber. When I tried to get closer, I was met by enemy fire. Stepanov managed to set fire to the enemy's wings with machine-gun bursts, but this did not stop the enemy. Since there was no time to reload the gun, Stepanov decided to go to the ram. In order to save the engine of the aircraft and the propeller, the impact on the tail part of the car was caused by wheels. Sliding and not very strong, nevertheless he achieved his goal: an uncontrolled bomber with the crew collapsed into the sea. Yevgeny Stepanov, convinced of the possibility of further airborne presence, continued patrolling and soon came upon another enemy machine, which, by firing, forced me to turn towards the high sea, where he finished off finally. After a successful operation, the Soviet pilot returned to the Sabadell airfield, where he carefully planted the damaged I-15. In total, Evgeny Stepanov, who carried the call sign of Eugenio, held 16 fights in the air and shot down 10 enemy aircraft.

Storm of Garapenillos airfield

Prior to the celebration of the famous night ram, the airfield attack in the town of Garapenillos (nearby Zaragoza), which took place on October 15, 1937, was significant in terms of design and methods of implementation. According to the captured Italian pilot, it became known about the concentration of about eight dozen Italian bombers and fighters at the aerodrome of the above-mentioned town. Information was confirmed by intelligence information. Previous attempts to bomb a large squadron were unsuccessful, because the airfield was under good cover.

It was decided to attack the enemy suddenly by the forces of the fighters of the Republican Air Force. The main task for the defeat of the airfield was assigned to two squadrons of Chatos (of the six who participated), the commander of which was Anatoly Serov, and the deputy was the pilot Stepanov. As a result of the successful operation, 11 enemy planes were destroyed, more than 20 enemy aircraft were damaged. The enemy storage of ammunition and fuel was also severely damaged.

Fight in the Spanish winter sky

January 17, 1938 took the last battle of Stepanov in the skies of Spain. The commander sent a squadron in the direction of the universal massif with the aim of intercepting the "Junkers" and the numerous "Fiats" that accompanied them. The battle took place over the city of Ojos Negros, and the number of the enemy, who was going to bombard the republican troops, almost tripled the number of Soviet pilots.

Evgeni Nikolaevich managed to successfully attack and shoot down Fiat. Then Stepanov began to pursue the second fighter, went into his tail and tried to shell him, but the ammunition ran out. The Soviet pilot decided to go to ram. And at that moment his car was covered by the merciless fire of the antiaircraft artillery of the enemy. The splinters damaged the engine and interrupted the control cables. The apparatus ceased to obey the navigator and steeply went towards the ground. Stepanov managed to jump out and open the parachute.

In captivity

In the process of landing, the fearless pilot severely injured himself on the rocks and lost consciousness. He was captured by the Moroccans, held in solitary confinement, subjected to beatings, interrogations, bullying and torture. The pilot was starved, thrice taken out to shoot.

Thanks to the assistance of the International Red Cross, six months later Evgeny Stepanov was exchanged for a German pilot. Upon returning to his homeland, he was promoted to captain and appointed to the Leningrad Military District as an instructor in piloting technique.

Biographical information: Stepanov Evgeniy Nikolaevich

Moscow is a city where a fearless pilot was born on May 22, 1911. Behind the shoulders there were 7 classes of education and railway school FZU. Then there was a job in the blacksmith shop, classes in the factory radio club, studying in the capital school of pilots and hours of flight practice. In 1932 he enrolled in the Borisoglebsk School of Pilots, after which he was determined to serve on a bomber, and later on a fighter. As a senior pilot, he served in the 12th Aviation Squadron.

Merits of the fearless pilot

After participating in the events in 1939 in the events around the Khalkhin-Gol river as a squadron commander, he took part in battles with the Japanese, flew to the I-16 and I-153. Fulfilled the task of transferring combat experience to pilots who had not yet encountered the enemy in the sky: acquainted them with the surrounding area, carried out training flights. In total, more than a hundred sorties were carried out by Captain Stepanov in Mongolia, 5 air battles were fought, 4 enemy planes were shot down. For showing courage and bravery in the military actions in 1939, Yevgeny Stepanov was awarded the Mongolian Order "For Military Valor", the "Gold Star" medal and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Further, the life path of an experienced pilot continued with participation in the Soviet-Finnish war. In the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet pilot instructed the technique of piloting in the Moscow Military District. With the advent of peacetime resigned to the reserve, but closely maintained contact with aviation, working deputy. The head of the Central Aero Club of. Chkalov.

He devoted his life to aviation

Like many pilots of the Soviet Union, Stepanov devoted most of his life to aviation, working to strengthen its prestige and strengthen its power. He led delegations at international competitions held in different cities around the world. It was Yevgeny Stepanov who first put the signature on the act that confirmed the grandiose event - the first space exploration by Yuri Gagarin.

In the International Aviation Federation he worked as vice-president, in the 70s he headed the flight test station at the Moscow helicopter factory, was a research fellow at the Central Astronautics and Aviation House.

There was no Stepanova Eugene Nikolayevich September 4, 1996. The ashes of the famous pilot, who conquered the heavens for the benefit of the peaceful life of the inhabitants of his country, rests on the Troekurov cemetery.