Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Leitenant Mikhail Nikiforovich Gladkikh

1912 – 13 March 1943

Mikhail Gladkikh was born in 1912.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, leitenant Gladkikh served in 17 IAP, which was equipped with Polikarpov I-153s. This unit served on the South-Western Front.

On 24 June, he was involved in combat with Bf 109 and he claimed one and one shared with another pilot before he was seriously wounded.
He made an emergency landing and was sent to hospital.
After this combat, he never returned to 17 IAP.

He was decorated with the Order of Lenin on 2 August 1941.

In March 1943, he was posted to 240 IAP and with this unit he flew La-5s.

Gladkikh didn’t return from a combat mission on 13 March 1943.

At the time of his death, Gladkikh was credited with 1 biplane victory and a total of 3.
These had been claimed during 8 combat missions and 2 air combats.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941                
1 24/06/41   1 Bf 109 Destroyed I-153   South-Western Front 17 IAP
  24/06/41   1/2 Bf 109 Shared destroyed I-153   South-Western Front 17 IAP
  1943                
2 13/03/43   1 He 111 Destroyed La-5   Voronezh Front 240 IAP
3 13/03/43   1 Bf 110 Destroyed La-5   Voronezh Front 240 IAP

Biplane victories: 1 and 1 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 3 and 1 shared destroyed.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936-1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov




Last modified 20 November 2019