Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Starshiy Leitenant Grigoriy Ivanovich Pushkin

1917 – 5 August 1942

Grigoriy Pushkin was born in 1917.

He graduated from Yeyskoye VMAU in 1939.

Leitenant Pushkin took part in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War from November 1939 until March 1940 as part of 13 OIAE-KBF of the Baltic Fleet. With this unit he flew Polikarpov I-15bis with a total flying time of 4 hours and 34 minutes but without claiming anything.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, leitenant Pushkin served in 71 IAP-KBF of the Baltic Fleet, which was equipped with Polikarpov I-153s.

On 21 September 1941, six I-153s from the 71 IAP-KBF, led by starshiy leitenant Konstantin Solov’yev, fought with four Ju 88s near Peterhof. Three of the German bombers were claimed shot down ”in group”. Known pilots taking part in this claim was Solov’yev, starshiy leitenant Vladimir Abramov, Aleksandr Baturin and leitenant Pushkin.
On the same day, six I-153 from the 71 IAP-KBF conducted a reconnaissance of roads in the area Sablino-Yam-Izhora. They were attacked by six Bf 109s. In a frontal attack, Baturin personally shot down the fighter leading the German formation. The remaining German retired and the reconnaissance was completed.

On 18 November 1941, he was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.

He was decorated with a second Order of the Red Banner on 16 December 1941.

He left the 71 IAP-KBF in January 1942 and in July 1942, he was posted to 9 IAP-ChF of the Black Sea Fleet.

On 5 August 1942, starshiy leitenant Pushkin didn’t return from a combat mission.

At the time of his death, Pushkin was credited with 1 biplane victory.
This had been claimed during 122 combat missions (as of 25 September 1941).

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941                
  04/08/41   1/2 Ju 88 Shared destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF
1 05/08/41   1 Ju 88 Destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF
  21/09/41   1/6 Ju 88 Shared destroyed I-153   nr Peterhof 71 IAP-KBF
  21/09/41   1/6 Ju 88 Shared destroyed I-153   nr Peterhof 71 IAP-KBF
  21/09/41   1/6 Ju 88 Shared destroyed I-153   nr Peterhof 71 IAP-KBF
  22/09/41   1/? Bf 109 Shared destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF
  12/12/41   1/? Fokker D.XXI Shared destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF

Biplane victories: 1 and 6 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 and 6 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 10 April 2021