Shitov was born on 20 March 1917.

He joined the army in 1936, attending the Eysk Military/Naval Air School, from where he graduated in December 1938.

When Germany attacked the Soviet Union on 22 Junae 1941, he served as a Leitenant in 9 IAP-ChF of the Black Sea Fleet. This unit was at the time equipped with Polikarpov I-153s, I-15bis and I-16s. Shitov mainly flew I-153s with this unit.

On 4 July, he claimed 9 IAP-ChF’s first victory when he shot down a Rumanian reconnaissance aircraft over Ishmael.

He was posted from 9 IAP-ChF in 1942 and in February 1943 he was sent to 62 IAP-ChF. With this unit he flew LaGG-3s.

In July 1943, he was posted back to 9 IAP-ChF. This unit also flew LaGG-3s at the time.

On 3 June 1944, 9 IAP was retired from the Black Sea Fleet and on 22 July they were instead assigned to the Baltic Fleet.

In July 1944, 9 IAP-KBF started to convert to Yak-9s even is some LaGG-3s remained in service until February 1945.

On 14 December 1944, Shitov and Andrey Sidorov (2./9 IAP-KBF) claimed one FW 190 each over Libau.

On 8 May 1945, kapitan Shitov claimed one Ju 88 and one Ju 52/3m as a shared together with another pilot over Libau. It’s possible that he claimed the Ju 52/3m together with starshiy leitenant Andrey Sidorov (2./9 IAP-KBF), who claimed one Ju 52/3m together with another pilot and a second ”in group” over Libau during the day.

The next day, 9 May, kapitan Shitov claimed two Ju 52/3ms and starshiy leitenant Andrey Sidorov (2./9 IAP-KBF) claimed one Ju 52/3m, all three over Libau.

At the end of the war, Shitov was credited with 4 biplane victories and a total of 12.
These victories were claimed in 406 sorties and 58 air combats.
During his career, Shitov was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner (13 August 1941, 13 October 1944 and 23 May 1945) and the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class (29 April 1944 and 11 March 1985).

Shitov was recommended to Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union on 7 June 1945, but this was revoked by the Chief of the Naval Air Force who stated: ”I disagree (tried twice-once was sentenced to death by firing squad), generally is a bully and a drunkard".

Shito remained in the Army after the Second World War.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
1	04/07/41		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	I-153		Ishmael	9 IAP-ChF
2	05/07/41		1	He 111	Destroyed	I-153		Ishmael	9 IAP-ChF
3	08/08/41		1	He 111 (a)	Destroyed	I-153		Nikolaev	9 IAP-ChF
4	18/08/41		1	Bf 109 (b)	Destroyed	I-153		Kpasnaya Znamenka	9 IAP-ChF
	1943
	26/06/43		1/2	Ju 88	Shared destroyed	LaGG-3			62 IAP-ChF
5	29/09/43		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	LaGG-3		Anapa	9 IAP-ChF
	29/09/43		1/2	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	LaGG-3		Anapa	9 IAP-ChF
6	01/10/43		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	LaGG-3		Veselovka	9 IAP-ChF
	1944
7	15/09/44		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	Yak-9		Gogland	9 IAP-KBF
	15/09/44		1/2	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Yak-9		Gogland	9 IAP-KBF
8	22/09/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	Yak-9		Tallinn	9 IAP-KBF
9	06/10/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	Yak-9		Kuressari	9 IAP-KBF
10	14/12/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	Yak-9		Libava	9 IAP-KBF
	1945
	08/05/45		1/2	Ju 52/3m	Shared destroyed	Yak-9		Libava	9 IAP-KBF
	08/05/45		1/2	Ju 88	Shared destroyed	Yak-9		Libava	9 IAP-KBF
11	09/05/45		1	Ju 52/3m (c)	Destroyed	Yak-9		Libava	9 IAP-KBF
12	09/05/45		1	Ju 52/3m (c)	Destroyed	Yak-9		Libava	9 IAP-KBF

Biplane victories: 4 destroyed.
TOTAL: 12 and 5 shared destroyed.
(a) Claim only mentioned in award material but not in any operational records.
(b) Claim only mentioned in award material but not in any operational records.
(c) Claim only mentioned in award material but not in any operational records.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936–1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Units and aircraft of the Soviet Union during the Second World War