At the federal war memorial “Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland” in the Moscow region, the burial of the remains of the pilots of the Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Grechishnikov crew took place. Search engines discovered four Red Army soldiers last year, and this year marks the 85th anniversary of their heroic sacrifice. MIR 24 correspondent Dmitry Zabrudsky recognized him with his military exploits and honors.
They are still together even 85 years after their last combat mission. Bomber crew of the first torpedo aviation regiment of the Red Flag Baltic Fleet: captain Vasily Grechishnikov, navigator Alexander Vlasov, communications director Matvey Semenkov, gunner-radio operator Nikolai Burkov. Among those who said goodbye to the heroic pilots on their final journey were their children and grandchildren.
“He was drafted into the army, then he joined the army and they bombed Berlin.
For the daring operation of August 1941, which the Soviet Command entrusted to the air force of the Baltic Fleet, the commander of the DB-3F aircraft, Vasily Grechishnikov, received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In October 1941, pilots were assigned to guard the approaches to Leningrad. They bombed German fortifications and columns.
“Grechishnikov's crew and Drozdov's crew took off in two planes just when aviation should not have taken off. That is, in very difficult weather conditions. However, they took off and attacked the columns, all roads were blocked by German equipment.
The plane was shot down on October 24, 1941. But the commander directed the burning car at a fascist tank, repeating the famous feat of Gastello.
Major General, Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation Alexander Berzan said: “Pilots require very high courage, skill and composure to carry out assigned combat missions, especially the mission of supporting our troops and equipment, the mission of attacking enemy columns and targets.”
For many years, it was believed that the pilots died in the village of Gruzino, Novgorod region. But search engines found the real location in the Kirishi district of the Leningrad region. We identified him by the serial numbers on the aircraft parts and uniform.
Ilya Prokofiev, an employee of the All-Russian Center for Information Search, said: “Insignia was found on Grechishnikov and Senior Lieutenant Vlasov, that is, even pieces of naval jackets, raglans, flight goggles and parts of helmets were preserved. That means they were clearly burned very strongly.”
Those who died for the Fatherland are buried at the main monument of the defenders of the Fatherland with all military honors, as worthy heroes.
