KONSTANTIN FOMICH MIKHALENKO
1920 – 2011
The hero of the USSR
Mikhalenko Konstantin Fomich was born in Moscow. From 1922 he lived in Gomel, where he went to school. He began to get involved in aviation early. At first he made aircraft models, and then an aeroclub was opened in Gomel. A gliding school was organized at the flying club. He began with the assembly of gliders under the guidance of experienced craftsmen, and then flew on them. The sky was so strong that young Kostya went to night school so as not to give up aviation. Later he entered the Belarusian Medical Institute.
In 1940 he was appointed medical officer of the reconnaissance platoon and as part of the ski battalion was sent to the Soviet-Finnish war. At the end of the war, he returned to Minsk and graduated from the 3rd year of the medical institute. He was sent to study at the Kharkov Military Aviation School of pilots and pilot-observers. Immediately after graduation in 1941 he was sent to the front. Participant in the Battle of Moscow, Stalingrad, Battle of Kursk, Belorussian, Vistula-Oder, Berlin operations.
During the war years, he carried out 997 combat missions for reconnaissance, bombing German troops, for supplying food and ammunition to the surrounded troops, evacuating the wounded, sending reconnaissance and sabotage groups to the rear of the enemy.
By the end of the war, the Guard Senior Lieutenant Mikhalenko was the flight commander of the 45th Guards Night Bomber of the Warsaw Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class Aviation Regiment. On May 15, 1946, Guard Senior Lieutenant Konstantin Fomich Mikhalenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
After being retired in 1946, he continued flying in polar aviation. Awarded the title of "Honorary Polar Explorer of the USSR". Since 1973 at the Research Institute. Lived in Moscow. He was fond of painting.
Awards: Medal "Gold Star", Order of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, 2 Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, Order of the Badge of Honor, medals.
The hero of the USSR
Mikhalenko Konstantin Fomich was born in Moscow. From 1922 he lived in Gomel, where he went to school. He began to get involved in aviation early. At first he made aircraft models, and then an aeroclub was opened in Gomel. A gliding school was organized at the flying club. He began with the assembly of gliders under the guidance of experienced craftsmen, and then flew on them. The sky was so strong that young Kostya went to night school so as not to give up aviation. Later he entered the Belarusian Medical Institute.
In 1940 he was appointed medical officer of the reconnaissance platoon and as part of the ski battalion was sent to the Soviet-Finnish war. At the end of the war, he returned to Minsk and graduated from the 3rd year of the medical institute. He was sent to study at the Kharkov Military Aviation School of pilots and pilot-observers. Immediately after graduation in 1941 he was sent to the front. Participant in the Battle of Moscow, Stalingrad, Battle of Kursk, Belorussian, Vistula-Oder, Berlin operations.
During the war years, he carried out 997 combat missions for reconnaissance, bombing German troops, for supplying food and ammunition to the surrounded troops, evacuating the wounded, sending reconnaissance and sabotage groups to the rear of the enemy.
By the end of the war, the Guard Senior Lieutenant Mikhalenko was the flight commander of the 45th Guards Night Bomber of the Warsaw Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class Aviation Regiment. On May 15, 1946, Guard Senior Lieutenant Konstantin Fomich Mikhalenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
After being retired in 1946, he continued flying in polar aviation. Awarded the title of "Honorary Polar Explorer of the USSR". Since 1973 at the Research Institute. Lived in Moscow. He was fond of painting.
Awards: Medal "Gold Star", Order of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, 2 Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, Order of the Badge of Honor, medals.