On that and Schukin in the sky that "Yankee" did not doze

Kobrin → Outstanding persons

He modestly lives in Minsk — the pilot of 1 class, the colonel in resignation. Hero of the Soviet Union Lev Schukin. The unknown heroes of unknown war which began 50 years ago in Korea.

Meanwhile his name is surrounded with legends among pilots not only the former Union, but also Korea, China. USA. He is the most productive expert in the history of jet fighting aircraft: 17 firing practice — 17 victories!

Everything began prosaically. Representatives of the Krasnodar aero club came to school, suggested to learn to fly. Who those years did not dream of aircraft?! Here and he, Leva Schukin, was engaged in aircraft modeling, the soul pined from a motor sound in the sky! But one business of dream, and another — realities. And here — call. Mother was terrified:
— Where you will go? Look at yourself — skin and bone, you do not get out of diseases.
Nobody believed that the fellow will become a pilot. And it to aero club was admitted.

Hardly young flyers of Po-2 mastered — war began. But only in 1944 Lev approached closer the front, in the 13th spare aviaregiment which was based in Babruysk. Schukin very much tried — wanted to be at war. However the administration noticed flight "handwriting", and to the front it did not reach — for excellent technology of piloting he was left the pilot-instructor. Whether Schukin could guess then that the destiny trained him for other war? The era of jet aircraft began. The pilot Schukin took the first "jet" steps in Kobrin, in the 18th Guards Vitebsk twice Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner the Orders of Suvorov of the 2nd degree an aviation regiment of the 303rd aviadivision which was ordered by the colonel Mr. Lobov. At first there was YAK-15, then MiG-9. In 1950 entrusted the fighter latest for those times MiG-15.

Once to them the top military commander of air defense of the country arrived. The high visitor in strict confidence announced: "The government, the Central Committee made the decision to help the fraternal Korean people and to test our new equipment in fight …. To go to you …"

— Here so my Korean epic began. Any volunteers, they are cock-and-bull stories. Told it "is necessary" — and forward.
To regiment set the task to cover from air strikes hydroelectric power station on the Yalu River and to provide movement to Korea to the 8th Chinese army. A continuous stream it went one and a half months! Americans stormed this stream with exasperation. Soviet — selflessly protected …

— We were at war secretly. Regimentals — Chinese, any distinctions, any documents. I in a pocket had only the daughter's photo And to be taken prisoner God forbid! … It was ordered "to shpre-hat" on Korean or Chinese, eyes to shchurit, stoop that growth was less … By planes — the Korean identification marks. In air — continuous whirl. Slightly stood gaping — everything, will gobble up during a moment. Rushed on speed limits — as soon as cursors maintained! Piloted with the maximum overloads, to blackness in eyes. And we, alas, had no anti-overload suits not that at Americans. And the equipment was rather weak. I remember, beat to the coast of the died American pilot, and it has an equipment on all cases, the radio indicator, the waterproof card with reference points. Over the sea at them emergency helicopters always hung. In the flight book of the American everything was painted: who, from where, name of part and division, achievement, raid. And so, this junior pilot of a link a raid had 3,5 thousand hours! Americans perfectly were able to be at war: pilots they were strong, courageous. It I to that against whom we battled. The equipment at them was good too, especially "Seybr". For those times — the excellent fighter.

On June 1, 1951 Lev Schukin was on duty in airfield in the "first" readiness. Occupation is dreary: closeness, the plane radiates with a heat. From point of targeting information arrived: the four of "Mustangs" conducts investigation at small height. The link immediately rose in air.

— Grew dark. We went from the sun, and "Mustangs" were perfectly observed! I gave command to the second couple to remain above, and itself dived. It was my first attack. And a little bit rather early opened fire: by. The second time is no time to press — speed huge, there is no height any more. The handle on myself — I leave attack. The leader of the second couple of Lesh Sven-titsky approached the American and so rubanut — "Mustang" all even started, began to be developed towards the sea. I advanced to the second attack — semi-revolution approached it meters on hundred and gave from three points. It rectilinearly went down and disappeared in waves. In total. And second conducted I "made" instantly — came into a tail and removed.

Returned on airfield, mudflows — routinely and without emotions. It was our work. Americans, frankly speaking, for enemies were not considered and hatred to them was not tested.

Especially memorable was a fighting departure on June 17, 1951. We that day were lifted with a task to cut "Seybra" from the main group which was going to strike the blow massed bomboshturmovy. The squadron had special specifics — she constantly battled only against fighters. Others had to fight against bombers and attack planes. The special desire to fight that day was not, wanted to povolynit, be twisted, without reaching firing. But they from fight did not evade. And we accepted it. In that fight "Seybrov" was more, than us. I see — behind come, already "beaks" are visible — the antenna of a radar sight closed by plastic. I turned back — "beak" nearby, fire sheaf to me went. Abruptly I dive, only having managed to shout to the conducted Anatoly Ostapovsky: "Ostap, keep!" (Speak, now somewhere in Cherkasy serves as the priest in church. I do not know what he is a priest, and here the pilot was cool). The American lasted, tried to keep step with me, and then did not sustain — "pecked" down. I put the plane on a back — after it — and from all guns covered. Saw how from the plane at it flew away big shmat coverings and the white loop stretched. In terrible whirl Ostapovsky came off me, and I went home one. Suddenly I hear — blow to the plane as though a stone, and then — a hail of bullets. The lamp instantly into smithereens, on a control panel — blood, the handle of management does not obey — jammed. The splinter rassek the person, stuck out, the hole was such that I a finger through a nose reached language. Catapulted, developed a parachute. When hung, they shot at me — four "Seybra" made two calling. Not gentlemanlike arrived! I in a fuse shook the fist, and then laughed at myself. What could I make by it?

To hospital to it there arrived the divisional commander Lobov. Asked: "Well what you will do?" It was got: if brought down — you can go home. Lev Schukin answered: "I arrived with all and with all I will leave!"

— On August 29 for the first time after gostpitalya I take off on a fighting task Suddenly — what for the devil? — some extraneous noise, like a drumbeat. I listen. Lowered hands on knees — abated, cleaned — again a roar. Ah, here it that! It appears, legs in itself are danced on pedals. Terribly … There was a feeling: here now I will fly up — and everything, will bring down!
With such shiver Schukin and vzlyo bodies. But when saw the opponent all got up on the places. In that fight it met the English planes "Gloucester Meteor".

— We rushed into their system, dismembered, and everyone beat the one who turned up. The opponent wanted to leave me sharply on a bend, even white streams went from consoles … I shoot — cut off it on the spot.
Very heavy three days in October, with 22 on 24 when heavy fighting with the planes striking blows to airfields under construction was conducted were given.

The leader of the second couple Sventitsky transferred: "The commander, on the right big group "F-84 ″, be attentive!" Schukin looked back and for a moment became puzzled: Americans already came on it...

— Wanted to take, probably, on a fright. Thought, we will turn off, and we, on the contrary, crash into their system. It can be compared only to what: there is a continuous stream of cars, and you are sharply developed — and on them. Two jumped out directly before me. I slightly tightened and from distance in hundred fifty meters slashed on one. Huge sphere of fire. I did not manage to react and flew in this sphere. Opened eyes — all light-. The remains "F-84 ″ rotating, fall down.
New, 1952 did not give relief. On January 1 there were three fighting departures at once. In several days Schukin brought down last "Seybr". 11 - brought down already him.

— We that day came back home, and suddenly nearby — "beak". Blow! In a cabin kerosene rushed. Understood if I do not switch off the engine — I will burn down. Switched off. Steeply I fall from nine thousand. Through four kilometers brought the car out of dive, began to prepare for ejection. Time! Developed a parachute at the height of three kilometers. Under me — mountains, snow it is few. Frost. I am wet, all in kerosene, and it is dressed in trousers, a shirt and the Chinese service jacket. While went down — stiffened. The blow about rocks was terrible — the backbone in three places burst. I lie, I look in the sky blue and mentally I say goodbye to life. Suddenly minutes through ten shout in Russian. It appears, nearby, for luck, there were positions of our antiaircraft gunners. Put me on a stretcher, brought in a clay hut without windows and doors, stripped naked, poured in a mug of alcohol in a mouth and began to pound alcohol. I scream blue murder, and they unconcernedly rub. And wiped from a next world … I am quite often asked about losses. Yes, forced down ours quite often. To a regiment 9 people, from them directly were killed in battle — only two or three, other — during the landing, a landing … From Korea we went through Moscow. In the Kremlin Shvernik at delivery of the Star read: "To the major Lev Schukin. For model performance of the office debt". I was in civil. Attendees thought that some intelligence agent.

Then Schukin studied in academy, served in Belarus in the 95th destructive, the 1st Guards aviation divisions. Saw war in Egypt, visited also the Vietnamese. The service was not cloudless: it was too independent, courageous and direct. It was not pleasant to the administration so he did not promote.

"Fall" of the pilot Lev Schukin fell on fall of 1976. Then it made the last landing on the fighting fighter. In total. Behind shoulders there was a period of service in 37 "calendars".

Today, in nearly 77 years, Lev Kirillovich is efficient, tightened and vigorous. But endured even more often reminds of himself back pains, in heart. It is difficult for veteran to go down even to the yard.

— Somehow gave in to arrangements of friends and addressed the authorities: asked to help to exchange the apartment for other house where there is an elevator. Answered: there is no opportunity …

Recently Minsk was visited by Americans — veterans of war in Korea. Specially found for Schukin to look at him, to state respect to the pilot expert who won 17 victories in honest fight. Americans are able to appreciate even foreign heroes. And we?

Nikolay Kachuk
Work-7 in Belarus newspaper 17.08.2000 pages 18

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