Nejvýznamnější funkce: (maximálně tři) Most Important Appointments: (up to three)
- dôstojník operačného oddelenia Správy námorného letectva - zástupca veliteľa 78. stíhacieho leteckého pluku pre letecký výcvik a bojovú prípravu
- Officer of the Maritime Aviation Administration 's Operations Department - Deputy Commander of the 78th Fighter Air Regiment for flight training and combat training
Jiné významné skutečnosti: (maximálně tři) Other Notable Facts: (up to three)
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Kurzenkov-Sergej-Georgijevic-t245593#678834
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The one who survived his certain death...
Sergei Georgievich Kurzenkov was born on June 24, 19111) (June 11, 1911 according to the Julian calendar) in the Siberian city of Omsk. In 1916-1921 he lived in the town of Zima (today Irkutsk Oblast), from 1921 in the town of Naro-Fominsk (today Moscow Oblast). His middle brother was born in the town of Zima - Lieutenant (l-t.) Alexander Georgievich Kurzenkov, recipient of the Hero of the USSR title and commander of the 44th Squadron of the 15th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment Baltic Fleet Air Force (15th RAP-BF) swarm.
After completing his seventh grade schooling (1927), he began attending an apprenticeship (FZU) at a local weaving mill. After graduating from the apprenticeship in 1929-1930, he started working there as a weaver's apprentice. In 1931, he was sent to attend courses organised by the Leningrad Textile Institute and, on his return, he began working in his mother factory as a master weaver. In 1932-1933 he became head of industrial training and a teacher at the apprenticeship (FZU), where he himself had started a few years earlier.
In August 1933, he joined the Navy and was accepted to the Naval Aviation Training School for Naval Pilots and Observers in Jejsk. After his graduation in 1935, he remained there as a pilot-instructor. From 1939 to 1941, he was a pilot-instructor at the S. A. Levanevsky Naval Aviation School in Nikolayev (now Mykolayiv, Ukraine). In 1941 he graduated by correspondence from the 1st course of the Military Air Force Academy in the city of Monino.
Kurzenkov participated in the defence of Murmansk and the Arctic, as well as taking part in the air cover of Allied convoys. During his combat flight on 04.01.1942, which targeted Luostari airfield, his aircraft was severely damaged by an attacking Bf 109. With the damaged aircraft he managed to make an emergency landing behind his own line. It took him two months to heal his injured right leg in a hospital in Vayenga (now Severomorsk). However, he didn't give his skin cheaply - he achieved his first kill, which was one Bf 109.
After returning from hospital, he became swarm commander and deputy commander of 3rd Squadron, 2nd Guards Mixed Air Regiment Air Force Northern Fleet (2nd. GSAP-SF, originally renamed 72nd Mixed Fighter Aviation Regiment (72nd SAP-SF) from 18.01.1942, renamed 2nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment from 14.10.1942 - 2. GIAP-SF).
It scored its second kill on 24.03.1942 - it became Junkers Ju 87, another Junkers Ju 87 damaged. More kills followed - on 15.04.1942 Junkers Ju 87 and two weeks later he added one more. It became Bf 110. After a hard fight with eight Ju 88, five Bf 109 and six Bf 110, it was shot down in the area of Cape Piksuev (?) on 10 May 1942. However, he managed to expand his account by shooting down two Bf 109 (according to other sources, the Luftwaffe did not lose any machines that day). As a result of the emergency landing in the tundra, he injured his head and spent two months in hospital. During that fight, 5 Hurricanes were shot down, killing four pilots. In all, the 2nd GSAP and 78th arrived that day. IAP lost 10 Hurricanes.
From September 1942 until he was shot down on 28.02.1943, Captain Kurzenkov served as Deputy Commander of the 78th Fighter Aviation Regiment for flight training and combat preparation. On 28.02.1943 he was given an important combat task - a night bombing attack on Luostari airfield, from which the Luftwaffe was making attacks on Murmansk (according to other sources it was a night reconnaissance flight in order to find out the location of the enemy's airfield). It succeeded in doing so, but a strong retaliation by anti-aircraft artillery seriously wounded him in the leg and set the wing of his aircraft on fire. As if that wasn't enough, his own anti-aircraft artillery also began to mistakenly shell him. Since he was already over his own territory, Kurzenkov decided to jump out of the burning plane. Because of the burning flames, however, it was dangerous for the pilot to immediately open his parachute. The injured Kurzenkov flew in free fall for almost 2000 m. At an altitude of about 700 m he opened his parachute. He then felt a violent impact in which he lost his fur boots and the glove of his left hand. And it was freezing on the ground at around -35°C! The parachute straps, damaged by splinters and fire, could not withstand the impact and broke off with the parachute. Kurzenkov hit the ground, but his life was saved by the deep snow and the slope he landed on. When he regained consciousness, he summoned help with two pistol shots.
After being transported to the infirmary, the doctors there did not give him much chance of recovery. For in addition to the shock, dislocated arm, broken leg, broken ribs, splinter wounds, frostbite, it was a severed kidney and other severe internal injuries. His life was decided by two events. One nurse, on his arrival at the infirmary, accidentally poured him a glass of pure alcohol, which brought him out of shock. The second event was the presence of Dmitri Alekseevich Arapov, the chief surgeon of the Northern Fleet. He was sent by Admiral Golovko to the hospital behind Kurzenkov's torpedo boat. Arapov fought for two weeks for Kurzenkov's life. He did so successfully, and in July 1943 (according to other sources in August 1943) Kurzenkov was allowed to leave the hospital. Of course with the health limitations that resulted from his severe injury.
Kurzenkov flew a total of 209 combat sorties, 20 air combat sorties and shot down 9 aircraft, damaging 4 aircraft (other sources give 225 combat sorties) during his career. In total, he spent 213 hours and 44 minutes in the air.
Subsequently, from October 1943, he served as Chief of the Combat Training Department and later in the Naval Air Warfare Training Institutions. From 1946-1949 he served as an officer of the Combat Training Department of the Naval Air Defense Administration, and from 1949 as an officer of the Operations Department of the Naval Aviation Administration. He retired in 1950 at the rank of colonel.
In 1956 he graduated from the M. Gorky Moscow Literary Institute. He was a member of the Union of Writers of the USSR. In 1957-1958 he worked for six months in the Soviet-Chinese film expedition as a car driver Gaz-69. He began his journey in Alma-Ata (now Almaty, Kazakhstan) and finished it in Beijing. He has driven over 10,000 km behind the wheel. He wrote a travel book about his trip to China. He wrote several books about his wartime experiences, including Rasskazy o ljotchiki" (1960), "Pod nami zemlya i more" (1960), "Osoboye zadacha" (1965), "Vozdushnyy as" (1966) and "Istrebiteli" (1966).
Sergei Georgievich Kurzenkov died in Moscow on 18.11.1981. He was buried in the Vagankovo cemetery.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Kurzenkov-Sergej-Georgijevic-t245593#678815
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