Erashov, Ivan Mikhailovich

Ivan Erashov was born on September 26, 1911 in St. Petersburg . He graduated from seven classes of the school of the village of Kamen in the Lepelsky district of the Vitebsk region of the Belorussian SSR , in 1931 - the Lepelsky Pedagogical College, after which he worked as a teacher in Polotsk . In 1933 he graduated from the komvuz . In August of that year, Erashov was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . In 1936 he graduated from the Stalingrad Military Aviation School, after which he served in it as a flight instructor, head of the flight training department. In April 1941, he was appointed deputy commander of the 275th short-range bomber regiment. In 1943 he graduated from the Air Force Academy . Since May of that year - on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. He took part in the battles on the South-Western and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. He participated in the Battle of Kursk , Barvenkovo-Lozovskaya , Dnepropetrovsk , Nikopol-Krivorozhsky , Odessa operations ^[1] .

By December 1943, Major Ivan Erashov commanded the 672nd assault aviation regiment of the 306th assault air division of the 9th mixed air corps of the 17th air army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. By that time, he had made 94 sorties, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in military equipment and manpower, took part in a number of air battles, shooting down four enemy aircraft ^[1] .

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 4, 1944 for "exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front of the fight against the German invaders and the courage and heroism shown" Major Ivan Erashov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star medal " Under the number 6899 ^[1] .

March 23, 1944 near Odessa Erashov was shot down and declared dead. In fact, he was captured. In October 1944 he escaped, but was caught and sent to the Gestapo of the city ​​of Shroda . January 25, 1945 was released from captivity.

In just 10 months of active participation in the war, Erashov completed 129 sorties, participated in 7 air battles, and personally shot down 4 enemy planes. Himself was shot down 3 times ^[2] .

After the war, Erashov served as head of the air rifle service of the 11th assault air division of the Baltic Air Force, inspector of the 10th assault air corps for piloting techniques in Chkalov (now Orenburg ). In November 1947, Erashov was transferred to the reserve due to illness. He died on May 8, 1948, was buried in Novocherkassk ^[1] .

He was also awarded two Orders of the Red Banner , the Order of Alexander Nevsky , and a number of medals ^[1] .

By the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Byelorussian SSR No. 335 of July 23, 1964, the name of I. Erashov was assigned to school No. 2 of Lepel.

In 2010, in the city of Novocherkassk, on a building on the street. Grekova, 121, a memorial plaque was opened to Hero of the Soviet Union I. Erashov

• Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1987.- T. 1 / Abaev - Lyubichev /. - 911 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN comp., Reg. RCP No. 87-95382.