Yakov Nikolaevich Toporkov ( May 14, 1917 , Deryugino , Kursk province - August 2, 1944 , Novosyolka , Ternopol region ) - navigator of the 686th assault aviation regiment (206th assault aviation division, 8th air army, Southern Front), captain. Hero of the Soviet Union .
| Yakov Nikolaevich Toporkov | |||||||||
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| Date of Birth | |||||||||
| Place of Birth | Deryugino , Rylsky uyezd , Kursk province , Russian Empire | ||||||||
| Date of death | |||||||||
| Place of death | Novosyolka , Podgaetsky district , Ternopil region , Ukrainian SSR | ||||||||
| Affiliation |  the USSR | ||||||||
| Type of army |  Air Force Red Army | ||||||||
| Years of service | 1937-1944 | ||||||||
| Rank |  | ||||||||
| Part | 686th Assault Aviation Regiment ( 206th Assault Aviation Division ) | ||||||||
| Position | navigator regiment | ||||||||
| Battles / wars | The Great Patriotic War | ||||||||
| Awards and prizes |
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Content
Biography
Born May 14, 1917 in the village of Deryugino (now - Korenevsky district of the Kursk region ) in a peasant family. Since 1933 he lived in the city of Donetsk. He graduated from 7 classes. He worked at the mine 17-17 bis as an electric locomotive driver.
In the Red Army since 1937. In 1938 he graduated from the Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation Pilot School. On the fronts of World War II from November 1941. In 1942 he became a member of the CPSU (b).
The first combat flight Yakov Toporkov made November 15, 1941 on the Western Front , near Moscow . In total, in the battle for Moscow, he made 32 sorties for attack and reconnaissance of enemy forces. For the successful completion of combat missions, the command was awarded the first military award - the Order of the Red Star . Then he took part in the Battle of Stalingrad .
On August 27, 1942, the Ilyushin group, under the command of Toporkov, flew out to destroy enemy motorized troops in the Sukhaya Mechetka area. Bombing on the target made from 300-100 meters. Despite the strong anti-aircraft fire, they hit the target four times. Destroyed 7 firing points, suppressed anti-aircraft battery fire. They created 7 fires. They exterminated up to 200 enemy soldiers and officers.
On September 2, 1942, the IL-2 four, led by Toporkov, launched an assault on the enemy in the area of the Chernaya Polyana state farm. Bombing was carried out from a height of 300 meters, made four approaches, destroyed 7 tanks, 12 vehicles, up to 200 enemy soldiers and officers, created 7 fires.
On September 7, 1942, a group of aircraft led by Toporkov stormed a cluster of tanks and vehicles in the Antonovka-Sukhaya Mechetka area. Destroyed 4 tanks, 7 vehicles, up to 50 enemy soldiers and officers. Upon returning to their airfield, they were attacked by seven Me-109 enemy fighters. Captain Toporkov led the reflection of the Messerschmitt attack. Personally shot down one enemy plane. The group returned without loss.
54 sorties were made by Yakov Toporkov in the Battle of Stalingrad . Inflicted significant damage to the enemy. 64 tanks, 73 vehicles, and up to 600 enemy soldiers and officers destroyed the Ilyushin groups led by him.
The navigator of the 686th assault aviation regiment, captain Yakov Toporkov, by February 1943 made 86 successful sorties to attack the enemy troops. In air battles, he personally shot down one and in the group one enemy aircraft.
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, Captain Toporkov Yakov Nikolaevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for exemplary performance of command missions and command shown courage and heroism.
Later he took part in the liberation of Ukraine . Major Y. N. Toporkov was killed by Ukrainian nationalists on the night of August 2, 1944 in the village of Novosyolka, Podgaetsky district, Ternopil region of Ukraine .
He was buried in the central square of the city of Podgaitsy, Ternopil region of Ukraine .
Rewards
He was awarded the Orders of Lenin , Red Banner , Alexander Nevsky , World War 1 degree, Red Star , and medals.
Memory
- The street and vocational school No. 10 in the city of Podgaytsy, Berezhansky district, Ternopil region of Ukraine, were named after the Hero of the Soviet Union Y. N. Toporkov.
- In honor of the Hero, an obelisk is installed, and in the city of Donetsk, at the Kirovskaya mine and on the house where the future Hero lived, memorial boards are installed.
Literature
- Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1988. - T. 2 / Love - Yashchuk /. - 863 s. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-203-00536-2 .
- I'm going to ram. - Volgograd: Lower Volzh. Prince Publishing House, 1978.
- Cavaliers of the Golden Star. - Donetsk: Donbas, 1976.
Links
Yakov Nikolaevich Toporkov . Site " Heroes of the country ". Date of treatment July 1, 2014.