Air Marshal Yevgeny Fedorovich Loginov gave Aeroflot eleven years, and the total of aviation forty-five, having gone from a junior military pilot to the Minister of Civil Aviation. He was not nineteen when, in 1926, the son of a bandmaster of a military orchestra and a dressmaker was admitted to the Leningrad military theoretical school of pilots. After graduating from the Borisoglebsk school of military pilots, the young aviator began to confidently move through command positions in the air force units, first near Leningrad, then in the Far East. Senior pilot, flight commander, detachment commander, assistant brigade commander … Yevgeny Loginov met the war with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and ended it as a general. The Long-Range Aviation formations led by him (17th Aviation Division and 2nd Bomber Air Corps) participated in the battles for Moscow and Leningrad, Bryansk, Volgograd, Budapest, Berlin.
After the war, after graduating from the aviation faculty of the Higher Military Academy of the Armed Forces, E. F. Loginov consistently held the posts of inspector general of the Main Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense, head of the faculty and deputy of the Red Banner Air Force Academy for educational and scientific work, deputy commander-in-chief of the SA Air Force. In 1959 E. F. Loginov was appointed head of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet under the USSR Council of Ministers, and in 1964, after the transformation of the Main Directorate into a Ministry, he was appointed Minister of Civil Aviation of the USSR. Many of Aeroflot's major transformations are associated with his name. It was in the sixties that the network of air communications in the country significantly expanded, international flights developed rapidly, the aircraft fleet was replenished with the latest jet airliners, and the material and technical base of civil aviation was significantly strengthened. His work in Civil Aviation is a special topic worthy of a separate article. The same speech will focus on his participation in the Great Patriotic War, on the fronts of which he fought from the summer of 1941 until its end.
In August 1941, Loginov was appointed commander of the 51st long-range bomber division, which began its combat work in the battle near Moscow. True, in the first days of the front, it was necessary to "work" not in a specialty: the war made significant changes in the use of long-range bomber aviation. The difficult conditions at the front, the rapid advance of the enemy deep into the country, and heavy losses of front-line aviation forced it to be used mainly for strikes against German tank and mechanized columns. And the further the military operations developed, the greater the need for this was felt.
On September 30, 1941, during the German Operation Typhoon, the second Panzer Group of General Guderian with all its might struck the troops of the Bryansk Front and put them in a difficult situation. One after another, new directions appeared: Mozhaisk, Volokolamsk, Naro-Fominsk, Malo-Yaroslavl, Kaluga, Kalinin … The headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief attracted the main forces of long-range bomber aviation (four air divisions, including the 51st long-range bomber) and 81 th special aviation division. Long-range bombers operated at night, giving our ground forces an opportunity to gain time to regroup and occupy new defensive lines. However, the situation near Moscow deteriorated catastrophically.
Aviation worked with tremendous strain. Loginov displayed a truly inexhaustible energy in his search for opportunities to improve the effectiveness of bombing strikes. First of all, thanks to the crews performing three to five approaches to the target, he increased the time of impact on the enemy to 10-15 minutes. Having some experience in the methodological training of crews, he began to successfully apply tactics specially developed for this. With strong air defense, the aircraft usually approached one after the other in such a way that at least three or four were simultaneously above the target, which dispersed the fire of anti-aircraft guns.
The division was especially successful at the airfield near Orel (the Germans organized here the main base of their air fleet, which operated in the Moscow direction). Only in October 1941, the crews of the division were able to destroy and disable about 150 enemy aircraft.
Another successful and well-known combat mission was carried out to an airfield hub in the Orsha area, where the enemy pulled up to 150 aircraft to strike at Soviet troops defending the Moscow sector. The goal is tempting, but extremely difficult to fly. The airfields were covered with a huge number of anti-aircraft guns. Enemy fighters were constantly patrolling in the air. It was really hard to hit targets in the dark that were hard to find during the day, and even under heavy enemy fire.
Loginov decided to lead a group of bombers himself. The Germans met our planes with strong anti-aircraft fire. The sky was littered with flakes from shell explosions. Dotted lines from the tracer bullets of enemy machine guns stretched up from the ground. But Loginov's crew acted calmly, boldly and decisively. On his command, an anti-aircraft maneuver was skillfully performed in height and direction, the crew dropped the bomb load on the aircraft parking. This maneuver served as a signal for the action of the rest of the crews. The bombers following the leader struck at the illuminated targets. As a result, Soviet pilots destroyed up to thirty enemy aircraft.
The onset of winter limited the enemy's ability to use vehicles. The main transportation was carried out by rail. The actions of long-range bomber aviation on railroad communications became especially important. Already at the end of November, the number of sorties for these purposes increased significantly, and at the beginning of December they became the main ones. Railway junctions in Vyazma and Smolensk were subjected to particularly intense bombing strikes. From these raids, German troops suffered heavy losses, and the front-line units were deprived of significant support in replenishing with fresh forces, equipment and ammunition. All this significantly helped the offensive of the Red Army, which threw the fascists back from Moscow.
As part of Long-Range Aviation
On March 5, 1942, the USSR State Defense Committee adopted a decree on the organization of ADD (Long-Range Aviation). Long-range and heavy bomber aviation was removed from the subordination of the Air Force commander and transferred to the direct disposal of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. The ADD consisted of eight long-range bomber air divisions, several airfields equipped with hard-surface runways. The 17th Long-Range Bomber Aviation Division was also transferred to ADD, and Colonel E. F. Loginova.
Having received a new appointment, E. F. Loginov continued to improve the tactics of bombers, making extensive use of the accumulated experience. One of the tasks that bombers had to perform during the war was the destruction of bridges across rivers, which served as an important object of transport links. Bomb strikes on bridges had their own peculiarity. The lower the altitude above the target, the less dispersion of the dropped bombs, the higher the accuracy. However, when bombarded from low altitudes, fragments and a blast wave from their own bomb created a threat of damage to the aircraft. Therefore, the defense industry has mastered the production of special bridge bombs MAB-250. They were a 250-kilogram high-explosive aerial bomb, lowered by parachute and equipped with grips for engaging on the trusses of the railway bridge. As a result, the plane managed to retire to a safe distance before it exploded.
The use of MAB-250 required a specific technique. It was required to work out tactical techniques that ensure reaching the target in the dark and from low altitudes, while simultaneously overcoming the countermeasures of all enemy air defense weapons. The ADD command instructed the 17th Air Division to conduct training bombings on a large railway bridge located in the Moscow region. Loginov was actively engaged in the fulfillment of this important task. The bombs, of course, were dropped without a fuse, but the rest of the situation was created as in combat conditions. The best crews were selected to complete the assigned task. The pilots studied the MAB-250 aerial bomb, carefully worked out the optimal options for bombing. Each training flight was analyzed in detail, and appropriate adjustments were made. The ADD command summarized the experience of using the MAB-250, specific recommendations were given to the air units, as a result of which the crews of long-range bombers successfully destroyed its bridges and crossings.
By order of the Headquarters, on the night of May 18, 1942, about seventy aircraft of the 3rd and 17th air divisions of the ADD bombed the railway junctions of Smolensk, Vyazma, Poltava and Kharkov. The ADD delivered powerful massive strikes against the enemy's Seschanskaya airbase, where significant forces of the German Luftwaffe were based. Our scouts kept this airbase under constant control, promptly transmitted information about its activities to the front command. In particular, it was timely reported that a large number of enemy aircraft had accumulated at the airfield. On the night of May 30, a powerful bombing strike was struck at the Seshcha airfield, as a result of which about 80 fascist bombers were destroyed. By the way, in the serial film "Calling Fire on Ourselves" was shown a night raid on an enemy airfield and its impressive results: heaps of scrap metal from aircraft, destroyed ammunition depots and gas depots. So, the documentary basis of this plot was the actions of our scouts and partisans, as well as the raid of Soviet aircraft on the Seshchanskaya airbase, in which the crews of the 17th air division participated.
Near death
Summer 1942. The Nazis, having broken through the front in the area of the Don bend, rushed to the Volga. Our troops withdrew to the east. The battle on the outskirts of Stalingrad turned into the central battle of the Patriotic War. The headquarters of the Supreme High Command sent almost all the aviation reserves at its disposal to this area, tried to free up the best and most efficient aviation units for the battle on the Volga. Among them was the 17th Aviation Division of Major General of Aviation Loginov (this rank was awarded to him on May 6, 1942). Three regiments of the division (22nd, 750th and 751st) were constantly at work. In addition to fulfilling the main task - actions in the deep rear of the Germans, they also struck at front-line targets: at the accumulations of German troops, primarily at the crossings across the Don and Tikhaya Sosna.
Loginov skillfully directed the actions of the bombing groups, which flew on missions of almost round essence. “All of us,” recalled the Hero of the Soviet Union I. Kindyushev, who fought during the war years in the formations commanded by E. F. Loginov, - treated this person with great respect. He was respected for his simplicity, attention to people, and most importantly, for his organizational skills, the talent of an aviation commander. The need for bombers was enormous, but they were not enough. Therefore, the general strove to use each plane more efficiently. Loginov took the actions of each crew under personal control. And quite often I personally flew to the bombing area."
For some time, the little-known town of Korotoyak became the target of the division's bombers. A significant number of enemy troops have accumulated in his area at the crossing. Loginov selected the best crews to complete the assignments. And he took part in one of the sorties - he flew on DB-3, which was led by Major Mikhail Urutin. Together with the usual bombs, special devices filled with incendiary ampoules were hung on the outer beams. For the safety of transportation, the ampoules were poured with sand, although a certain danger still remained - one hit of even a shell fragment was enough to ignite. And, nevertheless, loading these incendiary ampoules took a risk, since they had a strong psychological effect on the enemy. When part of the ampoules broke in the air, an avalanche of fire quickly descending to the ground appeared under the bomber, which covered a large area.
We flew out at night. It was not difficult to find the targets: the enemy equipment set on fire during the bombardment burned out there. At an altitude of 1400 meters, the crew took a combat course. The Germans opened heavy fire towards our planes. The explosions of enemy shells now and then ripped open the sky. Navigator Major Matsepras dropped the outer sling. A wide and long streak of bright fire cut through the dark sky - these burning ampoules rushed to the ground. Urutin took the bomber out of the firing zone and turned for a second approach. With a descent, he brought the car to the very target. From a low altitude, it was more convenient for Loginov to conduct observation in order to assess the actions of his crews in as much detail as possible. However, at this moment enemy anti-aircraft guns increased their fire. Urutin tried to get DB-3 out of the danger zone, but did not have time. One of the shells hit the plane. The bomber lifted its nose, then tilted and began to lose altitude. The cockpit was filled with smoke. The bomber caught fire. In the headphones Loginov heard the voice of Urutin: "Everyone, leave the car!"
Matsepras quickly opened the bottom hatch. We must leave the bomber. Loginov fell out of the plane and immediately pulled the parachute exhaust ring. And on time - the headroom was small. I landed well at the bottom of the ravine. I immediately began to free myself from the parachute straps. And then I felt a severe pain in my leg. Exhausted, he lay back on his back. A splinter from an exploding shell caught him. Gently moved his other leg, arms … Everything seems to be in order.
With the first rays of the sun, having established an approximate location on the map, I set off to the east. I decided to stay close to the roads, hoping that maybe he would meet our retreating troops. But only columns of German tanks and motorized infantry moved. I had to exercise caution and discretion. The slightest misstep could lead to the fact that he was discovered. I tried to bypass busy places so as not to meet the enemy. He was guided by the echoes of artillery fire coming from the front line.
Another day went by. The wounded leg worried. Only on the third day Loginov came out to the Don and swam across it with improvised means. Only when he was on the other side, he breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that all the tests are over. But suddenly the trouble started. He, who stepped ashore, was detained by soldiers from the outposts. I tried to convince the soldiers that he was his own, a Soviet pilot, shot down near Korotoyak, but they did not believe it. And Loginov's message that he was a division commander was considered speculation at all. Fortunately, after arriving at the regimental command post, it did not take time to ascertain the identity of the division commander. They already knew about the downed plane with the general on board. A Po-2 plane was quickly sent for Loginov. Major Urutin, gunner-radio operator Garankin and air gunner Sharikov, who left the plane after Loginov, also managed to break through to their own. But the fate of the navigator Matsepras was tragic. After leaving the plane, he prematurely opened his parachute. His lines caught on the tail unit and the navigator died …
Berlin, Rzhev, Stalingrad …
The doctors insisted that Loginov be admitted to the front-line hospital. But he did not stay there for long - after two weeks he returned to duty. The pilots and navigators were seated at hastily knocked down tables in a pine forest. Maps, diagrams, tables of calculations were hung on the trunks of the pines. With a slight limp, leaning on a stick, Loginov appeared. All stood up in unison, greeting the commander in a statutory manner. And with joy and curiosity. If the division commander has not yet fully recovered from his injury, it means that important tasks lie ahead. Loginov, who knew how to value time, immediately got down to business. Unhurriedly and clearly read out the order to inflict massive night strikes on enemy military-industrial facilities and communications located at the maximum range of the Il-4 aircraft. Having finished reading the order, the division commander said that on the night of July 19 they were instructed to raid the objects of Koenigsberg. Flying deep into the enemy rear of the enemy demanded that the crews be able to use fuel sparingly. Loginov named the most experienced and skilled crew commanders, who are also capable of withstanding great stress.
Immediately after the analysis, they began to prepare for flights. A new stage in the activity of the compound, commanded by Loginov, began - raids on German military-industrial facilities. Among these objects, of course, was Berlin, which, in addition to the military, was also of great political importance.
Another raid on the German capital was scheduled for August 27. The planes took off at dusk. We walked over the sea up to the Stettin traverse. Then we turned sharply south. Enemy territory was floating below. More than once fascist searchlights tried to catch our bombers, firing at them and anti-aircraft guns. And here is the capital of the Hitlerite Reich. Large industrial and military objects were easily recognized from a height. Bombs flew down. Fiery caps of explosions appeared on the ground, tongues of flame appeared. Black smoke rose in columns into the sky.
The return flight went smoothly. Having landed at their airfield, they learned that the German radio had broadcast a message that Berlin had been bombed by British aircraft. The pilots (and they, due to the specifics of their activities, listened to the broadcast) were usually calm about such disinformation. But this time they turned to Pravda with a request to print leaflets stating that it was the Russians who were bombing Berlin. And in the next combat mission they dropped them over the fascist capital. Let the Germans know the truth.
In the difficult days of August 1942, the 17th Air Division had to operate in the western direction. At the end of the summer, the troops of the Western and Kalinin Fronts were preparing for the Rzhev-Sychevsk operation. It was supposed to somewhat alleviate the difficult situation at Stalingrad - to draw off the enemy's forces, pin down his reserves and prevent them from being transferred to the Volga shores. On July 30, units of the Kalinin Front launched an offensive in the sector of the left flank, but could not break through the powerful enemy defenses and move forward. The general offensive was postponed to 4 August. It needed active aviation support. The headquarters set a task for the ADD: to facilitate the breakthrough of the heavily fortified enemy defenses with massive strikes.
Six ADD air divisions performed this task. 250 bombers carried out massive strikes against German troops in the Rzhev area. The pilots of the 17th Air Division went to the goal in the second wave of our groups. These raids rendered noticeable assistance to our troops. After the resumption of offensive operations by the troops of the Western and Kalinin Fronts, 610 settlements were liberated by August 20.
On the night of August 24, ADD planes bombed fascist troops in the Stalingrad region, where the situation became extremely complicated. Even the previously planned strikes of some formations were redirected from the western directions to the Stalingrad one. 17th Air Division of General E. F. Loginova bombed clusters of fascists at the Don crossings 35-60 kilometers north-west of Stalingrad.
The main tasks of the ADD, according to the plan of the Headquarters, were the fight against German reserves, disrupting enemy operational traffic by rail, and destroying German aircraft at airfields. And, first of all, located outside the range of the front-line aviation.
In the early days of the counteroffensive, the weather was bad. Aviation was laid up. But as soon as the weather improved, the 17th Air Division, like all ADD units, began active operations. Three divisions were aimed at the encircled grouping. The main blow to the center was inflicted by the 17th ADD Aviation Division. Every opportunity was used for air strikes. On the night of January 15, the division bombarded an airfield near the Nursery, which was actively used by German transport aircraft supplying the surrounded 6th Army. Six transport Ju-52s were set on fire and burned down by our bombers.
Guardsmen
In the early spring of 1943, the most distinguished formations and subunits of the ADD in the fight against the enemy were awarded the rank of guards. Among them is the 17th Air Division, which received the name of the 2nd Guards.
By the decision of the State Defense Committee of April 30, 1943, organizational changes were made in the ADD. On the basis of eleven separate air divisions, eight air corps were formed. The purpose of these transformations is to strengthen the power of the bomber units in the forthcoming offensive on the entire Soviet-German front. Lieutenant General E. F. Loginova became the commander of the 2nd Air Corps.
The baptism of fire of the 2nd ADD Air Corps took place in the Battle of Kursk. He actively participated in both defensive and offensive battles. Its crews, day and night, bombarded the enemy's defenses, the moving enemy troops, the highways along which the front-line units were supplied. At the same time, the corps carried out its main task - it acted at night along the deep German rear. The composition of the corps made a particularly significant contribution to the liberation of Bryansk, for which it received the name: 2nd Bryansk Long-Range Air Corps.
… After the victory at Kursk, Soviet troops launched an offensive to liberate the left-bank Ukraine and Donbass, the western regions of the Russian Federation, the eastern regions of Belarus, and cross the Dnieper. Air Corps E. F. Loginov took part in almost all of these operations, helped our ground troops break into enemy defenses and successfully develop the offensive. During the same period, the corps pilots continued to bomb deep enemy lines.
In the spring of 1944, regiments and divisions of long-range bombers, including the 2nd Bryansk Air Corps, took part in stubborn battles for the Crimea. Its bombers inflicted air strikes on defensive structures, artillery positions, railway junctions, ships and airfields of the enemy, supported the Soviet troops in breaking through the enemy's deeply echeloned defense at Perekop and the Sivash bridgehead, in the battles for Sevastopol.
In March-April 1944, simultaneously with participation in the battles for Sevastopol, the corps of E. F. Loginov began to act in the interests of the troops that launched an offensive to liberate the right-bank Ukraine. By strikes on railways, bridges, and reserves, they supported the troops of the fronts, ensuring the successful completion of the liberation of the right-bank Ukraine.
Liberation of Europe
The more energetically our offensive developed along the entire length of the Soviet-German front, the further to the west the targets for the actions of the air corps E. F. Loginova. He took an active part in the Belarusian operation, in the liberation of Minsk and Brest, for which his air units were awarded the names of these cities. Many of the corps aviators showed examples of courage and heroism. It is worth noting that Yevgeny Fedorovich constantly made sure that these feats of arms were not ignored: be it a kind word, gratitude in an order or a presentation for a state award.
Our Army was advancing westward. Pilots E. F. Loginov distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of Budapest and Gdansk. The days of the storming of Konigsberg in April 1945 became memorable. The Nazis sought to turn this ancient fortress city into an impregnable citadel. Powerful walls of buildings and structures, many-meter deep ditches, pillboxes, bunkers and other fortifications contributed to this.
On April 7, the corps bombers, following the front-line aviation, launched a powerful massive blow on defensive points, installations and German troops in the Konigsberg region. Carefully thought out and well-organized actions ensured the successful completion of the task.
The combat path of General E. F. Loginov and his corps in the battles for Berlin. During the war years, all parts of the corps were awarded the rank of guards and were awarded orders. And the unit itself differed eighteen times in the orders of the Supreme Commander.
