Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna - navigator of the aviation squadron. Member of the Great Patriotic War. She was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Awarded with many medals and orders.
A family
Hero of the Russian Federation Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna was born in the twenty-second year, on May 5, in the Ryazan region, in the Skopinsky district, in the village. Petrushino. Mother - Tatyana Andreevna. Alexandra's father, Fedor Petrovich, was a peasant and, together with his neighbors, took part in the organization of the collective farm. During the war years was the chairman. And after the end of World War II he got a job at school. He was a teacher and director at the same time.
Childhood
Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna, whose biography is full of many heroic events, spent her childhood in the village, where she was born. Parents instilled in her an interest in studying cheating. And Alexandra's father was an example for her, studying at the Moscow Pedagogical Institute. Despite the fact that he was already an adult, he continued to receive education.
Alexandra studied very well. She was diligent and punctual. I was very interested in the history of my country. It was hardworking. She loved flowers very much and looked after them with great pleasure. I learned to sew and knit perfectly. She entered the Komsomol early and perfectly fulfilled the assignments entrusted to her.
Education
Akimova Alexandra graduated from high school in 1939. But she understood that further education was necessary. Therefore, a year later passed the entrance exams and entered the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. Lenin, at the Faculty of History. At the same time, she studied as a nurse, attending special courses.
Work and party activities
After graduation, Alexandra worked as a history teacher. While studying at a pedagogical institute, she joined the party. She was an active member of the Komsomol of the university. She took part in many military circles. When the war began, Akimov was sent to Mozhaisk to build defensive fortifications.
There she began to lead a team of student historians. When Alexandra returned to the pedagogical institute to graduate, she, along with other students, went to the military registration and enlistment office, party district committee, and other organizations that could help in her desire to go to the front.
Alexandra enters the aviation regiment
In 1941, the enemy stood near Moscow itself. Stalin announced the preparation and formation of women's aviation regiments. They were supposed to include women from the Air Force, Osoaviahim, KA and the Civil Air Fleet. Then the Komsomol appealed to all the girls with a proposal to go to serve in the aircraft. Akimova Alexandra immediately seized the moment and became a volunteer. After that, at the Pedagogical Institute. Lenin sent a document according to which Akimova was to receive a full payment.
She was heading to the front. But they did not have time to calculate it, since she had to come to the collection point the very next day. However, at that time she was least interested in money, her main dream came true - at last she could go to war.
Women's regiment formation
The formation of women's regiments was led by M. M. Raskova. The collection point in Moscow was the Military Academy. Zhukovsky. Many students, technicians, and pilots from flying clubs came to the regiments; among the volunteers, one of the first was Akimova.
The formation of the regiment number 588, to which Alexander was attached, was completed in the Saratov region, in the flight school. Engels Military Volga District. The regiment was nightly, light bomber. For him, Po-2 aircraft were allocated. The commander of the regiment was Evdokia Bershanskaya. Commissioner - E. Rachkevich.
Alexandra gets to the front
Alexandra was identified in one of the groups by an arms mechanic. Akimova was very upset because she dreamed about the profession of a pilot. But she could not disobey the order and began to diligently master the new profession. At Engelskaya VAShP, courses for aircraft masters were created. They got Alexandra an additional profession in aviation technology. So Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna, whose photo is in this article, was at the front.
In 1942, on the twenty-seventh of May, she flew out for the first time on a combat mission. There were two squadrons in her regiment. In each - ten aircraft and 112 personnel. Subsequently, this amount was doubled.
Alexandra Regiment
The women's aviation regiment, in which Alexander served, the Germans called "night witches." The planes on which the girls flew were considered training or coherent before the war. But this was in the hands of the Russian army, since at first the fascists did not consider these aircraft at all as combat units.
But the Germans quickly changed this view. And very soon, for one downed plane in Germany, they gave not only a cash bonus, but also an extraordinary vacation. Pilots inflicted such accurate "sniper" attacks on fascist positions that the Germans had to take women's air regiments very seriously.
During its existence, the regiment participated in many battles. Alexandra's regiment made twenty-four thousand sorties and dropped more than three million bombs on the enemy. Subsequently, this aviation regiment began to be called the 46th Guards. And on his banner two orders soon appeared. The regiment was awarded the honorary title "Taman". Stalin, who was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Armed Forces, noted in orders the women's aviation regiment, in which Alexander Akimov served, twenty-two times, expressing gratitude for the courage and bravery of the pilots.
Military service
In the regiment, as a military leader, Akimov Alexander went through a harsh battle path. She took part in the defense of the Caucasus, liberated with the troops the Kuban, Crimea, Poland, Germany and Belarus. Alexandra took part in the most difficult battles during the liberation of the Taman Peninsula from the Nazis, in the Blue Line, in the Kerch-Eltigen and Berlin offensive operations.
Alexandra worked as an arms mechanic and at the same time studied a new specialty - navigator. Worked on wear, in constant voltage. There was almost no time for rest and sleep. Moreover, she had to get a new profession immediately at the front. There could not even be any talk about training in the rear. There was sorely no time for everything.
As a result, Akimova was awarded for her work. She served 485 sorties and hung on planes over 85 thousand bombs of various calibers. Alexandra always kept weapons in excellent condition. There has never been a case of non-fulfillment of a task. Akimova was evaluated as a disciplined, restrained and energetic commander.
Dreams Come True
In 1943, Alexandra's dream came true. She was appointed shooter-scorer, then navigator. And constant flights began. From April 1943 to May 1945, the Soviet military leader Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna made 715 night flights: reconnaissance, with bombing and others. Sometimes she flew out ten times in one night. Once even committed seventeen. Akimova always flied with a full load.
Her commanders checked her many times and always only praised her, giving the mark “excellent”. Alexandra grew from an ordinary master to a qualified navigator. She flew excellent airplanes even at night. Over the entire period of work, she never lost orientation. Akimova Alexandra flew without fear of fire and spotlights. She had excellent organizational skills and the skills necessary for the commander. Skillfully led the combat personnel.
She trained seven qualified navigators. Skillfully conveyed her great experience. Alexandra herself flew 805 hours to bomb. Threw ninety-four tons of deadly cargo onto the enemy. Thanks to her precise blows, 122 large fires, 175 explosions occurred. Akimova, through her efforts, destroyed two enemy crossings, as many warehouses with ammunition. Thanks to Alexandra, the fire of three batteries was suppressed, seven cars and two floodlights were destroyed.
Rewarding
For faithful service and combat activities Akimova was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. The presentation for this award was confirmed by the division commander Pokaev, Colonel General Vershinin, Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky and military councils. But the award was first lost in Moscow, and it was remembered only in 1994 thanks to the petition of veterans. Russian President Boris Yeltsin awarded Akimova the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Post-war time
In 1945, the Soviet military leader Akimov Alexander was demobilized. She returned to college and continued her studies, combining it with work. Mostly on the education of patriotism. After graduation, Akimova entered graduate school. She brilliantly defended the candidate.
In 1952, Alexandra was sent to work as a teacher at the Moscow Aviation Institute. There she worked until 1992, until she retired. In addition to teaching, Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna, Hero of Russia, was engaged in scientific research and received an associate professor's degree.
Social work
At the same time, she actively participated in public life. At the institute where she taught Alexandra, she enjoyed great respect and authority. Students considered her an honorary member in the Komsomol brigades and reported to her what they had done during the holidays.
Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna, whose awards were deservedly received, even after retiring, continued to work actively. She contacted the educational institutions in which she worked or studied.
Alexandra Fedorovna is an activist in the society of veterans. For several years, she led the Council of Veterans of her regiment. She did a lot for the Ministry of Defense - she found documents in the archive that helped in pension and other matters.
Akimova Alexandra Fedorovna was a member of the Commission on the Patriotic Education of Youth. And also participated in the cultural and educational work of the Moscow Council of Veterans. She organized speeches by politicians, scientists and various specialists from various fields.
Awards
Akimova Alexandra participated in all parades on Red Square. And she received many awards for her activities in war and peace:
- Order: Lenin, Red Star, Red Banner and World War II of the second degree.
- Medals: “For the Liberation of Warsaw”, “For Courage”, “For the Defense of the Caucasus” and many others.
Patriotism
Remembering the war years, Alexandra Akimova emphasized all the time that the seen destruction of her native land, mutilated fates and murders - all this nourished her revenge on the Nazis. And with every bombing her heart sank with unbearable pain. And for this it was necessary to take revenge on the Germans. Therefore, the constant desire to engage in battle with them did not disappear, but was fueled by a new surge of hatred of the Nazis.
Personal life
Akimova Alexandra married Manaenkov Timofei Sergeyevich. He is also a participant in the Great Patriotic War, captain of the first rank (retired), associate professor and candidate of sciences. Two daughters were born in their marriage - Elena Timofeevna (now Ph.D. and associate professor of the Moscow Institute of Aviation) and Tatyana Timofeevna (now a translator of foreign languages, works on television). Akimova Alexandra has three grandchildren.
Last days
Until the death of Alexander Akimov, she lived and worked in Moscow. She died in 2012, on the twenty-ninth of December. She was buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery.