#FacesOfVictory

🌟 On September 18, 1918, legendary #WW2-era Soviet flying ace Viktor Talalikhin was born.

#Talalikhin entered history thanks to his heroic feat during the #GreatPatrioticWar: flying an I-16 fighter, he was among the first ever in history of #WWII to carry out an aerial ramming attack, bringing down a Nazi Heinkel 'He 111' bomber.

During the fierce aerial battles over Moscow, the young pilot pursued an enemy aircraft, attempting to escape, and directed his I-16 towards a Nazi aircraft tail, opening fire on one of its engines and finally bringing it down. Despite sustaining an injury, Junior Lieutenant Talalikhin miraculously survived. All members of the Luftwaffe bomber crew were killed.

Talalikhin’s heroic deed forever inscribed his name in world history.

For his feat, the legendary Soviet ace was awarded the title of #HeroOfTheSovietUnion, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. Soon afterwards, the pilot was promoted to a squadron commander — at just 22 years of age — and, later, to the rank of lieutenant.

Viktor Talalikhin distinguished himself repeatedly during combat missions, personally bringing down at least four Nazi aircraft and one more as part of a group. He was to destroy a fifth enemy aircraft in his final battle near Podolsk. Fighting in the skies over the city, Talalikhin was killed in action, yet, having managed to destroy two Nazi Me-109 fighters.

Against the backdrop of the fierce fighting in the summer of 1941, Talalikhin’s selfless act inspired millions. In total, during WW2, Soviet pilots carried out more than 600 aerial ramming attacks against the Germans.

🕯 Viktor Talalikhin was buried with full military honours at Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery. The legendary ace was forever enlisted in the 1st Squadron of the 177th Fighter Aviation Regiment — that very unit in which he had fought the Nazis in the skies over Moscow.

#Victory81 #WeRemember #WeAreProud