Ivan Kharlamovich Mikhailichenko

Born Sept. 2, 1920, in the stanitsa (large cossack village) of Almaznaia, Kadievka Raion, Voroshilovgrad Oblast. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (July 1, 1944, and June 27, 1945); lieutenant colonel (1955). Member of the CPSU since 1951.

Mikhailichenko joined the Soviet Army in 1940 and graduated from the Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation School for Pilots in 1943. In the Great Patriotic War (1941–45) he participated in fighting on the Southwestern, Voronezh, and First and Second Ukrainian fronts as pilot, flight commander, and deputy commander of a squadron of the 667th Assault Air Regiment and later, from 1943, as commander of a squadron of the 141st Guards Assault Air Regiment. Mikhailichenko made 179 successful combat flights for bombing and assault strikes on enemy troops and fought 22 air battles. After the war he served in the air force until 1962 and retired that year. Mikhailichenko has been awarded the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the Patriotic War First Class, the Order of the Red Star, the Order of Glory Second and Third Class, and various medals.