Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union

Citizenship: Russia

Vasily Georgievich Ryazanov was born into a peasant family. Russian by nationality. Member of the CPSU since 1920. In 1920, at the age of nineteen, he joined the ranks of Soviet army. In 1924 he graduated from the Communist University named after Ya. M. Sverdlov, in 1926 - the Military Pilot School, in 1931 - advanced training courses for Air Force Air Force Academy, and in 1935 - the operational faculty of the same academy. He commanded a link, a squadron, an air brigade.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War Aviation Lieutenant General V. G. Ryazanov commanded an aviation corps and an air army. Using extensive combat experience, he educated Soviet aviators. In July 1951, he died.

On one of the last days of April 1945, Vasily Georgievich Ryazanov was returning from a meeting of the Military Council of the 1st Ukrainian Front to the headquarters of the aviation corps entrusted to him. The weather was great. It has just rained warmly. In the evening foggy haze, the roadside trees were densely green, their leaves shone as if varnished. The young grass on the edges of the ditches shimmered iridescently in the rays of the setting sun.

For a long time already Vasily Georgievich had not seen, but most likely did not notice anything like that in the hustle and bustle of front-line affairs. He looked through the windshield of the captured Mercedes at the oak and pine copses running towards him, at the malachite winter squares passing by, at the quiet lakes in the lowlands and recalled his native village in the Gorky region.

No, the surroundings of Bolshoy Kozino are completely different: the forests are more extensive there, and the fields are more spacious, and the waters are more free. But even there, in the Volga region, the same quiet, thoughtfully affectionate evenings stand out, when you want to run beyond the village outskirts to the river, throw yourself back into the grass on a steep yoke and look from there with all your eyes into the bottomless sky or look around low-lying meadows emanating black steam. arable lands, bald hills and gullies overgrown with bushes. And behind them are villages across the river with wide streets, curly willows and tall well cranes.

The closer to the horizon, the less buildings, trees, fields. And the more mysterious they seemed to the village boy Vasya Ryazanov, the son of the original Russian farmer, who lives in poverty from overwork, the extortion of grain dealers and all kinds of royal taxes. And the more hungry it was in the house, the more he wanted to go beyond the Volga, to see what kind of bread grows there, how people live - maybe easier, more satisfying.

And sometimes the boy dreamed of soaring like a seagull over his native village and flying far, far away to find there, beyond the forests and valleys, the secret of a happy life. Such a secret that the father is less tired from work and the mother is more cheerful. Something like a magic word that my grandmother spoke about in her fairy tale...

Vasily Georgievich smiled inwardly at his thoughts, glanced warily at the driver. The sergeant would have been surprised to know what trifles the general was thinking about. And yet, about trifles? After all, perhaps from that childhood dream, an eighteen-year-old Red Army soldier had a passionate desire to get into aviation. And this wish has come true. He graduated with honors flight school, immediately became a flight commander, and a few months later - a squadron!

My God, how much time has passed since then - a quarter of a century! There is already gray hair at the temples, wrinkles around the eyes and folds at the mouth. It looks like he hasn't lived yet. But it only seems, and sometimes you think how many names, deeds, events, endless roads, tens of thousands of kilometers on the ground are already behind, in the sky - three times more. What is the cost of war? Four endless years! And how many sleepless nights, how many fights?! You won't remember everything. Kursk, Kharkov, Kremenchug, Znamenka, Kirovograd, Sandomierz - these are just milestones on the sites of the largest battles in which the aviation corps participated ...

And here it is, finally, Berlin. From there, from the north, from behind the Teupitz forests, day and night, almost without ceasing, comes the roar of battle. Even in a car, it cannot be drowned out by the noise of the engine. These sounds bring the general's thoughts back to normal. He recalls a recent meeting at the headquarters of the front. The commander was laconic. He said that a fierce battle was going on in Berlin, showed on the map the location of the main forces of the front, fighting to destroy a large encircled group of fascist troops southeast of the capital of Nazi Germany.

The Germans are trying to break through to the west, the commander said. - Towards them from the Bruck, Rostock, Altbork area, in the direction of Beelitz - Trebbin, the 12th Nazi Army is rushing with the clear goal of releasing the encircled group. I think that Lelyushenko, with the support of Ryazanov, will be able to cool her ardor.

So, with a barely noticeable smile on his face, the commander spoke. He was in a good mood, joking, and in parting he advised not to lose heart. Maybe this is the last decisive battle. And the better it is organized, the sooner victory will come.

Then they received a written order, which clearly defined the tasks for the troops to repel the counterattack of the 12th German Army ...

Arriving at the headquarters of the corps, Vasily Georgievich acquainted the division commanders with the order, and then went to the command post of the 4th Guards Tank Army to see Colonel General D. D. Lelyushenko. General Ryazanov, even before the Battle of Kursk, made it a rule during the fighting to be with the combined arms commander. From here the situation on the battlefield is clearer and more visible. And we can quickly respond to its changes, deliver air strikes where it is most expedient and necessary to support our motorized rifle and tank units. This was especially important now, when the units and formations of General Lelyushenko were in direct contact with the enemy troops, who were surrounded, and also rushing to their rescue. The front line often changed, and in other places it was sometimes difficult to determine. It was this circumstance that worried Vasily Georgievich most of all. It is no wonder to please your own.

Vasily Georgievich expressed his concerns at a meeting with Colonel General Lelyushenko. Dmitry Danilovich agreed that it would not be easy. But the order must be obeyed. And he immediately instructed his chief of staff that all changes in the disposition of ground troops should be immediately notified to the aviators and that our advanced units should more clearly indicate their location.

And then Ryazanov can strike so hard, - the commander grinned, - that you can’t collect the bones. Look at the power in his hands. We need to root for every person. So many people have gone through, survived, and suddenly ...

Vasily Georgievich was not surprised that the commander was worried about the same thought as him. The end of the war seems to be near. Ours are on the streets of Berlin ...

Over the map with intelligence data on the enemy, he sat for almost an hour. He peered into the green spots of forests, the squares of fields cut by the veins of railways and highways, tried to imagine the location of the battle formations of the fascist troops, options for their possible movement.

It was clear to Ryazanov that the encircled enemy grouping was in the grip of our motorized rifle and tank troops, and that the grip was inexorably shrinking. The surrounded ones have only one hope: to break through to the west with the help of their 12th army. Apparently, they coordinated their actions both in time and in place. The most likely thing is that they will strike back to link up somewhere in the Beelitz area.

“What is the best way to help our ground troops to thwart the enemy’s plan? - this question most of all occupied the thoughts of the general. - The most reliable support, - he thought, - is to strike at the first echelons of the advancing enemy troops. But here there is a danger to please your own. Maybe at night ours can quietly withdraw their units and subunits from the front line, and in the morning we will “iron” the fascist positions. But the Germans can find out, they are on their territory. They have a lot of eyes here. They will detect and not give the opportunity to break away, immediately occupy the vacant territory, which means that the surrounded units will approach those that release them. The danger of a breakthrough will increase ... "

Ryazanov shared his thoughts with the chief of staff. He proposed to concentrate the main efforts on the destruction of the second echelons of the 12th German army. Then her offensive will quickly fizzle out.

Remember, - said the chief of staff, - how our fascists were woolen near Belgorod? I even have an extract from the testimony of a captured Nazi officer: “Russian attack aircraft fell upon our group of tanks - there were at least a hundred of them. The effect of their actions was unprecedented. During the first attack, one group of attack aircraft knocked out and burned about twenty tanks. At the same time, another group attacked a motorized rifle battalion resting in cars. Small-caliber bombs and shells rained down on our heads. Ninety vehicles were burned and one hundred and twenty people were killed.”

An interesting statement, - the general agreed, - but we must not forget that the second echelons, command posts, as a rule, have the best anti-aircraft cover. This means that the probability of losses on our part will increase.

Vasily Georgievich well remembered the battles near Belgorod, which the chief of staff told him about. For three days in a row, the general did not leave the command post, directed the actions of his units to repel the enemy offensive in the Belgorod direction, for which he received personal thanks from the Military Council of the Voronezh Front.

And here is what Air Marshal S. A. Krasovsky writes about the sorties of the corps pilots on the Kursk Bulge: Syrtsovo, Yakovleve in the direction of Krasnaya Dubrovka and Bol. Beacons. After concentrated strikes, attack aircraft continuously operated in small groups, destroying enemy tanks and motorized infantry. As a result of joint efforts, more than two hundred burning enemy tanks remained on the battlefield.

A telegram was received from the headquarters of the 6th Guards Army addressed to the commander of the corps, General Ryazanov: “The commander of the 6th Guards Army told you that the ground units are very satisfied with the work of the attack aircraft. Stormtroopers help a lot." And dozens of such reviews accumulated over the years of the war. The name of General Ryazanov was repeatedly mentioned in the orders of the Supreme Commander.

Then a victorious counteroffensive, but already as part of the Steppe Front. Unforgettable joy, even delight, when it was announced that for the first time during the war, on August 5, 1943, fireworks were given in Moscow. And it sounded in honor of the heroes-liberators of Orel and Belgorod, and therefore in honor of the aviators who took an active part in these battles. A little more time passed, and for successful actions to liberate Ukraine, all three divisions that were part of the assault air corps of General Ryazanov received honorary names - Krasnograd, Poltava, Znamenskaya. The corps began to be called Kirovograd.

And in February 1944, on the eve of the Day of the Soviet Army, a message came: “For selfless combat work, high skill in commanding combat units on the battlefield, excellent training of personnel, for the correct organization of interaction with ground forces and the personal heroism shown to the commander of the 1st of the Guards Assault Aviation Corps of the Kirovograd Guards, Lieutenant General of Aviation V. G. Ryazanov was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union».

All this was fresh in my mind. But Vasily Georgievich did not boast of victories. He prepared for every battle, for every battle, as for a new, previously unseen test. A test for a commander's mind, for the ability to flawlessly perform combat mission, with the least losses for themselves, inflict the greatest blow on the enemy.

Do you know how many veterans are left in the regiment and corps? the general asked the chief of staff. - Those who fight from the first day of the organization? .. No? And I recently asked the personnel officers. About twenty percent. Fifth part. Do you feel? A little...

Vasily Georgievich almost burst out: “How I want to save them! All to one. For each of them to see the end of the war, to experience the joy of victory. After all, this is now the highest idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhappiness! .. ”But the general did not say a word about this. He knew only too well how dangerous pity that softens the soul before a fight. You can regret one, but lose ten ... As if in response to his thoughts, he said:

In the morning, send the most experienced to reconnaissance. And then keep it going. The situation will change. It's important to respond quickly...

Vasily Georgievich gave the necessary orders to the chief of staff, and he himself decided to leave for one of the units. He tried to visit the troops more often, especially before major battles. Meetings with military commanders, political workers, pilots helped to feel the mood of the people, to confirm their decision or make some adjustments to it.

On the way to the regiment - this time he chose the 140th Guards - Vasily Georgievich remembered the battles at the Sandomierz bridgehead. The Nazis at all costs wanted to drive these troops out of the western bank of the Vistula. They attacked continuously, although they carried big losses. Once upon a time, the situation was critical. 20 German tanks threatened to crush the flanking units of the Moto rifle regiment.

Ryazanov ordered to immediately send eight "silt" there, which was ready to take off. The strike of the attack aircraft turned out to be so successful that the Nazis, having suffered great damage, were forced to roll back and stop their attacks until the next day. This short respite made it possible for our command to send reinforcements to the bridgehead and strengthen its defenses. But even in the future, until the very transition of our troops to a broad offensive, day after day the stormtroopers "ironed" the battle formations of the Nazis, delivered bombing strikes on clusters of enemy infantry and tanks.

“And who led this shock eight? - Vasily Georgievich tried to remember. “After all, they then laid bombs literally two hundred meters from our front line.”

He went over dozens of names in his memory and finally remembered that the commander of the eight was Captain Savelyev, a short, thick-shouldered Siberian who had distinguished himself more than once in battles before. That's who should be sent to storm the advanced units of the 12th Nazi Army. But then he was wounded near Sandomierz. Did you manage to heal?

I remembered Vasily Georgievich and Yuri Balabin, who showed exceptional courage and skill in September 1944 in the Carpathians. For several days, our ground troops stormed Hill 718 near the village of Gamry, but the Nazis were so thoroughly entrenched on it that they could not be knocked out of there. On the instructions of the corps commander, Captain Balabin flew there at the head of twelve “silts”. Vasily Georgievich personally instructed the pilots, personally observed their actions together with the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, I. S. Konev.

Having made an anti-aircraft maneuver, attack aircraft appeared from behind the mountains and began to dive one after another to the height of "718". The famous "Ilovsky circle" has turned into a well-oiled carousel. Bombs exploded in the very thick of the enemy fortifications, soon the entire skyscraper was covered with craters, shrouded in fire and smoke. The way for the ground troops was open, they with a victorious "Hurrah!" broke into enemy positions.

The attack aircraft were still in the air when I. S. Konev announced on the radio gratitude to Yu. Balabin and his subordinates.

As soon as General Ryazanov arrived at the 140th regiment, he immediately asked to know about Balabin.

He is in the hospital on the occasion of a wound, - the general was reported.

Vasily Georgievich met with the command of the regiment, acquainted the pilots with the situation at the front, advised them to make wider use of their experience for more effective operations in battle. Then there was a conversation with the veterans of the unit. Among them, Ryazanov met his old acquaintance, Lieutenant Ivan Drachenko. He distinguished himself during the battles on the Kursk Bulge. Later, Drachenko's plane was shot down over the territory occupied by the enemy, and the pilot, seriously wounded, ended up in a fascist prisoner of war camp. There, our Soviet doctor performed an operation on him, removed fragments from his head. In short, he saved the pilot from death, but the lieutenant was left without his right eye. Having recovered a little from his wounds, Drachenko escaped from captivity, received medical treatment in Moscow, and in the spring of 1944 he again ended up in his native regiment and began to fly on combat missions.

The doctors, having learned about this, demanded the immediate removal of Drachenko from flying. He didn't want to hear about it either. Reported to the corps commander. Vasily Georgievich then came to the regiment, personally observed the flights of Ivan Drachenko, his military operations and said:

It would be good if all our pilots knew the machine and the tactics of its use as well as this one-eyed one. Let it fly, smash the Nazis.

After that, Ivan Drachenko made more than two hundred sorties, participated in the most difficult operations and each time emerged victorious from battles with the enemy. Three Orders of Glory, the Order of Lenin, the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union were added to his military awards.

Having met with Drachenko now, Vasily Georgievich embraced him like a brother. Immediately, in the circle of pilots, they started talking, remembered the most difficult battles. Gradually, other aviators joined the conversation. The conversation was about the situation in Berlin.

Vasily Georgievich said:

The Nazis continue to fight in several centers of resistance. The most important of them, of course, is Berlin, and the second most important, perhaps, is here, southeast of the fascist capital ...

Vasily Georgievich acquainted the veterans of the regiment with the situation that had developed on this sector of the front, and asked them to express their thoughts on how to more effectively finish off the enemy in the current situation.

The pilots willingly and lively shared their thoughts. Some suggested operating at minimally low altitudes. This made it possible to better see their troops, as well as accumulations of enemy manpower and equipment. Others spoke in favor of inflicting massive strikes on the nearest rear areas, headquarters, command and observation posts of the enemy in order to demoralize his leadership and force him to surrender as soon as possible. Still others saw the key to success in the active operations of small groups of attack aircraft at the enemy's resistance centers located directly in front of our advancing ground forces ...

Vasily Georgievich listened to the pilots with great satisfaction. He was pleased with their tactical maturity, breadth of outlook, ability to soberly assess the situation and draw appropriate conclusions. And, perhaps most importantly, these conclusions for the most part coincided with the opinion of the corps commander himself, with the proposals of his chief of staff. It turned out that the thoughts of the command coincided with the thoughts of ordinary pilots. And Vasily Georgievich always appreciated this unity of views very highly and considered it the most important condition for successful actions in battles with the enemy.

The corps commander reminded the pilots of retargeting in the air, which was widely used last summer when defeating an enemy tank group in the Plugava area. General Ryazanov, as always, was at the command post of the commander of the 3rd Guards Tank Army. He could clearly see the entire battlefield - both our tanks moving west, and enemy firing points that fired at our troops. Vasily Georgievich called groups of attack aircraft on the radio, set them specific tasks, and helped to find targets.

The atmosphere was very dynamic. Often, retargeting had to be done when the attack aircraft were already on a combat course. However, the masters of assault attacks V. A. Andrianov, T. Ya. Begeldinov, S. E. Volodin, G. U. Chernetsov, I. Kh. Mikhailichenko and M. P. Odintsov, flying out two or three times a day, applied precise and crushing blows against the enemy in the immediate vicinity of our troops. The tankers warmly thanked the pilots for their help.

Finishing his conversation with the pilots, the general said that he was pleased with their high morale. He believes that their actions in the upcoming battles will be decisive, tactically competent and at the same time prudent. Vasily Georgievich left the regiment with some special lightness in his soul. Hesitations and doubts receded into the background, they were replaced by a firm belief in the correctness of the decision made and the methods for its implementation.

Lieutenant General Ryazanov, through the chief of staff, gave the necessary instructions to the troops, they specifically emphasized the need to combine massive attacks on enemy rear lines with dispersed actions of small groups of attack aircraft along the enemy’s front line, using air and ground reconnaissance data for target designation. In each group of attack aircraft, it was recommended to have a combat veteran, wise with experience in aimed bombing and anti-aircraft maneuver.

On the night of April 26, the command of the Nazi troops surrounded southeast of Berlin, having created a strong grouping consisting of a motorized rifle division, three infantry divisions and the remnants of a tank division, in pursuance of Hitler's order, launched an offensive in the direction of Luckenwalde. Having created a numerical superiority here, the Nazis moved forward and occupied the city of Barut. Active participation in repelling this counterattack, our aviation took over. Attack aircraft, bombers, fighters continuously "hung" in the air, inflicting great damage to the enemy in people and equipment.

At this time, the 12th army of the Nazis again launched an offensive from the west in the Beelitz-Treyenbritzen zone. Here, the pilots of the 1st Guards Assault Corps had to work especially hard. Vasily Georgievich hardly closed his eyes for two days. All this time he was command post 4th Guards Tank Army. The Nazis attacked the positions of our ground troops with great tenacity.

From commanders tank corps and rifle divisions, the commander of the attack aircraft corps continuously received information about the accumulation of enemy manpower and equipment and requests to destroy them from the air. General Ryazanov made sure that the air divisions immediately carried out these requests.

Thus, the combined forces of ground forces and aviation repulsed the attacks of enemy infantry and tanks near Niemek, Schwabek and Tsana. Our troops went on the offensive, occupied several settlements, but the enemy still did not let up.

A difficult situation was created in the area of ​​the city of Dana. Fascist artillery, which had taken up positions not far from the western outskirts of the city, on the edge of the forest, fell upon our tank regiment that had rushed forward. "Thirty-fours" were forced to withdraw under the protection of stone buildings. Promotion has been delayed here.

It was necessary to immediately suppress the fascist barrier. The target was small and was very close to our tanks. An experienced ace was needed who could quickly find the target and deliver a bombing strike with great accuracy.

General Ryazanov remembered Ivan Drachenko, advised the division commander to send him with eight "silts" to this target. Approximately two hours later, the division commander reported on the completion of the task. The blow was masterfully delivered.

By the end of that day, our ground troops, after a thorough aviation training broke into the outskirts of the city

Wittenberg, and to the south of it crossed the Elbe and occupied Pratau. In those days, almost every attack aircraft made 20 or even more sorties, and losses in pilots and combat vehicles turned out to be insignificant. Soon, Lieutenant General Ryazanov and his subordinates celebrated the bright Victory Day with all our people. They celebrated it with a sense of honestly performed military duty.

For these battles, at the final stage of the war, hundreds of pilots of the 1st Guards Attack Aviation Kirovograd Corps were awarded high government awards. And their commander of the guard, Lieutenant General of Aviation Vasily Georgievich Ryazanov, received the second "Gold Star" of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

(1901–1951)

Lieutenant General of Aviation, Commander of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Kirovograd-Berlin Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Corps. It is noteworthy that during the war years 103 people (!) From Ryazanov's corps were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, seven of them - twice.

Vasily Georgievich Ryazanov was born on January 25, 1901 in the village of Bolshoe Kozino, now the Balakhna district of the Nizhny Novgorod region, into a peasant family.

In 1909 he entered the rural school of his native village. After completing five classes, he continued his studies at the elementary school of the county center of the city of Balakhna, which he graduated in 1916. Served in the post office railway station Ruzaevka, and in 1917 - at the post office in Sormov. In 1918 he worked at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant. After October revolution taught at primary school in his native village, from here in 1920 he went into the army.

From 1920 to 1924 he studied at the Ya.M. Sverdlov Communist University in Moscow. He graduated from the Borisoglebsk military pilot school in 1926. In 1931 he graduated from advanced training courses at the Air Force Academy named after N. Zhukovsky, in 1935 - its operational department. Since 1939 - in teaching at the Air Force Academy named after Zhukovsky N.E.

Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.

In the battles of the Great Patriotic War since 1941.

In August 1942, the formation of the aviation corps of the reserve of the Supreme High Command began. In September 1942 Ryazanov V.G. instructed to form and lead the 1st assault aviation corps.

The experience of fighting tanks and mechanized units of the enemy, accumulated by attack aircraft, came in handy on the Kursk Bulge in the summer of 1943.

On July 7, 1943, in the Belgorod region, one group of our attack aircraft attacked a large concentration of fascist equipment and knocked out about 20 German tanks. At the same time, another group of our attack aircraft attacked a German motorized rifle battalion. 90 vehicles were burned and 120 Germans were killed. On the same day, our mechanized troops, supported by strikes from attack aircraft of V. G. Ryazanov's corps, repelled the attack of four enemy tank divisions. After concentrated attacks on the enemy, our attack aircraft operated in small groups. As a result, more than 200 destroyed enemy tanks remained on the battlefield. On the Kursk bridgehead, pilots first used anti-tank bombs. Each Il-2 aircraft took on board 312 of these bombs.

Soviet troops were moving west. Overcoming the resistance of the Nazis, the advanced units in September 1943 reached the Dnieper. The right bank of the river, up to 80 meters high, was a serious natural barrier, and having fortifications, it became, according to the Nazi generals, insurmountable for the Soviet troops. Our troops crossed a wide river, a struggle began for mastering the bridgeheads. The 1st Assault Aviation Corps played a decisive role in holding the bridgeheads. Lieutenant General Ryazanov V.G., being at the forefront, from the command post of the rifle regiment, radio indicated the targets to the attack aircraft.

Pilots of the corps of Lieutenant General Ryazanov V.G. during the war years, they made more than 58 thousand sorties, destroyed 3770 tanks, 21200 vehicles, 633 field artillery batteries, 94 anti-aircraft batteries, 54 railway echelons, 400 different warehouses, 1166 enemy aircraft and many other military equipment.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 22, 1944, Lieutenant General Ryazanov V.G. awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1944, the corps was awarded the title of Guards. By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 2, 1945, Ryazanov V.G. was awarded the second Gold Star medal for distinction in battles during the defeat of the Czestochowa-Radom enemy grouping in January 1945.

After the war - in command positions in the Air Force. Lived in Kiev.

He was awarded 2 Orders of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st class, Order of Suvorov 2nd class, Red Star, medals, foreign orders.

In the village of Bolshoe Kozino in 1953, a bronze bust of Ryazanov V.G. was installed. Streets in Balakhna and Bolshoi Kozino are named after him.

Graduate of 1926

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Dates of decrees: 1. 02.22.1944 (medal No. 1467)
2. 06/02/1945 (medal No. 4812)

Air Lieutenant General

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Born on January 12 (25), 1901 in the village of Bolshoe Kozino (now within the city of Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod Region). Russian. In 1914 he graduated from 5 classes of a rural school, in 1916 - 4 classes of a higher primary school in the city of Balakhna. He served at the post office at the railway station Ruzaevka, in 1917 - at the post office in the village of Sormovo (now within the boundaries of Nizhny Novgorod). In 1918 he worked at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant, then as an instructor in the Balakhna out-of-school county department. public education.

In the army since May 1920. In 1920 he joined the ranks of the RCP (b) / CPSU. Until 1921 - lecturer-agitator in the Nizhny Novgorod provincial military commissariat. In 1922 he graduated from the workers' faculty at the Moscow state university, in 1924 - the Communist University named after Ya.M. Sverdlov. Until 1925 he was an instructor in the political department rifle division in the Moscow military district.

In 1926 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation Pilot School, in 1927 - the Serpukhov Higher School of Air Shooting and Bombing. He was a flight instructor at: the Leningrad Military Aviation School of Observer Pilots (1927-1928), the Orenburg Military Aviation School of Pilots (1928-1929), the Leningrad Military Theoretical School of the Air Force (1929-1930), the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots ( 1930-1931), Moscow School of Special Services (1931-1933). In 1930 he graduated from the advanced training courses for commanding staff at the N.E. Zhukovsky, in 1935 - its operational faculty. He was the commander of the aviation brigade of the Air Force Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky. From 1936 he commanded an air brigade in the Siberian Military District. In April 1938 he was illegally repressed and dismissed from the army. In September 1939 he was reinstated in the army. He was a teacher at the Air Force Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky.

Member of the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Since 1940 - head of the training department of the Air Force Academy (Monino).

Member of the Great Patriotic War: in June-August 1941 - Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the 5th Army (South-Western Front), in August-December 1941 - Head of the Control Group of the Air Force Directorate Southwestern Front, in December 1941-March 1942 - commander of the 76th mixed aviation division (Southern Front), in April-July 1942 - commander of the maneuverable air group of the South-Western Front, in July-September 1942 - commander of the 2nd Aviation Army of the Supreme Reserve High Command. From September 1942 - commander of the 1st (from February 1944 - 1st Guards) assault aviation corps. Units under his command fought on the Southwestern, Southern, Kalinin, Northwestern, Voronezh, Steppe, and 2nd Ukrainian fronts.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 22, 1944, for high skill in managing parts of the corps in battles, skillful organization of interaction with ground forces during the crossing of the Dnieper and personal heroism, Lieutenant General of Aviation Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and a medal "Gold Star" (No. 1467).

At the final stage of the war, parts of his corps as part of the 1st Ukrainian Front participated in the liberation of Western Ukraine, Poland, in the Berlin operation.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 2, 1945, for differences in battles at the turn of the Vistula River and in the defeat of the Czestochowa-Radom group of the enemy guard, Lieutenant General of Aviation Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 4812).

After the war he continued to command the corps. In 1947-1949 he commanded the 14th Air Army (Carpathian Military District). From 1949 he commanded the 69th Air Army (Kiev Air District).

Lived in the city of Kiev (Ukraine).

Air Lieutenant General (1943). He was awarded 2 orders of Lenin, 3 orders of the Red Banner, orders of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree, Suvorov 2nd degree, Red Star, medals, foreign awards.

He was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

In 1953, his bust was erected in the homeland of the Hero (on Bolsheshkolnaya Street). The school of the village bears his name; a museum of V.G. Ryazanov. Also named after the Hero secondary school in Kiev and the streets in Bolshoy Kozino and in Balakhna.

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SILVER ANCHOR OF HEAVEN
Life and deeds of General Vasily Ryazanov
Author Vasily Vasilyevich Ryazanov

From January 1925, Ryazanov was the head of party education and military commissar of the 2nd military pilot school in Borisoglebsk ...
... He graduated from high school and received a pilot's license. He loved to fly and flew well. From August to December 1926, Ryazanov was sent to the Leningrad military school of letnabs (pilot-observers) ..
... Since 1927, he no longer combines political work with flying, but works only as a pilot. For some time he worked as an instructor pilot. Then he becomes a flight commander ...
... Since September 1927, he has been studying and at the same time serving as a detachment commander at the Serpukhov School air combat, in the 3rd VSL and LN (military school of pilots and letnabs). In October 1927 Serpukhovskaya graduate School air combat was transferred to Orenburg.
... From December 10, 1931, Ryazanov in Moscow was commander and commissar of the squadron of the military school of special services of the Air Force of the Red Army ...
"... By this time, his acquaintance and the beginning of friendship with Chkalov dates back. It even turned out that they were related. They used to meet often in Leningrad. They met at the airport in Moscow, sat down to rest under a tree. When they started talking, it turned out that they only studied in the same flight schools, but also fellow countrymen. Valery from Vysokov, which is near Sormovo. Found out that Nekorkin Stepan Ivanovich is married to the sister of Ryazanov's mother, his aunt. And he is Chkalov's uncle. It turned out that Chkalov's uncle was also godfather Vasily Ryazanov's father, as it is written in the parish book for 1901. So from then on they began to be called "bros." When they found out these circumstances, Chkalov said: well, bro, you have a liter of vodka for establishing kinship, to which Ryazanov replied : I do not drink. - The trouble is small, we will get more ... "

The Great Patriotic War caught V.G. Ryazanov in Moscow. He headed the faculty at the Air Force Academy. On the first day of the war, he filed a report with a request to send him to the active army. June 28, 1941 Colonel V.G. Ryazanov was appointed to the Southwestern Front as deputy aviation commander of the 5th Army.

At the end of 1941, on the Southern Front, commanding the 76th assault aviation division, he participated in the Rostov offensive operation. After the winter counter-offensive of the Red Army near Moscow, when the fascist troops were driven back hundreds of kilometers, there was hope for an early victory.

In May 1942, Major General of Aviation V.G. Ryazanov - commander of the maneuverable aviation group of the South-West direction. The offensive conceived by the command with the aim of defeating the Kharkov grouping of the enemy and liberating Kharkov turned out to have tragic consequences for our troops - the encirclement of troops in the Barvenkovsky ledge.

Soon V.G. Ryazanov was recalled from the front to Moscow. He was received by the Commander of the Air Force and Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, Lieutenant-General of Aviation A.A. Novikov.

He explained to V.G. Ryazanov the reason for the call: a decision was made to create air and aviation armies and homogeneous aviation divisions and armies instead of the air forces of the fronts that existed before. V.G. Ryazanov, on July 1, 1942, was appointed commander of the 2nd Fighter Aviation Army and immediately began to form it.

But to complete this order by V.G. Ryazanov failed. During the formation, his army was divided into two groups of two aviation divisions, with which, on July 27, 1942, the 1st and 3rd air armies were reinforced, respectively. By this time, the practice of hostilities showed the inexpediency of having an air and aviation armies as part of one front.

At the end of August 1942, the formation of the aviation corps of the reserve of the Supreme High Command began, which, if necessary, reinforced the air armies in critical operations. September 10, 1942 V.G. Ryazanov was instructed to form and lead the 1st Assault Aviation Corps on the basis of the aviation army being formed. He was to command "flying tanks" - this is how the front-line soldiers called the attack aircraft designed by Ilyushin.

The formation of the 1st assault aviation corps took place in Moscow. Regiments belonging to two assault aviation divisions of the corps flocked to airfields near Moscow. Despite the short period of preparation, General V.G. Ryazanov skillfully put together the leadership of subordinate units, organized the training of young attack pilots on the Il-2, and fighter pilots on the Yak-1.

When the formation of the corps was completed, General V.G. Ryazanov was summoned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and set before him the task of developing tactics for the massive use of attack aircraft.

The corps began its combat path in October 1942 on the Kalinin Front, located in a wooded and swampy area not far from Andriapol. Autumn slush further deteriorated the roads and field airfields of this difficult theater of operations. Despite the bad weather, snowstorm and low clouds, pilots V.G. Ryazanov supported the offensive of the troops of the Kalinin Front, helped to break through the heavily fortified defenses of the enemy and inflict a major defeat on him.

March 17, 1943 V.G. Ryazanov was given another military rank Air Lieutenant General. A day after that, the Stavka decided to transfer V.G.'s corps. Ryazanov to the Voronezh Front under operational control of the 2nd Air Army.

In June 1943, in the corps of V.G. Ryazanov entered the 203rd Fighter Aviation Division. The extensive experience gained by attack aircraft in combating tanks and mechanized units of the enemy was especially useful in the fighting on the Kursk Bulge, which began in July 1943.

Parts of the corps carried out intense combat work to repel the enemy offensive in the Belgorod direction. On the morning of July 7, 1943, in the Belgorod region, a group of fascist tanks - there were at least a hundred of them - were attacked by our attack aircraft. The effect of their actions was unprecedented.

During the first attack, one group of attack aircraft knocked out and burned about 20 tanks. At the same time, another group attacked a motorized rifle battalion resting in vehicles. Bombs of small caliber and shells rained down on the heads of the invaders. 90 cars were burned and 120 people were killed.

On that day, our mechanized troops, supported by two concentrated strikes of eighty attack aircraft of the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov, successfully repulsed the attack of four enemy tank divisions from the Syrtsovo, Yakovlevo area in the direction of Krasnaya Dubrovka and Bolshiye Mayachki. After concentrated strikes, attack aircraft continuously operated in small groups, destroying enemy tanks and motorized infantry. As a result of joint efforts, more than two hundred burning enemy tanks remained on the battlefield.

Under the command of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov, the stormtroopers-guards acted exceptionally boldly and boldly. Like a tornado, they fell on the tanks and infantry of the enemy, the accumulation of vehicles. On the Kursk bridgehead, pilots first used anti-tank bombs (PTB). Each Il-2 aircraft took on board 312 of these bombs. The crushing attacks of the attack aircraft terrified the Nazis.

For the excellent leadership of the combat units, the Military Council of the Voronezh Front expressed gratitude to Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov and all the personnel of the aviation corps who participated in the defeat of the advancing enemy armored forces.

On July 19, 1943, the aviation corps was reassigned to the Steppe Front, which was in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command during the period of defensive battles, and then launched a counteroffensive.

Having extensive experience in commanding large aviation formations, Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov perfectly organized the work on interaction with the ground forces and the management of the combat operations of aviation on the battlefield. Even before the Battle of Kursk, he made it a rule to be at the forefront of the front line along with the combined arms commander. From here he directed the attack aircraft, and their strikes were exceptionally effective and deservedly aroused the delight and gratitude of the ground troops. From well-aimed strikes of attack aircraft, armored "tigers", "panthers", "Ferdinands" burned.

Developing success, the troops of the Steppe Front were rapidly moving west, to the Dnieper. Aviation Corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov liberated Krasnograd, Poltava, Kremenchug, which the Nazis tried to keep in their hands as a bridgehead on the banks of the Dnieper. Overcoming the fierce resistance of the Nazis, the advanced units of the front reached the Dnieper on September 21, 1943.

The right bank of the river, eighty meters high, was a serious natural barrier, and having powerful fortifications, it became, according to the Nazi generals, who called this line of defense the "Eastern Wall", insurmountable for the Soviet troops. But the enemy's hopes for positional defense were not realized. Our troops crossed a wide barrier on the very first night. The struggle for mastering the bridgeheads began.

Operating as part of the 5th Air Army, the 1st Assault Aviation Corps played a decisive role in holding the bridgeheads. Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov, being at the forefront, from the command post of the rifle regiment, radioed the targets to the attack aircraft, concentrating firepower on the most important areas. "Ilys" continuously rained rockets, bombs and cannon-machine-gun fire on the counter-attacking enemy troops.

In the battles in the Right-Bank Ukraine, the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov actively supports the advancing troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front during the liberation of Znamenka and Kirovograd. The corps received the honorary name of Kirovograd, and its three distinguished aviation divisions became known as Krasnograd, Poltava, Znamenskaya. On February 5, 1944, the corps became the 1st Guards.

In July 1944, the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov, as part of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, participated in an offensive operation in the Lvov direction. The enemy had a long-term defense in depth here, and massive use of aviation was widely used to break through it.

By the beginning of the operation, the 2nd Air Army had nine corps and three separate air divisions. Only in the first massive strike on the first day of the offensive, about 1300 bombers, attack aircraft and fighters took part. On the same day, July 14, 1944, more than 1,400 aircraft participated in the second massive attack on enemy reserves.

The next day, units of our 38th Army in the central sector of the offensive found themselves in a difficult situation. It was counterattacked by a large group of enemy tanks. Aviation saved the critical situation. The massive attack on the enemy tank group lasted four hours. On that day, the attack aircraft of the 1st Guards Corps also inflicted considerable damage on the enemy.

On July 16, 1944, south of the Koltuv point, the enemy defenses were broken through to a depth of 18 kilometers and 4-6 kilometers wide. Large groupings of German troops hung on the flanks of the breakthrough from the north and south. It was into this Koltuvsky corridor that the 3rd Guards Tank Army of General P.S. Rybalko was introduced.

The pilots of the 1st Guards and 8th Assault Aviation Corps, as well as the 10th Guards Assault Aviation Division covered the tankers. With layered actions, they destroyed the enemy on the flanks of the breakthrough area and on the routes of movement of the tank guards.

Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov with a task force and two radio stations was in the narrowest place of the Koltuvsky corridor, near the village of Nushche. From here, the terrain was clearly visible, and by radio he directed squadrons of attack aircraft at the most important objects that posed a threat to our tankers.

Following the 3rd Guards Tank Army, the 4th Tank Army of General D.D. was introduced into the battle. Lelyushenko. On July 18, 1944, tankers joined up with a cavalry-mechanized group advancing north, surrounding eight enemy divisions in the area of ​​the city of Brody, and, together with aviation, destroyed them by the end of July 22, 1944.

On July 27, 1944, our troops liberated Lvov. The German Army Group "Northern Ukraine" suffered a heavy defeat. The remnants of the defeated divisions retreated to the Vistula and the Carpathians.

Together with the advanced units of the front, the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov in the last days of July 1944 went to the Vistula. He covered the troops during the crossing of the river and on the western bank, when, south of Sandomierz, part of the 13th Army of General N.P. Pukhov and the 1st Guards Tank Army of General M.E. Katukov, and to the north - parts of the 3rd Guards Army of General .N. Gordov captured small bridgeheads.

The Nazis sought to eliminate the bridgeheads at all costs. Only the continuous attacks of attack aircraft held back the onslaught of fascist tanks. From day to day they "ironed" the tank groups, but, regardless of the losses, the Nazis tried to throw our troops into the river.

During this tense period of fighting on the western bank of the Vistula, Marshal I.S. Konev decided to create a strike group of four aviation corps under the command of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov. Group V.G. Ryazanova completed the combat mission. Later, the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Marshal I.S. Konev will say that the Sandomierz bridgehead was defended by aviation.

The battles for the expansion of the bridgehead continued until January 1945. The personnel of the corps V.G. Ryazanova showed courage and heroism in destroying the encircled enemy grouping northwest of Sandomierz and the Czestochowa-Radom grouping. Parts of the corps provided effective assistance to ground forces in capturing a number of large enemy strongholds on southern territory Poland and Upper Silesia.

flight work carried out in extremely difficult meteorological conditions, and all this time V.G. Ryazanov personally led the attack aircraft on the battlefield. On February 15, 1945, the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree. These days, he was conducting combat work already in Germany, on the western bank of the Oder in the area of ​​the besieged city of Breslau. Soon the advanced units of the front reached the Neisse River.

From here, on April 16, 1945, after a powerful artillery preparation, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front went on the offensive. The battle for Berlin has begun. Corps V.G. Ryazanova assisted the infantry with tanks in crossing the Neisse. Before the start of the offensive, the attack aircraft placed a smoke screen in the direction of the main attack of the front.

In the area of ​​Kebeln, Yomlitz, Muskau, when breaking through the first line of defense, the 5th Guards Army of General A.S. Zhadova suspended the advance under heavy enemy artillery fire. V.G. Ryazanov sent 100 attack aircraft there under the cover of 65 fighters, and after their work, mangled metal and the corpses of enemy soldiers remained in the place of the artillery batteries. Our troops rushed forward and captured strongholds.

On the afternoon of April 17, 1945, the tank armies of P.S. Rybalko and D.D. Lelyushenko. Covering the tankers, the corps of V.G. Ryazanov, with continuous strikes, destroyed fire weapons, counterattacking tanks and enemy troops. Panzer armies immediately crossed the Spree, broke through the third line of defense and began a rapid advance on Berlin with the task of encircling the Berlin grouping.

On April 21, 1945, they reached the outskirts of Berlin, and on April 25, together with the combined arms armies, surrounded two enemy groups isolated from each other - in Berlin and southeast of it, called the Frankfurt-Guben group. She sought to break through to the west, from where the 12th German army hurried to her aid. It was instructed to V.G. Ryazanov and D.D. Lelyushenko.

They were at the same command post on a narrow strip of land that separated the encircled enemy group from Wenck's army. On April 30, 1945, there were only three or four kilometers between them. But the Nazis could not overcome them. Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov, as usual, in a calm and confident voice, summoned attack aircraft to the battlefield, which destroyed the counterattacking troops with continuous attacks.

Only on April 29, 1945, attack aircraft made 400 sorties. Reliable air support helped our tankers repel all counterattacks. The 12th Army was never able to break through to help the encircled. On May 1, 1945, the Frankfurt-Guben grouping was completely defeated.

Guardsmen - fighters from the 2nd Air Army that day parachuted over the Reichstag with a red banner with the inscription "Victory". For selfless combat work during the assault on the capital of the Third Reich, the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov was awarded the Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree and was given the honorary name - Berlin.

Pilots of the corps of Lieutenant General V.G. Ryazanov during the war years made more than 58 thousand sorties, destroyed 3,770 tanks, 21,200 vehicles, 633 field artillery batteries, 94 anti-aircraft batteries, 54 railway echelons, 400 various warehouses, 1,166 enemy aircraft and many other military equipment.

Attack pilots destroyed aircraft not only on the ground, during the attack on enemy airfields. Perfectly owning "Il", they boldly entered into air battles with the enemy and came out victorious. Many thousands of Nazis destroyed attack aircraft and fighter pilots on combat way famous connection.
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Born January 25, 1901 in the village of Bolshoe Kozino, Balakhna district, Nizhny Novgorod region, in a peasant family. Vasily was the first child in the family. Then six more sisters and brothers appeared. Russian.
He graduated from elementary school in 1916. He worked in Sormov, Sergach. After the October Revolution, he taught at an elementary school in his native village, from here he joined the army in 1920.
From 1920 to 1924 he studied at the Ya. M. Sverdlov Communist University in Moscow. He graduated from the Borisoglebsk military pilot school in 1926, the Air Force Academy in 1935.
He commanded a link, an air squadron and a squadron. Since 1930 in the Air Force, was the commander and commissar of the aviation brigade, then teaching at the Air Force Academy.
Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.
During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. was deputy commander of the Air Force of the 5th Army (1941); commander of the 76th air division (1941-1942); commander of the maneuvering group of the Air Force of the Southwestern Front and the 2nd Fighter Aviation Army (1942). In 1942, Ryazanov was appointed commander of the 1st Assault Aviation Corps. This corps, under the command of Ryazanov, fought on the Kalinin and Voronezh fronts, on the Kursk Bulge, and destroyed the enemy's Korsun-Shevchenko group.
On February 22, 1944, the commander of the 1st assault aviation corps (5th air army, Steppe Front), lieutenant general of aviation Ryazanov, was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1944, the corps was awarded the title of Guards, 100 attack pilots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Commander of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps (2nd Air Army, 1st Ukrainian Front) Guard Lieutenant General of Aviation Ryazanov on June 2, 1945 for distinction in battles at the turn of the Vistula River and during the defeat of the enemy’s Czestochowa-Radom grouping in January 1945 . was awarded the second Gold Star medal.
After the war, he held command positions in the Air Force, commanded aviation formations, was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.
He was awarded 2 Orders of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st class, the Order of Suvorov 2nd class, the Red Star, medals, foreign orders. He died on July 8, 1951. He was buried in Kiev.
The bronze bust was installed at home. In the village of Bolshoe Kozino, a bronze bust of V. G. Ryazanov was installed. There is a plaque on the old school building. Streets in Balakhna, Bolshoy Kozino are named after him. Deputies of the City Duma of Nizhny Novgorod during a meeting on March 17, 2010 adopted a resolution on assigning the square at the intersection of Shimborsky Street and Kultury Street in the Sormovsky District of Nizhny Novgorod named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Ryazanov.

Vasily Ryazanov was sent to the army as an instructor of the division - the political department of the division of the 17th Nizhny Novgorod division. Ryazanov met and became friends with Ivan Stepanovich Konev, appointed commander and commissar of a rifle regiment in Nizhny Novgorod. For five years he commanded this regiment, which became for him, in Konev's own words, a great school of military experience. He spoke about this period of his life with special warmth and sincerity.

And again, Ryazanov is in a hurry to do more in less time, combining work with study. He went to study as a pilot in order to better understand the specifics of their work, so that the pilots would not say that he only works with the language. And I got carried away, got carried away so much that in my thoughts it constantly sounded: fly, fly, fly. In the evenings he could not fall asleep, thinking about flights. He graduated from high school and received a pilot's license. He loved to fly and flew well. Since 1927, he no longer combines political work with flying, but works only as a pilot. For some time he worked as an instructor pilot. Then he becomes a flight commander. What is flight? Movement in three-dimensional space. We are pressed down to the surface of the Earth by the force of its attraction. And we move along a two-dimensional surface, occasionally bouncing over it with difficulty.

After all, the pilot is just an additional cog in the plane, which is used clearly and functionally. But the desire to fly is stronger than all this. Flying is also creativity. Not a single flight, carried out according to the most stringent regulations, is like the previous one. Air is an unreliable support, and the pilot must constantly invent some new tricks to stay in it. In this situation, intuition is important, something devoid of logic, direct vision. The pilot becomes an intermediary between the mechanical apparatus of the aircraft and the chaotic elements. Here he is no longer just a cog, an additional mechanism, but a creator, creator, winner of chaos, conqueror of the elements.

Vasily's delight from the first flight knew no bounds. First, the earth was spinning. The instructor said to look at the horizon. And it immediately became clear that the car was spinning. And although in the sky everything seemed so simple and clear to Ryazanov, but then he saw how the planes were turning over, crashing on the ground, burning. Simplicity is not easy, and lightness is not simple. He was always attentive and careful with the plane, in vain he did not take risks.

Maybe the aviation and left him in the army. And, becoming a pilot, he became a military pilot.

Since September 1927, he has been studying and at the same time serving as a detachment commander at the Serpukhov School of Air Combat, at the 3rd VSHL and LN (military school for pilots and letnabs). He is no longer a flight commander, but a squad leader. In October 1927, the Serpukhov Higher School of Air Combat was transferred to Orenburg. Detachment commanders were usually appointed old experienced pilots. The appointment of Ryazanov, a pilot with little more experience, indicated that his flying skills were growing rapidly. He worked hard, methodically, enthusiastically, and it bore fruit. He gains authority as a pilot, becomes famous among aviators. He, along with other school staff, settles in a new place, conducts organizational work, teaches cadets and, as always, constantly studies himself. He works hard, improving and improving his skills. He loves to fly. And every flight brings something new.

Gradually, he becomes one of the best pilots in the army, and, therefore, in the country. Before the war, a stamp was even issued with his portrait. Ryazanov is studying at the advanced training courses for commanding staff (KUNS) at the Air Force Academy. Zhukovsky, created to train the leadership of the Air Force. Since April 1930 he has been at the 8th military pilot school in Odessa. Here he serves as a squadron commander and commissar.

"Propeller, sing a song louder,

Carrying spread wings!

For eternal peace

To the last fight

Fly, steel squadron!

In what worlds, in what spaces is Ryazanov's squadron flying now? The pilots are closer to the sky. Maybe they serve in the heavenly host? Soon all his pilots will fly there, on their last laps. The whole squadron then, probably, soon flew away to a mortal battle, and - a mortal battle - died.

Here Ryazanov met with many who later became famous aviators: V. Chkalov, M. Gromov, A. Anisimov, G. Baidukov, I. Mikheev, V. Kokkinaki. He would meet with Gromov and Baidukov during the war years.

By this time, his acquaintance and the beginning of friendship with Chkalov dates back. It even turned out they were related. They used to often meet in Leningrad. We met at the airport in Moscow, sat down to rest under a tree. When they started talking, it turned out that they not only studied at the same flight schools, but also fellow countrymen. Valery from Vysokov, near Sormovo. It was found out that Stepan Ivanovich Nekorkin was married to the sister of Ryazanov's mother, his aunt. And he is Chkalov's uncle. It turned out that Uncle Chkalov was also the godfather of Vasily Ryazanov, as it is written in the register of births for 1901. Since then, they began to call them "bros."

They discussed many problems with Chkalov, with whom they were friends with families, coming to visit each other. There they talk for hours about what they love. They share experience, recall the features of various aircraft, details of flights, make plans for the future, discussing the possibilities of their implementation. They argue heatedly, drawing different schemes. In such conversations, Chkalov's aphorisms were born: “Wave around the ball!”, “If to be, then be the first”. And they were similar in character.

The authority and skill of Vasily the aviator grew along with aviation. If at the beginning of the 20th century, when Vasily was born, aviation was born, and in his childhood, which coincided with childhood aircraft, the science of them and the art of flying, was exotic fun, then already in the 30s, when Vasily matured, he became a serious pilot and commander: brigade commander, colonel, this is not a joke, aviation itself has gone far from the romantic aspirations of the first pilots, turning into area of ​​industry, direction of science, business area, military force, policy levers. A person learns nature, uses it for his own purposes, but does he change himself? On the very first day of the war, Ryazanov wrote a statement asking him to be sent to the front in the army. The main tasks that aviation solved were to deliver bombing strikes on enemy motorized mechanized units and to cover troops.

Ryazanov paid a lot of attention to the training of flight personnel. Even then, in a very tense situation, before sending or personally leading pilots on a combat mission, Ryazanov without fail played this task with them using the “foot-to-flight” method. The commander listened to the opinions of the pilots, agreed with them in some ways, and objected to something. But he argued, substantiating and proving his opinion. Thorough preparation for each flight on the ground remained an unshakable rule for Ryazanov until the very end of the war in 1945. Later, this was supplemented by the adjustment of the task already in flight and control from the ground and the provision of freedom of choice of battle formations to the leaders, allowing them to modify decisions according to circumstances. And in his extended autobiography in 1947, Vasily Georgievich wrote: "Before the Great Patriotic War, experience was gained mainly in the training and education of pilots and commanders for military aviation." Now this experience is in great demand.

For the skillful leadership of the division in the fight against enemy tanks, Ryazanov was awarded the Order of the Red Star. In 1947, in his extended autobiography, Vasily Georgievich wrote: “During the period of the Great Patriotic War, it so happened that more had to participate in offensive operations and less in defensive ones. Even in the autumn of 1941, commanding an air division, he participated in an offensive operation to liberate the city of Rostov. Ryazanov flew on sorties, led his pilots, showed examples of successful destructive attacks, acted on the principle: do as I do. But he was increasingly overcome by doubts about the effectiveness and fruitfulness of such a command. On March 22, 1942, Ryazanov was awarded the rank of Major General of Aviation. The original telegram dated March 28, 1942 has been preserved: "Colonel Ryazanov. Hand over immediately. We warmly congratulate you on the assignment of the military rank of Major General of Aviation. We deeply believe and are convinced that you will fully devote your knowledge, acquired combat experience, your inexhaustible energy to achieve our sacred goal - the defeat of German fascism, the great cause of the armed defense of our motherland. From the bottom of our hearts we wish you and your combat units new successes. Falaleev, Bragin, Shkurin. He received the second (and last for him) general rank of lieutenant general on February 17, 1943. Several newspaper notes from May 1942, describing the exploits of the pilots, have been preserved, where it is noted: “... the pilots commanded by TTs especially distinguished themselves. Ryazanov and Borisenko", and in one: "... the pilots commanded by Comrade Ryazanov especially distinguished themselves".

Ryazanov continued to continuously study on his own, studying literature in the most unsuitable conditions for this, creatively comprehending his rich experience, adopting everything new and worthy of imitation from the experience of others. About erudition and high culture Ryazanov was remembered by many former attack aircraft at a meeting of veterans of the 1st GIIIAK, held in August 1982 in Moscow. Memories of him were full of epithets: brave, charming, strong-willed, sharp, fearless. At the CP, Ryazanov was always strict and resolute. His composure increased if shelling began or other danger threatened. The assignment of the task to the pilots was made short, clear, concise and clear, decisions were made instantly. He never tried to create comfortable working conditions, being content with the bare necessities (and often there was not even that). The main thing was business.

Ryazanov possessed an outstanding pedagogical talent and an amazing inner tact. Like any ability to communicate with people, it was, above all, a talent for humanity. He knew how to educate his subordinates. The corps became dear to him, he loved his soldiers and officers, while not deviating from strict subordination, not allowing familiarity, and his subordinates answered him with love and respect. Talgat Begeldinov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, wrote in his book "Ilys are attacking": "... the corps commander - a man whom I deeply respected, moreover, I loved like my own father. From the first to last day During the war, he was my highest boss, demanding, sometimes ruthlessly strict, but always attentive and fair.

The setting of tasks by Ryazanov, as everyone who worked with him recalls, was almost always done in an atmosphere of joint reflection on the upcoming operation, in an atmosphere of creativity and collective thinking. This applied to divisional commanders, but the best options were often recognized and then implemented by the ideas proposed by regimental commanders and even ordinary pilots.

The most striking feature of Ryazanov, as a leader, was his humanity, the ability to find an individual approach to everyone, a rare talent to recognize the essence of a person, his strengths and weaknesses, innermost dreams and thoughts, everything that is in his soul and for soul. From the very beginning, he either completely accepted people and then helped them in everything, trying to support them in any way he could, or he did not accept and tried to get rid of such a subordinate at the first opportunity.

Forty years after the war, almost every surviving officer or soldier from the corps carefully kept in his memory some story connected with Ryazanov's interested attitude towards him. One recalled how he stood at the banner and Ryazanov talked with him for a long time after the shift, the other flew with Ryazanov, the third prepared the plane for him, the fourth remembered how Ryazanov specially stopped the car to ask him about business, advise something, the fifth he helped to study at the conservatory after the war, etc. However, he never allowed familiarity. He always demanded the strictest observance of discipline, uniforms, severely scolded and punished for the slightest violation.

A.I. Mitrofanov recalled: “... not only the combat successes of the corps, but also the great talent of its commander, who knew how to organize all the work in a difficult situation full of combat surprises ... Ryazanov followed with our ground troops. One involuntarily wants to note that all the places where he organized his advanced command posts were invariably very risky and dangerous. But everywhere he was accompanied by amazing luck. His decisiveness and severity often decided for him where he could think. And no one could put the pilots in the air so briefly and clearly. This was his special quality, inherent in a person who knows how to instantly decide. One more thing. For him, there were no difficult "non-general" conditions. He could be content with very little and simple things. The main thing was business. And he did not spare himself for him.

Charm and exactingness naturally combined in him. Ryazanov's sincerity and frankness bribed people. So, Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Andreevich Filatov recalled that Ryazanov never underestimated the degree of complexity of the task and sometimes, sending him on reconnaissance, directly said that he was sending him almost to death "And rightly so!", - Filatov argued. In other cases, the openness and honesty of the commander attracted subordinates to him. The pilots recall that, arriving at the regiment, Ryazanov did not ask the technicians and mechanics to leave, but talked with them and consulted with them. Those proud of the trust placed in them worked tirelessly.

Soldiers, pilots, staff officers, the entire staff of the corps loved Ryazanov, knowing that he was strict but fair. Subordinates loved the commander sincerely. Even in those actions in which servility, flattery bordering on sycophancy is usually manifested, they sincerely showed natural pride in the success of their leader, rejoiced at his achievements, the reflected light from which fell on them. So, K.A. Beloded recalls how the corps headquarters received a telegram announcing that Vasily Georgievich had been awarded the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union. We received the telegram at night and decided to arrange a solemn meeting for Ryazanov. The command of the divisions was summoned to the headquarters of the corps, and the slogans "Long live twice Hero of the Soviet Union V. G. Ryazanov" were written! When Ryazanov walked from his apartment to the headquarters of the corps, the chief of staff of the corps, Pervov, lined up the officers of the headquarters of the corps and the command of the divisions. On the right flank is the guards banner of the corps. At the command "Attention!" Pervov congratulated Ryazanov on the high award.

You should have seen, - Beloded said, - tears in his eyes and joyful faces. Moreover, emotions were openly and sincerely expressed by everyone. Everyone was heartily happy for the commander.

He refused higher appointments, seeing his task in ensuring that the corps entrusted to his command fought as best as possible. Vasily Georgievich worked hard and intensively all his life. After the war, he happened to live 6 years and 2 months. But even this time turned out to be filled with work, although twice the Hero could relax and rest. But times have changed again.

Leading from the 1st gshak Hero of the Soviet Union A.A. Devyatyarov in his book "The Earth Under the Wing" recalled how in early August 1945 V.G. Ryazanov organized in Baden near Vienna, where the headquarters of the corps was located at that time, a solemn meeting of all the Heroes of the Soviet Union corps and its leadership with a group of artists from Moscow theaters. “Do not forget how General V.G. Ryazanov with the artist of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR Ivanov got up and sang the song of Russian sailors “Varyag”. It is impossible to convey in words the power of its impact on the hearts of listeners. You had to experience it yourself. The song has become a lifelong favorite. I sing it with the deepest emotion at meetings with fellow front-line soldiers. Perhaps the secret of such an impact is that "Varyag" was Vasily Georgievich's favorite song. His father participated in the Russo-Japanese War when Vasily was still very young, but then, probably, he often told his son about it. At the same evening, Ryazanov made a big speech, where he summed up the combat work of the corps. According to eyewitnesses, it was an unforgettable speech. Unfortunately, the text was not recorded. main role, probably played the oratorical talent of Ryazanov.

Elsewhere, A.A. Devyatyarov wrote: “I will never forget the sincerity of General V.G. Ryazanov, with what warmth he received Fedya and me when we arrived in Rogan. All the time we, the hosts, were on special account with Ryazanov. He knew the inclinations of each of us, and in on the flight, disregarding the rules of conspiracy, called each presenter by name, instead of the number assigned to him.

And how paternally he treated me, a pilot-officer, when in January 1946 I medical board did not allow flight work.

Vasily Georgievich Ryazanov - Lieutenant General of Aviation, commander of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Kirovograd-Berlin Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Corps. It is noteworthy that during the war years 103 people (!) From Ryazanov's corps were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, seven of them - twice. Marshals and generals, colonels and captains, sergeants and privates - they all gave everything they could. Ryazanov, probably, was more prepared. He had more in him, and he could give more too. In addition, Ryazanov was somewhat ahead of his time. For example, he constantly studied all his life, and for him such training became a necessity.

Conclusion

Everyone chooses their own destiny and becomes what they want to become. Some people like to lie on their side, and they do it all their lives. Someone wants to become an athlete and a singer, for example, and is doing something in these areas. If Gagarin and Ryazanov wanted to become politicians or something else, they would not have gone into aviation. These people, having once chosen their path, did not turn off it, but put all their efforts to achieve their goal - to become a Man with a capital letter .. And we, the younger generation, must remember and honor the memory of these great people so as not to become Ivans of kinship not remembering.

In the course of working on the topic, we worked through the relevant literature, conducted a survey, which showed that the guys still dream of becoming pilots and astronauts, so we believe that we managed to draw attention to the study of the history of our country, our native land through acquaintance with life and the achievements of the great people of the era of Yu.A. Gagarin and V.G. Ryazanov.

Bibliography

• Yu.A.Gagarin. Road to space. M., Military Publishing House, 1981, 336 pages.
• A.T.Gagarina Memory of the heart. M., APN, 1986, 224 pages.
• Ya.K.Golovanov Our Gagarin. M., Progress, 1978, 332 pages.
• Ya.K. Golovanov Cosmonaut No. 1. M., Izvestia, 1986, 80 pages.
• Soviet and Russian cosmonauts. 1960-2000. Directory. M., News of Cosmonautics, 2001, 408 pages.
• V.I. Gagarin 108 minutes and the whole life. - M .: "Young Guard", 1986
• BL Stolyarzh You know what kind of guy he was. M.: Physical culture and sport, 2004.
• Website of the Federal Space Agency. Section dedicated to Yu.A. Gagarin. Domain names: Roscosmos.rf, http://www.roscosmos.ru/, www.federalspace.ru
• Budakov A.D. The battle path of General Ryazanov // For the Fatherland, freedom and honor: essays on the Heroes of the Soviet Union - Gorky. Book. one.-

· Gorky, 1961.- P.298-307 Gorky in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 //ed.-comp. E.E. Zvonareva, I.V. Sidorova.- Gorky:

· Prokhorova G.F. On the main street of the village // Working Balakhna. - 2006.

· Ryazanov V.G. How to beat the enemy: (from publications of the war years) // Working Balakhna. - 1974. - February 23.

Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich // Heroes of the Soviet Union - Gorky residents. - Gorky, 1981. - P.226-227

· Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich // Gorky in the Great Patriotic War: a dictionary-reference book. - Gorky: Volga-Vyatka book. publishing house, 1990.- S.270-271

Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich // Kashichkin V. Sormovichi - Heroes of the Soviet Union. - N. Novgorod, 1996. - P. 121-136

QUESTIONNAIRE

Please answer the following questions:

1. What do you know about cosmonaut Yu.A. Gagarin? About Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant General of Aviation V.G. Ryazanov?

2. Would you like to know more about these people?

3. Do you dream of becoming pilots or astronauts in the future? Why?

Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich(01/25/1901 - 07/08/1951), was born into a family of a hereditary peasant on January 25, 1901 in the village of Bolshoe Kozino (now the Balakhna district of the Nizhny Novgorod region). Russian by nationality.
In 1916 he graduated from elementary school and worked for some time in Sormov. After the October Revolution, he taught at an elementary school in his native village, from here in 1920, at the age of nineteen, he joined the Red Army.
From 1920 to 1924 he studied at the Ya. M. Sverdlov Communist University in Moscow. In 1926 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk military school for pilots, served in aviation units, commanded a flight and an air squadron. In 1931 he completed advanced training courses for the Air Force command staff at the Air Force Academy, and in 1935, the operational department at the same academy.
In 1932-33. served and commanded an air squadron in the squadron Military School of Special Services of the Air Force of the Red Army (current TVVAIURE).

Since 1935, he was in the Air Force Administration, was the commander of an aviation brigade, then in teaching at the Air Force Academy.

Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.

During the Great Patriotic War, Ryazanov V.G. was:
- Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the 5th Army (1941);
- commander of the 76th air division (1941-1942);
- Commander of the maneuvering group of the Air Force of the South-Western Front and the 2nd Fighter Aviation Army (1942).

In 1942 Ryazanova V.G. appointed commander of the 1st assault aviation corps. The corps under the command of Ryazanov fought on the Kalinin and Voronezh fronts, on the Kursk Bulge, and was directly involved in the destruction of the enemy's Korsun-Shevchenko group.

February 22, 1944 for high skill in command and control of parts of the aviation corps in battles, skillful organization of interaction with ground forces during the crossing of the Dnieper and personal heroism to the commander of the 1st assault aviation corps (5th air army, Steppe Front), Lieutenant General of Aviation Ryazanov V.G. awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1944, the Aviation Corps was awarded the title guards. During the war years, 100 attack pilots of this corps were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, seven of them twice.

June 2, 1945 for distinction in battles at the turn of the Vistula River and during the defeat of the enemy’s Czestochowa-Radom grouping in January 1945, the commander of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps (2nd Air Army, 1st Ukrainian Front) of the Guard, Lieutenant General of Aviation Ryazanov V.G. was awarded the second medal "Gold Star" with assignment title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Pilots of the corps of Lieutenant General Ryazanov V.G. during the war years, they made more than 58 thousand sorties, destroyed: 3770 tanks, 21200 vehicles, 633 field artillery batteries, 94 anti-aircraft batteries, 54 railway echelons, 400 various warehouses, 1166 enemy aircraft and many other military equipment.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich commanded an aviation corps, and then an air army. Using his extensive combat experience, he trained Soviet aviators. He was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR, as well as a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Ryazanov V.G. awarded: 2 orders of Lenin, 3 orders of the Red Banner, orders of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree, Suvorov 2nd degree, Red Star, Soviet medals, foreign orders.

Ryazanov Vasily Georgievich died on July 8, 1951, was buried in Kiev, at the Lukyanovsky military cemetery.