Biography
On May 9, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War was celebrated. But, unfortunately, the raging pandemic of coronavirus infection contributed here its unpleasant adjustments. "Immortal Regiment", for obvious reasons, first took place in the online format, and the traditional parade on Red Square moved for a month and a half later. But this did not prevent all involved to congratulate veterans and recall the feats of the fallen, among which the Hero of the Soviet Union Catherine Zelenko.Childhood and youth
In 1916, the large peasant family Zelenko was replenished with the tenth of the child - the daughter of Katya. Father Ivan was from the village of Veliko-Mikhailovskoye Kursk Region, and Natalia's mother (in Majmisov's Majmik) came from Nazaria, located near Kostroma.
Historical sources, coming in a year, put forward opposite opinions about the date. Some called February 23, others - September 14, the third pointed to the unknown number of November. The place of appearance on the light of them was the Ukrainian village of Koroschin (Koroshin, Keregoshino, Keregsen, or Corrs). Although, on the memories of one of the close relatives, the girl came to this world in Kursk.
As a child, the future hero of the Soviet Union loved to spend his free time, deftly Laza in trees with older brothers and boldly jumping "with a parachute", that is, with an expanded umbrella, from the roof of the chlev on the ground. I studied 7 years in an incomplete secondary school number 3 (according to other data, No. 10), a girl in Voronezh, where the move was subsequently held, eagerly attended the local actuator and gnawed the granite of science in the technical school at the aircraft factor.
In November 1933, a commission from the 3rd Orenburg Military Aviation School of Pilots and Observer pilots named Vorashilov for the selection of the best cadets arrived in the city. Among the latter, there was also capable, penetrating and enduring Zelenko, who went on the Komsomol ticket to this institution, which eventually graduated with honors.
At the end of 1934, she became a military pilot and on the distribution fell into the 19th light bombarding aviation brigade of Kharkov. Here, besides the mandatory storming of the sky, served to experience new aircraft and equipment. For 4 years, Ekaterina has mastered 7 types of aircraft. Such a zeal is not left unnoticed by the commander Nikolai Kamanin, which gave the warehouse characteristic:
"Volisky qualities are well developed. Energetic. Decisive. Personal fire preparation is good. Subordinate can transmit their knowledge ... confidently flies on aircraft U-2, P-1, P-5, P-10, UT-1, UT-2. A senior lieutenant is worthy of assigning the military rank.With the relatives of Katya supported the relationship up to the tragic death. Her letters to the sister Sofye were preserved, where the author described how the war began to violate her plans to boil in summer camps from strawberries, asked not to worry about her and not forget.
Personal life
For the summer of 1941 Katya and Paul Ignatenko pinned great hopes: the couple decided to enter into a legitimate marriage. Selected in May of the same year entered the Nikolai Zhukovsky Air Force Academy and went to Moscow, so the painting was appointed during his study holidays.Lovers have long been in relationships and even managed to cope with the tragedy in their personal life. The first pregnancy for the bride ended sadly: unfortunately, one of the twins was born dead, and the second son lived only 12 hours. On June 22, the girl wrote the fiance - captain, commander of the 4th squadron:
"Pasha, my anyone! Today I go to the front, wish me good luck. I know Pasha that the war will be a harsh test for me, but I am confident in myself - I will carry out that I am going through any difficulties. I have never been afraid of them and I'm not afraid ... Your Katyusha. "He immediately filed a report on the direction of him to the operating army and returned to the native 135th bombarding regiment. The wedding celebration still took place - in August, between departures, in a large tent of the battalion of the airfield service directly at the runway. The spouses fought side by side, but fate turned out to be especially strict on them: both were not returned from the war.
Service in aviation
To the Great Patriotic War, he also managed to become the only pilot woman who fought in the Soviet-Finnish war, despite the fact that the representatives of the fine floor did not take there. Ukrainian was helped by the unclean name, which did not give the floor volunteer in the report.
As part of the 3rd squadron of the 11th chamber-bombarding aviation regiment, then she made eight combat departures, destroyed the artillery battery and the Enemy's ammunition warehouse, for which he received the first reward from Mikhail Kalinin. Rightfully returned to the native 1940 brigade, since the end of the spring of 1940, Catherine was in the 135th bombardment regiment, where later was a deputy commander of the 5th squadron.
From the first days of hostilities, she did not shy away from battles, fulfilled 40 combat assignments (including night) and participated in 12 air dips. In July 1941 she was entrusted to the command of a group of bombers, eliminated in the region of propoysk up to 45 tanks, up to 20 cars and to the battalion of the opponent soldier.
Death
On September 12, 1941, on his SU-2, Zelenko made two intelligence departments. Unfortunately, her "Iron Bird" received noticeable damages demanding repairs.While the "dry two" was put in order, the deputy commander of the 135th air strike was returned to Berestovka, Captain Anatoly Pushkin, who told that Geinz Guderian's tanks moved to the Lochwits. This information was required to check.
Two aircraft went to the case, in one of which Catherine was sitting behind the steering wheel. Unfortunately, on the way back in the area of Romna, seven German ME-109 attacked them. The first Soviet aircraft enemies managed to beat, and he left the battle.
The fearless Ukrainian was rapidly ended by the guests, but she did not think to retreat, hit the "Messer" and decided on the second air ram. There was no chance of like, as well as the pilot itself.
Senior Lieutenant buried in the center of Anastasia Sumy region, the remains later moved to Kursk. Pilot posthumously presented to the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, but the highest state award was assigned only in the 1990s.
Memory
- Aeroclub Voronezh named after E. I. Zelenko
- Annual volleyball tournament among schoolchildren of the Zhytomyr region in honor of E. I. Zelenko
- Monuments in Berestovka, Kursk and Anastasia (at the site of the aircraft)
- Streets Catherine Zelenko in Kursk, Voronezh, Romny, Sumy
- Small Planet Solar System (number 1900) Katyusha in honor of Catherine Zelenko
- Memorial Plank in Kursk at home number 23 on Gorky Street, where she lived
- Museums Catherine Zelenko in Anastasia and Kursk
- In honor of Zelenko, a dry cargo ship was called
Awards
- 1940 - Order of the Red Banner
- 1941 - Order of Lenin (posthumously)
- 1990 - Medal "Golden Star" Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously)