Kirill Yevstigneev

Military Hero

Evstigneev Kirill

My hero is Kirill Alexeevich Evsigneev. Kirill Evstigneev  was a famous Soviet pilot and twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

He was born on February 4, 1917 in the village of the Kurgan region in a peasant family.  He graduated from the railway school. After school he worked at a factory and studied at the aero club.

In 1939 Kirill  Evstigneev was enrolled to the Red Army. Since 1943 he took part in the Second World War.

His first victory was gained in the sky over the Kursk  in July 7, 1943. He brought down  ten enemy bombers. Next day he fought against the 9-dive Ju.87 and again shot down the leader. On the same day he shot down another "Junkers". On July 9, Evstigneev knocked Bf.109; on July 13 and on July 16 - again, one by one, "Messer".  And so on until August.

In the air battle over Belgorod he was shot down. He was heavily wounded in both legs. A month later he went back to the Squadron to carry out a combat mission. At first he got on the plane on crutches. In November 1943 Lieutenant  Evstegneev made 144 sorties, shot down 23 enemy aircraft

On August 2, 1944 Senior Lieutenant Kirill Evstigneev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for courage, bravery and heroism in the fight against the German aggressors.

Then he participated in other offensive operations. By the end of the war his account was 227 combat sorties, 114 combat, 46 aircraft shot down by himself and three in the group.

On  February 23, 1945 the squadron commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment Captain Kirill Evstigneev was awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union.