Talalikhin, Viktor Vasilevich

Born Sept. 18, 1918, in the village of Teplovka, Vol’sk Raion, Saratov Oblast; died Oct. 27, 1941, near Podol’sk. Soviet aviator; junior lieutenant (1938). Hero of the Soviet Union (Aug. 8, 1941).

Talalikhin, the son of a worker, graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School for Pilots in 1938. He fought in the Russo-Finnish War of 1939–40. During the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), he was second in command of a squadron of the 177th Fighter Regiment. On Aug. 6, 1941, Talalikhin, over the approaches to Moscow, was the first to down an enemy bomber by ramming in a night air battle. He downed five more enemy airplanes in subsequent battles. Talalikhin perished heroically in an air battle in October 1941.

In 1960 a bronze monument to Talalikhin was erected in the city of Podol’sk. In 1948, Talalikhin was permanently enrolled in the 1st Squadron of the Air Regiment. Talalikhin was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, and the Red Star. He is buried in Novodevichii Cemetery in Moscow.