Golovachev, Pavel

Born Dec. 2(15). 1917, in the village of Koshelevo, now in Gomel’ Oblast. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Nov. 1, 1943, and June 29, 1945). Air force major general (1957). Member of the CPSU since 1943.

Golovachev was born into the family of a poor peasant. He enlisted in the Soviet Army in 1938 and graduated from a military school for aviators in 1940. During the Great Patriotic War he took part in battles on the Southwestern, Stalingrad. Southern, Fourth Ukrainian. First Byelorussian, and Third Byelorussian fronts as a pilot and flight and squadron commander in the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. Golovachev flew more than 450 combat missions, fought in 125 air battles, and personally shot down 26 enemy aircraft. He was wounded four times. After the war he graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1951 and from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1959. He has been awarded two Orders of Lenin, six Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War First Class, two Orders of the Red Star, and various medals.