Mikhail Baranov, a Soviet fighter ace credited with 31 individual aerial victories, was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1942. He was killed in a flying accident in January 1943.
Mikhail Dmitrievich Baranov (October 21, 1921 — January 17, 1943) was one of the leading Soviet fighter aces of World War II. Officially credited with 31 individual aerial victories, he gained a reputation as one of the Red Air Force's most effective pilots during 1942. His combat achievements earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but his career was cut short by his death at the age of only twenty-one.
Baranov had completed his pilot training before the German invasion of the Soviet Union and entered combat in June 1941. During the difficult first year of the war, he quickly established himself as a skilled fighter pilot. By October 1941, he had already claimed five enemy aircraft, and his success in combat led to two awards of the Order of the Red Banner. In August 1942, he received the title Hero of the Soviet Union in recognition of his outstanding combat record.
One of Baranov's best-known actions took place on August 6, 1942, during fighting near Kotelnikovo. He shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and one Junkers Ju 87. After exhausting his ammunition, he deliberately carried out an aerial ramming attack against another German fighter, forcing him to bail out. Baranov himself survived the collision and returned to service after recovering from his injuries.
Fellow pilots remembered Baranov for his aggressive style of air combat. He often closed to very short range before opening fire, relying on accurate shooting rather than long-distance attacks. This approach reflected the growing confidence and improving tactics of Soviet fighter aviation during 1942, when experienced pilots increasingly challenged the Luftwaffe for control of the skies.
On January 17, 1943, Baranov was killed when his aircraft crashed during a flight, reportedly following a mechanical failure. Although his life ended early, he remains one of the notable Soviet fighter pilots of the Second World War, remembered for both his combat record and his determination in the air.
Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Unknown
📍 Location: USSR
📅 Date of photo: 1942
📷 Photographer: Unknown
Recommended literature:
- George Mellinger — Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2
- Christer Bergström — Black Cross / Red Star
- Von Hardesty & Ilya Grinberg — Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941–1945
- Soviet fighter ace
- Mikhail Baranov
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Soviet Air Force
- Eastern Front aviation
- Yak-1 fighter
- World War II fighter pilots
- Aerial ramming attack
- Luftwaffe air combat
- Soviet aviation history