“I wish I could have met him.” Those might have been the words of someone who knew Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin. This plaque commemorates his life. It marks a place where he lived from 1940 to 1953.
Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin was no ordinary man. He was a general. He was also a decorated aviation officer. Khryukin was born in 1910 in the town of Yeysk. It is in the Krasnodar region.
His early life was difficult. From the age of eight he worked. He served wealthy Cossacks. Later he worked as a loader. He also worked as a stoker in a railway depot. At 15 he began studying at night school.
Khryukin joined the Komsomol in 1926. He became secretary of the Kanevsky district Komsomol committee. After graduating he entered the agricultural Institute. He then joined the Lugansk aviation school. He graduated in 1933.
Khryukin fought in Spain. He also fought against the Japanese in China. For his bravery he received the Order of the Red Banner.
In August 1938 Khryukin went to China. He commanded a bomber squadron. He also commanded an aviation group. His planes bombed Japanese positions. He personally flew over 100 missions.
Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin received the title Hero of the Soviet Union. This was for his service strengthening the Soviet Union’s defenses. It was also for his help to the Chinese people. This was in their fight against Japanese militarists.
He commanded the Air Force of the 14th Army. He also served as Deputy Inspector General. In June 1941 he commanded the Air Force of the 12th Army.
During World War II Khryukin commanded air forces on various fronts. Under his command Soviet pilots fought near Kharkov. They fought near Stalingrad. Also near Rostov-on-Don and in Crimea. Khryukin helped organize the defense of the skies.
In July 1944 Khryukin commanded the 1st Air Army. It was part of the 3rd Belorussian Front. His forces helped liberate Belarus and the Baltics. They also fought in East Prussia.
After the war Khryukin continued to serve. He was Deputy Commander for Combat Training. Then he commanded the 7th Air Army. Later he commanded the Baku region’s Air Defense forces.
Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin died in Moscow in 1953. He is buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery. His legacy lives on. Streets in several cities bear his name. Memorial plaques honor him.