Pilot Kamozin Pavel Mikhailovich biography. Generals, counts and captain kamozin

Kamozin Pavel Mikhailovich

Pavel Kamozin was born in the city of Bezhitsa, which today is part of Bryansk. After graduating from 6 classes, he entered the FZU, and in 1934, while working as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant, he achieved admission to the flying club. As one of the most gifted accountants, he was left there as an instructor pilot. In 1938, he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation Pilot School.

The front-line fate of this pilot was bright and unique, like the fate of any great warrior. In its “twisting”, the intrigue of his military life sometimes resembles the plot of an exciting adventure film.

According to his comrades, Kamozin was an exceptionally modest man, small in stature, and very shy by nature. He used to come to the dining room and sit quietly in a corner. He sits and waits for the waitress to notice him. He himself will never dare to call her. But in the air, he was a brave pilot who knew no fear.

His comrades loved and respected Pavel Mikhailovich, and there was not a person in the regiment who did not admire his combat skills. He somehow fought air battles with a special boldness and assertiveness and always won victories. Enemy pilots quickly recognized his handwriting, shuddering at the thought of meeting an aerial sniper.

Kamozin met the war in units of the Kyiv Special Military District. On June 23, he made his first combat flight on an I-16 plane and was wounded in the foot. As part of his unit, he was sent to retrain on the new LaGG-3 fighter, and again his graceful, error-free piloting did not go unnoticed: Kamozin was appointed instructor. He had a chance to return to the front only a year later. He was appointed flight commander.

His commanding authority has strengthened. His subordinates saw him as a person they could rely on in difficult times. During the first month of fighting, Pavel shot down 4 enemy aircraft. Several times he had the opportunity to fly out on combat missions together with Dmitry Karalash - a famous pre-war test pilot, a brave air fighter who earned the title of Hero during the war. Soviet Union and died in one of the battles. Pavel Kamozin liked to repeat the words of Lieutenant Colonel Kalarash: “A pilot must have a heart of steel, then even with a wooden seat back he will not flinch in battle.” That was Pavel Kamozin himself...

Soon after the significant battle, Kamozin was appointed deputy squadron commander in the 296th Fighter Aviation Regiment. After heavy fighting, the regiment, which had lost a significant part of its military equipment, was sent to the rear for reorganization. And then the fighting began again.

Junior Lieutenant Kamozin carried out combat missions not only to cover our attack aircraft and ground troops. He was also a good intelligence officer. During combat work there was no case when the data delivered to him was not confirmed.

The pilot's skill grew rapidly, and soon Kamozin was entrusted with command of the squadron. His military glory increased in the battles for the liberation of Sevastopol. The squadron he commanded destroyed 63 enemy aircraft in the hot Crimean skies. Personally, Pavel Kamozin shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, courage, courage and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, junior lieutenant Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozinawarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal

Pavel Kamozin accomplished many feats during the war. Operational duty officer of the Southern Front headquarters, instructor pilot, flight commander, deputy squadron commander, squadron commander - this is his service record from the beginning of the war until May 1, 1943, when Kamozin was awarded the title for military meritsHero of the Soviet Union.

In the summer of 1943, being one of the first in the reserve regiment to master new technology (the R-39 Airacobra fighter), Pavel obtained permission to go to the front. He was assigned to the 66th Aviation Regiment (329th Fighter Division, 4th Air Force) and soon new battles began. On the very first combat mission in the new regiment, on a new Airacobra, Kamozin shoots down the FW-189 - a “frame” hanging over the front edge, while his plane was seriously damaged by fierce anti-aircraft artillery fire, and the pilot landed it on neutral, right next to the trenches of your military outpost...

His talent was especially evident in the battles for Crimea. In the battles for Sevastopol alone, the pilots of his squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 19 of which were chalked up by the squadron commander.

At the end of 1943, in a heavy battle over Kerch, he destroyed 2 enemy fighters. The second plane was shot down while the car was on fire. At low altitude, Kamozin left the plane, tearing the pilot ring on the parachute, and a few seconds later fell into cold water. He swam out and was picked up by sailors.

Only more than 3 months later, after the liberation of Crimea, it became known that there were 18 German generals on board the plane shot down by Kamozin. They carried with them Iron Crosses, which were to be awarded to the most distinguished warriors. But instead of the planned New Year's celebrations and awards, it turned out to be mourning. According to village residents, for a whole week the Germans wore black armbands...

With stunning, daring attacks, Captain Kamozin often caught his opponents by surprise. He was fluent in piloting technique and knew how to choose the most advantageous one from any aerobatic maneuver at the right moment. At times it seemed that the target itself fell under its striking routes.

With every day of the war, Kamozin’s combat and command experience was enriched, but he was still distinguished by his modesty and hard work. He sought to use the slightest opportunity to improve his flying and fire skills. How many times has it helped Kamozin and his comrades in battle! Pavel's comrades recalled how he once saved Lieutenant Toichkin from imminent death. The young pilot did not notice how the Messer came up behind him. A second, another - and Toichkin’s plane will fly to the ground, engulfed in flames. But the enemy’s targeted burst did not follow: at the last moment the fascist was shot down by Pavel Kamozin. For this feat the pilot was awardedorder Patriotic War 1st degree.

There were failures in his life. I had to “drop” a downed fighter into the sea, “pull” a car engulfed in flames behind the front line to the location of my troops, and simply fall along with the car after an engine failure... Anything could happen. The enemy was strong and cunning, victories were not easy. But Pavel knew how to draw the right conclusions from any success or failure, analyze the current situation and choose the right decisions that would allow him to successfully defeat the enemy.

The army newspaper "Wings of the Soviets" called on its pages:

“Fighter, fight like Pavel Kamozin! Why does Kamozin fight more successfully than others, what is his strength? It lies in the swiftness of the attack. The pilot who is the first to notice the enemy has a chance of winning in battle. Kamozin understands this very well. His keen eye is always seeks and finds the enemy first. This is how a brave pilot creates an advantage over the enemy.”

The newspaper explained that a skillful search for a target, of course, does not mean victory. As you know, she doesn’t come on her own. It is won by Pavel Kamozin thanks to another remarkable quality - attacking skill. Persistence in achieving a goal, audacity, exceptional fire accuracy, skillful maneuver - this is what ensures success for a brave fighter pilot.

Pavel Kamozin was always faithful to the proven rule of the ace fighter: he hit the enemy at close range, with a short aimed burst. He did not scare the Nazis, but shot them point-blank.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 1, 1944, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awardedthe second medal "Gold Star".

In one of the last air battles, Pavel Kamozin found himself in an exceptionally difficult position. He alone had to enter the battle and fight with a group of FW-190 fighters. But even in this situation, Kamozin did not defend, but attacked, attacked. The Soviet pilot survived the unequal battle and emerged victorious, having shot down 2 Fokkers.

I remember once they replaced his four. We approach the front line. From the guidance station they report: “Kamozin, pay attention. A couple of Messovs have taken off.” “Okay, let them go.” Then there is silence. We approach, gain altitude, have established contact with the guidance station. We hear: “Pasha, look, the thin one is coming.” ". - “I see, let him come in.” And not another word. Usually there are some commands in battle, but here it’s quiet. I look where he walks, I don’t see any planes yet - it’s still far away. A minute and a half passes, and I hear him say: “There, the “thin one” is burning. I came in, you understand...” And that’s all. That’s when I saw the smoke trail myself. So calmly he took it off.

On January 20, 1945, during the next combat mission, due to a broken engine connecting rod, the engine of his Airacobra stalled, and the car fell to the ground, falling apart... Pavel found the strength to get out of the wreckage. From the injuries received in this accident , he was never able to fully recover. Doctors insisted on amputating his left leg, but inflexibility, courage and willpower allowed Kamozin to avoid this crippling operation.

He celebrated Victory Day in the hospital...

Fighting on the Southern, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian and other fronts, Guard Major P.M. Kamozin made about 200 sorties, won 49 victories in fierce air battles - he shot down 36 enemy aircraft personally and 13 in a group with his comrades. In the group - because he was not only an ace pilot, but also a commander who led young fighters into battle.

Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was born on July 16, 1917 in the city of Bezhitsa (now a district of Bryansk) into a working-class family.

In 1931, he graduated from the 6th grade of school and entered the factory school (FZU). After graduating from college, he worked as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant (now OJSC Bryansk Machine-Building Plant). In 1934 he began studying at the Bezhitsa flying club. In the Red Army since 1937. In 1938 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School of Pilots (now the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School), after which he worked as an instructor pilot.

Combat path in the Great Patriotic War

His first combat mission in the Great Patriotic War, flight commander, junior lieutenant P.M. Kamozin flew on June 23, 1941 on the I-16 fighter. In this battle he was wounded in the foot. After the hospital he worked at the headquarters of the 44th Fighter Division.

On August 5, 1941, he was cleared to fly by the medical board and served with the 275th Bomber Regiment until December 27, 1941.

From December 27, 1941 to October 1942 - pilot, then pilot-instructor of the 253rd reserve aviation regiment. During this time, he not only perfectly mastered the technique of piloting the LaGG-3 aircraft, but also taught and graduated 40 pilots.

After repeated requests, he was sent to the front. From October to December 1942 - flight commander in the 246th Fighter Aviation Regiment. In the very first air battle in the Tuapse direction, near the village, Shaumyan personally shot down 3 Nazi Me-109 F fighters. Also during October, a Do-217 bomber armed with four cannons and six machine guns was shot down.

From December 18, 1942 - deputy squadron commander of the 269th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Best of the day

By the end of March 1943, Junior Lieutenant Kamozin flew 82 combat missions to escort bombers, cover troops, reconnaissance and attack. In 23 air battles, he personally shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the courage and bravery shown in battles with the Nazi invaders.

After retraining for the Airacobra aircraft, he is assigned to the 66th Fighter Regiment of the 329th Fighter Division and soon becomes a squadron commander. In the battles for Sevastopol, the pilots of Kamozin’s squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 19 of which were shot down personally by the squadron commander.

On December 31, 1943, while returning from aerial reconnaissance, Kamozin discovered an enemy transport aircraft accompanied by a large number of fighters. He attacked him and knocked him down. 18 German generals who were heading to Sevastopol were killed on the plane.

On January 20, 1945, while performing a combat mission, he suffered an accident due to engine failure: the plane crashed, Kamozin was seriously injured and was in the hospital for a long time.

In total, during the Great Patriotic War, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin completed 186 sorties, conducted 90 air battles and personally shot down 35 enemy aircraft (Me-109 - 17, Yu-87 - 10, FV-190 - 2, Me-110 - 1, Do- 217 - 1, FV-189 - 1, Yu-88 - 1, Yu-52 - 1, Xe-111 - 1). He shot down 13 more planes as part of the group.

After the war, he worked in civil aviation from 1946. Lived in the city of Bryansk.

Awards

Medal "Golden Star" of Hero of the Soviet Union No. 1148

Gold Star medal of Hero of the Soviet Union No. 23

Order of Lenin

2 Orders of the Red Banner

Order of Alexander Nevsky

Order of the Patriotic War I degrees

Memory

Honorary citizen of Bryansk. One of the streets of the city bears the name of P. M. Kamozin. A Hero Museum has been opened in Bryansk secondary school No. 11. A bronze bust of Kamozin is installed at the Palace of Culture of Bryansk Mechanical Engineers.

16.7.1917 - 24.11.1983

Kamozin Pavel Mikhailovich - fighter pilot, deputy squadron commander of the 269th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 236th Fighter Aviation Division of the 5th Air Army of the North Caucasus Front; squadron commander of the 66th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 329th Fighter Aviation Division of the 4th Air Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front.

Born on July 3 (16), 1917 in the city of Bezhitsa (today a district of Bryansk) in a working-class family. Russian. In 1931 he graduated from 6 classes and entered the factory school (FZU), worked as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant (today Bryansk Machine-Building Plant OJSC), and from 1934 he studied at the flying club. In the Red/Soviet Army since 1937. In 1938 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation Pilot School. Member of the CPSU(b)/CPSU since 1943

The Great Patriotic War P.M. Kamozin met in the Kiev Special Military District, transformed into the Southwestern Front. He made his first combat mission in an I-16 fighter on the second day of the war, June 23, 1941. A wound to the foot was a sad result of the future air ace’s baptism of fire...

Together with his unit, he goes to retrain on LaGG fighters, becomes an instructor and returns to the front only a year later...

On his first combat flight as part of the 246th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 236th Fighter Aviation Division of the 5th Air Army of the Transcaucasian Front, flight commander, junior lieutenant P.M. Kamozin marked the victory. In an air battle in the Tuapse direction, near Shaumyan, he shot down a Nazi Messerschmitt Me-109 fighter, and in the first month of fighting he destroyed four enemy aircraft, including a Dornier bomber armed with four cannons and six machine guns. Do-217". The young pilot learns combat skills from such a virtuoso fighter as Major D.L. Kalarash, with whom he repeatedly flew on combat missions. And after his death, in November 1942, Kamozin shot down three Messerschmitts at once in one battle: two 109s and a 110...

By the end of April 1943, the deputy squadron commander of the 269th Fighter Aviation Regiment, junior lieutenant P.M. Kamozin. made 82 combat missions to escort bombers, cover troops, reconnaissance and attack. In 23 air battles, he personally shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 1, 1943, for the courage and bravery shown in battles with the Nazi invaders, Kamozin Pavel Mikhailovich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 1148).

While in the reserve regiment, senior lieutenant Kamozin P.M. masters the American P-39 Airacobra fighter, after which he is assigned to the 66th Fighter Regiment of the 329th Fighter Division of the 4th Air Force, where he soon becomes a squadron commander. In the very first battle in this regiment, piloting an “airacobra”, P.M. Kamozin shoots down a reconnaissance plane "Focke-Wulf" ("FW-189"), but his fighter also receives serious damage from the fire of enemy anti-aircraft guns, the brave pilot lands his plane in no man's land, near the trenches of the military outpost of the Soviet troops ...

In the battles for the city of Russian glory - Sevastopol, the pilots of the Kamozin squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 19 of which were chalked up by its commander. December 31, 1943 P.A. Kamozin and his wingman Ladykin flew out for reconnaissance. Returning to their airfield, in the area above the village of Seven Wells, they noticed a transport plane accompanied by six Me-109 fighters. Kamozin makes a decision - to attack on the move and rushes to the target at maximum speed, shooting down a transport plane with a burst of fire... When Crimea was liberated from the invaders, it became known that there were 18 German generals on board this plane, who were carrying awards and New Year's gifts for presentation to their soldiers and officers...

By mid-summer 1944, the squadron commander of the 66th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain Kamozin P.M. made his 131st successful combat mission, participated in 56 air battles, in which he personally shot down 29 enemy aircraft and 13 as part of a group.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 1, 1944, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 23).

On January 20, 1945, squadron commander of the 101st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain P.M. Kamozin. was performing another combat mission, but due to engine problems, the engine of his Airacobra stalled, and the fighter crashed to the ground... Fortunately, twice Hero of the Soviet Union P.M. Kamozin remained alive, but he never recovered from the injuries received in this accident... Captain Kamozin celebrated Victory Day of the Guard in the hospital.

During the war years P.M. Kamozin conducted about 200 combat missions, in 70 air battles he personally shot down 35 and 13 enemy aircraft in a group.

After the war, since 1946 P.M. Kamozin is in stock. He returned to his native Bryansk and worked in civil aviation. Conducted social work.

He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the 2nd Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, and many medals. He was awarded the title "Honorary Citizen of the City of Bryansk".

In the park near the Palace of Culture of Bryansk Mechanical Engineers there is a bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union P.M. Kamozin. (author - sculptor M.G. Manizer). One of the streets of the city of Bryansk bears his name. A Hero Museum has been opened in Bryansk secondary school No. 11.

Twice Hero of the Secular Union Kamozin Pavel Mikhailovich

Born on July 16, 1917 in the city of Bezhitsa (now within the boundaries of Bryansk), in a working-class family. Graduated from 6th grade in 1931. He worked as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant. Since 1937 in the ranks of the Red Army. In 1938 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Red Banner Military Aviation Pilot School named after. V. P. Chkalova.

Since June 1941, junior lieutenant P. M. Kamozin has been in the active army. Until November 1942 he served in the 246th IAP, until May 1943 - in the 269th IAP, from October 1943 to December 1944 - in the 66th IAP, until May 1945 - in the 101st Guards IAP.

To the map of 1943, the deputy squadron commander of the 269th Fighter Aviation Regiment (236th Fighter Aviation Division, 5th Air Army, North Caucasus Front), junior lieutenant P. M. Kamozin, made 82 combat missions to escort bombers, cover troops, reconnaissance and attack. In 23 air battles he personally shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

On May 1, 1943, for courage and military valor shown in battles with enemies, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

July 1, 1944, squadron commander of the 66th Fighter Aviation Regiment (329th Fighter Aviation Division, 4th Air Army, 2nd Belorussian Front) Captain P. M. Kamozin, for 131 successful combat missions and participation in 56 air battles , in which he personally shot down 29 enemy aircraft and 13 as part of a group, was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

In total he completed about 200 combat missions. Having carried out 63 air battles, he shot down 36 enemy aircraft personally and 13 as part of a group.

On January 20, 1945, he was in a plane crash and was seriously injured. After recovery, he was demobilized for health reasons. Since 1946 he worked in Civil Aviation. Died November 24, 1983. He was buried in Bryansk. A bronze bust was installed in his homeland. Several books have been written about the life and military activities of P. M. Kamozin.

Awarded the orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (twice), Alexander Nevsky, and the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree; medals.

The front-line fate of this pilot was bright and unique, like the fate of any great warrior. In its “twist”, the intrigue of his military life sometimes resembles the plot of an exciting adventure film.

According to his comrades, Kamozin was an exceptionally modest man, small in stature, and very shy by nature. He used to come to the dining room and sit quietly in a corner. He sits and waits for the waitress to notice him. He himself will never dare to call her. But in the air, he was a brave pilot who knew no fear.

His comrades loved and respected Pavel Mikhailovich, and there was not a person in the regiment who did not admire his combat skills. He somehow fought air battles with a special boldness and assertiveness and always won victories. Enemy pilots quickly recognized his handwriting, shuddering at the thought of meeting an aerial sniper.

Pavel Kamozin was born in the city of Bezhitsa, which today is part of Bryansk. After graduating from 6 classes, he entered the FZU, and in 1934, while working as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant, he achieved admission to the flying club. As one of the most gifted accountants, he was left there as a pilot-instructor. In 1938, he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation Pilot School.

Kamozin met the war in units of the Kyiv Special Military District. On June 23, he made his first combat flight on an airplane and was wounded in the foot. As part of his unit, he was sent to retrain on the new LaGG-3 fighter, and again his graceful, error-free piloting did not go unnoticed: Kamozin was appointed instructor. He had a chance to return to the front only a year later. He was appointed flight commander.

On October 7, 1942, in the afternoon, the pilots of the 246th IAP had to endure a very intense battle. A mixed group of 5 of this and a couple from the 518th IAP flew out to cover the troops of the 18th Army. The group was led by flight commander, junior lieutenant P. M. Kamozin. Two groups approached the patrol area: below, at an altitude of 2000 meters, a pair of Yak-1s and 500 - 600 meters above - 5 LaGG-3s. Communication between the groups was maintained via radio.

At 14:25, 10 kilometers east of the village of Shaumyan, a large group of enemy aircraft was spotted: 11 Ju-87 dive bombers, 4 Me-110 fighter-bombers and 6 Me-109 fighters covering them. Kamozin ordered his followers to close formation and prepare for the attack. Five LaGGs rushed towards the enemy fighters. Having caught the leader of the first pair of Messers in his sights, Kamozin fired from a cannon and machine gun at the cockpit and engine of the enemy aircraft from 200 meters. The Me-109 overturned and corkscrewed towards the ground. Almost immediately his partner began to fall after him, shot down by one of Kamozin’s wingmen, who, without wasting time, rushed to attack the next pair of Me-109s. Having approached the enemy plane, he shot it down with a well-aimed burst.

Meanwhile, a pair of Yaks attacked the Ju-87s that had formed a bombing circle. Lieutenant S.M. Kolesnikov and Senior Sergeant F.B. Varfolomeev destroyed each Junkers, but they themselves were shot down. At the height of the battle, reinforcements approached the enemy: 6-7 Me-109 (according to other sources, 15-16). What the pilots call a “dog dump” began. The battle formation finally fell apart, each pilot acted independently. Gradually the battle switched to turns, where the LaGGs had some advantages over the Me-109. After a well-aimed blow, another Messer corkscrewed toward the ground like a torch, and soon another flared up. But it wasn’t easy for our pilots either. With a sharp decline, junior lieutenant A.I. Dagaev took his damaged car towards the sea, and senior sergeant K.K. Pozdnyakov jumped out of the cabin of the burning LaGG by parachute.

The entire air battle lasted 10 minutes. Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, Soviet pilots shot down 8 German aircraft (6 Me-109 and 2 Ju-87). In this battle, 3 enemy vehicles were destroyed by Kamozin, 2 by Toichkin, and 1 each by Varfolomeev, Kalmykov and Kolesnikov. Our losses are 4 aircraft. Flight commander A. Dagaev did not return.

When Kamozin landed and climbed out of the cockpit, the regiment commander, Colonel Smirnov, approached the plane and hugged Pavel tightly.

This victory over the enemy instilled confidence in Kamozin in his abilities. His commanding authority grew stronger. His subordinates saw in him a person they could rely on in difficult times. During the first month of fighting, Pavel shot down 4 enemy aircraft. Several times he had the opportunity to fly out on combat missions with Dmitry Karalash, a famous pre-war test pilot, a brave air fighter who earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the war and died in one of the battles. Pavel Kamozin liked to repeat the words of Lieutenant Colonel Kalarash: “A pilot must have a heart of steel, then even with a wooden seat back he will not flinch in battle.” That was Pavel Kamozin himself...

Soon after the significant battle, Kamozin was appointed deputy squadron commander in the 296th IAP. After heavy fighting, the regiment, which had lost a significant part of its military equipment, was sent to the rear for reorganization. And then the fighting began again.

6 Soviet fighters under the leadership of Pavel Kamozin accompanied the group of bombers. In the target area, our pilots were attacked by enemy fighters. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, Kamozin boldly led his group into battle. Our pilots attacked one after another. Choosing an opportune moment, Pavel rushed at one of the Me-109s. When the commander’s command reached his wingmen: “Cover!”, he was already next to the German. A targeted burst - and the Messer flew down. And again the attack. Only a few minutes passed, and the second Me-109, engulfed in flames, crashed to the ground. The wingmen, who at that moment shot down the 3rd enemy vehicle, did not lag behind their commander. Having suffered losses, the enemy was forced to withdraw from the battle.

Junior Lieutenant Kamozin carried out combat missions not only to cover our attack aircraft and ground troops. He was also a good intelligence officer. During combat work there was no case when the data delivered to him was not confirmed.

On January 10, 1943, during a reconnaissance flight, Kamozin discovered up to 50 enemy aircraft at the airfield in Krasnodar. He immediately reported this to the command. After some time, our attack aircraft took off. According to data delivered by Kamozin on this day, about 20 enemy aircraft were destroyed.

One day, 5 Soviet fighters, returning from a combat mission, discovered a group of 13 Junkers en route to bomb our troops. Junior Lieutenant Kamozin suddenly attacked and scattered enemy aircraft, forcing them to drop bombs on their own troops. The Junkers began to turn around and leave, but did not have time. With a well-aimed blow, Pavel knocked down one of them and knocked out 2 others. His wingmen shot down 2 more planes.

The pilot's skill grew rapidly, and soon Kamozin was entrusted with command of the squadron. His military glory increased in the battles for the liberation of Sevastopol. The squadron he commanded destroyed 63 enemy aircraft in the hot Crimean skies. Personally, Pavel Kamozin shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, courage, bravery and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 1, 1943, junior lieutenant Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold medal. Star" (No. 1148).

Pavel Kamozin accomplished many feats during the war. Operational duty officer of the Southern Front headquarters, instructor pilot, flight commander, deputy squadron commander, squadron commander - this is his service record from the beginning of the war until May 1, 1943, when Kamozin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his military services.

By the summer of 1943, Senior Lieutenant Kamozin had completed more than 100 combat missions in the LaGG-3 and scored 17 personal victories - the second result shown in the Soviet Air Force on a vehicle of this type (the first was by A. Kulagin).

In the summer of 1943, being one of the first in the reserve regiment to master new technology (the R-39 Airacobra fighter), Pavel obtained permission to go to the front. He was assigned to the 66th Aviation Regiment (329th Fighter Division, 4th Air Force) and soon new battles began. On the very first combat mission in the new regiment, on a new Airacobra, Kamozin shoots down the FW-189, a “frame” hanging over the front edge, while his plane was seriously damaged by fierce anti-aircraft artillery fire, and the pilot landed it on neutral, right next to the trenches of your military outpost...

His talent was especially evident in the battles for Crimea. In the battles for Sevastopol alone, the pilots of his squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 19 of which were chalked up by the squadron commander.

At the end of 1943, in a heavy battle over Kerch, he destroyed 2 enemy fighters. The second plane was shot down while the car was on fire. At low altitude, Kamozin left the plane, tearing the pilot ring on the parachute, and a few seconds later fell into cold water. He swam out and was picked up by sailors. On January 12, 1944, in 2 missions, he managed to destroy 2 Junkers, thereby bringing the number of vehicles he personally shot down to 30.

Our paratroopers landed in the area of ​​Kerch and Eltingen, still occupied by the enemy. They captured a small bridgehead and entrenched themselves there. This hard-won piece of land was shot right through by the enemy, who in any way sought to throw the paratroopers into the sea. From somewhere above the bridgehead even He-111 bombers appeared, which no one had ever seen at Crimean airfields before.

On the last day of 1943, Pavel Kamozin, together with his wingman Vladimir Ladykin, flew out on reconnaissance. They were faced with the task of establishing the location of the Heinkels. When our pilots were returning to the airfield, over the village of Seven Wells they noticed a transport plane, which, as if at a parade, was escorted by 6 Me-109s. Kamozin immediately came up with a decision - to attack on the move. Having given the command to his wingman, Pavel rushed towards the goal at maximum speed. The security fighters did not have time to come to their senses when a long line of fire pierced the transporter they were guarding. Smoking, he turned over and walked randomly towards the ground. And Kamozin and his partner seemed to disappear into the thickening evening twilight...

Only more than 3 months later, after the liberation of Crimea, it became known that there were 18 German generals on board the plane shot down by Kamozin. They carried with them Iron Crosses, which were to be awarded to the most distinguished warriors. But instead of the planned New Year celebrations and awards, it turned out to be mourning. According to village residents, for a whole week the Germans wore black armbands...

With stunning, daring attacks, Captain Kamozin often caught his opponents by surprise. He was fluent in piloting technique and knew how to choose the most advantageous one from any aerobatic maneuver at the right moment. At times it seemed that the target itself fell under its striking routes.

With every day of the war, Kamozin’s combat and command experience was enriched, but he was still distinguished by his modesty and hard work. He sought to use the slightest opportunity to improve his flying and fire skills. How many times has it helped Kamozin and his comrades in battle! Pavel's comrades recalled how he once saved Lieutenant Toichkin from imminent death. The young pilot did not notice how the Messer came up behind him. A second, another - and Toichkin’s plane will fly to the ground, engulfed in flames. But the enemy’s targeted burst did not follow: at the last moment the fascist was shot down by Pavel Kamozin. For this feat, the pilot was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

Kamozin fought many battles with a numerically superior enemy. One day, the five he led entered into battle with 27 Me-109 fighters. With the first burst, Pavel knocked down the leader. Left without a leader, the enemy broke formation and began to interfere with each other. Kamozin, instantly assessing the situation, decided to bring the fight to a victorious end. Skillfully directing the actions of his subordinates, he achieved his goal - our pilots destroyed 8 aircraft in this battle, without losing a single one of their own!

There were failures in his life. I had to “drop” a downed fighter into the sea (he was rescued by a medical post from the Tuzla Spit), “pull” a car engulfed in flames behind the front line to the location of friendly troops, put the hood on a runway damaged by shells and simply fall along with the car after an engine failure... Anything could happen. . The enemy was strong and cunning, victories were not easy. But Pavel knew how to draw the right conclusions from any success or failure, analyze the current situation and choose the right decisions that would allow him to successfully defeat the enemy.

January 12, 1944. On this day, Senior Lieutenant Pavel Kamozin made several combat missions. As always, he appeared at exactly the specified time in the patrol area and, at the first signal from the guidance station, confidently rushed towards the enemy. 13 Junkers sailed in two groups under the cover of 4 Me-109s. The first group was attacked head-on by Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, the second group was attacked in the rear by Senior Lieutenant Kamozin. Both attacks were successful. Both of them shot down one enemy plane. After this, Kamozin started a fight with a pair of Me-109s, but they hastened to escape, not accepting the challenge of the Soviet ace.

On the second sortie, Pavel Kamozin, at the head of a group of fighters, again covered the Soviet ground forces. The German bombers decided to pass the front line under the clouds to avoid meeting the Soviet fighters. But Pavel Kamozin and his fighting friends were on the alert. They managed to unravel the enemy's plan and met the Nazis as they emerged from the clouds with well-aimed, crushing attacks. Kamozin was the first to attack the flagship of the enemy group and shot him almost point-blank with dagger bursts. The Junkers caught fire and, falling onto its wing, flew down. Killed by pilot Vladykin, another enemy vehicle fell to the ground. But the battle did not subside, the battle continued.

At this time, the guidance station transmitted to Kamozin: “Another group of bombers is flying below you at low level. Intercept! Senior Lieutenant Kamozin rushed to intercept the second group of bombers. On the way, he met 2 Messers and immediately attacked one of them. The enemy vehicle caught fire. Then Kamozin rushed to repel the bomber raid.

That day, in stubborn and brutal air battles, Pavel Kamozin shot down 2 German cars. The Hero now has 30 personally shot down enemy aircraft. The army newspaper “Wings of the Soviets” these days called on its pages:

“Fighter, fight like Pavel Kamozin! Why does Kamozin fight more successfully than others, what is his strength? It lies in the speed of the attack. The pilot who spots the enemy first has a chance of winning the battle. Kamozin understands this very well. His keen eye always searches and finds the enemy first. This is what gives a brave pilot an advantage over the enemy.”

The newspaper explained that a skillful search for a target, of course, does not mean victory. As you know, she doesn’t come on her own. It is won by Pavel Kamozin thanks to another remarkable quality - attacking skill. Persistence in achieving the goal, audacity, exceptional accuracy of fire, skillful maneuver - this is what ensures success for a brave fighter pilot.

Pavel Kamozin was always faithful to the proven rule of the ace fighter: he hit the enemy at close range, with a short aimed burst. He did not scare the Nazis, but shot them point-blank. This is exactly how they were destroyed by him in last battles 5 enemy planes.

By mid-summer 1944, the squadron commander of the 66th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain P. M. Kamozin, made 131 successful combat missions, participated in 56 air battles, in which he personally shot down 29 enemy aircraft and 13 as part of a group.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 1, 1944, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 23).

In one of the last air battles, Pavel Kamozin found himself in an exceptionally difficult position. He alone had to enter the battle and fight with a group of FW-190 fighters. But even in this situation, Kamozin did not defend, but attacked, attacked. The Soviet pilot survived the unequal battle and emerged victorious, having shot down 2 Fokkers.

In 1944, Kamozin was removed from the post of squadron commander of the 66th regiment and transferred to the post of deputy squadron commander in the 101st Guards IAP. The former pilot of this regiment, Boris Stepanovich Dementyev, recalls:

“When we flew to the front at the end of 1944, the weather was lousy. Kamozin and his squadron landed in Bobruisk, and they sat there for a long time. The food chief did not feed them well. For this he beat him. After that, he was transferred as deputy squadron commander to Morozov Of course, he had a weakness - he liked to prick people by the collar, but he was a disciplined, competent man who fought skillfully and bravely and knew how to manage people.

I remember once they replaced his four. We approach the front line. From the guidance station they report: “Kamozin, pay attention. A couple of Messovs have taken off.” “Okay, let them go.” Then there is silence. We approach, gain altitude, have established contact with the guidance station. We hear: “Pasha, look, the “thin one” is coming " - “I see, let him come in.” And not another word. Usually in battle there are some commands, checkmate, but here it’s quiet. I look where he walks, I don’t see any planes yet - it’s still far away. A minute and a half passes, and I hear him say: “There, the “thin one” is burning. I came in, you understand...” And that’s it. That’s when I saw the smoke trail myself. So calmly he took it off.

He was honest and always spoke the truth to his face. The regimental chief of staff, Major Geiko, did not like this, with whom they constantly quarreled. After the war, there was an instruction that pilots who violated discipline, regardless of their merits, could be dismissed from the army. Apparently, Geiko wrote a report on Kamozin, and Krasovsky signed an order to fire him under clause “e”. As one of our pilots said, point “e” means “eat yourself.” This means that you will be fired without a pension and will not be hired as a civilian. Already in 1948, I personally heard Krasovsky tell the regiment commander Pavlikov that he had been deceived and that he had fired Kamozin essentially through slander. We kept in touch with him. At first they didn’t take him anywhere. There was a story that he, twice a Hero, sat on the steps of the People's Commissariat of Defense building and begged for alms, but when we met with him, he said that this did not happen, but he went around a lot with his superiors. Then, after all, he got a job in the Civil Air Fleet."

Pavel Kamozin conducted many air battles as part of the 101st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, paired with junior lieutenant V. Maslov (115 combat missions, 5 personally shot down aircraft). In his military life, Kamozin fought more than 60 air battles, won victories over Messers and Fokkers, Junkers and Heinkels.

On January 20, 1945, during the next combat mission, due to a break in the engine connecting rod, the engine of his Airacobra stalled, and the car fell to the ground, capped and falling apart... Pavel found the strength to get out of the wreckage, with signs to prohibit his wingman from landing on uneven, very rough terrain...

He was never able to fully recover from the injuries received in this accident. Doctors insisted on amputating his left leg, but inflexibility, courage and willpower allowed Kamozin to avoid this crippling operation. He celebrated Victory Day in the hospital...

Fighting on the Southern, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian and other fronts, Guard Major P.M. Kamozin made about 200 combat missions, won 49 victories in fierce air battles - he shot down 36 enemy aircraft personally and 13 in a group with his comrades. In the group - because he was not only an ace pilot, but also a commander who led young fighters into battle. And the 36 enemy aircraft that were on his personal account were far from all that he actually shot down...

After the war, Pavel Mikhailovich was demobilized. Worked in the Civil Air Fleet. Conducted social work. He died in Bryansk on November 24, 1983.

The people have not forgotten their Hero. A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union P. M. Kamozin was installed in Bryansk. In 1985, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, his name was assigned to the Bryansk DOSAAF aviation sports club, Pavel Mikhailovich has been a member of this club since 1934. One of the streets of the city of Bryansk bears the name of the Hero, and a Hero Museum is opened in the city secondary school No. 11.

* * *

The front-line fate of this pilot was bright and unique, like the fate of any great warrior. In its “twisting”, the intrigue of his military life sometimes resembles the plot of an exciting adventure film.

According to his comrades, Kamozin was an exceptionally modest man, small in stature, and very shy by nature. He used to come to the dining room and sit quietly in a corner. He sits and waits for the waitress to notice him. He himself will never dare to call her. But in the air, he was a brave pilot who knew no fear.

His comrades loved and respected Pavel Mikhailovich, and there was not a person in the regiment who did not admire his combat skills. He somehow fought air battles with a special boldness and assertiveness and always won victories. Enemy pilots quickly recognized his handwriting, shuddering at the thought of meeting an aerial sniper.

Pavel Kamozin was born in the city of Bezhitsa, which today is part of Bryansk. After graduating from 6 classes, he entered the FZU, and in 1934, while working as a mechanic at the Krasny Profintern plant, he achieved admission to the flying club. As one of the most gifted accountants, he was left there as an instructor pilot. In 1938, he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation Pilot School.

Kamozin met the war in units of the Kyiv Special Military District. On June 23, he made his first combat flight on an I-16 plane and was wounded in the foot. As part of his unit, he was sent to retrain on the new LaGG-3 fighter, and again his graceful, error-free piloting did not go unnoticed: Kamozin was appointed instructor. He had a chance to return to the front only a year later. He was appointed flight commander.

On October 7, 1942, in the afternoon, the pilots of the 246th IAP had to endure a very intense battle. A mixed group of 5 LaGG-3s from this and a pair of Yak-1s from the 518th IAP flew to cover the troops of the 18th Army. The group was led by flight commander, junior lieutenant P. M. Kamozin. Two groups approached the patrol area: below, at an altitude of 2000 meters, a pair of Yak-1s and 500 - 600 meters above - 5 LaGG-3s. Communication between the groups was maintained via radio.

At 14:25, 10 kilometers east of the village of Shaumyan, a large group of enemy aircraft was spotted: 11 Ju-87 dive bombers, 4 Me-110 fighter bombers and 6 Me-109 fighters covering them. Kamozin ordered his followers to close formation and prepare for the attack. Five LaGGs rushed towards the enemy fighters. Having caught the leader of the first pair of Messers in his sights, Kamozin fired from a cannon and machine gun at the cockpit and engine of the enemy aircraft from 200 meters. The Me-109 overturned and corkscrewed towards the ground. Almost immediately his partner began to fall after him, shot down by one of Kamozin’s wingmen, who, without wasting time, rushed to attack the next pair of Me-109s. Having approached the enemy plane, he shot it down with a well-aimed burst.

Meanwhile, a pair of Yaks attacked the Ju-87s that had formed a bombing circle. Lieutenant S.M. Kolesnikov and Senior Sergeant F.B. Varfolomeev destroyed each Junkers, but they themselves were shot down. At the height of the battle, reinforcements approached the enemy: 6 - 7 Me-109 (according to other sources, 15 - 16). What the pilots call a “dog dump” began. The battle formation finally fell apart, each pilot acted independently. Gradually the battle shifted to turns, where the LaGGs had some advantages over the Me-109. After a well-aimed blow, another Messer corkscrewed toward the ground like a torch, and soon another flared up. But it wasn’t easy for our pilots either. With a sharp decline, junior lieutenant A.I. Dagaev took his damaged car towards the sea, senior sergeant K.K. Pozdnyakov jumped out of the cabin of the burning LaGG by parachute.

The entire air battle lasted 10 minutes. Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, Soviet pilots shot down 8 German aircraft (6 Me-109 and 2 Ju-87). In this battle, 3 enemy vehicles were destroyed by Kamozin, 2 by Toichkin, and 1 each by Varfolomeev, Kalmykov and Kolesnikov. Our losses are 4 aircraft. Flight commander A. Dagaev did not return.

When Kamozin landed and climbed out of the cockpit, the regiment commander, Colonel Smirnov, and Pavel approached the plane.

This victory over the enemy instilled confidence in Kamozin in his abilities. His commanding authority grew stronger. His subordinates saw in him a person they could rely on in difficult times. During the first month of fighting, Pavel shot down 4 enemy aircraft. Several times he had the opportunity to fly out on combat missions together with Dmitry Karalash - a famous pre-war test pilot, a brave air fighter who earned the title of Hero of the Soviet Union during the war and died in one of the battles. Pavel Kamozin liked to repeat the words of Lieutenant Colonel Kalarash: “A pilot must have a heart of steel, then even with a wooden seat back he will not flinch in battle.” That was Pavel Kamozin himself...

Soon after the significant battle, Kamozin was appointed deputy squadron commander in the 296th IAP. After heavy fighting, the regiment, which had lost a significant part of its military equipment, was sent to the rear for reorganization. And then the fighting began again.

6 Soviet fighters under the leadership of Pavel Kamozin accompanied the group of bombers. In the target area, our pilots were attacked by enemy fighters. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, Kamozin boldly led his group into battle. Our pilots attacked one after another. Choosing an opportune moment, Pavel rushed at one of the Me-109s. When the commander’s command reached his wingmen: “Cover!”, he was already next to the German. A targeted burst - and the Messer flew down. And again the attack. Only a few minutes passed, and the second Me-109, engulfed in flames, crashed to the ground. The wingmen, who at that moment shot down the 3rd enemy vehicle, did not lag behind their commander. Having suffered losses, the enemy was forced to withdraw from the battle.

Junior Lieutenant Kamozin carried out combat missions not only to cover our attack aircraft and ground troops. He was also a good intelligence officer. During combat work there was no case when the data delivered to him was not confirmed.

On January 10, 1943, during a reconnaissance flight, Kamozin discovered up to 50 enemy aircraft at the airfield in Krasnodar. He immediately reported this to the command. After some time, our attack aircraft took off. According to data delivered by Kamozin on this day, about 20 enemy aircraft were destroyed.

One day, 5 Soviet fighters, returning from a combat mission, discovered a group of 13 Junkers en route to bomb our troops. Junior Lieutenant Kamozin suddenly attacked and scattered enemy aircraft, forcing them to drop bombs on their own troops. The Junkers began to turn around and leave, but did not have time. With a well-aimed blow, Pavel knocked down one of them and knocked out 2 others. His wingmen shot down 2 more planes.

The pilot's skill grew rapidly, and soon Kamozin was entrusted with command of the squadron. His military glory increased in the battles for the liberation of Sevastopol. The squadron he commanded destroyed 63 enemy aircraft in the hot Crimean skies. Personally, Pavel Kamozin shot down 12 enemy aircraft.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, courage, bravery and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 1, 1943, junior lieutenant Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold medal. Star" (No. 1148)..

Pavel Kamozin accomplished many feats during the war. Operational duty officer of the Southern Front headquarters, instructor pilot, flight commander, deputy squadron commander, squadron commander - this is his service record from the beginning of the war until May 1, 1943, when Kamozin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for military services.

By the summer of 1943, Senior Lieutenant Kamozin had completed more than 100 combat missions in the LaGG-3 and scored 17 personal victories - the second result shown in the Soviet Air Force in a vehicle of this type (the first was by A. Kulagin).

In the summer of 1943, being one of the first in the reserve regiment to master new technology (the R-39 Airacobra fighter), Pavel obtained permission to go to the front. He was assigned to the 66th Aviation Regiment (329th Fighter Division, 4th Air Force) and soon new battles began. On the very first combat mission in the new regiment, on a new Airacobra, Kamozin shoots down the FW-189 - a “frame” hanging over the front edge, while his plane was seriously damaged by fierce anti-aircraft artillery fire, and the pilot landed it on neutral, right next to the trenches of your military outpost...

His talent was especially evident in the battles for Crimea. In the battles for Sevastopol alone, the pilots of his squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft, 19 of which were chalked up by the squadron commander.

At the end of 1943, in a heavy battle over Kerch, he destroyed 2 enemy fighters. The second plane was shot down while the car was on fire. At low altitude, Kamozin left the plane, tearing the pilot ring on the parachute, and a few seconds later fell into cold water. He swam out and was picked up by sailors. On January 12, 1944, in 2 missions, he managed to destroy 2 Junkers, thereby bringing the number of vehicles he personally shot down to 30.

Our paratroopers landed in the area of ​​Kerch and Eltingen, still occupied by the enemy. They captured a small bridgehead and entrenched themselves there. This hard-won piece of land was shot right through by the enemy, who in any way sought to throw the paratroopers into the sea. From somewhere above the bridgehead even He-111 bombers appeared, which no one had ever seen at Crimean airfields before.

On the last day of 1943, Pavel Kamozin, together with his wingman Vladimir Ladykin, flew out on reconnaissance. They were faced with the task of establishing the location of the Heinkels. When our pilots were returning to the airfield, over the village of Seven Wells they noticed a transport plane, which, as if at a parade, was escorted by 6 Me-109s. Kamozin immediately came up with a decision - to attack on the move. Having given the command to his wingman, Pavel rushed towards the goal at maximum speed. The security fighters did not have time to come to their senses when a long line of fire pierced the transporter they were guarding. Smoking, he turned over and walked randomly towards the ground. And Kamozin and his partner seemed to disappear into the thickening evening twilight...

Only more than 3 months later, after the liberation of Crimea, it became known that there were 18 German generals on board the plane shot down by Kamozin. They carried with them Iron Crosses, which were to be awarded to the most distinguished warriors. But instead of the planned New Year's celebrations and awards, it turned out to be mourning. According to village residents, for a whole week the Germans wore black armbands...

With stunning, daring attacks, Captain Kamozin often caught his opponents by surprise. He was fluent in piloting technique and knew how to choose the most advantageous one from any aerobatic maneuver at the right moment. At times it seemed that the target itself fell under its striking routes.

With every day of the war, Kamozin’s combat and command experience was enriched, but he was still distinguished by his modesty and hard work. He sought to use the slightest opportunity to improve his flying and fire skills. How many times has it helped Kamozin and his comrades in battle! Pavel's comrades recalled how he once saved Lieutenant Toichkin from imminent death. The young pilot did not notice how the Messer came up behind him. A second, another - and Toichkin’s plane will fly to the ground, engulfed in flames. But the enemy’s targeted burst did not follow: at the last moment the fascist was shot down by Pavel Kamozin. For this feat, the pilot was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

Kamozin fought many battles with a numerically superior enemy. One day, the five he led entered into battle with 27 Me-109 fighters. With the first burst, Pavel knocked down the leader. Left without a leader, the enemy broke formation and began to interfere with each other. Kamozin, instantly assessing the situation, decided to bring the fight to a victorious end. Skillfully directing the actions of his subordinates, he achieved his goal - our pilots destroyed 8 aircraft in this battle, without losing a single one of their own!

There were failures in his life. I had to “drop down” a downed fighter into the sea (he was rescued by a medical post from the Tuzla Spit), “pull” a car engulfed in flames behind the front line to the location of friendly troops, put the hood on a runway damaged by shells and simply fall along with the car after an engine failure... Anything could happen . The enemy was strong and cunning, victories were not easy. But Pavel knew how to draw the right conclusions from any success or failure, analyze the current situation and choose the right decisions that would allow him to successfully defeat the enemy.

January 12, 1944. On this day, Senior Lieutenant Pavel Kamozin made several combat missions. As always, he appeared at exactly the specified time in the patrol area and, at the first signal from the guidance station, confidently rushed towards the enemy. 13 Junkers sailed in two groups under the cover of 4 Me-109s. The first group was attacked head-on by Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, the second group was attacked in the rear by Senior Lieutenant Kamozin. Both attacks were successful. And the other one shot down one enemy plane. After this, Kamozin started a fight with a pair of Me-109s, but they hastened to escape, not accepting the challenge of the Soviet ace.

On the second sortie, Pavel Kamozin, at the head of a group of fighters, again covered the Soviet ground forces. The German bombers decided to pass the front line under the clouds to avoid meeting the Soviet fighters. But Pavel Kamozin and his fighting friends were on the alert. They managed to unravel the enemy's plan and met the Nazis as they emerged from the clouds with well-aimed, crushing attacks. Kamozin was the first to attack the flagship of the enemy group and shot him almost point-blank with dagger bursts. The Junkers caught fire and, falling onto its wing, flew down. Killed by pilot Vladykin, another enemy vehicle fell to the ground. But the battle did not subside, the battle continued.

At this time, the guidance station transmitted to Kamozin: “Another group of bombers is flying below you at low level. Intercept!” Senior Lieutenant Kamozin rushed to intercept the second group of bombers. On the way, he met 2 Messers and immediately attacked one of them. The enemy vehicle caught fire. Then Kamozin rushed to repel the bomber raid.

That day, in stubborn and brutal air battles, Pavel Kamozin shot down 2 German cars. The Hero now has 30 personally shot down enemy aircraft. The army newspaper "Wings of the Soviets" these days called on its pages:

“Fighter, fight like Pavel Kamozin! Why does Kamozin fight more successfully than others, what is his strength? It lies in the swiftness of the attack. The pilot who is the first to notice the enemy has a chance of winning in battle. Kamozin understands this very well. His keen eye is always seeks and finds the enemy first. This is how a brave pilot creates an advantage over the enemy.”

The newspaper explained that a skillful search for a target, of course, does not mean victory. As you know, she doesn’t come on her own. It is won by Pavel Kamozin thanks to another remarkable quality - attacking skill. Persistence in achieving a goal, audacity, exceptional fire accuracy, skillful maneuver - this is what ensures success for a brave fighter pilot.

Pavel Kamozin was always faithful to the proven rule of the ace fighter: he hit the enemy at close range, with a short aimed burst. He did not scare the Nazis, but shot them point-blank. This is exactly how he destroyed 5 enemy aircraft in the last battles.

By mid-summer 1944, the squadron commander of the 66th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain P. M. Kamozin, made 131 successful combat missions, participated in 56 air battles, in which he personally shot down 29 enemy aircraft and 13 as part of a group.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 1, 1944, Pavel Mikhailovich Kamozin was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 23).

In one of the last air battles, Pavel Kamozin found himself in an exceptionally difficult position. He alone had to enter the battle and fight with a group of FW-190 fighters. But even in this situation, Kamozin did not defend, but attacked, attacked. The Soviet pilot survived the unequal battle and emerged victorious, having shot down 2 Fokkers.

In 1944, Kamozin was removed from the post of squadron commander of the 66th regiment and transferred to the post of deputy squadron commander in the 101st Guards IAP. The former pilot of this regiment, Boris Stepanovich Dementyev, recalls:

“When we flew to the front at the end of 1944, the weather was lousy. Kamozin and his squadron landed in Bobruisk, and they sat there for a long time. The food chief did not feed them well. For this he beat him. After that, he was transferred as deputy squadron commander to Morozov Of course, he had a weakness - he liked to prick people by the collar, but he was a disciplined, competent man who fought skillfully and bravely and knew how to manage people.

I remember once they replaced his four. We approach the front line. From the guidance station they report: “Kamozin, pay attention. A couple of Messovs have taken off.” “Okay, let them go.” Then there is silence. We approach, gain altitude, have established contact with the guidance station. We hear: “Pasha, look, the thin one is coming.” ". - “I see, let him come in.” And not another word. Usually in battle there are some commands, checkmate, but here it’s quiet. I look where he walks, I don’t see any planes yet - it’s still far away. A minute and a half passes, and I hear him say: “There, the “thin one” is burning. I came in, you understand...” And that’s all. That’s when I saw the smoke trail myself. So calmly he took it off.

He was honest and always spoke the truth to his face. The regimental chief of staff, Major Geiko, did not like this, with whom they constantly quarreled. After the war, there was an instruction that pilots who violated discipline, regardless of their merits, could be dismissed from the army. Apparently, Geiko wrote a report on Kamozin, and Krasovsky signed an order to fire him under clause “e”. As one of our pilots said, point “e” means “eat yourself.” This means that you will be fired without a pension and will not be hired as a civilian. Already in 1948, I personally heard Krasovsky tell the regiment commander Pavlikov that he had been deceived and that he had fired Kamozin essentially through slander. We kept in touch with him. At first they didn’t take him anywhere. There was a story that he, twice a Hero, sat on the steps of the People's Commissariat of Defense building and begged for alms, but when we met with him, he said that this did not happen, but he went around a lot with his superiors. Then, after all, he got a job in the Civil Air Fleet."

Pavel Kamozin conducted many air battles as part of the 101st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, paired with junior lieutenant V. Maslov (115 combat missions, 5 personally shot down aircraft). In his military life, Kamozin fought more than 60 air battles, won victories over Messers and Fokkers, Junkers and Heinkels.

On January 20, 1945, during the next combat mission, due to a break in the engine connecting rod, the engine of his Airacobra stalled, and the car fell to the ground, capped and falling apart... Pavel found the strength to get out of the wreckage, with signs to prohibit his wingman from landing on uneven, very rough terrain...

He was never able to fully recover from the injuries received in this accident. Doctors insisted on amputating his left leg, but inflexibility, courage and willpower allowed Kamozin to avoid this crippling operation. He celebrated Victory Day in the hospital...

Fighting on the Southern, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian and other fronts, Guard Major P.M. Kamozin made about 200 sorties, won 49 victories in fierce air battles - he shot down 36 enemy aircraft personally and 13 in a group with his comrades. In the group - because he was not only an ace pilot, but also a commander who led young fighters into battle. And the 36 enemy aircraft that were on his personal account were far from all that he actually shot down...

After the war, Pavel Mikhailovich was demobilized. Worked in the Civil Air Fleet. Conducted social work. He died in Bryansk on November 24, 1983. He was buried at the Soviet Cemetery.

The people have not forgotten their Hero. A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union P. M. Kamozin was installed in Bryansk. In 1985, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, his name was assigned to the Bryansk Aviation Sports Club DOSAAF, Pavel Mikhailovich has been a member of this club since 1934. One of the streets of the city of Bryansk bears the name of the Hero, and a Hero Museum is opened in the city secondary school No. 11.

List of all known victories of the Guard of Major P. M. Kamozin:
(From the book by M. Yu. Bykov - “Victories of Stalin’s Falcons”. Published by “YAUZA - EKSMO”, 2008.)