Vladimir Aleksenko

Early life

Aleksenko was born on 27 January 1923 in the village of Kiev in Krasnodar Krai to a peasant family. In 1940, he graduated from high school and participated in the Krasnodar flying club. In May 1941, he was drafted into the Red Army.

World War II

In 1942, Aleksenko graduated from the Krasnodar Military Pilots' Flying School. He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1943. In February 1943, Aleksenko became an attack aviation pilot in the 15th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment on the Leningrad Front with the rank of Junior lieutenant. He flew the Ilyushin Il-2. On 26 July, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star. On 29 September, Aleksenko led four Il-2 in an attack on German artillery in the area of Pyazerevo and Novaya Lisino rail stations. Despite an attack by Fw 190s, Aleksenko reportedly continued the mission to the target. During early 1944, Aleksenko flew attack sorties during the Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive, which broke the siege of Leningrad. On 15 January, German troops halted Soviet tanks with anti-tank fire in one area. Aleksenko was ordered to lead a flight of four Il-2s to destroy the German battery. The flight reportedly destroyed the battery, enabling the tanks to advance. In the summer he participated in the Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive, which helped end the Continuation War. On 15 June, Aleksenko and his flight attacked eight German fighters, reportedly shooting down three aircraft. Aleksenko personally shot down one aircraft. On 25 July 1944, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In the fall of 1944, he flew sorties in the Baltic Offensive. On 12 September, Aleksenko was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class. On 5 November, Aleksenko was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

From January 1945, Aleksenko fought in the East Prussian Offensive. By this time, he was a squadron commander in the regiment. In February, he became the regimental deputy commander. On 9 February, Aleksenko reportedly led the squadron in destroying a concentration of German vehicles. On 22 February, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. On 27 April, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for reportedly making 230 successful assault sorties against German troop and equipment concentrations. Aleksenko became the regimental commander. On 29 June, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union again for reportedly making 292 sorties against German fortifications, airfields and troop concentrations. He reportedly destroyed numerous aircraft on the ground, 33 tanks, 118 vehicles, 53 rail cars, 85 rail carriages, 54 anti-aircraft guns, 10 warehouses with ammunition, 27 artillery guns, 12 mortars. His attacks had also reportedly killed 1300 German soldiers.

Postwar

In 1954, Aleksenko graduated from the Air Force Academy. In 1952, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. Between 1959 and 1963, he served as a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR at its 5th convocation. Between 1967 and 1974, he was commander of the 5th Air Army in Odessa. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1968. Between 1971 and 1975, Aleksenko again was a deputy of the Ukrainian SSR Supreme Soviet for its 8th convocation. He retired in 1978 and lived in Odessa. On 4 April 1985, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 1st class again on the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II. He died on 16 June 1995 and is buried at the city's Second Christian Cemetery.