Nikolai Gulayev achieved the status of the fourth-highest scoring Soviet flying ace of World War II, tallying 55 individual aerial victories throughout his military service. Born in 1918 in the village of Aksay, he progressed from factory work to professional aviation, eventually rising to the rank of Air Force colonel general within the Soviet military structure.
Early Career and Training
Gulayev completed secondary school in 1934 before working at a Rostov enamel factory. He joined the military in December 1938, shortly after finishing training at a local aeroclub. He graduated from the Stalingrad Military Aviation School and was initially assigned to the Belorussian Military District.
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Sent to the front in June 1941, Gulayev flew combat missions starting in August 1942. His first victory occurred on 3 August 1942, when he downed a Heinkel He 111 at night. By May 1943, he had performed a mid-air ramming of a Junkers Ju 87. His combat career included 200 sorties and 69 engagements, notably leading a four-plane formation against roughly 100 enemy aircraft in July 1943.
Command and Honours
He served as a squadron and deputy regimental commander, transitioning to the 129th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in October 1943. His performance earned him the Gold Star medal twice, first in September 1943 and again in July 1944. His decorative record also includes the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class, the Order of Lenin, and the Order of the October Revolution.
Postwar Professional Advancement
Following the war, Gulayev pursued advanced education at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, graduating in 1950, and later completed studies at the Military Academy of the General Staff. He held significant command roles, including leadership of the 15th Air Defense Division in Lipetsk. He served as assistant commander of the armament division of the Moscow Air Defense District until his 1979 retirement.
Fast facts
- Born: 1918, Aksay
- Died: 1985, Moscow
- Highest rank: Air Force colonel general
- Total individual victories: 55
- Total combat sorties: 200
- Burial site: Kuntsevo Cemetery
- Citizenship: Soviet Union
Questions readers ask
What aircraft did Nikolai Gulayev fly during combat?
He flew several aircraft types, including the MiG-3, Yak-7B, Yak-1, and the Bell P-39 Airacobra.
When did Gulayev retire from the Soviet Air Forces?
He retired from military service in 1979.
Achievements
- Educated at Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia and Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
- Worked as aircraft pilot
