Zoya Parfenova

Zoya Ivanova Parfenova
Native name Зоя Ивановна Парфёнова
Born 21 June 1920
Alatyr, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian SFSR
Died 7 April 1993 (age 72)
Moscow, Russian Federation
Allegiance  Soviet Union
Service/branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service 1941–1945
Rank Senior Lieutenant
Unit 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment
Battles/wars Eastern Front of World War II
Awards Hero of the Soviet Union

Zoya Ivanova Parfenova (Russian: Зоя Ивановна Парфёнова, 21 June 1920 – 7 April 1993) was a senior lieutenant and deputy squadron commander in the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, 325th Night Bomber Aviation Division, 4th Air Army, 2nd Belorussian Front during World War II. For her service in the military, she was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 18 August 1945. She was the only woman from Chuvashia to receive the title.

Early life

Parfenova was born on 21 June 1920 to a Russian peasant family in the Russian SFSR. She graduated from nursing courses before attending the local flight club and eventually became a flight instructor.[1]

Military career

Parfenova joined the Soviet military in 1941 after the start of the Great Patriotic War. In early 1942 she graduated from training at the Engels military aviation school and was sent to the Eastern front in May where she fought as part of the regiment in the Southern, Caucasian, and Belorussian, and Polish fronts. She became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1943.[2][3]

On 29 January 1945, when performing a supply drop of ammunition for Soviet ground troops, her Po-2 was attacked by a barrage of anti-aircraft fire and shelling, tearing through the fuselage with shrapnel entering the cockpit, seriously injuring her hip and causing major blood loss. Despite sustaining such injuries in poor visibility combined with heavy snowfall, significantly reduced maneuverability of the aircraft from the damage sustained, she still managed to land safely, losing consciousness soon afterwards. After the incident she received medical care and informed soldiers of the positions of the Axis anti-aircraft equipment.[4]

As a deputy squadron commander in her regiment, she carried out 739 sorties by February of 1945 and 815 in total,[5] destroying Axis ammunition warehouses, an infantry battalion, and equipment as well as dropping 500,000 leaflets and forcing five artillery batteries to retreat.[2][3]

On 18 August 1945, she was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for "exemplary fulfillment of commanded missions and demonstration of courage and heroism in battle against the German fascist invaders"; she was the only woman from Chuvashia to ever be awarded the title.[1]

Civilian life

After the end of the Second World War, Parfenova left active duty and joined the reserve. She was a member of the Soviet Committee of War Veterans. She gave birth to two daughters and worked in the city of Ryazan as a cinema manager until 1979. She moved to Moscow in 1991 and passed away on 7 April 1993 and was subsequently buried in the Shcherbinsky Central Cemetery.[1]

Awards and honors

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Парфёнова (Акимова) Зоя Ивановна". www.warheroes.ru. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  2. 1 2 "Парфёнова (Акимова) Зоя Ивановна". airaces.narod.ru. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  3. 1 2 Mikhailov, B. "Энциклопедия | Парфёнова Зоя Ивановна". enc.cap.ru. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  4. ↑ Chechneva, Marina. "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна". www.vurnar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  5. ↑ "Асы-бомбардировщики и штурмовики ВОВ - рейтинг". www.wio.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  6. 1 2 "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна, Герой Советского Союза (Орден Ленина и медаль «Золотая звезда»)". pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  7. ↑ "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна, Орден Красного Знамени". pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  8. ↑ "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна, Орден Красного Знамени :: Документ о награде :: Память народа". pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  9. ↑ "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна, Орден Отечественной войны I степени". pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  10. ↑ "Парфенова Зоя Ивановна, Орден Красной Звезды". pamyat-naroda.ru. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
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