1 [REGISTER] [ACE OF THE MONTH] Lt.Gen. Vasily Fedorovich Golubev....................................... 3 [VEHICLE PROFILE] PzKpfw IV Ausf.C....................................................................... 6 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. C with Prague writing on side, camouflage by JoKeR_BvB09 [AIR FORCES] Indonesian Air Force........................................................................ 10 Indonesian Air Force P-51, camouflage created by __StrafeMike__ [AIRCRAFT PROFILE] F8F Bearcat........................................................................... 13 F8F-1B from South Vietnam Air Forces, 1964; F8F-1 Bearcat of CV-37, USS Princeton. 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Gaijin and War Thunder are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Gaijin Entertainment or its licensors, all other logos are trademarks of their respective owners. 2 [ACE OF THE MONTH] Lt.Gen. Vasily Fedorovich Golubev 2. March - Author: Mark Barber Vasily Fedorovich Golubev was born Golubev still would not let go of his in 1912 in Kamenka, near Leningrad in dream to fly as a military aviator and the northwest of modern day Russia. was eventually transferred across for Growing up in a rural environment, formal pilot training in 1939. Golubev’s father encouraged him to seek employment in the city and so he moved to Leningrad as an adolescent, finding work in a factory. However, the young Golubev dreamed of a life as a pilot and so applied to join the military – he was first rejected for being too young and then, two years later, rejected again on medical grounds. Undeterred, Golubev joined the Soviet army as a private soldier at the age of 21 – he became a parachute instructor and also learned to fly gliders in his spare time. This led on to flying, and eventually instructing on powered aircraft. The determined 3 Unsurprisingly haven already gained the new Bf109F which appeared in experience privately as an instructor, the area with the Luftwaffe. Golubev’s grades during training were excellent and he qualified in 1940, being selected for fighters. By the time of the German invasion, Golubev was flying I-16s as part of the Baltic Fleet; during the summer of An I-16 in WT, one of the aircraft used by 1941 he transferred across to the Golubev during his early career 13th IAP (Fighter Aviation Regiment). On June 28th he shot down a Junkers A string of casualties suffered by the Ju 88; a Bf109E fell to his guns only a regiment resulted in personnel being few days later. However, on July 13th reallocated, and Golubev was given he misidentified an enemy aircraft a command of the 3rd squadron of the Ju 88 and carried out a head on attack 13th IAP in January 1942. He wasted – only to find he was nose to nose no time in implementing a number of with a Bf110. Golubev only just changes: he formalized the pre-flight managed to nurse his shattered briefing process to make sure his aircraft back to his airfield. The 13th pilots were fully versed in what was IAP continued to bravely face the expected of them and how they fitted superior German fighters in their into the plan for each task; whilst on outclassed I-16s – he was shot down patrol he staggered his squadron in again in August and spent a month pairs at various altitudes to cover a recovering in hospital. large area and ensure that as many pairs as possible would be covered Golubev’s bad luck was not over – from above and behind. He also after recovering he returned to his noticed that German aircraft would unit to find they had already often position themselves to attack retreated. He found a damaged I-16 Soviet aircraft that were returning with no guns and decided to use it to home when low on fuel and catch up with his comrades: he was ammunition – Golubev ensured that again shot down and had to swim to adequate protection was provided for the shore of Lake Ladoga after these vulnerable aircraft who were ditching. In October Golubev was heading for home. detached to the Hanko peninsula to defend Soviet shipping from Finnish His efforts paid dividends almost and German air raids. Golubev scored immediately – the 3rd Squadron several victories against Finnish quickly became the most successful in aircraft but the Soviet fighter pilots the regiment. On March 12th Golubev found themselves struggling against shot down two Bf109Fs in a single 4 engagement – one crash landed at kill – but the enemy aircraft exploded the 3rd Squadron’s aerodrome; the so close to Golubev’s fighter that pilot – a 26 kill ace – died shortly pieces of the Bf110 were found in the afterwards. He was Golubev’s 15th Soviet fighter’s wing and engine victory. cylinders, and the explosion itself damaged the Soviet ace’s left eardrum. In June 1944 Golubev claimed his 39th and last victory – an FW190 – over the Gulf of Finland. Golubev continued to serve in the A late war La-7 in WT, the aircraft VVS until the end of the war, his Golubev was using at the end of the war regiment finishing the conflict on the La-7 fighter. He then elected to Only days later, the 13th IAP was remain in the military. In 1951 he recognised for its valour and success graduated from the Soviet General when it was redesignated the 4th Staff Academy and then commanded Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. In the Air Division of the Northern Fleet. autumn Golubev became the He retired as a Lieutenant General regiment’s Second-in –Command and and would later become a senior shortly after this he was awarded the lecturer at the General Staff Academy gold star medal of Hero of the Soviet as well as acting as a senior defense Union. In January 1943 the regiment advisor to Egypt between 1968 and was finally withdrawn from combat to 1970. re-equip with the Lavochkin La-5 fighter. This was long overdue as the Remembered perhaps more as a regiment had been fighting on with great leader of men and inspired the obsolete I-16 – although even tactician over his accomplishments as with this outdated fighter, Golubev a fighter pilot, Vasily Fedorovich had managed to shoot down two Golubev was twice awarded the Red Focke-Wulf FW190s. At the controls Star of Hero of the Soviet Union as of the new fighter, Golubev’s victories well as the Order of Lenin on two against German and Finnish foe alike occasions and the Order of the Red continued. By