Rank: Captain Branch of troops: Air forces. Division: 132nd bomber aviation Sevastopol division. Hero of the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorkunov was born on September 5, 1915 in the village of Nadezhdino, now Bliznyukovsky district, Kharkiv region of Ukraine in a poor peasant family. Ukrainian. Participant of the Great Patriotic War since December 1941. In 1941, he became a member of the CPSU (b). From December 11, 1941, he was a flight commander of the 152nd separate army reconnaissance air squadron on the Crimean front. Extract from the award list for awarding the first order of the Red Banner (spelling preserved in all documents): "...Flight commander Lieutenant Gorkunov during the period of military operations from December 11 to January 20, 1942 has 12 sorties with a flight time of 29 hours. The crew of comrade Gorkunova is the best crew of the unit. The most difficult and responsible tasks were assigned to comrade Gorkunov." Extract from the award list for the second order of the Red Banner: "... Deputy squadron commander Lieutenant Gorkunov for the period 02.05.1942 to 20.05.1942 has 13 combat night sorties with a flight time of 27 hours. All combat tasks for reconnaissance and termination of enemy troops are completed. Thanks to the great skill, initiative and endurance when performing night combat missions, the crew of the comrade Gorkunova achieved great effectiveness in the results of night raids on enemy targets. On 15.05.1942 his crew was assigned to destroy the enemy's materiel at the Gramatikovo airfield. The task was completed perfectly. Overcoming difficult weather conditions while approaching the target, comrade Gorkunov accurately brought the plane to the object on the set course. As a result of the bombing, 2 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Comrade Gorkunov has 22 day combat sorties, for which he was twice presented to the government award... " in June 1942, as part of the regiment, he took part in the defense of Sevastopol. From June 18 to 30, the Gorkunov crew from the predstrike staging base of Anapa airfield performs combat sorties to bombard enemy positions at an altitude of 164.9, in the settlements of Kamary and Balaklava. In February 1943, the pilot received the medal "for the Defense of Sevastopol". In January 1943, captain Gorkunov was presented with the highest government award for his valor, courage and bravery in the battles with the Nazi invaders. Extract from the award list for the presentation of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union: "...during the period of his participation on the front of the Patriotic war against the German invaders Captain Gorkunov personally made a total of 144 sorties with successful completion of the Command task, 111 of them at night. Bombardments made by the crew of comrade Gorkunov, completelly destroyed and seriously damaged 17 aircraft at airfields, 16 tanks, 13 guns, 13 machine guns, 94 vehicles with cargo and troops, 4 different warehouses, 31 wagons, 2 transport, 3 crossings, 1 bridge, 14 railway cars, destroyed up to two companies of infantry and one squadron of enemy cavalry, caused 27 fires, 22 explosions of great force in areas of concentration of equipment and manpower of the enemy, at railway stations, ports and airfields of the enemy. For 144 sorties of which 111 were during the night time and successful execution of combat missions of the Command on the front line of the Patriotic war against the nazi invaders, for courage and heroism, captain Gorkunov M. S. worthy of the highest government award - the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union... " By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 1, 1943, for exemplary performance of combat tasks of the command on the front of the fight against the Nazi invaders and for the courage and heroism shown, captain Mikhail Gorkunov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union with the order of Lenin and the gold Star medal (No. 1000). The awards were presented to the Hero in the Kremlin on June 18, 1943. By order of the 4th Air army of the North Caucasus front of May 9, 1943, captain Gorkunov already in the position of commander of the 2nd air squadron 367 BAP receives his fourth order. Extract from the decree of awarding the order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd degree: "...on 20.3.1943 while performing a combat mission of the command to destroy enemy personnel and equipment in the area of the spit Chushka, and despite enemy opposition and bad weather conditions of low clouds and rain, repeatedly performed the targeting of the enemy thus exhausting its air defense forces, skillfully distractig the enemy's air defense to its maneuver thus provided suitable conditions for bombing of the enemy by his other crews. When the enemy was exhausted, he destroyed by bombs up to 3 cars due to an excellent approach to the target and had suppressed the fire of 3 enemy anti-aircraft guns. After being presented for the highest Government award – the title of Hero of the Soviet Union from January 1943 to May 1943, comrade Gorkunov made 66 sorties at night, with aircraft time of 129 hours and 25 minutes. And in total for the period of participation in the Great Patriotic war, comrade Gorkunov made 210 sorties, 177 of them at night, with a total flight time of 491 hours and 12 minutes. ... " But his mortally dangerous and bold combat work was not destined to continue. On December 6, 1943, the brave pilot did not return from the flight. Like thousands of soldiers of the great Patriotic war, he passed away before he could breathe the heady air of the spring of 1945. During the night time from 5th to 6th of December 1943 when the combat mission to bomb troops and artillery of the enemy at the height of 56.8 to the south of Kerch, crew of captain Gorkunov consisting of navigating officer Lieutenant Bazoviy Alexander Vasilievich, chief of AE communications Senior Sergeant Delevoy Timofey Maksimovich and air gunner Sergeant Selyavin Grigory Petrovich has not returned from a mission. Awarded the order of Lenin and medal "Gold Star" (№1000), two orders of Red Banner, order of Patriotic War 2nd degree (No. 15897 from 09.05.1943), the medal "For defense of Sevastopol". One of the streets of the village of Krasnotorka near the city of Kramatorsk is named after him. In the village of Nadezhdino is the school that bears the name of the Hero, his bust is installed. On May 9, 1985, a Monument to the Heroes of the Soviet Union, who were awarded high military award for courage and bravery in the battles against the fascist invaders in the Kuban, was opened in the Krasnodar Park of the 30th anniversary of Victory. Gorkunov M.S. name is inscribed on the memorial stella.