The collection of the Museum of Local History houses a photo of a pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union, Alexey Dergach. Before the war, he worked as a pilot instructor of the Anzhero-Sudzhensk aircraft pilot club.
Dergach was born on March 23, 1916, in the village Duplenskaya (now Kochenevsky district of Novosibirsk region) in a peasant family. In 1931, together with his family, he moved to Kemerovo, where he graduated from the school.
At first, Alexey Dergach worked at the Kemerovo mechanical plant as a boiler operator. Then, he graduated from the airplane and glider training school in Stalinsk (now Novokuznetsk), and from 1935, worked as a glider instructor in the city council of Voluntary Sports Society of Kemerovo. From November 1937 to April 1940, Dergach was a pilot instructor at the aeroclub in Anzhero-Sudzhensk, then at the aeroclub in Kemerovo until June 1941.
In December 1941, Dergach was called up for military service. He served as a pilot in fighter aviation regiments, participated in the defense of Leningrad, and supported the Leningrad-Novgorod, Belorussian, Baltic and East Prussian offensives of the Soviet forces.
In June 1943, during the battle over the southern shore of Lake Ladoga, Dergach’s plane shot down three German fighter planes at once. For his bravery and courage, the captain was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. During his service, Alexey Dergach received more than 20 orders and medals, including the Order of Lenin, two Orders of Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Great Patriotic War, 1st degree, four Orders of Red Star, medals “For Battle Merit”, “For the Defence of Leningrad”, “For the Capture of Konigsberg” and “For the Capture of Berlin”.
Dergach served until Victory Day and made a total of over 300 combat sorties, during which he shot down 15 German fighter planes by himself.
After the war, he continued to serve in the Soviet Army. In 1955, Alexey Dergach graduated from the Officer Development Course and then headed the Airborne Forces of the USSR. In 1971, he was discharged with the rank of colonel. He lived in the town of Lyubertsy of Moscow Region and died on September 17, 1983.
Dergach was born on March 23, 1916, in the village Duplenskaya (now Kochenevsky district of Novosibirsk region) in a peasant family. In 1931, together with his family, he moved to Kemerovo, where he graduated from the school.
At first, Alexey Dergach worked at the Kemerovo mechanical plant as a boiler operator. Then, he graduated from the airplane and glider training school in Stalinsk (now Novokuznetsk), and from 1935, worked as a glider instructor in the city council of Voluntary Sports Society of Kemerovo. From November 1937 to April 1940, Dergach was a pilot instructor at the aeroclub in Anzhero-Sudzhensk, then at the aeroclub in Kemerovo until June 1941.
In December 1941, Dergach was called up for military service. He served as a pilot in fighter aviation regiments, participated in the defense of Leningrad, and supported the Leningrad-Novgorod, Belorussian, Baltic and East Prussian offensives of the Soviet forces.
In June 1943, during the battle over the southern shore of Lake Ladoga, Dergach’s plane shot down three German fighter planes at once. For his bravery and courage, the captain was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. During his service, Alexey Dergach received more than 20 orders and medals, including the Order of Lenin, two Orders of Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Great Patriotic War, 1st degree, four Orders of Red Star, medals “For Battle Merit”, “For the Defence of Leningrad”, “For the Capture of Konigsberg” and “For the Capture of Berlin”.
Dergach served until Victory Day and made a total of over 300 combat sorties, during which he shot down 15 German fighter planes by himself.
After the war, he continued to serve in the Soviet Army. In 1955, Alexey Dergach graduated from the Officer Development Course and then headed the Airborne Forces of the USSR. In 1971, he was discharged with the rank of colonel. He lived in the town of Lyubertsy of Moscow Region and died on September 17, 1983.
