“A man exceptional in his merits”: what contribution did Mikhail Gromov make to the development of Soviet aviation
90 years ago, pilot Mikhail Gromov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage shown during a record long-distance flight along the route Moscow – Ryazan – Kharkov – Moscow. According to historians, Gromov was a multifaceted personality: a talented test pilot, an athlete who stood at the origins of domestic weightlifting, a military leader who made a serious contribution to the victory over Nazism, and an organizer of aviation in the USSR.
On September 28, 1934, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to pilot Mikhail Gromov. He made a huge contribution to the development of Soviet aviation – both as a talented tester of new technology and as an outstanding organizer.
Path to Heaven
Mikhail Gromov was born on February 24, 1899 in Tver in the family of a military doctor. After graduating from school, he entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School (now MSTU named after N.E. Bauman). However, the future aviator, by his own admission, did not like studying, unlike painting and sports.
Russia participated in the First World War, and Gromov had to be drafted into the army upon reaching adulthood. Mikhail wanted to become a hussar, but his father convinced him that it was “out of date” and expensive, because he needed to buy a horse. He agreed to employ his son as a signalman, but Mikhail was against it.
Gromov himself entered the theoretical aviation courses run by Professor Nikolai Zhukovsky at the school, on the basis of which the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) was subsequently created. After completing the courses, he received the rank of warrant officer and a referral to the Moscow Aviation School. While studying, Gromov was caught up in the October Revolution. He became a soldier in the Red Army. However, as one of the most capable students, he was left at the school as an instructor to teach beginners and at the same time master more complex types of aircraft.
However, Mikhail was eager to join the active army. He was eventually sent to the front, but ended up in a sector where there was no active combat. Gromov wrote a report on the transfer, but soon due to illness he ended up in the hospital, after leaving which he was sent to serve in the internal security forces. He flew reconnaissance and scattered propaganda materials over enemy positions. From the front, Mikhail returned to work at the Moscow Aviation School.
In parallel with teaching flying, Gromov continued to engage in sports – gymnastics and running. In addition, he became one of the first Soviet athletes – weightlifters.
For some time, Gromov was an instructor and squad leader at the Higher Military Aviation School of Shooting and Bombing in Serpukhov. There, one of his listeners was the future Hero of the Soviet Union Valery Chkalov. Gromov recalled in his memoirs that Chkalov flew “vigorously, bravely, but rather rudely,” and emphasized that he was the same in character.
Mikhail Gromov Public domain
In 1924, Gromov transferred to serve at the Scientific Experimental Airfield of the Air Force in Moscow. There he tested foreign aircraft coming to the USSR and the latest developments of Soviet aircraft manufacturers. He was chosen by such outstanding designers as Andrei Tupolev and Nikolai Polikarpov to test their aircraft. He was the first to fly the U-2, I-4, I-3, I-4bis, ANT-9, R-6 and other domestic aircraft. In 1927, Gromov was also the first in the USSR to perform a forced parachute jump from an airplane that went into a flat tailspin.
Since the mid-1920s, Gromov made long-distance flights to China and Europe. During his performance appraisal for 1926-1927, Mikhail was given the following description: “An excellent pilot with a keen understanding of aircraft, which is especially valuable when testing aircraft. He has great willpower and perseverance, is well developed, and is technically prepared satisfactorily. Easily understands the situation. There is no combat experience, no ability (and perhaps no desire) for administrative work. Arrogant. Not active enough in public life.”
“Huge contribution to the development of aviation”
In 1930, Mikhail Gromov was released from military service and sent to test work in the aviation industry. At first he was a test pilot, and then a detachment commander at TsAGI. Gromov personally tested the machines, many of which played an important role in the history of domestic aviation: R-7, I-8, TB-3, ANT-14, TB-4, ANT-25, ANT-20 “Maxim Gorky”, ANT- 35, Pe-8 and BOK-15.
“The future of a particular aircraft could largely depend on how the pilot conducted the first tests. It was an extremely responsible job. And based only on this activity, Gromov is an exceptional person in terms of his merits,” writer and aviation historian Nikolai Bodrikhin emphasized in a conversation with RT.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Gromov at the controls of the giant aircraft ANT-20 “Maxim Gorky” Public domain
In September 1934, Gromov with co-pilot Alexander Filin and navigator Ivan Spirin made a record flight along the route Moscow – Ryazan – Kharkov – Moscow over a distance of 12 thousand 411 km in 75 hours 2 minutes. For the courage shown during the flight on September 28, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After the Gold Star medal was established in the USSR in 1939, Gromov received it at number eight.
In July 1937, Gromov also made a record flight along the route Moscow – North Pole – San Jacinto (USA). In the same year, the Higher Attestation Commission awarded Mikhail the academic title of professor in the specialty “technical operation of aircraft and engines.”
“The series of long-distance flights was a huge achievement for Gromov. And his record flight to the USA became a global triumph for Soviet aviation. Gromov had a reputation as the number one pilot in the USSR in the 1930s,” noted Victory Museum methodologist Evgenia Tarnyagina in an interview with RT.
Meeting of the Soviet aircraft “Wings of the Soviets”, on which pilot Mikhail Gromov flew along the route Moscow – Berlin – Paris – Rome – London – WarsawRIA News
According to historians, at the end of the 1930s, Gromov had to take up organizational and administrative work that he disliked.
In 1939, Joseph Stalin invited the pilot to head a research institute within the Air Force. However, he managed to convince the head of state that he would bring more benefit at the head of the Flight Research Institute that was then being created.
“Gromov paid a lot of attention to scientific issues of ensuring flight safety and made a huge contribution to the development of domestic aviation,” noted Evgenia Tarnyagina.
Pilots Mikhail Gromov, Andrey Yumashev and Sergey Danilin after a non-stop flight on the USSR-USA route via the North PoleRIA Novosti
According to historians, Gromov especially valued justice. So, together with the famous pilot Valentina Grizodubova, he signed a letter in support of the repressed designer Sergei Korolev. As a result, the future father of domestic rocket science was transferred from Kolyma to a secure design bureau in Moscow.
In the first months of the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Gromov resolved issues of acquiring American aircraft for the needs of Soviet aviation, and then transferred to the active army. He alternately commanded the 31st mixed aviation division on the Kalinin Front and its air force, as well as the 3rd and 1st air armies. The aviation units under his command participated in the Rzhev-Sychevsk, Velikoluksk, Demyansk, Oryol, Spas-Demensk, Smolensk and Vitebsk operations. In 1944, Gromov headed the Main Directorate of Combat Training of Front-line Aviation of the Air Force.
Mikhail Gromov Public domain
“There were attempts to subordinate aviation to the commanders of ground formations; it was literally torn to pieces, and this, of course, did not have the best effect on the effectiveness of the combat use of air force units. Gromov stopped this practice. Overall, he proved himself to be a brilliant military commander,” noted Nikolai Bodrikhin.
In the post-war period, Gromov was appointed deputy commander of long-range aviation, and then headed the Flight Service Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Aviation Industry, but remained an active military personnel. He entered the reserve in 1955 with the rank of Colonel General.
In 1959, Gromov became chairman of the USSR Weightlifting Federation. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, the Soviet Union was represented by six weightlifters, who ultimately took five gold and one silver medal.
Heroes of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gromov and Andrey YumashevRIA News Mark Redkin
Mikhail Gromov was engaged in social activities and wrote memoirs.
“I personally met Gromov when I was a boy. We were traveling by train when my father told me that Gromov was traveling in another compartment and sent me to get an autograph. I still keep the piece of paper with his signature. All aviation figures who were well acquainted with him said only good things about him. He was described as a deeply intelligent, very collected and versatile person,” said Nikolai Bodrikhin.
In addition to the “Golden Star” of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gromov was awarded four Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov II degree, three Orders of the Red Star and a number of other awards.
Mikhail Gromov died on January 22, 1985. He was buried in Moscow. The Flight Research Institute, which Gromov led, was renamed in his honor. Monuments to the outstanding pilot were erected in several cities of Russia.
“Mikhail Gromov is a rare person in terms of the versatility of his talents, who has made a huge contribution to the development of aviation, military affairs and sports in our country,” summed up Evgenia Tarnyagina.
