About the book: 1972 / The book tells about the front-line life and combat exploits of the aviators of the dive bomber regiment, which was commanded for a long time by the outstanding innovative pilot Ivan Semenovich Polbin. As part of this unit, the author participated in the defeat of the Nazi invaders on the banks of the Don and Volga, on the Kursk Bulge, and dealt powerful blows to the enemy during the liberation of Belarus and the Baltic states. He made 218 combat missions, all members of his crew became Heroes of the Soviet Union. L.V. Zholudev ended the war as a squadron commander, now he is a lieutenant general. His memoirs are intended for a wide range of readers.