ukraine grey wolf

Ukraine Grey Wolf - US Air Force F-15 Pilot Tells How Legendary Ukrainian Pilot Gary Wolf Got His Call Sign

Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko was one of the most respected pilots in the Ukrainian Air Force. He was killed in a Russian anti-aircraft missile attack on February 25, in the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Task and goal photo illustration. Background photo via Associated Press/Mikhail Palinchuk).

Ukraine Grey Wolf

Few military pilots ever become household names, but it was heard around the world late last month when Russia invaded Ukraine. Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, a retired Ukrainian Air Force pilot also known as "Grey Wolf", rejoined the fight for his country when the war began on February 24. In the heat of battle, Oksanchenko was killed by anti-Russians. Air Defense on February 25.

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US is an F-15 fighter pilot with the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing, a unit that has served with the Ukrainian Air Force since 1993. One person who felt the loss personally was Air Force Col. Rob Swertfeger. Speaking and flying with the Ukrainians on more than 100 missions, Swertfeger and his fellow aviators developed close friendships with many of the pilots there, especially as combat became increasingly difficult to watch.

Among these friends was Colonel Oksanchenko, a famous pilot, an excellent fighter and a friend of the 144th Fighter Wing. But like many military call signs, Oksanchenko's "Grey Wolf" debut isn't as bad as you might think. In fact, the way Svertfager heard it from other Ukrainian airmen, the name came from a Soviet-era children's cartoon.

The cartoon "Venus Upon Dog" is a 1982 adaptation of the Ukrainian folktale, where an old wolf and his former enemy, an old guard dog, help each other. Although he is not as quick as he once was, the gray wolf makes up for it with wisdom.

"He's always pushing everyone forward and coming up with smart ideas," Swertfeger said of the 53-year-old Oksanchenko, who first joined the Soviet Air Force in 1989. “He's an old, experienced gray wolf.

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Oksanchenko fit the bill so well that his friends in the Ukrainian Air Force made him a patch featuring an old cartoon wolf, which he always wore on his shoulder, Swertfeger said. Even if one had never heard of the Soviet-era cartoon, watching the pilot fly made it clear that the nickname was deserved.

"It was very clear that he knew what he was doing." Swertfager said. "We had a lot of respect for him as a pilot and a great man in general."

Oksanchenko "ate, slept, breathed," added the American pilot. "He was always talking about flying and how to fly better."

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Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko of the Ukrainian Air Force made a special patch in honor of his call sign. (Photo courtesy of Col. Robert Swertfeger)

This recognition paid off in 2017 when Oksanchenko won the award for best overall flight performance at the 2017 Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show held in the UK every summer.

"Compared to the much smaller Typhoon, Rafale, F-16 or Raptor, the Su-27's display was nothing special, but its raw power was evident as Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko put the Russian jet through its paces." , he was awarded. Crow Flies Trophy for best overall flying display. " British website Aero Resources wrote in a 2017 article.

An aviation writer for Flightline UK said the Oksanchenko demonstrated the Su-27's incredible agility through sharp turns and sharp rolls.

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"A big thank you to all the friends organizing the Royal International Air Tattoo for your hospitality and participation," he said through a spokesperson, according to Aero Resources. "The standard is set very high and we are very happy to be here. Everything is well organized. God bless your queen!"

The award was Gary Wolff's only award in five years as Ukraine's Su-27 Flanker display pilot at European air shows. Even after retiring in 2018, he traveled with the Ukrainian display team as a coach and mentor, writing non-profit.

A Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB (serial 71) lands at the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, England. (Adrian Pingstone/Wikimedia Commons)

Oksanchenko was held in such high esteem that when he was killed, rumors spread that he was the "spirit of Kiev," the legendary pilot believed to have shot down six Russian planes in the first day of the war. The legend of Kyiv was debunked, but Oksanchenko was recognized as one of the most prominent in his country. On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded him the posthumous title of Hero of Ukraine, the highest honor given to a Ukrainian citizen.

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Of course, Oksanchenko is far from the only hero of Ukraine. Eleven other service members received the honor from Zielinski on February 28 alone. Even now, pilots from Oksanchenko's old unit, the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, are flying for their lives against Russia's largest air force, the VKS. Britain's Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that Ukraine's air force continued to "defend effectively", despite pilots on both sides being grounded due to the threat of surface-to-air missiles, according to the US Department of Defense. according to Ukrainian airspace that has been "particularly threatened" by the development of Russia's attack.

"It shows who he was: experienced, wise and dedicated!" Swertfager said about Oksanchenko's call sign. "God bless him."

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David covers Air Force, Space Force and anything related to Star Wars. He joined Task & Purpose in 2019 after covering local news in Maine and FDA policy in Washington, DC. David loves hearing the stories of individual Airmen and their families and sharing the human side of the most technological branch of the United States military. Contact the author here. Home Air Shows Col. Oleksandr "Grey Wolf" Oksanchenko, a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker display pilot from 2013-2018, was killed in an airstrike Friday night.

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Colonel Oleksandr "Grey Wolf" Oksanchenko, a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker display pilot from 2013-2018, was killed in an airstrike on Friday night.

Colonel Oleksandr "Grey Wolf" Oksanchenko, a Ukrainian Air Force Flanker display pilot from 2013-2018, lost his life Friday night when his jet was shot down by Russian air defenses over Kiev.

Ukrainian Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, a Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker display pilot of the Ukrainian Air Force from 2013-2018, was killed in an airstrike. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later awarded the soldier the title of Hero of Ukraine, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Facebook.

"Now the hero of Ukraine, Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, died in an air raid, distracted by an enemy plane... It's a pity that he did not get a hero of Ukraine in his lifetime, because he is forever for me. is a hero Forever,” Lana Borisova wrote on Facebook.

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According to the Telegram channel, the operation APU Oksanchenko had more than two thousand flight hours and flawless performance of the most difficult elements of aerobatics.

He became famous after successful flights in SIAF Air Show, The Royal International Air Tattoo, International Airshow-2017 and Czech International Air Fest.

“His style of hand writing and acrobatic performance is now famous all over the world. Colonel Alexander Oksanchenko is considered to be one of the best aerobatic pilots of fighter aircraft,” the report says.

Colonel Oleksandr "Grey Wolf" Oksanchenko, a Ukrainian Air Force Flanker display pilot from 2013-2018, lost his life Friday night when his jet was shot down by Russian air defenses over Kiev.

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Colonel Oksanchenko was not only a very experienced pilot who won many awards for best flying display at many events in Europe, but he was also a true fan of air shows. Although he left active service and joined the reserves at the end of 2018, he volunteered to coach/mister with the Ukrainian Flanker solo display team and traveled with the team during the 2019 display season, which It was also the team's last airshow season.

'He came out of retirement to defend his country against Russian aggression and paid the ultimate price. Colonel Oksanchenko was later awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Dario Leon is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the founder and editor of the "Aviation Geek Club", one of the most widely read military aviation blogs in the world. His writings have been published in National Interest and other newspapers. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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