Alexander Gorgolyuk was born on 27 August 1919. His parents were workers. He graduated eight grades of school, then the
professional technical school, after which he worked as a mechanic at the Kinap Plant, at the same time he studied at the Odessa Flying Club. In 1937, Gorgolyuk was called up to serve in the
Red Army. In 1940 he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation Pilot School. Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, which began on 22 June 1941, he flew three combat missions. He took part in the
Battle of Moscow. On 16 November 1941 The
MiG-3, piloted by Gorgolyuk was shot down. Gorgolyuk received severe burns and spent some time in hospital. In 1946, with the rank of captain, Gorgolyuk retired. He continued to live in Moscow, where he graduated from technical school. Before retirement, he worked as deputy director of the printing company of the All-Russian Society of the Blind. He died on 7 May 1993, and was buried at the
Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow. He was awarded two
Orders of the Red Banner, the
Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree and a number of medals. In
Moscow, on
Tverskaya Street at 17, a memorial plaque was unveiled (sculptor Burganov I.A.). == Sources ==