Grinev Nikolai Vasilievich. Biography An excerpt characterizing Grinev, Nikolai Vasilievich

Born on October 1, 1910 in the village of Molodovoye (now Shablykinsky district, Oryol region). Graduated from junior high school. In 1926-1931 worked as a miner at mine No. 1 in Gorlovka and as a fireman at a chemical plant in Konstantinovka (Donetsk region of Ukraine), while studying at an industrial technical school. In 1931-1933 studied at the Odessa Industrial Institute. Since October 1933 in the ranks of the Red Army. On a Komsomol ticket, he was sent to the Kharkov Military Aviation School of Pilots, from which he graduated in August 1936. He served in the 21st separate fighter aviation squadron (Air Force of the Trans-Baikal Military District). Participant in the Soviet-Japanese conflict on the Khalkhin Gol River (Mongolia) from May 23 to September 16, 1939 as part of the 22nd IAP and ORAE. Flew on I-16.

Assistant squadron commander of the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment (Fighter Aviation Brigade, 1st Army Group), Lieutenant N.V. Grinev, made 157 combat missions, conducted 25 air battles, in which he personally shot down 4 and as part of a group 6 enemy aircraft (in The award list says 4 personal and 6 group victories). Commanding a separate reconnaissance squadron, he discovered several enemy airfields. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated November 17, 1939, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 166).

In 1940-1941 studied at the Officer Improvement Course at the Air Force Engineering Academy.

Since June 23, 1941, Captain N.V. Grinev flew the Yak-1 on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War as part of the 11th IAP. From January 18, 1942, squadron commander of the 518th IAP, where he continued to fly the Yak-1. On January 26, 1942, he was wounded in an air battle. Since June 1942, he served as commander of the 518th IAP. Since September 1942 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting technology of the 5th Air Army Directorate, flew the Yak-1 and other types of fighters.

By May 1945, Lieutenant Colonel N.V. Grinev had flown more than 160 combat missions, conducted 46 air battles, in which he personally shot down 3 enemy aircraft. He fought on the Kalinin, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Steppe, Western and 2nd Ukrainian fronts.

After the end of the war he continued to serve in the Air Force. Since October 1945 - retired. Lived in the city of Sochi. Died April 28, 1963.

Awarded the orders: Lenin (11/17/1939), Red Banner (08/29/1939), Patriotic War 1st degree (04/25/1943), Red Star (01/11/1944), Red Banner of the MPR (08/10/1939); medals.

USSR USSR

: Incorrect or missing image

Nikolai Vasilievich Grinev(-) - Lieutenant Colonel of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, participant in the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union ().

Biography

Awards

Write a review of the article "Grinev, Nikolai Vasilievich"

Notes

Literature

• Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov. - M.: Voenizdat, 1987. - T. 1 /Abaev - Lyubichev/. - 911 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN ex., Reg. No. in RKP 87-95382.
• Vorozheikin A.V. Stronger than death. - M.: Children's literature, 1978.
• Heroes of Khalkhin Gol. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1989.
• Kuznetsov I. I., Dzhoga I. M. The first Heroes of the Soviet Union (1936-1939), - Irkutsk, 1983.
• Frolov P. I., Pirogov V. A., Makushev A. F. Oryol combat constellation. Tula, 1985.

An excerpt characterizing Grinev, Nikolai Vasilievich

Born into a peasant family. Russian. Finished seven-year school. In 1926-31. worked as a miner at mine No. 1 in Gorlovka, and then as a fireman at a chemical plant in Konstantinovka. At the same time he studied at an industrial technical school in the city of Konstantinovka, Donetsk region, which he graduated in 1931. In 1931-33. studied at the Odessa Industrial Institute.

In the Red Army since 1933. On a Komsomol ticket, he was sent to the 9th Rogan Military Pilot School in Kharkov, which he graduated from in 1936. From September 1936, he served as a senior pilot, and then as a flight commander of the 21st Separate Fighter Squadron of Zabaikalsky military district. Member of the CPSU(b) since 1938

Aviation Major General Vorozheikin, who served in the same squadron with Grinev during this period, recalls: “A long, thin lieutenant in a faded helmet and a well-worn raglan. The raglan is clearly short for him, which makes the lieutenant’s figure seem even more awkward. He is very skinny, and in his worn out leather jacket he somewhat looks like a scarecrow.”

He took part in the battles near the Khalkhin Gol River from May 1939. He commanded a squadron of the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment.

From July 1939 he commanded a separate reconnaissance squadron. He made 157 combat missions, conducted 25 air battles, shot down 4 aircraft personally and 6 in a group. The squadron pilots under his command shot down more than 20 aircraft. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (08/29/39) and the Mongolian Order “For Military Valor” (08/10/39).

The pilots of a separate reconnaissance squadron monitored the movement of Japanese troops, engineering work, and enemy airfields. The reconnaissance area (200 km along the front and 100 km in depth) was divided into sections that were assigned to the units. Each unit had to inspect its territory from the air 2-3 times a day. The railway stations of Hailar, Halun-Arshan, Khandagai and the roads leading from them to the front were under special surveillance. The commander reported the results of the reconnaissance to the army group air force command twice a day.

Lieutenant Grinev’s nomination for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union stated: “I personally shot down 4 fighters... In battle he showed himself to be a brave, fearless pilot. Recently he has commanded a reconnaissance squadron, where he has shown courage, courage and bravery. He found a number of enemy airfields and burned two Douglas aircraft and two light bombers at the enemy airfield.”

Vorozheikin says: “I noticed Japanese fighters already rushing across our squadron. A frontal attack began. The planes bringing up the rear of our formation were cut off. Miraculously escaping from the resulting carousel, Grinev and I headed towards the bombers, but immediately a dozen more Japanese fighters poured out from the direction of the sun. "All! And we will be pinned down in battle!” The enemy was catching up from behind, from the side, and was about to start shooting at point-blank range! And Grinev, without turning aside, walked towards the bombers, and I, staying close, saw how he was preparing to meet the Japanese bullets: he pulled his head into his shoulders, drowned his long body in the cockpit, hiding behind the armored back... He rushed forward, concentrated , to better aim... There is no doubt: he will die, but will not deviate from the course. How much persistence this man has!..

Best of the day

What was to be done at that moment when Grinev, despising death, rushed towards the enemy bombers? Without leaving my place, I walked to the right of the commander, and a dozen Japanese fighters fell on us from above. Russian people are stubborn by nature and fight stubbornly for their lives. But if he happens to get into trouble, where the fate of other people is being decided, he forgets himself, becomes extremely brave, and can, without hesitation, give his life to save his comrades. This is what my commander Grinev did now. And I followed him, in a fit of desperate, unyielding determination...

Without wasting another moment, I rushed head-on at the nearest link... A short confusion among the enemy fighters, which I, in fact, was counting on, happened: some began to immediately turn around to get behind me, others, on the contrary, dodged from attack. I looked in the direction where the commander should have been, and only managed to notice how he dived under the formation of bombers. The next moment there was a strong explosion in the air, a flame flared up, bombs rained down - the leader of the Japanese bombers was blown up by Grinev’s bullets, scattering the entire formation and forcing his subordinates to hastily free themselves from the dangerous cargo...

In just a few seconds, the picture of the battle changed dramatically... having destroyed their battle formations, the Japanese bomb carriers, clumsy and large, were in a hurry to turn around to escape, but, pinched by the nimble I-16s, they rushed about like lascivious cows in someone else’s garden. Several of these colossuses, staining the sky with bluish-black smoke, fell to the ground. Three bombers exploded like powder kegs and scattered in red-colored splashes... And the Japanese fighters, as soon as the numerical superiority passed to our side, abandoned their clients and ran away. However, they did not find themselves in a better position: I-16s caught up with them in a straight line and destroyed them. Tracer bullets streaked the sky with lightning, and falling enemy planes painted the blue with fireworks. The paratroopers swayed helplessly and weakly in the air. Our soldiers and commanders on the ground rejoiced at the sight of such a stunning spectacle, throwing helmets and caps into the air. The defeat of the enemy is complete."

On November 17, 1939, Lieutenant Nikolai Vasilyevich Grinev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Gold Star Medal No. 166.

In 1940-41 studied at the Command Improvement Course at the Air Force Engineering Academy named after. Zhukovsky. From April 1941 he commanded the 273rd Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Participated in the Great Patriotic War from the first to the last day. He fought on the Kalinin, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Steppe, Western and 2nd Ukrainian fronts. He was the commander of the 518th IAP. In 1942 he was wounded near the city of Kerch. From August 1942 to October 1945 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting technology of the 5th VA.

Total in 1939-45. Lieutenant Colonel Grinev scored 27 air victories.

Since October 1945 - retired. Lived in the city of Sochi.

Thank you
KENT 28.04.2009 03:22:38

Thank you very much to this man, as well as to everyone who selflessly served for the good of their Motherland!!! Special thanks to him for being my grandfather!!!

Hero of the Soviet Union (11/17/39). He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner and the Patriotic War, 1st degree, medals, and the Order of Military Valor of the Mongolian People's Republic.

Born into a peasant family. Russian. Finished seven-year school. In 1926-31. worked as a miner at mine No. 1 in Gorlovka, and then as a fireman at a chemical plant in Konstantinovka. At the same time he studied at an industrial technical school in the city of Konstantinovka, Donetsk region, which he graduated in 1931. In 1931-33. studied at the Odessa Industrial Institute.

In the Red Army since 1933. On a Komsomol ticket, he was sent to the 9th Rogan Military Pilot School in Kharkov, which he graduated from in 1936. From September 1936, he served as a senior pilot, and then as a flight commander of the 21st Separate Fighter Squadron of Zabaikalsky military district. Member of the CPSU(b) since 1938

Aviation Major General Vorozheikin, who served in the same squadron with Grinev during this period, recalls: “A long, thin lieutenant in a faded helmet and a well-worn raglan. The raglan is clearly short for him, which makes the lieutenant’s figure seem even more awkward. He is very skinny, and in his worn out leather jacket he somewhat looks like a scarecrow.”

He took part in the battles near the Khalkhin Gol River from May 1939. He commanded a squadron of the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment.

From July 1939 he commanded a separate reconnaissance squadron. He made 157 combat missions, conducted 25 air battles, shot down 4 aircraft personally and 6 in a group. The squadron pilots under his command shot down more than 20 aircraft. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (08/29/39) and the Mongolian Order “For Military Valor” (08/10/39).

The pilots of a separate reconnaissance squadron monitored the movement of Japanese troops, engineering work, and enemy airfields. The reconnaissance area (200 km along the front and 100 km in depth) was divided into sections that were assigned to the units. Each unit had to inspect its territory from the air 2-3 times a day. The railway stations of Hailar, Halun-Arshan, Khandagai and the roads leading from them to the front were under special surveillance. The commander reported the results of the reconnaissance to the army group air force command twice a day.

Lieutenant Grinev’s nomination for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union stated: “I personally shot down 4 fighters... In battle he showed himself to be a brave, fearless pilot. Recently he has commanded a reconnaissance squadron, where he has shown courage, courage and bravery. He found a number of enemy airfields and burned two Douglas aircraft and two light bombers at the enemy airfield.”

Vorozheikin says: “I noticed Japanese fighters already rushing across our squadron. A frontal attack began. The planes bringing up the rear of our formation were cut off. Miraculously escaping from the resulting carousel, Grinev and I headed towards the bombers, but immediately a dozen more Japanese fighters poured out from the direction of the sun. "All! And we will be pinned down in battle!” The enemy was catching up from behind, from the side, and was about to start shooting at point-blank range! And Grinev, without turning aside, walked towards the bombers, and I, staying close, saw how he was preparing to meet the Japanese bullets: he pulled his head into his shoulders, drowned his long body in the cockpit, hiding behind the armored back... He rushed forward, concentrated , to better aim... There is no doubt: he will die, but will not deviate from the course. How much persistence this man has!..

What was to be done at that moment when Grinev, despising death, rushed towards the enemy bombers? Without leaving my place, I walked to the right of the commander, and a dozen Japanese fighters fell on us from above. Russian people are stubborn by nature and fight stubbornly for their lives. But if he happens to get into trouble, where the fate of other people is being decided, he forgets himself, becomes extremely brave, and can, without hesitation, give his life to save his comrades. This is what my commander Grinev did now. And I followed him, in a fit of desperate, unyielding determination...

Without wasting another moment, I rushed head-on at the nearest link... A short confusion among the enemy fighters, which I, in fact, was counting on, happened: some began to immediately turn around to get behind me, others, on the contrary, dodged from attack. I looked in the direction where the commander should have been, and only managed to notice how he dived under the formation of bombers. The next moment there was a strong explosion in the air, a flame flared up, bombs rained down - the leader of the Japanese bombers was blown up by Grinev’s bullets, scattering the entire formation and forcing his subordinates to hastily free themselves from the dangerous cargo...

In just a few seconds, the picture of the battle changed dramatically... having destroyed their battle formations, the Japanese bomb carriers, clumsy and large, were in a hurry to turn around to escape, but, pinched by the nimble I-16s, they rushed about like lascivious cows in someone else’s garden. Several of these colossuses, staining the sky with bluish-black smoke, fell to the ground. Three bombers exploded like powder kegs and scattered in red-colored splashes... And the Japanese fighters, as soon as the numerical superiority passed to our side, abandoned their clients and ran away. However, they did not find themselves in a better position: I-16s caught up with them in a straight line and destroyed them. Tracer bullets streaked the sky with lightning, and falling enemy planes painted the blue with fireworks. The paratroopers swayed helplessly and weakly in the air. Our soldiers and commanders on the ground rejoiced at the sight of such a stunning spectacle, throwing helmets and caps into the air. The defeat of the enemy is complete."

On November 17, 1939, Lieutenant Nikolai Vasilyevich Grinev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Gold Star Medal No. 166.

In 1940-41 studied at the Command Improvement Course at the Air Force Engineering Academy named after. Zhukovsky. From April 1941 he commanded the 273rd Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Participated in the Great Patriotic War from the first to the last day. He fought on the Kalinin, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Steppe, Western and 2nd Ukrainian fronts. He was the commander of the 518th IAP. In 1942 he was wounded near the city of Kerch. From August 1942 to October 1945 - senior inspector-pilot for piloting technology of the 5th VA.

Total in 1939-45. Lieutenant Colonel Grinev scored 27 air victories.

Since October 1945 - retired. Lived in the city of Sochi.

* * *

Nikolai Grinev was born on October 1, 1910 in the village of Molodovoye, Shablykinsky district, Oryol region, into a peasant family. Finished seven-year school. In 1926 - 1931 he worked as a miner at mine No. 1 in the city of Gorlovka, and then as a fireman at a chemical plant in Konstantinovka. At the same time, he studied at an industrial technical school in the city of Konstantinovka, Donetsk region, from which he graduated in 1931. Then, until 1933, he studied at the Odessa Industrial Institute.

Since 1933 in the ranks of the Red Army. With a Komsomol voucher he was sent to the 9th Rogan Military Pilot School in the city of Kharkov, from which he graduated in 1936.

Immediately after college, Nikolai ended up in Transbaikalia. He served as a senior pilot and then as a flight commander of the 21st Independent Fighter Squadron. Aviation Major General A.V. Vorozheikin, who served in the same squadron with Grinev during this period, recalls:

“A long, thin lieutenant in a faded helmet and a well-worn raglan. The raglan is clearly short for him, which makes the lieutenant’s figure seem even more awkward. He is very skinny, and in his worn out leather jacket he somewhat looks like a garden scarecrow.”

From the very first days, as soon as the fighting began on Khalkhin-Gol, Grinev always flew as the leader of the group. He had several victories to his credit. He was known and appreciated in the regiment. Sociable, cheerful, straightforward in character, he enjoyed the respect of the pilots. And it is no coincidence that, in the second half of July 1939, when the Military Council of the 1st Army Group decided to form a separate reconnaissance fighter squadron, he was appointed its commander.

This first fighter reconnaissance unit in our Air Force was intended for professional aerial reconnaissance. Until now, such work was carried out by ordinary aircraft - fighters and bombers, which often became easy prey for Japanese fighters.

The best pilots from 3 regiments were selected for Grinev's reconnaissance squadron. Lieutenant Arseny Vorozheikin, an excellent pilot with a calm, balanced character, became the squadron commissar.

The squadron was located at a field airfield in close proximity to the Khalkhin-Gol River. The I-16 fighters were positioned in a semicircle at a distance of 100 - 200 meters from each other and were in full combat readiness. Communication with the army group air force headquarters was direct and maintained uninterruptedly. In addition to performing purely reconnaissance missions, the squadron was also used to intercept enemy aircraft and as a command reserve.

Grinev, together with the squadron chief of staff, Captain Vasily Borzyak, developed a detailed aerial reconnaissance plan. The entire reconnaissance area (200 kilometers along the front and 100 in depth) was divided into sections. The plots were assigned to links. Each unit had to inspect the territory under its control from the air 2-3 times a day. The railway stations of Hailar, Halun-Arshan, Khandagai and the roads leading from them to the front were under special surveillance.

The plan was approved by the command and was carried out exactly. The pilots obtained valuable information about the movement of Japanese troops, engineering work, places where reserves were concentrated and where Japanese aviation was based. Grinev reported the results of the reconnaissance to the command of the army group Air Force twice a day.

The pilots of Grinev's squadron often had to carry out missions under strong opposition from the enemy and engage in battles with Japanese fighters. This was the case, for example, on August 20 - the first day of the Khalkingol offensive operation. The squadron was held in reserve until midday, and then scrambled to meet a large group of Japanese bombers approaching the battle area under fighter cover. The task of Grinev and his pilots was to prevent Japanese bombers from striking the advancing Soviet-Mongolian troops.

In tight formation, Grinev's squadron walked towards the column of bombers. Noticing the danger to their charges, the Japanese fighters rushed to intercept ours. The fight began. The final link of Lieutenant Anatoly Komosa was cut off. Grinev himself escaped from the carousel and continued approaching the bombers at full speed. Along with him were squadron commissioner Arseny Vorozheikin and pilot Ignatiy Shinkarenko.

The situation suddenly became more complicated: a new group of Japanese fighters fell on our pilots from the direction of the sun. The enemy was approaching from behind and from the right, intending to shoot the leading link at point-blank range. Some decision had to be made. However, Grinev, disregarding the mortal danger, did not deviate from the course and, revving up the engine, in a fit of desperate and unyielding determination, rushed towards the bomber column. Drawing his head into his shoulders, hiding behind his armored back from the machine-gun line reaching towards his car, Grinev crashed into a formation of bomb carriers. A short burst of fire followed at the lead bomber. There was a strong explosion in the air and bombs rained down on the ground.

The formation of the Japanese bomber column was disrupted. From the furious attacks of our fighters, they exploded one after another. Those who remained, throwing bombs anywhere, turned back and ran away. Chasing them, Grinev and Vorozheikin drove another SB-96 into the hill.

Aviation Major General A.V. Vorozheikin says:

“I noticed Japanese fighters already rushing across our squadron. A frontal attack began. The planes that brought up the rear of our formation were cut off. Miraculously escaping from the carousel that had arisen, Grinev and I headed towards the bombers, but immediately a dozen more Japanese fighters poured out from the direction of the sun . "All ! And we will be pinned down in battle!"

The enemy was catching up from behind, from the side, and was about to start shooting at point-blank range! And Grinev, without turning away, walked towards the bombers, and I, staying close, saw how he was preparing to meet Japanese bullets: he pulled his head into his shoulders, drowned his long body in the cockpit, hiding behind the armored back... He rushed forward and concentrated , to aim better... There is no doubt: he will die, but will not deviate from the course. How much persistence this man has!..

What was to be done at that moment when Grinev, despising death, rushed towards the enemy bombers? Without leaving my place, I walked to the right of the commander, and a dozen Japanese fighters fell on us from above. Russian people are stubborn by nature and fight stubbornly for their lives. But if he happens to get into trouble, where the fate of other people is being decided, he forgets himself, becomes extremely brave, and can, without hesitation, give his life to save his comrades. This is what my commander Grinev did now. And I followed him, in a fit of desperate, unyielding determination...

Without wasting another moment, I rushed head-on at the nearest link... A short confusion among the enemy fighters, which I, in fact, was counting on, happened: some began to immediately turn around to get behind me, others, on the contrary, dodged from attack. I looked in the direction where the commander should have been, and only managed to notice how he dived under the formation of bombers. The next moment there was a strong explosion in the air, a flame flared up, bombs rained down - it was the leader of the Japanese bombers who was blown up by Grinev’s bullets, scattering the entire formation and forcing his subordinates to hastily free themselves from the dangerous cargo...

In just a few seconds, the picture of the battle changed dramatically: having destroyed their battle formations, the Japanese bomb carriers, clumsy and large, were in a hurry to turn around to escape, but, pinched by the nimble I-16s, they rushed about like lascivious cows in someone else’s garden. Several such colossuses, staining the sky with bluish-black smoke, fell to the ground. Another 3 bombers exploded like powder kegs and scattered in red-colored splashes... And the Japanese fighters, as soon as the numerical superiority passed to our side, abandoned their clients and ran away. However, they did not find themselves in a better position: I-16s caught up with them in a straight line and destroyed them. Tracer bullets streaked the sky with lightning, and falling enemy planes painted the blue with fireworks. The paratroopers swayed helplessly and weakly in the air. Our soldiers and commanders on the ground rejoiced at the sight of such a stunning spectacle, throwing helmets and caps into the air. The defeat of the enemy is complete."

In one of the reconnaissance flights on August 23, Grinev discovered a large column of vehicles with infantry moving towards the front from Hailar. He immediately reported this to the command and received orders to keep the enemy under constant surveillance. By evening, Grinev, together with Commissar Vorozheikin, took off for the 3rd time and established that Japanese reserves were concentrated east of Big Sands. The command moved the 80th Regiment of the 57th Infantry Division and the battalion of the 6th Tank Brigade to the threatened area. The next morning the Japanese went on the offensive. These were units of the 14th Infantry Brigade, transferred to Khalkhin-Gol from the reserve of the Kwantung Army. After 2 days they were defeated.

After the Soviet-Mongolian troops closed a ring around the enemy’s Khalkingol group on August 24, the Japanese command tried to use transport aircraft to transport ammunition and food to the encircled units. Grinev was the first to discover this. The command assigned him the task of disrupting enemy air transportation.

The squadron completed the task brilliantly. During August 25 and 26, the squadron pilots destroyed several enemy transport aircraft, and Grinev burned one of them on the ground. After this, the flights of Japanese transport aircraft ceased.

Having lost most of its new aircraft in air battles, the Japanese command threw into battle all the aircraft located in Manchuria, including outdated designs.

At the beginning of September, Grinev's squadron encountered about 20 low-speed biplanes, similar to our P-5s, which were withdrawn from service several years ago. These biplanes tried to bomb units of the 8th Mongolian Cavalry Division, which occupied defenses along the border in the area of ​​​​the Khulat-Ulain-Obo heights. All Japanese aircraft became easy prey for Grinev’s squadron.

Grinev's reconnaissance squadron made a significant contribution to the defeat of the Japanese. In air battles, its pilots destroyed more than 20 enemy aircraft without losing a single one of their own.

During the battles on Khalkhin-Gol, Lieutenant N.V. Grinev himself made 157 combat missions, conducted 25 air battles, shot down 4 Japanese aircraft personally and 6 in a group with his comrades. During assault operations at airfields he burned down 4 enemy vehicles. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (08/29/1939) and the Mongolian Order "For Military Valor" (08/10/1939).

Lieutenant N.V. Grinev’s nomination for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union stated:

“I personally shot down 4 fighters... In battle, he showed himself to be a brave, fearless pilot. Recently he has commanded a reconnaissance squadron, where he shows courage, courage and bravery. He found a number of enemy airfields, burned 2 Douglas aircraft and 2 light bomber."

Grinev’s courage and courage in battle were based on sober calculation, knowledge of the situation, technology, his own strengths and capabilities. Combined with high military skill, this brought him constant success.

On November 17, 1939, Lieutenant Nikolai Vasilyevich Grinev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Gold Star Medal No. 166.

In 1940 - 1941 he studied at the Advanced Courses for Command Staff at the Air Force Engineering Academy named after. Zhukovsky. Since April 1941, he commanded the 273rd Fighter Aviation Regiment.

The rich combat experience gained in the skies of Mongolia was fully used by Grinev during the Great Patriotic War. Hundreds of young pilots learned from him the art of defeating the enemy.

He participated in the Great Patriotic War from the first to the last day. He fought on the Kalinin, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Steppe, Western and 2nd Ukrainian fronts. He was the commander of the 518th Fighter Aviation Regiment. In 1942 he was wounded near the city of Kerch. From August 1942 to October 1945 he was a senior inspector-pilot in piloting technology of the Directorate of the 5th Air Army.

In total, in 1939 - 1945, Lieutenant Colonel N.V. Grinev personally and as part of a group won 27 air victories (perhaps this number includes 4 aircraft burned on the ground of Mongolia by assault strikes).

Since October 1945 - retired. Lived in the city of Sochi.