For his daring raids, desperate attacks, and masterful piloting, the Germans nicknamed this pilot the Air Cossack of Verdun. We are talking about the Russian aviator Viktor Georgievich Fyodorov. During World War I, he fought in France and became one of the best aces. The son of a Siberian Cossack left his homeland due to persecution: he actively participated in the revolutionary underground. In 1915, Fyodorov joined the Foreign Legion and initially served in the infantry, later transferring to aviation.

The sky became his element! He distinguished himself in one of the bloodiest battles of World War I at Verdun. Flying almost daily, Viktor Georgievich shot down eight enemy aircraft in two weeks. His style of sharp maneuvers became a hallmark, and the Germans easily recognized the Russian hero's plane in the air. Soon, the enemy managed to establish his identity. A large reward was offered for Fyodorov's capture, but all attempts to catch the pilot ended in failure.

The battle on March 14, 1916, was particularly dramatic, when a Russian fighter faced four German planes at once. In a fierce firefight, he managed to drive off three of them and shoot down the fourth. Fyodorov fought his last battle in November 1918, repelling a bomber raid. In this brutal fight, he shot down several enemy planes but sustained severe leg injuries and barely escaped a crash.

He spent a long time in the hospital, struggled to move, and died at the age of 36. He had 11 enemy planes shot down in solo battles and about 20 in group engagements. Additionally, the Russian pilot was awarded all the highest military honors of France. However, back in his homeland, under Soviet rule, his relatives tried to avoid mentioning this.