Aleksey Maresyev
A Soviet fighter pilot who returned to combat after losing both legs, becoming a symbol of relentless will and a national hero during the Great Patriotic War.
1916–2001 (age 85)·Soviet World War II flying ace·Birthday: May 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Aleksey Maresyev's story is one of almost mythic endurance. As a young fighter pilot defending Moscow in 1942, his plane was shot down behind enemy lines. Severely injured with shattered feet, he crawled for 18 days through freezing forests before partisans found him. Gangrene necessitated the amputation of both legs below the knee. For most, the war was over. For Maresyev, it was an obstacle to overcome. Through sheer, brutal determination, he taught himself to walk—and then to fly—again with prosthetic limbs, convincing medical boards and skeptical commanders of his capability. He returned to his fighter squadron in 1943 and shot down seven more German aircraft, bringing his total to 11 aerial victories. His defiance of physical limits made him a powerful propaganda tool and a genuine inspiration for a nation enduring unimaginable sacrifice. Boris Polevoy's book 'The Story of a Real Man' immortalized his feat, cementing Maresyev not just as an ace, but as an enduring emblem of the human spirit's capacity to fight back.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Aleksey was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aleksey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Aleksey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 80
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Died at 85
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Key Achievements
- Was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, the country's highest honor, for his military valor and perseverance.
- Shot down 11 enemy aircraft in total, achieving 4 victories before his crash and 7 after returning to combat as a double amputee.
- His story was popularized in Boris Polevoy's 1946 novel, which became a standard text for Soviet youth.
- Served as an inspector and spokesperson for the Soviet Air Force after the war, remaining a public figure for decades.
Did You Know?
The asteroid 2173 Maresjev is named in his honor.
He initially kept his amputations a secret from his fellow pilots upon returning to his unit.
He worked for many years as the Deputy Chairman of the Soviet War Veterans Committee.
His incredible crawl to safety is estimated to have covered over 100 kilometers (about 62 miles).
“The most important thing is to overcome oneself, one's own weakness and pain.”
