Semyon Trofimovich Bychkov was born in Petrovka village, Khokholsky district, Voronezh Governorate. He completed 7 classes of secondary school and graduated from the Voronezh aero club in 1936, followed by the Tambov Civil Air Fleet (GVF) school in 1938. He joined the ranks of the Red Army on January 16, 1939, and graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School for Pilots named after V. P. Chkalov on November 5, 1939.
Early Military Career
He was initially assigned as an I-16 pilot to the 12th Reserve Air Regiment, becoming a junior lieutenant from January 30, 1940. From December 16, 1940, he served as a junior pilot in the 42nd Fighter Aviation Regiment (Baltic Military District). Later, he became a pilot and squadron commander in the 287th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps of Air Defense, attaining the rank of lieutenant from March 25, 1942. His career progressed to navigator and deputy commander of the 482nd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 322nd Fighter Aviation Division, and then navigator of the 937th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the same division, within the 2nd Fighter Aviation Corps, 15th Air Army of the Bryansk Front, achieving the rank of Captain on May 28, 1943.
Recognition and Downfall
For personally shooting down 15 enemy aircraft and 1 in a group, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on September 2, 1943. However, his fate took a dramatic turn on December 10, 1943, when he was shot down and taken prisoner, subsequently defecting to the enemy side.
Post-War Disgrace
After the war, Semyon Trofimovich Bychkov was convicted of treason by a military tribunal and subsequently executed. Consequently, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on March 21, 1947, he was stripped of the title Hero of the Soviet Union and all his orders. He had previously been awarded Soviet Orders of Lenin (2.09.1943) and Red Banner (1942, 1943), as well as the German “For Merit” 3rd class (4.02.1945).