Early Life and Aviation Training
Viktor Ivanovich Borodachev was born on August 23, 1918, on the Shiroky farm, now part of the Zhirnovsky district of the Volgograd region. In 1936, he graduated from the Moscow Pedagogical Technical School, and in 1938, from the Orenburg Flight School. His graduation report stated: “Flies well, effortlessly. Resourceful, does not get lost in difficult conditions. Loves to fly. Performs complex aerobatics in the zone. Excellent theoretical knowledge and drill training. Does not get tired under heavy load.”
He participated in the Soviet-Finnish War in 1940. On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, he was active from February 1, 1942, fighting on the Crimean, Transcaucasian, North Caucasian, Voronezh, and 1st Ukrainian fronts. He achieved his first victory on May 4, 1942, while flying an I-153, when his flight was attacked by eight Me-109s near Semi Kolodezey.
Distinguished WWII Combat Record
Skillfully conducting a half-hour dogfight in turns, Borodachev shot down one enemy fighter and returned his flight to the airfield without losses. On two occasions, he achieved three victories in a single day. On July 5, 1943, in one sortie, he shot down a Ju-87 and a pair of Me-109s, conducting the battle in deep turns where the La-5 had an advantage. On October 17 of the same year, in three combat sorties, he managed to shoot down a Ju-88 and two Fw-190s.
During the Great Patriotic War, Guards Captain Borodachev, squadron commander of the 40th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, completed 552 combat sorties and engaged in 116 aerial battles, personally shooting down 26 enemy aircraft and 5 in a group (other data suggests 25+5). He was shot down twice. Among the aircraft he personally shot down were one He-111, three Ju-88s, one Fw-189, eight Ju-87s, seven Me-109s, and six Fw-190s. He flew the I-153, LaGG-3, La-5, and La-7, achieving most of his victories in the La-5.
Post-War Career and Heroic Legacy
After the war, in 1950, he graduated from the Air Force Academy (VVA), and in 1960, from the General Staff Military Academy. Major General of Aviation Borodachev, a candidate of military sciences, served at the Military-Political Academy. He tragically died on July 11, 1968. He was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on July 1, 1944, and decorated with the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st class, two Orders of the Red Star, and various medals.