Sergei Safronov (fighter pilot)

Sergei Safronov
Born	25 March 1930
Died	1st of May 1960
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service/branch	Soviet Air Force
Rank	Senior lieutenant
Awards	Order of the Red Banner

Sergei Ivanovich Safronov (Russian: Серге́й Ива́нович Сафро́нов; March 25, 1930 – May 1, 1960) was a senior lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force.

In the 1960 U-2 incident he was vectored to intercept Gary Powers' U-2 with his MiG-19 fighter. On his way to interception, the U-2 was shot down by SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missiles, but large pieces of the downed aircraft made it look like its flight was continuing, so additional SA-2 missiles were fired. However, the MiGs' IFF transponders were not yet switched to the new May codes because of the 1 May holiday and consequently, Safronov's plane was identified as foe by the missile operators and another salvo was shot. His aircraft took a direct hit from one of the SA-2 Guideline missiles intended for the U-2 and was destroyed. He was able to eject, but died from his injuries.

The decree published by newspapers in the Soviet Union presented S. I. Safronov the Order of the Red Banner along with Major Mikhail Voronov and Captain Nikolai Sheludko (the commanders of the two missile batteries which had engaged the U-2). The decree did not mention that Sergei Safronov died and several subsequent publications did not state that he died.

...
Wikipedia