The Americans suspected him of deception. The record-breaking aviator had no desire to waste time and energy on disputes with them.
People who knew Mikhail well claimed that he had the character of an Olympian. In every case, for which he undertook, this man strove to set a record. Achievements and high titles unthinkable for his contemporaries did not prevent him from getting involved in art. There is a version that it was he, the Colonel-General of Aviation, who in 1946 suggested to Mikhail Zharov some hilarious jokes for the comedy film "Restless Economy".
Childhood
Patriarchal Tver did not immediately accept the choice of the military doctor Mikhail Gromov: the aristocrat married a commoner. The free-thinker was not mistaken - the family turned out to be happy, soon after the wedding, his wife gave him a son, who was named the same as his father. Misha was taught from an early age that he needed to be able to defend his opinion and boldly go towards a dream.
Gromov's child was to receive an excellent upbringing and education. His parents instilled in him a love of classical literature and sports, which were then the privilege of the upper class. When the boy announced that he wanted to become an aviator, his parents were very happy. It was necessary to start small, because the first flying machines in the life of our hero were aircraft models.
Aviation
In 1916, Mikhail became a student at the Imperial Technical School. In his free time, he took painting lessons and conquered the sports arena. The tough guy won the title of the strongest man in Moscow, setting a record in the barbell press. A year later, he fell under the call. Gromov's military specialty was supposed to be telegraph communication, but at the end of the course, the young romantic wanted to master flying. They went to meet him, and soon our hero took to the sky in "Farman".
Mikhail came to the front, however, already during the Civil War. Deliberately choosing the side of the Reds, the aviator began training novice pilots. The commanders of the Red Army entrusted such a responsible task to the youngster for a reason - responsibility and exactingness towards themselves and their comrades made Mikhail Gromov an ideal mentor. The pilot also had sorties.
Achievements
After the war, our hero took up test flights. The aircraft control levers were adjusted specifically for him. The hero, who won the title of champion of the USSR in weightlifting in 1923, could inadvertently bend the frail lever with an arc. Gromov did not hooligan in the sky, he preferred order in everything.
Among the planes, the helm of which he was entrusted with, was the highly controversial ANT-25. Gromov liked the car. In 1934, together with the crew: co-pilot Alexander Filin, navigator Ivan Spirin, he made a flight on the new giant, breaking the already existing range records. The world community ignored this achievement, accusing the Soviet Union of falsifying data.
Record
The idea to fly over the North Pole to the United States, proving to everyone that the ANT-25 and Soviet pilots are the best, was received by Mikhail Mikhailovich with enthusiasm. Gromov's plane was supposed to follow the route laid by the famous Valery Chkalov, but land closer to Mexico.
In 1937, a non-stop flight Moscow-Saint-Pole-San Justino took place. America welcomed the crew commander Mikhail Gromov, co-pilot Andrei Yumashev and navigator Sergei Danilin cordially, and local reporters immediately spread the rumor that the plane was refueling en route. Where exactly - the inventors have not been able to compose. The highest award awaited the hero in the homeland.
From champions to coaches
The tireless aviator, after completing the flight that made his name a legend, took up the work of preparing a non-stop round-the-world flight. A new technique was needed and the skill of managing it needed to be improved. In the spring of 1941Mikhail Gromov headed the Flight Research Institute. A few months later, the war began and the conqueror of the sky asked to go to the front.
Gromov defended his homeland on the Kalinin front. Those who fought under his command argued that a more competent and caring commander could not be found. Mikhail Mikhailovich was a principled opponent of unnecessary risk, demanded from each pilot the maximum contribution to the victory over the enemy. In 1944 he was appointed head of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of Frontline Aviation.
After Victory
Together with Victory, Mikhail Mikhailovich took part in the wedding. In his personal life, he was a perfectionist - he was looking for his only one. He met her when he begged the athletes of the Moscow Hippodrome to take care of the trophy horses. Daring Nina doubted that something sensible would come of this venture. The result of the dispute was matchmaking. The husband was able to convince his chosen one that German racehorses are beautiful and on one of them, after 5 years, Nina will take sports trophies.
After the war, Mikhail Gromov continued to pursue a career as a military specialist. In 1946 he took up the post of Deputy Commander of Long-Range Aviation. He went into the reserve in 1955 and after 4 years he headed the USSR Weightlifting Federation. The retiree devoted his free time to creativity. Mikhail Mikhailovich became the author of a number of books on flying, left his memoirs, wrote poetry.
Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gromov died in January 1985. His biography could become the basis for an action-packed adventure film. The main thing is for the audience to understand that this is not a fantasy, that in real life there are people to whom any heights can be conquered.
