Monument to Nikolai Gastello”s crew

The Monument to the Gastello Crew is a memorial complex located at the entrance to the urban settlement of Radoshkovichi in the Minsk Region. It stands on the site where, in the early days of the Great Patriotic War, a Soviet crew directed their burning aircraft into a column of enemy vehicles. The memorial is dedicated to a heroic act long attributed to Nikolai Gastello, although later research revealed more accurate details about the events that took place here.

History

For many years, it was believed that pilot Nikolai Gastello performed the heroic deed at the entrance to Radoshkovichi and was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. However, later it was established that on June 26, 1941, a heavy bomber under the command of Captain Alexander Maslov was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire at this very location. The crew, aboard the burning aircraft, directed it into a concentration of German vehicles, performing a ramming maneuver and perishing together. Only in the 1990s did archival data and eyewitness accounts clarify that the feat at this location belonged to Maslov’s crew, not Gastello’s.

Architecture

The memorial in Radoshkovichi is a stone stele mounted on a pedestal. Its shape resembles a plane taking off or an arrow — a symbol of resolve and self-sacrifice. The monument is situated along the highway, at the site where the heroic ramming occurred, according to updated historical data.

Cultural and Patriotic Significance

The Monument to the Gastello Crew is a significant place of remembrance in the Minsk Region, associated with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. It commemorates the heroism of Soviet pilots who contributed to the defense of Belarus in 1941 and serves as an important element of patriotic education and the preservation of historical memory.

Excursions to the Monument to the Gastello Crew

A visit to the Monument to the Gastello Crew can be included in guided tours across the Minsk Region dedicated to the memorials of the Great Patriotic War. On our website, you can book an individual or corporate tour to the monument, tailored to your interests and preferences.