Oleksii S. Mes (Moonfish)

Military pilot Oleksii Mes (call sign Moonfish) was killed on August 26, 2024 in an aircraft crash involving an F-16 aircraft during the repulsion of a massive Russian combined missile and air strike. He managed to destroy three cruise missiles and one attack drone. Oleksii was 30 years old. He was born in Shepetivka, Khmilnytskyi Oblast. He studied at the local school. Later, he graduated with honors from the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University. He participated as an observer in the air-to-air refueling of an F-15D Eagle fighter jet from the 144th Fighter Wing of the US Air National Guard and was the first Ukrainian Air Force pilot to observe in-flight refueling from the backseat of a "Igla". In June 2022, he visited the US to meet with officials and lobby for the provision of F-16s to Ukraine. As of June 2022, he was the commander of a squadron of Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters. He underwent training on the F-16 in the United Kingdom. He was awarded the Medal "For Military Service to Ukraine". His relatives said that Oleksii told his acquaintances that he was living the best life of a pilot. He loved his family and whenever he had the chance, he went home or took them with him on business trips. Oleksii was serious, collected, and caring. He was the elder brother, a leader in the family and in the unit. The only thing he regretted was that his service took away the opportunity to be with his family more, that he saw his wife and daughter little. The pilot was buried in his native Shepetivka. Oleksii is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, two brothers, and a sister. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of colonel.