Born on July 29, 1917, in the village of Andreevo-Zorino, now part of the Berezansky district, Mykolaiv region (Ukraine), into a peasant family. He completed 8 grades of secondary school and worked as a ship assembler at the Nikolaev plant. He learned to fly at the Levanevsky Aero Club.
Chernobai joined the Red Army in 1938 and graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School for Pilots in 1940. With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, he was sent to the front. He first saw combat as a pilot with the 875th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which was later deployed to the Kalinin, North-Western, and Bryansk Fronts.
A Decorated Fighter Pilot
By January 1943, Lieutenant A. P. Chernobai, serving as Deputy Squadron Commander of the 875th Fighter Aviation Regiment (274th Fighter Aviation Division, 1st Fighter Aviation Corps, 3rd Air Army, Kalinin Front), had completed 90 combat missions. In 40 aerial battles, he personally shot down 11 enemy aircraft and contributed to 27 group kills.
He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on February 22, 1943. The very next day, for his courage and military valor demonstrated in combat, he was awarded the esteemed title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
On March 18, 1943, his regiment was redesignated as the 66th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. During the summer of 1943, then Captain Chernobai participated in the Battle of Kursk. By 1944, he had personally shot down 22 enemy aircraft across 270 successful combat sorties before being recalled from the front for flight testing duties.
Post-War Service and Legacy
After the war, Andrei Petrovich continued his service in the Air Force for a short period. Major A. P. Chernobai was demobilized in 1947 but remained involved in aircraft testing until 1956. He resided in Leningrad.
His numerous awards included the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, and two Orders of the Patriotic War 1st degree, alongside various medals. Retired Colonel A. P. Chernobai passed away on March 21, 1988.