Oleksiy Munfish Mesya, the first F-16 pilot, was immortalized in a cartoon
An animated film about Hero of Ukraine, Air Force Colonel Oleksiy “Munfish” Mesia—the first Ukrainian pilot to fly an F-16 fighter jet on a combat mission—was premiered in Ukraine.
The film is the first installment in a new series, “The Traveling Book: Heroes,” dedicated to Ukrainian defenders. It tells the story of the pilot’s life, dreams, and combat career in a way that even the youngest viewers can understand.
In 2022, Oleksiy Mes, together with his comrade Andriy “Jus” Pilshchikov, actively lobbied international partners to provide Ukraine with modern fighter jets. After this decision was made, he led the first group of Ukrainian pilots to undergo training in the United States, and upon the aircraft’s arrival in Ukraine, he was the first to fly a combat mission in an F-16.
On August 26, 2024, Mes was killed while repelling a massive Russian missile and drone attack, defending Ukrainian airspace.
“When the ‘Travel Books’ team and I were discussing the idea for the animated film, my main request was: let it be about Oleksiy, but—for Ulyana. She’s our little daughter. To her dad, she was the most precious thing in the world,” said the pilot’s wife, Yulia Mes.
The cartoon premiered at the War Museum in Kyiv, where an exhibition of the pilot’s personal belongings was also opened. The film was narrated by writer and military officer Serhiy Zhadan.
In Kharkiv, a decision was made to name two streets in honor of the fallen F-16 pilots—Oleksiy Mes and Maksym Ustymenko—who distinguished themselves while defending the city from Russian attacks.
As a reminder, the president posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, who repelled a Russian missile attack in his F-16 on June 29.
We have also previously reported that the State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the August 26, 2024, crash of an F-16 fighter jet, which resulted in the death of pilot Oleksiy Mesya. Expert examinations are currently underway in the case.
