Bayan kammala karatunsa na farko, Maresyev ya fara aiki a matsayin matukin jirgi a watan Agusta na shekara ta 1941. Ya harbe jiragen sama hudu na Jamus a watan Maris na shekara ta 1942, amma a ranar 4 ga Afrilu 1942 an harbe shi Polikarpov I-16 a kusa da Staraya Russa, kusan tabbas daga mai riƙe da Knight's Cross na gaba da kuma masanin 48-kill Fw Peter Siegler 3. ((J / G-54) kuma kusan sojojin Nazi sun kama shi. Tambaya: Yaushe aka saukar da Jirgin Sama na Peter Siegler kusa da Staraya?
4 ga Afrilu, 1942