Talalikhin was born in 1918. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1938 and became a fighter pilot. He participated in the Winter War, the Soviet-Finnish war of November 1939-March 1940, claiming three air victories in 47 sorties. In 1941, during the first few weeks of fighting on the Eastern Front during World War II, he was first a wing commander, then a deputy squadron commander, flying with 177th IAP. Talalikhin was declared a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1941.