7.11.1913 - 15.12.1989

Mikhail Kuznetsov was Commander of the 814^th Fighter Regiment of the 207^th Fighter Air Division of the 3^rd Composite Air Corps of the 17^th Air Army of the Southwestern Front, commander of the 106^th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 11^th Guards Fighter Division of the 2^nd Guards Attack Air Corps of the 2^nd Air Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

He was born on November 7, 1913 in the village of Agarino (today Serpukhov district, Moscow region) in a working class family. Russian. A member of the CPSU (B) since 1932. In 1930, he graduated from school.

Joined the Red Army in 1933. In 1934, he graduated from Yeisk Naval Military School. Participated in the liberation campaign of the Soviet troops in Western Belorussia in 1939 and the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940 as an assistant commander of the squadron.

Participated in the Great Patriotic War from June 1941. Fought on Leningrad, Kalinin, Western, Southwestern, the 1^st and the 3^rd Ukrainian Fronts as squadron commander, regiment navigator (1941-1942), Fighter Wing Commander (1942-1945).

By August 1943, commander of the 814^th Fighter Aviation Regiment (the 207^th Fighter Air Division, the 3^rd Air Corps, the 17^th Air Army, and the Southwestern Front) Major Kuznetsov made 245 sorties and during 53 air battles personally shot down 17 enemy planes and 6 — in a group.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on September 8, 1943 for his heroism, bravery shown in aerial combats, and skillful command of a regiment, Mikhail Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (№ 1714).

By May 1945 commander of the 106^th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (the 11^th Guards Fighter Air Division, the 2^nd Guards Assault Air Corps, the 2^nd Air Army, the 1^st Ukrainian Front) Guards Lieutenant Colonel Kuznetsov made 330 sorties, carried out 72 air battles, personally shot down 21 enemy planes and 6 — in a group.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on June 27, 1945 for new combat feats, Mikhail Kuznetsov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (№ 82).

During the war M. Kuznetsov made 345 sorties, carried out 72 air battles, personally shot down 22 enemy planes and 6 — in a group.

After the war, the famous fighter pilot took several command positions in the Soviet Air Force. In 1951 he graduated from the Air Force Academy. In 1959 he was promoted to the rank of Air Force Major General. Since 1974, Kuznetsov MV - in reserve, and then retired. He lived in the city of Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, the Ukraine. Died on December 15, 1989 and was buried at Troekurov cemetery in Moscow.

He was awarded the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the 2^nd Class Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, and the 1^st Class Order of the Great Patriotic War, the Order of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Red Star and medals.

A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, M. Kuznetsov was set in his native village Agarino, but due to its disappearance moved to the city of Pushchino, Moscow Region - Biological Research Center of Russian Academy of Sciences.