Alexey Smirnov
 7. 2. 1917 - 7. 8. 1987Alexey Smirnov was deputy commander and squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Division. He was born on February 7, 1917 in Paltsevo (now Rameshkovsky district of Tver region) into a peasant family. Karelian. A member of the CPSU (B) / Communist Party since 1941. He graduated from junior high school, worked as a mechanic at Kalinin railway station. Joined the Red Army in 1938. The same year he graduated from Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots, and since December 1938 he was a pilot in the aviation wing of Moscow’s and then Leningrad military district. A member of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-40. Joined the Great Patriotic War in June 1941 as a flight commander and deputy commander of the squadron on the Leningrad, Volkhov, Voronezh, North-Western and Kalinin Fronts. By August 1943 deputy squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (the 5th Guards Fighter Air Division, 6th Air Army, the North-Western Front) Guards Captain A. Smirnov made 312 sorties, during 39 air battles he shot down 13 enemy planes. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on September 28, 1943 for military exploits, his courage and bravery, Alexey Smirnov was awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (№ 1213). Since October 1943, Major A. Smirnov was squadron commander of the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (the 5th Guards Fighter Air Division, 11th Fighter Air Corps, 3rd Air Army) on the 1st and 2nd Baltic fronts. By September 1944 he made 396 sorties, shot down 31 enemy planes and 1 – in a group. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 23 February 1945 for his successful command of the squadron, courage and bravery in aerial combats in Belorussia and East Prussia, Alexey Smirnov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (№ 4182). From January 1945 A. Smirnov fought as Deputy Commander of Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment on the 3rd Belorussian Front. Showing high flying skills and creativity in the tactics, A. Smirnov made 457 sorties during the war, had 72 fights, shot down 34 enemy planes. After the war, Guards Lt. Col. Alexander Smirnov commanded aviation regiment. In 1947 he completed advanced flight courses for tactical officers. Since 1950 - senior instructor pilot for the Air Force pilot technique of the Moscow Military District. In 1952 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Since 1954 - in reserve. He lived in Moscow where he died on August 7, 1987. He was buried at Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow. He was awarded two Orders of Lenin, five Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two 1st Class Orders of the Patriotic War, the Order of the Red Star and medals. A bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, A. Smirnov, was installed in Rameshki, Tver region. |