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Ivan DoroninPilot Hero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 05.05.1903
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Life of Ivan Vasilyevich Doronin: A Pioneer of Soviet Aviation
- Aviation Career
- Pioneering Arctic Aviation
- Rescue of the "Chelyuskin" Crew
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Later Career
- Legacy
Life of Ivan Vasilyevich Doronin: A Pioneer of Soviet Aviation
Early Life and EducationIvan Vasilyevich Doronin was born in the small town of Berezovo, Saratov Oblast, Russia. He received his early education in local schools in Berezovo and Balakovo. At the age of 16, he joined the Red Army and enrolled in accelerated naval technician courses in Leningrad.
Aviation Career
In the early 1920s, Doronin joined the His Majesty's Royal Air Force and trained as an aviation technician. He participated in summer cruises on the minesweeper "Ussuriyets" in the Baltic Sea before attending the Naval Aviation School. In 1924, he transferred to the Yegoryevsk Aviation School of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet, where he developed a deep interest in aviation science.
In 1925, Doronin graduated from the Higher School of Red Naval Aviators in Sevastopol. He served as a pilot in the Black Sea Fleet and later as a flight instructor at the Stalin Naval Pilots and Navigators School.
Pioneering Arctic Aviation
In 1930, Doronin joined the Civil Air Fleet (GVF) and participated in the Karskaya Expedition, flying as a co-pilot on supply missions to Soviet vessels. In 1932, he began exploring and establishing an air route from Yakutsk to Kolyma.
In 1933, Doronin and flight engineer A. Daragan successfully completed the first flight on the Yakutsk-Kolyma route. The flight was extremely challenging, requiring them to navigate over the Verkhoyan Range and fly with limited fuel.
Rescue of the "Chelyuskin" Crew
In 1934, Doronin participated in the dramatic rescue operation to save the crew and passengers of the icebreaker "Chelyuskin," which had become trapped in ice. He flew a PS-3 aircraft from Khabarovsk to Vankarem, a distance of 5,860 kilometers, in harsh weather conditions.
Hero of the Soviet Union
For his exceptional bravery and skill, Doronin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on April 20, 1934. He was presented with the "Golden Star" medal, number 7, when it was established as the distinctive mark of the honor.
Later Career
Doronin continued his aviation career after the "Chelyuskin" rescue. He graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy in 1939 and held leadership positions at aviation factories in Moscow and Khimki. He retired in 1947 but remained involved in aviation as the Deputy Head of Flight Operations at the same factory.
Legacy
Ivan Vasilyevich Doronin died on February 2, 1951, and was buried in the prestigious Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow. He is remembered as one of the pioneers of Soviet aviation and for his heroic role in the "Chelyuskin" rescue operation. Streets in Astrakhan and Moscow, as well as a school in Balakovo, bear his name in honor of his accomplishments.
