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Ivan GnezdilovFighter pilot
Date of Birth: 17.06.1922
Country:  Latvia |
Content:
Biography of Ivan Gnezdilov
Ivan Fedorovich Gnezdilov was born on June 17, 1922, in the village of Shchelokovo, now in the Prokhorovsk district of the Belgorod region, in a working-class family. He completed 10 grades of secondary school and an aero club. In 1940, he joined the Red Army, and a year later, he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation School for Pilots. From January 1942, he served on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.
Fighter Pilot
As part of the 516th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Gnezdilov fought on "Yaks," primarily on the Yak-1. He conducted most of his combat sorties as an escort and cover for assault aircraft. By February 1944, he became the deputy commander of the 153rd Guards Fighter Aviation Squadron of the 12th Guards Fighter Aviation Division, 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps, 5th Air Army, and 2nd Ukrainian Front.
Hero of the Soviet Union
During his service, Guard Senior Lieutenant I.F. Gnezdilov completed 245 combat sorties and personally shot down 17 enemy aircraft in 67 aerial battles. In addition, he destroyed one enemy aircraft as part of a group. On August 19, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his courage and military valor demonstrated in battles against the enemy.
Post-War Service
By the end of the war, Gnezdilov had completed about 350 successful combat sorties and personally destroyed 24 enemy aircraft in aerial battles, as well as one in a group with his comrades (according to other sources, 23 personally and 2 in a group). After the war, Ivan Fedorovich continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1945, he graduated from the Higher Flight and Tactical Officer Courses of the Air Force, and in 1959, he completed the Officer Personnel Improvement Courses. In 1961, Guard Colonel I.F. Gnezdilov retired from service. He lived in Riga and worked as the head of flights at Riga Airport. He was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (four times), Alexander Nevsky, the Patriotic War 1st Class (twice), the Red Star (twice), and various medals.
