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Nikolay BelavinSquadron Commander of the 33rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment
Date of Birth: 29.01.1923
Country:  Kazakhstan |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Life
- Military Career
- 33rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment
- Combat Experience
- Later Career
- Post-War Life
Childhood and Early Life
Nikolai Ivanovich Belavin was born on January 29, 1923, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to a working-class family. Moving to Moscow in 1936, he enrolled in high school and joined the Komsomol.
Military Career
In 1940, Belavin joined the Red Army and graduated from the Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation School in 1942. Joining the active duty in July 1942, he fought on the North-Western, 2nd Baltic, and 1st Belarusian Fronts.
33rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment
In July 1944, Belavin, by then a Captain and Squadron Commander in the 33rd Guards Assault Aviation Regiment, had flown 97 combat missions, bombing and attacking enemy positions. For his courage and valor, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on October 26, 1944.
Combat Experience
Belavin's initial assignment was with the 288th Assault Aviation Regiment. He later flew as a wingman to squadron commander Alexander Nosov, gaining valuable combat experience. In August 1943, he participated in an attack on enemy artillery positions in the Novgorod region, encountering severe opposition but successfully carrying out the mission.
In another encounter, Belavin's squadron destroyed a large concentration of enemy forces near Khotovo-Nagatkino. Belavin himself distinguished himself in the raid on the railway station at Lyuboml, where he attacked and destroyed enemy trains and anti-aircraft batteries despite heavy resistance.
Later Career
After the war, Belavin continued to serve in the Air Force. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1951 and retired with the rank of Major General in 1979 due to health reasons. He was awarded numerous medals and honors, including two Orders of Lenin and four Orders of the Red Banner.
Post-War Life
Belavin passed away on January 15, 1980. His legacy as a decorated and experienced combat pilot continues to inspire generations of aviators.
