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Sergey RudenkoHero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal
Date of Birth: 07.10.1904
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Biography of Sergey Rudenko
Sergey Ivanovich Rudenko was born on October 7, 1904, in the village of Korop, Chernihiv region, Ukraine. He began his military service in 1923 and graduated from the Kachinsky Military School of Pilots in 1927. He furthered his education at the Military Air Academy of the Red Army (RKKA) in 1932, where he completed the operational faculty in 1936.
Early Military Career
From 1927, Rudenko served as a pilot, senior pilot, squadron commander, and staff chief of an aviation squadron. In 1932, he became the commander of an aviation regiment, brigade, and then the deputy commander. In January 1941, he was appointed as the commander of an aviation division. When the Great Patriotic War began, Rudenko actively participated in the conflict, commanding the 31st Aviation Division on the Western Front. In December 1941, he was transferred to the 61st Army Air Force. From January 1942, he served as the deputy commander of the Air Force of the Kalinin Front, and later the Volkhov Front. He then commanded the Air Force of the Kalinin Front, the 1st Aviation Group, and the 7th Strike Aviation Group of the Stavka VGK. From June 1942, he served as the deputy commander of the Air Force of the Southwest Front, and from September 1942 until the end of the war, he commanded the 16th Air Army on the Stalingrad, Don, Central, Belarusian, and 1st Belarusian Fronts. Rudenko played a significant role in the Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk battles, as well as the Belarusian, Warsaw-Poznan, East Pomeranian, and Berlin operations. His leadership skills, military abilities, strong will, and personal courage were evident in his command of the air army, for which he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Post-War Career
After the war, Rudenko continued to command an air army. From 1948, he served as the commander of the Airborne Forces, and from September 1949, he became the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force. In August 1950, he was appointed as the commander of the Long-Range Aviation and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force. From June 1953, he once again served as the Chief of the General Staff and the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In February 1958, he became the First Deputy Chief of Staff and a member of the Military Council of the Air Force. From May 1968, he was the head of the Military Air Academy, where he focused on improving the educational process and enhancing the methodological training of the faculty. Rudenko authored several works on the use of aviation in war and held the position of professor from 1972. From August 1973, he served in the General Inspection Group of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. He was also a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd and 6th convocations.
Awards and Honors
Sergey Rudenko was awarded six Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, four Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov (1st degree), Orders of Kutuzov (1st degree), Order of Suvorov (2nd degree), Order of the Patriotic War (1st degree), Order "For Service to the Fatherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" (3rd degree), as well as medals and foreign orders.
