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Sergey ShevelevNavigator of the 249th Fighter Aviation Regiment
Date of Birth: 25.06.1909
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Early Life and Military Career
Sergei Nikolaevich Shevelev was born on June 25, 1909, in the village of Zhovten, now part of the Shiryavsky district in the Odessa region. After completing seven grades of secondary school in Kattakurgan, Uzbekistan, he worked as an agricultural technician.
In 1931, Shevelev was drafted into the Red Army and attended the Kharkiv Military School for Pilot Observers in 1933. The following year, he graduated from the Kachin Military Aviation Pilot School.
On the Frontlines of WWII
Shevelev joined the frontlines of the Great Patriotic War in May 1942. He served in the 821st Fighter Aviation Regiment until September 1942, flying the Yak-1. From December 1942 to November 1943, he flew the LaGG-3 in the 862nd Fighter Aviation Regiment.
By March 1943, as a navigator in the 249th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Captain Shevelev had completed 135 successful combat missions, engaged in 34 air battles, and personally shot down 10 enemy aircraft. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on May 1, 1943, for his bravery and military prowess.
Post-War Service and Later Life
After the war, Shevelev continued his service in the Air Force. He retired in 1950 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then settled in the village of Sedmikhovka in the Kursk region and worked as a foreman in the local collective farm.
Throughout his life, Shevelev was recognized for his accomplishments with numerous awards, including the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner, the Patriotic War, and the Red Star. He passed away on February 13, 1979.
