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Vladimir ArtamonovBomber pilot, Heroes of the Soviet-Japanese armed conflicts in the Far East
Country:
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Content:
- Biography of Vladimir Artamonov
- Early Life and Military Career
- Conflict in Mongolia
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- World War II and Later Career
Biography of Vladimir Artamonov
Vladimir Artamonov was a bomber pilot who participated in the Soviet-Japanese armed conflicts in the Far East. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on November 17, 1939. Artamonov was honored with the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of the Patriotic War 2nd class, Red Star, and various medals, as well as the Order "For Military Valor" of the Mongolian People's Republic.
Early Life and Military Career
Artamonov was born in Russia and after completing secondary school in 1924, he engaged in Komsomol activities in Beloretsk, Verkhny Avzyan, Kage, and Uzyan. He joined the Red Army in 1928 and became a member of the Communist Party in 1930. Artamonov participated in battles near the Khalkhin Gol River and served as the commander of the 38th Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 23rd Aviation Brigade of the Trans-Baikal Military District.
Conflict in Mongolia
On May 23, 1939, the 38th Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment arrived in Mongolia. The regiment consisted of 60 SB high-speed bombers. During the flight, one SB crashed, but the ground staff arrived three days later. The regiment began conducting combat missions at the end of June, with the most challenging flights taking place in July. On July 5, 1939, the regiment conducted a raid on Japanese crossings at the Khalkhin Gol River, resulting in the loss of 2 SB bombers and 5 crew members. On July 24, 1939, the regiment suffered heavy losses when two SB bombers collided above the target area. Three SB bombers were shot down by up to 40 Japanese fighters on the return flight, resulting in the death of all crew members. Two more aircraft crashed during forced landings on their own territory. The 2nd squadron of the 38th Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment, which flew separately, also lost two aircraft.
Hero of the Soviet Union
Artamonov's leadership was highly praised, and he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on August 29, 1939, and the Mongolian Order "For Military Valor" on August 10, 1939. On November 17, 1939, Captain Vladimir Ivanovich Artamonov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and received the Gold Star Medal No. 160.
World War II and Later Career
Artamonov continued his military service during the Great Patriotic War, commanding the 288th Bomber Aviation Regiment. Although the formation of the 288th Bomber Aviation Regiment began before the war, the training on the Su-2 aircraft was delayed. It was only at the end of July that the squadron commanders and flight leaders began conducting test flights at the Poltava airfield. The regiment joined the 66th Aviation Division, which operated on the Southern Front, in early September, with 17 Su-2 aircraft.
By the end of 1941, the pilots of the 288th Bomber Aviation Regiment had completed 785 combat sorties, losing 11 aircraft. Artamonov faced criticism for the organization of combat operations and the inadequate training of the pilots and navigators, but his regiment suffered relatively fewer losses compared to units equipped with Pe-2 and SB aircraft.
In May 1942, Artamonov became the senior assistant to the Chief Inspector of the Soviet Air Force and later the senior assistant to the Inspector of the Zabaykalsky Military District Air Force. He was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd class in 1943 and the Orders of the Red Star and Red Banner in 1944.
On September 29, 1944, Artamonov tragically died in an aviation accident near Khilok in the Chita Oblast. He was buried in the center of Chita on Lenin Square. In 1994, his remains were reburied in Moscow. The name of the Hero is commemorated by streets in Beloretsk and Verkhny Avzyan.
