The photo depicts a participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union, Alexander Shevtsov.
He was born in the village of Shebekino, in 1918, into the family of a clerk. At first, he finished ten-year secondary school and Shebekino aeroclub named after XX Congress of All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. In 1937, Shevtsov was called up for military service, received a professional military training, and in 1940, became a graduate of Chuguev Aviation Academy for Air Fighters.
Shevtsov went to the battlefront immediately after the start of the war, in June 1941. He served in the 171st Fighter Aviation Regiment, protected the sky over Leningrad and the “Road of Life” across the Lake Ladoga — the route along which food was delivered to the besieged city. At that point, air battles followed one after another, so Shevtsov had to fly at night as well.
By August 1943, Shevtsov made 220 mission sorties, participated in 47 air battles, personally destroyed 10 enemy planes and 6 planes more in formation fighting. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet as of September 8, 1943 “for brilliant performance of combat tasks of the Command in the battlefield fight against German invaders and demonstrated courage and heroism”, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war’s end, Shevtsov continued to serve in the Air Force. He graduated from the Frunze Military Academy and served in the country’s Air Defense Forces; he was in charge of the fighter division in Kaluga. In 1952, the division conducted operations in North Korea against the U.S. Air Force and its allies in “international forces of the UN” in the Korean War. Under Shevtsov’s command, the pilots made 4,189 mission sorties, conducted 164 air battles, and shot down 67 enemy aircrafts.
In 1956, Alexander Shevtsov received additional education; he graduated from the Higher Military Academy named after Voroshilov. Shebekino resident served as deputy commander, then fighter corps commander, and then as air force’s first deputy commander. Since April 1961, he held senior positions in the Strategic Missile Forces of the USSR; he was Chief of General Headquarters and First Deputy Commander-In-Chief of the USSR Strategic Missile Forces.
In 1976, Shevtsov was transferred to the reserve with the rank of Colonel-General. In the course of the years of service, the Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded three Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st class, two Orders of the Red Star, and other awards.
He was born in the village of Shebekino, in 1918, into the family of a clerk. At first, he finished ten-year secondary school and Shebekino aeroclub named after XX Congress of All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. In 1937, Shevtsov was called up for military service, received a professional military training, and in 1940, became a graduate of Chuguev Aviation Academy for Air Fighters.
Shevtsov went to the battlefront immediately after the start of the war, in June 1941. He served in the 171st Fighter Aviation Regiment, protected the sky over Leningrad and the “Road of Life” across the Lake Ladoga — the route along which food was delivered to the besieged city. At that point, air battles followed one after another, so Shevtsov had to fly at night as well.
By August 1943, Shevtsov made 220 mission sorties, participated in 47 air battles, personally destroyed 10 enemy planes and 6 planes more in formation fighting. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet as of September 8, 1943 “for brilliant performance of combat tasks of the Command in the battlefield fight against German invaders and demonstrated courage and heroism”, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war’s end, Shevtsov continued to serve in the Air Force. He graduated from the Frunze Military Academy and served in the country’s Air Defense Forces; he was in charge of the fighter division in Kaluga. In 1952, the division conducted operations in North Korea against the U.S. Air Force and its allies in “international forces of the UN” in the Korean War. Under Shevtsov’s command, the pilots made 4,189 mission sorties, conducted 164 air battles, and shot down 67 enemy aircrafts.
In 1956, Alexander Shevtsov received additional education; he graduated from the Higher Military Academy named after Voroshilov. Shebekino resident served as deputy commander, then fighter corps commander, and then as air force’s first deputy commander. Since April 1961, he held senior positions in the Strategic Missile Forces of the USSR; he was Chief of General Headquarters and First Deputy Commander-In-Chief of the USSR Strategic Missile Forces.
In 1976, Shevtsov was transferred to the reserve with the rank of Colonel-General. In the course of the years of service, the Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded three Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st class, two Orders of the Red Star, and other awards.
