Georgy Baydukov

Georgy Filippovich Baydukov (Russian: Гео́ргий Фили́ппович Байдуко́в; May 13 [O.S. May 26] 1907 – 28 December 1994) was a Soviet test pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union (1936) and writer.

Georgy Baydukov
Born13 May 1907[1]
Taryshta, Tomsk Governorate, Russian Empire[1]
Died28 December 1994(1994-12-28) (aged 87)
Moscow, Russia
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service/branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service1926 – 1988
RankColonel-general of aviation[1][2]
Other workWriter

Early years

Baydukov was born at the Taryshta railway station in the Tomsk Governorate of the Russian Empire (now Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia)[3] in family of a railway worker[1]. He became an orphan at the age of 9 and was homeless for some time. Baydukov was taken to an orphanage and worked in railway construction for some time.

In March 1926 he enlisted in the Red Army as volunteer[1]. In 1926 he graduated from the Leningrad Air Force School[3].

In 1928[1] he graduated the Kacha school for military pilots[2][3] and served as a fighter pilot from 1928–1931.

Test pilot

Georgy Baydukov was transferred to the Air Force's Testing institute and became an aircraft test pilot in 1931. He tested a number of fighter planes from 1931-1934 and was instrumental in developing instrument flight rules for the Soviet Air Force.

Ultra-long distance flights

Georgy Baydukov became a student at the Air Force Academy in 1934. During that time, he became involved with a number of ultra-long distance flights conducted by the Soviet Union.

He tried to reach San Francisco flying from Moscow via the North Pole in August 1935 as a member of Levanevsky's crew, flying the ANT-25. The flight was terminated because of technical problems[4][2]. Baydukov continued to participate in the testing of the ANT-25 from 1935–1936.

Valery Chkalov, Georgy Baydukov and Alexander Belyakov flew an improved ANT-25 via the North Pole to Udd Island, in the Sea of Okhotsk (distance 9,374 km, flight time 56 h 20 min) from July 20, 1936 to July 22, 1936.[3] Georgy Baydukov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for this deed on July 24, 1936[4].

The same crew piloted an ANT-25 from Moscow to Vancouver, Washington via the North Pole from June 18, 1937 to June 20, 1937 (distance 8,504 km)[2][3].

Georgy Baydukov resumed his work as a test pilot in 1937. He tested PE-2 and SB bombers, and also participated in tests of the DB-A bomber.

During the Second World War

In 1939-1940 Baydukov participated in the Soviet-Finnish War[1][3]. He served in 85th Bomber Regiment.

In August 1941 Baydukov was sent to meet with US president Franklin D. Roosevelt to secure the purchase of warplanes[4]. He managed to arrange the sale of several P-39 Airacobra fighter planes to the Soviet Union.[5] He returned to the front lines in January 1942.

Baydukov served as deputy commander of the 31st Mixed Aviation Division from December 1941. In February, he became commander of the division. In March 1942, he became commander of the Air Force of the 4th Shock Army. In May 1942, Baydukov was appointed commander of the 211th Mixed Aviation Division. In June 1942, he became commander of the 212th Assault Aviation Division. In May 1943, the division became the 4th Guards Assault Aviation Division. In January 1944, Baydukov became commander of the 4th Assault Aviation Corps.[6]

Post-War years

In December 1945, Baydukov became deputy commander of the 13th Air Army. In July 1946, he became deputy head of the State Red Banner Air Force Research and Testing Institute for flight testing. Baydukov participated in the Tupolev Tu-70 tests in fall 1947.

Since December 1947 until December 1949, he was a head of the Main Department of the Civil Air Fleet (GVF)[1][4][2].

In September 1949, Baydukov entered the Higher Military Academy, graduating in December 1951.[6]

Colonel-general of aviation since May 1961[1].

In 1980s he was a consultant of the Ministry of Defense[4][2].

Georgy Baydukov served with the Soviet Air Force in various capacities until May 1988, when he retired with the rank of Colonel General.

Honours and awards

Having been awarded with 21 Soviet orders and 14 medals, he is the most decorated Soviet citizen ever.[7]

USSR

Foreign awards
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See also

References
  1. Байдуков Георгий Филиппович // Большая Советская Энциклопедия. / под ред. А. М. Прохорова. 3-е изд. том 2. М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1970
  2. А. Горохов. Георгий Байдуков: "Хотел бы слетать через полюс" // газета "Правда", № 146 (25133) от 26 мая 1987. стр.6
  3. Байдуков Георгий Филиппович // Большая Российская Энциклопедия / редколл., гл. ред. Ю. С. Осипов. том 2. М., научное издательство "Большая Российская Энциклопедия", 2005.
  4. полковник В. Пинчук. Через полюс - в Америку // газета "Красная звезда" от 26 мая 1986. стр.4 [интервью с Г. Ф. Байдуковым]
  5. Gribanov, Stanislav (1998). "The role of US lend‐lease aircraft in Russia in World War II". The Journal of Slavic Military Studies. 11 (1): 96–115. doi:10.1080/13518049808430330.
  6. "Georgy Baydukov". warheroes.ru (in Russian).
  7. «Рекорды Советской наградной системы» Емельянов Ю. Н., Шляхтин А. В.
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