Akashev, Konstantin Vasilevich
From OnAirpower.org
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[edit] Biography
Akashev was born in 1888, in the Vitebsk region of Belorussia[1].
For participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolipin, Akashev was exiled from Russia in 1908 and went on to spend time in Italy and France[2].
Akashev completed flight training at the Caproni School of Aviation in Italy in 1911[3][4]. Later on, in France he received an engineering diploma from the Higher Institute of Aviation and Mechanics in 1914, and attended the Military Aviation School in 1915[2].
During the First World War Akashev served as a volunteer in the French air forces, and then in 1915 returned to Russia. Due to his past activities as a revolutionary, he was not posted to active duty upon his return to Russia, but instead worked in an aircraft factory[5][4].
In 1917, he participated in the October Armed Revolt in Petrograd. Upon its founding in 1917, he became Commissar of the All-Russia Collegium for Direction of the Air Forces of the Old Army, and from December 20, 1917 onwards he served as its Chairman[2].
In May-June, 1918, Akashev was Commissar, and starting in July the military commander of the Red air forces, known at the time as the "Main Directorate of the Workers and Peasants Red Air Fleet (Glavvozdukhoflot)". In August, 1918 he went to the front of the Russian Civil War and commanded the Air Flotilla of the Eastern Front's 5th Army, fighting in the Kazan[2].
In June-December, 1919, Akashev was Chief of Aviation and Aeronautics for the Southern Front. In August-September, 1919, he commanded an air group formed to combat the cavalry of Gen. E. M. Mamontov that was fighting in the Soviet rear areas. He personally flew the Ilya Muromets, bombing the enemy cavalry[2].
From March, 1920-February, 1921, Akashev again served primarly as the commander of the Soviet air forces[2].
In 1922 Akashev participated in the international aviation conferences in London and Rome, and served as an expert on aviation for the Genoa Conference[4].
In the last years of his life, Akashev served in management roles at aviation factories in Leningrad and Moscow[4].
On March 3, 1930, Akashev was "repressed"--accused of spying and arrested without grounds--and executed on September 4, 1931[2][1].
[edit] Sources
- Akashev, Konstantin Vasilevich at Russian Ministry of Defense (in Russian)
