Lapin, Albert Yanovich
From OnAirpower.org
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[edit] Biography
Lapin served in the Moscow region's Red Guards and then in the Red Army. During the Russian Civil War he held several political and command positions in ground units, including military commissar of the 1st Kazan Rifle Division, commissar of the reconnaissance section of 5th Army headquarters, commander of the 232nd Rifle Regiment, commander of the 30th Rifle Division, and commander of the 80th Brigade (part of the 27th Rifle Division). He later commanded the forces of the Priamur Military District and the Transbaikal Military District. From 1922-24 he was a student and the Red Army Military Academy. He served as a military adviser to China from 1924-25. He then completed studies at the Frunze Military Academy and the Senior Command Staff Development Course. He commanded the directorate for training in Red Army headquarters in 1931-32[1].
In 1932 he began his first assignment in the air forces, as commander of air forces for the Belorussian Military District. He served in that position until 1935, when he switched to the position of commander of air forces for the Special Red Banner Far East Army. He held that position until he was arrested on May 17, 1937. He committed suicide in prison on August 21, 1937[1].
