Rudenko, Sergei Ignatevich
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[edit] Biography
Rudenko joined the Red Army in 1923. He later attended the Leningrad Military Theory School for Pilots and graduated in 1926, followed by the Kachinsk Military Aviation Schoool, which he completed in 1927. He then served as an aviator and held a range of junior command positions[1].
In 1937, Rudenko became commander of the 118th Fast Bomber Aviation Brigade, and later commander of the 60th Fast Bomber Aviation Regiment. In 1938 he became commander of the 1st Fast Light Bomber Aviation Regiment in the Siberian Military District. In 1939 he became commander of the 26th Mixed Aviation Brigade. He became deputy commander in August, 1940, and commander in January, 1941 of the 31st Aviation Division in the Western Special Military District[1].
After the start of Operation Barbarossa, in November, 1941, Rudenko became commander of air forces for the 20th and later the 61st Armies. In January, 1942, he became commander of air forces for the Kalinin Front, and in April, 1942, commander of the 1st Operational Air Group of the Stavka High Command. In September, 1942, Rudenko became commander of the 16th Air Army, which he would command for the rest of the war[1].
[edit] Publications
- Wings of Victory, 1985, is Rudenko's memoirs
[edit] Sources
- Rudenko, Sergei Ignatevich at National Heroes (in Russian)
- Rudenko, Sergei Ignatevich at Khronos.ru (in Russian)
