Ryazanov, Vasily Georgievich

From OnAirpower.org

Name:	Ryazanov, Vasily Georgievich (Рязанов, Василий Георгиевич)
Years:	1901-1951
Rank:	Lt. Gen.
Nationality:	Soviet
Remarks:	Soviet military aviator, a senior air commander during World War II, and two-time Hero of the Soviet Union

[edit] Biography

Ryazanov joined the Red Army in 1920, and initially served in the ground forces^[1].

Ryazanov switched over to the air forces and graduated from the Borisoglebsk 2nd Military Pilots School in 1926, and from the Serpukhovsk Air Combat School in 1927. He held a variety of instructor and command positions in air force training units, culminating with a position as commander of an aviation brigade at the Zhukovskii Military Air Academy in December, 1933. He later became commander of the 44th Aviation Brigade in the Siberian Military District^[1].

Starting in April, 1938 Ryazanov was held in prison by the NKVD. He was released from custody, fully "rehabilitated", and returned to air force duties in September, 1939^[1].

He participated in the Soviet-Finnish War, and then became an instructor of tactics at the Red Army Military Air Academy for Command and Navigator Staff^[1].

At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Ryazanov was deputy commander of air forces for the 5th Army in the South-Western Front. In August, 1941, he became commander of the air forces control group for the Front, followed by positions as commander of the 76th Mixed Aviation Division, and in March, 1942, as commander of an aviation group in the South-Western Front. In July, 1942, Ryazanov was named commander of the 2nd Fighter Aviation Army, but before the unit was fully formed it was disbanded due to the unsatisfactory performance of the 1st Fighter Aviation Army. Ryazanov became commander of the 1st Ground Attack Aviation Corps, attached to the 3rd Air Army. The Corps later served as part of the 6th, 2nd, and 5th Air Armies as well. For actions around the city of Kirovograd, the Crops was renamed to the 1st Guards Ground Attack Aviation Coprs and Ryazanov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Ryazanov was later awarded a second Hero of the Soviet Union title, and served the rest of the war as commander of the Corps^[1].