Sokolov, Ivan Mikhailovich
From OnAirpower.org
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[edit] Biography
Sokolov joined the Red Army in 1918 and graduated from the Tver Cavalry Course in 1919. He served during the Russian Civil War in the cavalry on the Southern Front[1].
Sokolov switched from the ground forces to aviation and graduated from pilot-observers school in 1930. He served as an instructor pilot-observer, chief of staff for a heavy bomber squadron, and chief of the training department for the air forces of the Leningrad Military District. In 1939 he became chief of staff for the 29th Heavy Bomber Aviation Brigade which participated in the Soviet-Finnish War[1].
At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Sokolov was the chief of staff for the 1st Mixed Aviation Divison. He became chief of staff for the air forces of the 14th Army in the Karelian Front, and in June, 1942 became commander of air forces for the Front. In November, 1942, he became commander of the 7th Air Army, which was supporting the Karelian Front. He remained in that position until June, 1945, when he became commander of the 9th Air Army which participated in Operation August Storm[1].
[edit] Sources
- Sokolov, Ivan Mikhailovich at hrono.ru (in Russian)
