Tomashevskii, Apollinarii Ivanovich

From OnAirpower.org

Name:	Tomashevskii, Apollinarii Ivanovich (Томашевский, Аполлинарий Иванович)
Years:	1890-1926
Nationality:	Soviet
Remarks:	Soviet aviator who participated in World War I and the Russian Civil War and later became one of the earliest Soviet test pilots

[edit] Biography

In 1914 Tomashevskii completed the school for naval aviators at Oranienbaum (in the city Lomonosov). He went on to participate in World War I, including duties as a test pilot for D. P. Grigorovich's M-11 seaplane fighter in August, 1916. He ended the war with the rank of Under Officer^[1].

Tomashevskii joined the Red Army in September, 1918. He served as a combat pilot in the 2nd Soviet Air Detachment stationed in Saratov, and fought against the Whites on the Eastern Front. In February, 1919 he transferred to a reconnaissance unit with the Southern group of forces. He was awarded an Order of the Red Banner for reconnaissance work supporting the liberation of the city of Ufa in June, 1919. From June, 1919 to March, 1920 he served as commander of the 30th Aviation Detachment in the 4th Army^[1].

After the Russian Civil War Tomashevskii served as a test pilot for the experimental "KOMTA" heavy triplane in 1923, for the first Soviet passenger airplane (the AK-1) in 1924, for the ANT-4 in 1925, and for the ANT-3 (R-3) in 1926. In addition to his testing duties, he also made several record-breaking distance flights during those years^[1].

In 1926 Tomashevskii committed suicide^[1].