Zhigarev, Pavel Fyodorovich
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[edit] Biography
Zhigarev joined the Red Army in 1919 and completed the Tversk Cavalry School in 1922. He became involved with aviation in 1925 and graduated from the Zhukovskii Military Air Academy in 1932[1].
Starting in 1934, he served as a squadron commander, and later a brigade commander. In 1937-38 he commanded a group of Soviet volunteer pilots in China[1].
Upon return from China, Zhigarev was named Chief of the Military Preparedness Directorate of the Red Army Air Forces. In 1940, he became Commander of the 2nd Independent Far East Red Banner Air Army. Later in 1940, he was named First Deputy of the Main Directorate of the Soviet Army Air Forces[1].
Zhigarev was promoted to the rank of Lt. Gen. on June 4, 1940[2].
In April, 1941, Zhigarev was named Commander of the Soviet Air Forces (Chief of the Main Directorate of the Soviet Army Air Forces). He served in this role until Spring, 1942 when he was demoted due to a botched airlift operation that ended up dropping supplies into German hands, and made Commander of the Far Eastern Air Forces[3].
During the fighting with Japan (Operation August Storm, the Soviet invasion of Manchuria) he commanded the 10th Air Army[1].
After the War, from 1946-1948 Zhigarev served as First Deputy Commander of the Air Forces, and then from 1948-1949 simultaneously as Commander of Long Range Aviation and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Air Forces. From 1949, he served as Commander in Chief of the Air Forces. From 1953, he also served as Deputy Minister of Defense, and from 1955-1957 as First Deputy Minister of Defense[1].
From 1957-1959, Zhigarev served as Chief of the Main Directorate of the GVF. In November 1959, he was named Chief of the Military Command Academy of the Air Defense Forces, in which capacity he served until 1963[1].
Zigarev passed away on October 2, 1963[1].
[edit] Timeline
- November 14, 1900 Future Soviet air force commander Pavel Zhigarev is born[1].
[edit] Sources
- Zhigarev, Pavel Fyodorovich at Khronos (in Russian)
- Zhigarev, Pavel Fyodorovich at Russian Ministry of Defense (in Russian)
- Outstanding Aviation Commander P.F. Zhigarev - His 100th Birthday by Cheltsov, B. F., Voennaya Mysl', November, 2000
