Zhuravlyov, Ivan Petrovich
From OnAirpower.org
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[edit] Biography
Zhuravlyov joined the Red Army in 1924 and attended the Leningrad Military Aviation Theory School and the Borisoglebsk 2nd Military Pilot's School until 1927[1].
After completing pilot's school, he served as a pilot, a squadron commander, and assistant commander of an aviation regiment. In April, 1938 he became Senior Inspector Pilot for the air forces directorate in the Leningrad Military District[1].
He participated in the Soviet-Finnish War as commander of a squadron in the 85th Special Bomber Aviation Regiment, part of the North-Western Front[1][2]. Zuravlyov personally completed 18 combat sorties during the war, including one to test low-altitude delivery of parachute-retarded bombs. On April 7, 1940 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his service during the war[2].
In March, 1940 he became Inspector Pilot for Flight Techniques in the Leningrad Military District. Later in 1940 he was made deputy commander of air forces for the Leningrad Military District[1].
After the start of Operation Barbarossa, Zhuravlyov continued in his position as deputy commander of the Leningrad Military District, which was renamed the Northern Front and later the Leningrad Front. In February, 1942 he became commander of air forces for the Volkhov Front. In July, 1942 he became commander of the 14th Air Army. He remained commander of the 14th Air Army throughout the rest of the war, although in November, 1944 it was effectively disbanded and its units were distributed to other air armies[1].
[edit] Sources
- Zhuravlyov, Ivan Petrovich at National Heroes (in Russian)
- Zhuravlyov, Ivan Petrovich at Peoples.ru (in Russian)
