The Anatoly Vasilyevich Liapidevsky reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Anatoly Vasilyevich Liapidevsky

Anatoly Vasilyevich Liapidevsky (1908 - 1983) was a Soviet aircraft pilot and one of the first to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (in 1934). He was a major-general of the Soviet Air Force.

He worked as a pilot with the Far Eastern department of the Civil Air Fleet. After February 13, 1934, when the steamship "Cheliuskin" sunk in Arctic waters, Liapidevsky, in extremely difficult conditions, took part in aerial search and rescue of its crew (known as "Cheliuskintsi"). He flew the stranded "Cheliuskintsi" from their makeshift airstrip on the floating ice field to the town of Uelen. Liapidevsky was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union for this deed.

During the World War 2 he served as the deputy commander of the Air Forces of the 19th Army, and the chief of the field region of the 7th Air Army.

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