Rechkalov, Grigorii

Born Feb. 9, 1918, in the village of Khudiakovo, now the village of Zaikovo, Irbit Raion, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Major general of aviation (1957), military pilot first class. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (May 24, 1943, and July 1, 1944). Member of the CPSU since 1942.

Rechkalov graduated from the Perm’ Military Aviation School for Pilots in 1939 and from the Air Force Academy in 1951. In the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45 he was a junior pilot in the 55th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1941–42), flight and squadron commander and navigator of the 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (1943–44), and deputy commander and commander of a regiment (July 1944-February 1945). In February 1945 he became inspector pilot for piloting techniques of the 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Division. Rechkalov made over 450 combat flights and shot down 56 enemy aircraft alone and five in group fights. He held responsible posts in the army after the war and has been in the reserve since 1959.

Rechkalov has been awarded the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Red Star, and various medals. He is the author of The Smoke-filled Sky of War (1968), Visiting the Youth (1968), and In the Sky of Moldavia (1967).