Petr Afanasevich Pokryshev

Born Aug. 11 (24), 1914, in the city of Golaia Pristan’, now in Kherson Oblast; died Aug. 23, 1967, in Leningrad. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Feb. 10, 1943, and Aug. 24, 1943), major general of aviation (1955). Member of the CPSU from 1941.

Pokryshev joined the Soviet Army in 1934. He graduated from a military pilots’ school in Odessa in 1935 and from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1954. In the Great Patriotic War (1941–45), he fought on the Leningrad Front as commander of a squadron of the 154th Fighter Aviation Regiment and from 1943 as commander of the 159th Fighter Aviation Regiment. Pokryshev made about 300 sorties, fought in 56 air battles, and shot down 22 aircraft individually and seven aircraft in group fights.

After the war, Pokryshev held responsible positions in the defense forces. He retired in 1961. He was a deputy to the third convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Pokryshev was awarded the Order of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War First Class, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Red Star, and various medals.