Nikolai Chelnokov

Nikolai Vasilyevich Chelnokov (Russian: Никола́й Васи́льевич Челноко́в; 9 May [O.S. 26 April] 1906 – 16 July 1974) was an assault aviation pilot in the Soviet Navy who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II. He joined the Soviet Armed Forces in 1928 and within a few years became a Soviet Navy pilot and flight instructor. During World War II he received promotion to squadron and then regimental commander. After the war he became a major general before retiring from the military in 1954.

Early life

Chelnokov was born on 9 May [O.S. 26 April] 1906 in Irkutsk to a working-class Russian family. Two years later his family moved to the village of Glebovo just outside Saint Petersburg, which they had left in 1905 before he was born, residing there until 1926. That year Chelnokov graduated from his ninth grade of school in Kashin before starting to work as a manual laborer in Leningrad. In 1928 he began studying at the Leningrad Electrotechnical Institute, but left it shortly thereafter upon volunteering to join the military in December.

Military career

Less than a year after entering the military he graduated from the Leningrad Military Theoretical Air Force School in November 1929. He then went on to graduate from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School of Pilots a year later, and then the Sevastopol Military Aviation School of Naval Pilots in May 1931, after which he was sent to the Yeysk Military Aviation School as a flight instructor. There he became promoted to flight commander and piloted the Po-2, Sh-2, MBR-2, R-6, and S-68.