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Rafalovich Alexander

Lieutenant General Aviation

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Rafalovich Alexander

Rafalovich Alexander
(August 20, 1898 - 1971)

Rafalovich Alexander, Lieutenant General Aviation. He flew on the aircraft Fokker DVII, DXI, Nieuport D XXIV, R-1. In World War II he worked in command positions.

Alexander born August 20, 1898 in the family of collegiate registrator

Since April 1918 the Red Army, the Civil War, was wounded at the front.

After the war he continued to serve in the Red Army.

In 1921, he graduated from the theoretical school Air Fleet, in 1923 - Military theoretical Pilot School, commander of the squadron detachment. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1927.

Great Patriotic War began as a colonel in the Air Force Chief of Staff of the 6th Army from 1942 - Head of the Air Force of the 6th Army. In March 1942, he was awarded the rank of Major General Aviation.

In 1943 - 1945 he served as Chief of Infantry Service of Red Army Air Force.

In 1944, he graduated from the Air Force Military Order of Lenin Academy of the Red Army named after prof. Zhukovsky. July 1, 1944 was awarded the rank of lieutenant general aviation.

C 1946 to 1950 GG - Head of Department of the Air Force Academy named after prof. NE Zhukovsky.

Has awards: the Order of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, Order of the Patriotic War, 1st tbsp., Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 2th tbsp., medal "XX years of the Red Army" (this is the medal presented here photos), "For the Defense of Moscow" "For the defense of Kiev," "For Military Merit" and "For Victory over Germany", "800 years of Moscow" and others.

User Victory Day parade on Red Square in 1945.

He retired in 1950.


Biography, quite frankly, extraordinary. The notorious "fifth paragraph" of questionnaire* did not become an obstacle to Alexander Mikhailovich rose to the rank of lieutenant general. The fact in itself is unique. Probably the very rare case where "the intelligent man has got a clever head".

What can you say about a man looking at the photos, except that it has a smart, attentive, a little ironic gaze? Mean line biography, multiplied many times in various "historical sites" almost nothing about him speak. Maybe someone will respond, and our page will help them to complement ...

Photo of course unique, very high quality, "bear the stamp of time" :-) and deserve careful review ...

* - in the soviet questionnaire "Biography" this item was "nationality".

Vyacheslav Cherkashin.

Photo Description

Youth Photo Alexander Rafalovich. Cap with a high crown and spur - a mandatory attribute of male prowess.

"Young rake". Rafalovich, left.

"Young rake" again.

Theoretical school of Air Fleet, 1921 , I think. Rafalovich on photo left.

Theoretical school of Air Fleet, December 1921.. VIII and IX courses. Rafalovich in the second row from the top, the sixth left.

Group photo on a background of training aircraft, U-1.

Airplanes initial training of U-1 with M-2 engine of 120 hp, was built on the model of English-Avro 504K, was used in Russia in 1921-32, GG, after which he was completely replaced by a U-2 (the famous Po-2). Notable for more stringent control.

Group photo, on a background, I think, Nieuport 27.

Rafalovich is pictured on the right.

The same plane, front view.

"Fokker" D VII with the engine BMV-IIIa 180 hp. This aircraft was built in 1918, we had a few dozen copies.

Italian "Balilla" A-1. Single fighter with engine 220 hp, Spa. The aircraft differed good maneuverability, was purchased 30 copies.

English "Martinsayd" F-4. Single engine fighter with "Hispano-Suiza" 300 hp, 1918 built, on the front did not hit. The Soviet Union has acquired about 100 of these aircraft in 1922-23. Since 1927 began to replace on domestic fighter I-2 bis.

On the back of the photo the inscription: " At Smolensk airport in 1922. Aircraft German "Fokker".

Fokker F III Airlines' Derulyuft "on board the aircraft emblem of the Russian Federation.

Group pilots with watches and maps. (Rafalovich right). Watches were worn on the belt, and served as the main instrument for determining distance traveled. On the back the inscription: "1927 D. Camp, 5th Sq, 1 p.o.".

Working with the map before flying at the background Fokker D VII.

Group photo near the Fokker D VII.

Group photo near the Fokker D VII. Rafalovich standing, fifth from the left.

Group pilots . In the top row was deleted, probably "enemy of the people", the same "time stamp" at the old photos. Appearance of former comrades did not seem disposed of odium to them, and for safety reasons of the security committee.

Group pilots. The same picture, without cuts.

On the back the inscription "1930 Smolensk 4th Sq aircrew"

Date of posting on the site: Marth 19, 2015

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September 09, 2015

Dear sir,

I found a number of very nice pictures of Fokker aircraft on your website, after searching for some info on the secred flight school of Lipetzk.
I hope you are so kind, to share these wonderful photos. Pictures of D.VII and D.XI in Russian use seem to be rare. I have no intention to use these photos commercially, I am just an aviation fan from Holland.

I am looking forward to your reply,
Kind regards,

Edwin Hoogschagen

September 14, 2015

Dear Edwin,

Thanks for your letter.
You can use photos from my site on your site. Please note that these photos are protected by water marks of our site...

When placing the photos you must to place a links to our website:

New pages specifically for English-speaking readers here. Sorry for my English, my native language - Russian.

Welcome!

Best regards, Vyacheslav Cherkashin

September 16, 2015

Fantastic page,
It is a really great surprise to read about Alexander Rafalovich. He shot down a German fighter while flying P-47, on November 3, 1943, over my hometown in the Netherlands!

Edwin

September 16, 2015

I think it was the other pilot.
Our Alexander Mikhailovich (note on patronymic) Rafalovich, Major General Aviation, at 1943 - 1945 he served as Chief of Infantry Service of Red Army Air Force and studied at the Air Force Military Academy.

Vyacheslav

September 16, 2015

The Soviet Union got on lend-lease 190 aircraft P-47 in 1944 and 5 aircraft in 1945, (in according of the Chief Air Staff).
Really rearm on these aircraft started in May 1945.

Petr Klunduk

September 17, 2015

Two facts more:
- In the cockpits of Soviet fighters were mostly sergeants and lieutenants, not the generals, whom was our Aleksander Rafalovich.
Quote from the book "Bf 109 E/F vs Yak-1/7. Easter front 1941-1942" /Dmitriy Khazanov & Aleksander Medved/:

"As the size of the VVS-KA grew, pilots were dealt a terrible blow to their prestige with the issuing of an order by People's Commissar SK Timoshenko on 22 December 1940. Titled 'About the changes in the order of progression in the military service for junior and middle-rank commanding staff of the Red Army Air Force ', it stated that from then on graduates of flying schools were to be assigned the rank of sergeant, rather than lieutenant or senior lieutenant as had previously been the case . Airmen whose term of service was less than four years were obliged to live in barracks, and their supplies and salary were reduced accordingly. This had an adverse effect on the fighting spirit of aircrew within the VVS-KA, who, just sixth months after the issuing of this decree, would find themselves locked in an uneven struggle for survival with the Luftwaffe as they attempted to defend the USSR from invasion. "

- In 1943, Europe was occupied by Hitler's troops, while the Soviet Union alone fought the fascist troops still on its territory. Soviet fighters could not appear at this time over the Netherlands.

Vyacheslav

September 17, 2015

Thank you for the further details. I was far too quick to respond, indeed, this is a totally different person!

Edwin