Vladimir Strizhesky

Captain Vladimir Ivanovich Strzhizhevsky (26 December 1894 – 22 August 1940) was a World War I flying ace. He volunteered for military service on 14 October 1914, after graduation from Petrograd Technical Institute. Incomplete and confusing records credit him with eight confirmed and four unconfirmed aerial victories during his 1916-1917 combat on the Romanian Front. His second wound ended his tally of aerial victories. The advent of the October Revolution saw him co-opted into the Red Air Force for the end of the war. On 4 November 1918, he defected to the White Russian Army, and served with them for two years. When they were expelled from Russia, Strzhizhevsky accompanied them. He became a Yugoslav citizen and joined their air force.

Biography Vladimir Ivanovich Strzhizhevsky was born into gentry on 26 December 1894 in Mogilev. He was raised in the Russian Orthodox faith. He attended Petrograd Technical Institute, majoring in electro-mechanical engineering, until volunteering for military service on 14 October 1914. Four days later, he began training in the theory of aviation at the Saint Petersburg Polytechnical Institute. He graduated on 2 January 1915, and was forwarded to Gatchinsky Military Air Force School for practical training. After aviation training, he graduated from Flying School in Sevastopol on 29 July 1915. His initial posting was to the 16th Korpusnoi Aviatsionniy Otryad (Corps Aviation Detachment) on 10 August 1915. He arrived at the 16th KAO on 5 September; on 14 September 1915, he was promoted to Podporuchik. By January 1916, Strzhizhevsky had flown 43 combat sorties for a flight time of 65 hours 44 minutes. During this period, he was awarded all four classes of the Cross of Saint George and promoted to Praporshchik on 10 February 1916. On 9 March 1916, while on patrol, Strzhizhevsky's aircraft engine failed and brought him down into a crashlanding. The machine was a write-off, and Strzhizhevsky suffered serious injuries to his right leg and face. He…Citește mai mult

List of aerial victories Most aviation historians list seven confirmed victories for Strzhizhevsky; the most recent text states five. The below list is a compilation of his victory claims. Confirmed victories are numbered and listed chronologically. Unconfirmed victories are denoted by "u/c". See also Aerial victory standards of World War I, List of World War I flying aces from the Russian Empire

Honors and awards Cross of Saint George All four classes Order of Saint Anna Fourth Class "For Bravery": March 1917 Order of Saint George Fourth Class: 12 July 1917 Order of Saint Vladimir Fourth Class with Swords and Bow: 19 November 1917 Kingdom of Romania's Order of the Crown with Swords