Fedor Alekseevich Astakhov

Born Jan. 27 (Feb. 8), 1892, in the village of Dedovskie Vyselki in Moscow Province; died Oct. 9, 1966, in Moscow. Marshal of aviation (1944). Member of the CPSU after 1931. Born into a worker’s family.

Astakhov graduated from the Sevastopol’ School for Military Fliers (1916). He joined the Soviet army in 1918 and took part in the Civil War on the eastern front as a flier, commander of an air detachment and head of aviation for the Fifth Army, and head of the air force in Siberia. He completed the Higher Academic Courses in 1923 and advanced courses for high commanders in 1929, and occupied many responsible command positions. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he commanded the air force of the southwestern front; in May 1942 he became head of the Main Administration of the Civil Air Fleet (GVF) and deputy commander of the air force; in August 1943, while heading the Main Administration of the GVF, he became deputy commander of long-range aviation; from December 1944 till December 1947 he continued as head of the Main Administration of the GVF. From 1947 to 1950 he worked in the Ministry of the Armed Forces. After 1950 he was in retirement for reasons of ill health. He was the recipient of two Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov Second Class, the Order of Kutuzov First Class, the Order of the Red Star, and also medals.