Philip Agaltsov

Philipp Alexandrovich Agaltsev (20.01.1900, Soldatskoe village, Efremovsky uyezd, Tula province, now Efremovsky district, Tula region - 29.6.1980, Moscow), Soviet commander, Brigadier General of the Polish Army (1945), Marshal of Aviation (1962), Hero of the Soviet Union (1978). In Red Army since 1919. Participant of the Civil War. Graduated from Kiev political-military school (1925), Military-political academy of the Red Army (1932), flying courses at 1st Kachinsky military flying school named after A. F. Myasnikov (1934); in April 1935 was appointed deputy chief of political department of the 114th Aviation Brigade (Belarus military district). In 1937-38 he volunteered for the Spanish Civil War as Air Commissar in the Spanish Republican Army. During the Great Patriotic War, 1941-43 he was chief of Tambov school of military aviation specialists, from 1943 commander of the 292nd assault aviation division, from 1944 commander of the 1st Polish mixed air corps which took part in Berlin operation (1st Belorussian front); personally made dozens of combat missions to attack the enemy troops. After the war he commanded the Assault Aviation Corps and the Air Army. In 1949-56 he was first deputy Commander-in-Chief of USSR Air Forces, in 1956-58 - Inspector General of Air Forces, in 1958-62 - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Air Forces. Took part in testing and introduction of new aviation equipment. Since 1962 - Commander of Long Range Aviation of the Air Force. From 1971 - Inspector-Advisor of the Group of General Inspectors of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR.

Awarded the Order of Lenin (1937, 1945, 1961 and 1978), the Order of the Red Banner (1943 - twice; 1944, 1950 and 1968), the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class (1945), the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class (1945), the Order of World War II (1944), the Red Star (1938), etc.