Prokhorov, Aleksei Nikolaevich

Born Jan. 19, 1923, in the village of Rozhdestvenskoe, now in Povorino Raion, Voronezh Oblast. Colonel (1957). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Apr. 19, 1945, and June 29, 1945). Member of the CPSU since 1943.

Prokhorov has been in the Soviet Army since 1940. He graduated from the Balashov Military Aviation School in 1942 and from what is now the Iu. A. Gagarin Air Force Academy in 1950. He saw service in the Great Patriotic War (1941–45) on the Leningrad and Third Byelorussian fronts (1943–45) as a pilot, flight commander, and deputy commander and commander of a squadron of the 15th Guards Attack Aviation Regiment. He made 238 combat flights. After the war, Prokhorov held important posts in the air force and has been teaching since 1967.

Prokhorov has been awarded the Order of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War First Class, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Red Star, and various medals.