Evstigneev, Kirill Alekseevich

Born Feb. 4 (17), 1917, in the village of Khokhly, now in Shumikha Raion, Kurgan Oblast. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (Aug. 2, 1944, and Feb. 23, 1945), major general of aviation (1966). Member of the CPSU since 1943.

Evstigneev was the son of a poor peasant. He joined the Soviet Army in 1938. In the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 he fought in combat, beginning in March 1943, on the Voronezh, Steppe, and Second Ukrainian fronts as a pilot, flight and squadron commander, and deputy commander of the 24th Fighter Air Regiment. Evstigneev made about 300 combat sorties, fought in more than 120 air battles, and shot down 53 enemy aircraft personally and three aircraft with others in his group. After the war he graduated from the Air Force Academy (1955) and from the Military Academy of the General Staff (1960) and served in high command and staff positions. Evstigneev has been awarded the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov Third Class, the Order of the Patriotic War Second Class, the Order of the Red Star, two foreign orders, and medals.