Alexander Novikov

For other people named Alexander Novikov, see Alexander Novikov (disambiguation).
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Alexandrovich and the family name is Novikov.

Alexander Novikov
Novikov c. 1943
Native name
Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Но́виков
Born(1900-11-19)19 November 1900
Nerekhta, Kostroma Governorate, Russian Empire
Died3 December 1976(1976-12-03) (aged 76)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branch
Years of service1919–1956
RankChief marshal of aviation
CommandsSoviet Air Forces
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union (twice)

Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Но́виков; 19 November [O.S. 6 November] 1900 – 3 December 1976[1]) was the chief marshal of aviation[2] for the Soviet Air Forces during the Soviet Union's involvement in the Second World War. Lauded as "the man who has piloted the Red Air Force through the dark days into the present limelight",[3] and a "master of tactical air power",[4] he was twice given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union as well as a number of other Soviet decorations.

A gifted air force commander and one of the leading men of the Soviet armed forces,[5] Novikov was involved in nearly all exploits of the air force during the war and was at the forefront of developments in command and control and of air combat techniques.[6] After the war, Novikov was arrested by order of the Politburo, and was forced by the NKVD chief, Lavrentiy Beria, into a "confession" that implicated Marshal Georgy Zhukov in a conspiracy.[7] Novikov was then imprisoned until the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, whereupon he became an avionics teacher and writer until his death.

  1. ^ Hronos biography.
  2. ^ Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР «О присвоении маршалу авиации Новикову А. А. военного звания главного маршала авиации» от 21 февраля 1944 года // Ведомости Верховного Совета Союза Советских Социалистических Республик : газета. — 1944. — 29 февраля (№ 12 (272)). — С. 1
  3. ^ Lauterbach p. 146
  4. ^ "Father's Little Watchman". Time, August 20, 1951. Retrieved August 31, 2007. Archived from the original July 11, 2007.
  5. ^ Kerr p. 22
  6. ^ Chief Marshal of Aviation AA. Novikov – His 100th Birthday retrieved August 31, 2007
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference mm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).