Talgat Bigeldinov

Talgat Bigeldinov
Native name
Талғат Жақыпбекұлы Бигелдинов
Born(1922-08-05)5 August 1922
Maibalyq, Kazakh ASSR, RSFSR
Died10 November 2014(2014-11-10) (aged 92)
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service1940–1956
RankMajor General
Unit144th Guards Ground Attack Aviation Regiment
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union (twice)

Talgat Jakypbekuly Bigeldinov (Kazakh: Талғат Жақыпбекұлы Бигелдинов, Russian: Талгат Якубекович Бегельдинов) was a ground-attack pilot during the Second World War and the only Kazakh who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. He remained in the military after the war and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel before he transferred to the reserve. After Kazakhstan became independent from the Soviet Union he was promoted to the rank of Major-General.