RP79AR
Geroy Sovetskogo Soyuza Aleksey Konstantinovich Ryazanov

(1920 - 1992)

Alexey Ryazanov is a major-general of aviation. The only native of the Tambov region, who became twice Hero of the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War. He went the way from a private pilot to deputy commander of fighter aviation regiment. He fought on the South-West, Central, Bryansk, Stalingrad, South, North-Caucasian and 2nd Baltic fronts.

Alexey Ryazanov was born February 27, 1920 in the village of Bolshaya Kochetovka, Tambov County (now the Tokarevsky district) in a large peasant family. In 1935, he graduated from a seven-year school, then the school of factory apprenticeship in Voronezh. Simultaneously with his studies, he was engaged in the flying club. For some time he worked on the construction of the Moscow metro and as a mechanic in a factory. He joined the Red Army in 1939. In spring 1941 Alexey Ryazanov graduated from Borisoglebsk military aviation school of pilots and was sent for military service. Since June 1941 senior lieutenant A. Ryazanov was in the active army. From October 1941 he served in the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment; from June 1942 - in the 736th IAP; from January 1945 - in the 4th IAP. He rose from private pilot (1941-1942) to deputy commander of fighter aviation regiment (1944-1945).

By May 1943 the squadron commander of the 4th Fighter Aviation Regiment (287th Fighter Aviation Division, 4th Air Army, North Caucasus Front), Major A. Ryazanov made 300 sorties, participated in 67 air battles, shot down 16 enemy planes personally and 16 in the group.

On August 24, 1943 he was awarded the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union for courage and bravery shown in the fights against the enemy.

By February 1945 the deputy commander of the same regiment (185th Fighter Division, 14th Fighter Aviation Corps, 15th Air Army, 2nd Baltic Front), Major A. Ryazanov had made 509 sorties, had 97 air battles in which he shot down 31 enemy planes personally and 16 - in groups with his comrades. Three times he was wounded. On August 18, 1945 he was awarded a second Medal "Gold Star".

Alexey Ryazanov took his first air battle on June 22, 1941 and shot down the first enemy plane, a Henschel-126 bomber flying inland. During the first three months of the war Lieutenant Ryazanov shot down four Nazi planes.

By May 43 he was already a squadron commander of the 4th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 287th Fighter Aviation Division of the 4th Air Army.

By this time he had made 300 sorties, participated in 67 air battles, shot down 16 enemy planes and 16 as a member of a group.

During the Great Patriotic War Alexey Ryazanov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Soviet Union with the Gold Star. The pilot was awarded three times the Order of Lenin, four times the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, twice the Order of Great Patriotic War of the 1st degree and the Red Star. Alexey Konstantinovich was awarded medals "For Service to Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" of the 3rd degree.

After the war he remained in the Soviet Air Force. Graduated from Frunze Military Academy in 1950 and the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1958. Since 1950, he worked at the headquarters of the Moscow Military District, then in the headquarters of the Air Force and National Air Defense Forces. Since 1959 he was on active duty in the troops, since 1962 - in the Headquarters of National Air Defense Forces. Since August 1975, Air Force Major General A. Ryazanov. Ryazanov retired. Lived in Moscow. Died August 1, 1992.

While he was still alive in 1954, Alexey Ryazanov had a monument erected in his small motherland. Later the bronze bust was moved to the Alley of Heroes of the Military-Historical Memorial Complex in the village of Tokarevka, Tambov region.