POLAGUSHIN NIKOLAI IVANOVICH
Captain of the Guard, Participant of World War II, The Hero of the Soviet Union (April 19, 1945)
He was born on March 7, 1923 in Tashkent. He graduated from high school. In June 1941, he was drafted into the Red Army. In 1942 he graduated from the Military Aviation Pilot School named after Chkalov. He had been in World War II since September of that year. He was wounded three times in battles.
Until February 1945, he commanded a squadron of the 15th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment of the 277th Assault Aviation Division of the 1st Air Army of the 1st Belorussian Front. By this time he had made 214 combat sorties, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy’s military equipment and manpower.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 19, 1945, “For exemplary performance of combat duties, courage and heroism in the fight against Nazi invaders on the front”, Captain Polagushin Nikolai was awarded the title of “The Hero of the Soviet Union.
He died on February 2, 1999, and was buried in Zelenogradsk Cemetery in Moscow.