Outstanding Aviation Commander P.F. Zhigarev (His 100th Birthday).

Rising through the ranks from an ordinary Red Army man to Chief Marshal of Aviation--such is the glorious path traveled by Pavel Zhigarev, a Soviet military commander who was in charge of the Soviet Air Force in the most difficult months of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and in the postwar years. Zhigarev also contributed in a big way to training commanding and engineering personnel, researchers, teachers and instructors of the Air Defense Forces.

Pavel F. Zhigarev was born into the family of a peasant in the village of Brikovo of the Vesiegonsk district, the Tver province, November 19, 1900. Entering the Red Army in 1919 he fought in the Civil War. Finishing the Cavalry School of Red Commanders he served with a cavalry regiment.

Like many young Red Army commanders of the early 1920s, Pavel Zhigarev decided to learn to be a flyer. In the summer of 1925, he was transferred to a light-bomber squadron as assistant to the airfield commandant. There he combined his job-related duties with studying aviation. His painstaking attitude, efficiency, fascination with aviation did not go unnoticed. In December the same year, Pavel Zhigarev was enrolled in the Leningrad School of Aerial Observers. Finishing it he served in Rostov, Orenburg, and Stalingrad as aerial observer and taught air navigation.

As one of the best servicemen he was sent to study at the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy's newly opened commander faculty. Noting Zhigarev's talent for research and his high skills as instructor they left him upon graduation in the Academy to do post-graduate studies and teach, but teaching did not interest the young commander too much. In 1933 he put in a request and got appointed chief of staff of a military pilot school. Later he commanded a …