Ivan Mikhailovich Belov

Born on June 2 (15), 1915, in the village of Fedosovo, now in the Lotoshinsky District of Moscow Oblast (Russia), into a peasant family. He attended school in the village of Novovasilievskoye in the Lotoshinsky District. From 1928, he lived in the village of Novaya Dubrova.

He completed 7 grades of school in 1929 and the FZU school in 1933, after which he worked as a fitter at a combine.

Early Life and Military Training

Belov joined the army in 1935 and graduated from the Kachin Military Aviation Pilot School in 1937, subsequently serving in active units of the Air Force. He participated in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940 as a flight commander in the 5th Mixed Aviation Regiment.

He distinguished himself on December 5, 1939, during a combat mission near the settlement of Salmiyarvi in the Pechenga District of Murmansk Oblast. During the combat operations, Belov carried out 10 combat sorties in a fighter aircraft.

Hero of the Soviet Union

By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on February 5, 1940, for exemplary performance of command assignments and the courage and heroism shown, Lieutenant Ivan Mikhailovich Belov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was presented with the Order of Lenin and the “Gold Star” medal (No. 105).

From February to November 1940, he studied at the Air Force Academy in Monino but was subsequently dismissed. He continued his service in active Air Force units, initially in the Arctic region, and from early June 1941, in the Western Military District.

Service in the Great Patriotic War

Starting in June 1941, he served on the front as Deputy Commander of the 179th Fighter Aviation Regiment, operating on the Western Front. Ivan Mikhailovich Belov died on September 7, 1941, during an enemy bombing of the airfield in Karachev, Bryansk Oblast.

He was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin in 1940, in addition to his title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the “Gold Star” medal.