Nikolai Vasilyevich Chelnokov was a captain and squadron commander of assault aviation. He was born in 1906 in Irkutsk into a railway worker’s family. Of Russian nationality, he became a member of the CPSU in 1940. He joined the Soviet Army in 1928 and graduated from a military pilot school.
Service in the Great Patriotic War
During the Great Patriotic War, as a commander of fighter aviation units, Nikolai Vasilyevich Chelnokov participated in battles within the air forces of the Red Banner Baltic and Black Sea Fleets. Throughout the war, his squadron destroyed a large number of enemy military equipment and personnel.
Chelnokov personally sank one transport, one torpedo boat, one patrol boat, and two landing barges. In group sorties, he was credited with destroying 12 torpedo boats, 8 patrol boats, and 20 enemy landing barges.
Distinctions and Post-War Career
Nikolai Vasilyevich Chelnokov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the “Gold Star” medal, on June 14, 1942. He was honored with his second “Gold Star” medal on August 19, 1944.
After the war, in 1949, he was promoted to the rank of Major General of Aviation. Nikolai Vasilyevich was also elected a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the second convocation. He graduated from the General Staff Academy and continued serving in the Navy until 1954.
Nikolai Vasilyevich Chelnokov passed away in July 1974.