Alexander Pokryshkin

Alexander Pokryshkin
Pokryshkin in 1943
Native name	Александр Иванович Покрышкин
Born	6 March [O.S. 21 February] 1913 Novosibirsk, Russian Empire
Died	13 November 1985(1985-11-13) (aged 72) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Buried	Novodevichy Cemetery
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service/branch	Soviet Air Force
Years of service	1932–1981
Rank	Marshal of Aviation
Unit	16th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union (thrice) US Army Distinguished Service Medal
Spouse(s)	Mariya Kuzmichna
Signature

Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Ива́нович Покры́шкин; 6 March [O.S. 21 February] 1913 – 13 November 1985) was a Soviet fighter pilot in World War II, and later a marshal of aviation. He was one of the highest-scoring Soviet aces, and the highest-scoring pilot ever to fly an American aircraft, having achieved the great majority of his kills in the Lend-Lease Bell P-39 Airacobra.^[1] During the war Pokryshkin earned the title Hero of the Soviet Union three times: 24 May 1943,^[2] 24 August 1943, and 19 August 1944. After the war, he served in the Soviet Air Defense Forces, reaching the rank of Marshal of Aviation; he retired in 1981.

During the war, he strongly promoted training in and use of improved aerial combat techniques, such as vertical maneuvers that newer fighter aircraft were capable of carrying out, and he spent much of his time studying aerobatics for combat situations.