Leonid Georgievich Belousov
Soviet flying ace (1909–1998)
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Major Leonid Georgievich Belousov (Russian: Леони́д Гео́ргиевич Белоу́сов; 16 March 1909 – 7 May 1998) was a Soviet flying ace who served throughout World War II, even after both of his legs had to be amputated due to injuries.
Leonid Georgievich Belousov | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Леони́д Гео́ргиевич Белоу́сов |
| Born | 16 March 1909 |
| Died | 7 May 1998 (aged 89) |
Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
Branch |  Soviet Navy |
Rank | Major |
Conflicts | |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Early life
Belousov was born in Odessa on 16 March 1909.[1][2][3] As a teenager he would run away from home, becoming a homeless child.[4] At the age of 13, Belousov became a pupil of the 51st Rifle Division, assisting them during the Russian Civil War.[3][5]
He joined the Soviet Navy in 1932 as a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.[1] In 1935 he graduated from the aviation school in Borisoglebsk as a pilot.[2][6]
World War II
In 1938 Belousov, serving as a naval pilot, suffered an accident in which he was badly burned.[7] He was ordered to lead a group to intercept a foreign aircraft that violated the USSR's borders, but would get into an accident that resulted in the burn.[8][9] After the treatment, which ultimately included 32 plastic surgeries, he returned to military service and continued to fly.[7] He would go on to fight for the entirety of the Winter War. For his service in the war, Belousov received the Order of the Red Banner.[1][10][11]
During the blockade of Leningrad, of the Great Patriotic War, Belousov defended the Road of Life over the Lake Ladoga.[12] In December 1941, Belousov lost both of his legs due injury and freezing, which induced gangrene. He would have prosthetics fitted at the Leningrad Research Institute for Prosthetics, and after a year of rehabilitation returned to piloting.[11][13] In 1944 he returned to combat, due in part to the simple design of U-2 plane.[14][15][16] After returning to the skies for the last year of the war, he would shoot down one additional plane.[17]
Belousov served as Commander of the Ganguttsev squadron, and was recognized as an ace fighter pilot of the Red Army.[13][18] By the end of the war he was a guard major and totaled over 300 sorties.[19][20][21]
Later life
In 1957 Belousov was awarded the order of the Hero of the Soviet Union.[22]
Belousov died on 7 May 1998 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he had retired.[4][12][19] He was buried in the city's Serafimovskoe Cemetery.[23]
Publicity
Belousov actions would earn him public acclaim in the Soviet Union, with Pravda highlighting his heroic deeds and inspirational story.[24][25]
Later, Belousov would write a short series of memoirs about his life, selling over 100 thousand copies. It was 64 pages and was titled Веление долга.[24][25]
Belousov's friend Mikhail Dudin, a Soviet poet and fellow Ganguttsev veteran, wrote a poem about Belousov titled Eyes of L. Belousov.[11]
A street in Saint Petersburg was renamed in Belousov's honor.[12]