Anatoly Liapidevsky

Anatoly Vasilyevich Liapidevsky (1908 - 1983) was a Soviet aircraft pilot and one of the first to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (in 1934). He reached the rank of Major-General of the Soviet Air Force.

He worked as a pilot with the Far Eastern department of the Civil Air Fleet. After February 13, 1934, when the steamship "Cheliuskin" sunk in Arctic waters, Liapidevsky, in extremely difficult conditions, took part in an aerial search and rescue operation of its crew (known as "Cheliuskintsy"). He flew the stranded "Cheliuskintsi" from their makeshift airstrip on the floating ice field of the Chukchi Sea to the town of Uelen. Liapidevsky was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union for this deed.

During World War 2 he served as the deputy commander of the Air Forces of the 19th Army, and the Chief of the Field Region of the 7th Air Army.