Nikolay Kokorin

Nikolay Kirillovich Kokorin
Born	Khlebnikovo, Russian Empire
Died	Podgaytsy
Allegiance	Russia
Service/branch	Engineers; aviation
Years of service	1910–1917
Rank	Ensign (praporshchik)
Unit	4th Corps Fighter Detachment
Awards	Order of St. George, Cross of St. George, Order of St. Anne

Nikolay Kirillovich Kokorin (Russian: Никола́й Кири́ллович Коко́рин; born May 8, 1889, village of Khlebnikovo — died May 16, 1917), was one of the most successful Russian flying aces and fighters pilot during World War I, credited with five aerial victories.^[1][2]

Early life

Little is known about his pre-World War I life. With little education, Kokorin joined the Russian military on December 23, 1910, serving first with the Vislyanskaya Mine battalion. He applied for a transfer to aviation the following year, but did not receive a permit until January 21, 1914. In September 1914, Kokorin qualified as a pilot.

Involvement in World War I

Kokorkin began flying in a Nieuport 10 and in 1915 he switched to a Morane-Saulnier. Kokorin had a rank of praporshchik (ensign) at the beginning of his air service. Assigned to the 4th Corps Air Detachment on September 4, 1915, Kokorin was engaged in aerial combat on several occasions while flying reconnaissance missions but failed to score any victories.

In August 1916, his unit was moved to Luzk, where he flew the SPAD VII and later the Nieuport 11. In November, he was posted to the 4th Corps Fighter Detachment to serve under command of Alexander Kazakov; they were flying defensive sorties during the Siege of Ternopol.^[1] Kokorin scored his first win on November 25, 1916. By May 26, 1917, he had run his total to five. On May 29, he was shot down by Leuts. Crybski and Quest of FFA 242.^[2]

List of orders

• Cross of St. George (4th degree) in March 1915
• Cross of St. George (3rd, 2nd, 1st degrees) in April 1915
• Weaponry of St. George on November 12, 1916
• Order of St. George (4th degree) on December 25, 1916

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Franks, p. 84
2. ^ ^{a b} TheAerodrome.com. Nikolay Kokorin

Sources

• Nieuport Aces of World War I. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1855329611, 9781855329614.

External links

• Full biography of Nikolay Kokorin (Russian)

Persondata
Name	Kokorin, Nikolay
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 8, 1889
Place of birth	Khlebnikovo, Russian Empire
Date of death	May 16, 1917
Place of death	Podgaytsy