Zavarin, Grigoriy Antonovich

Date of birth:: November 24th, 1902 (Slastukha/Saratov, Russian Empire)
Date of death:: September 30th, 1944 (Koporsky/Leningrad, Soviet Union)
Buried on:: Soviet War Cemetery Lomonosov
Nationality:: Soviet

Biography

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Orden Krasnogo Znameni

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major
Unit:: 51st Mine-torpedo Aviation Regiment, 8th Mine-Torpedo Air Division, Baltic Fleet Air Force
Awarded on:: 1944

"In connection with the advance of Soviet troops to the west, it became increasingly difficult for the enemy to use sea communications in the northern part of the Gulf of Finland. Seeking to cover up its (...) of Kotka-Vyborg Bay from the blows of our aviation, the enemy strengthened its grouping with fighters. To destroy the German cruiser "Niobe", the Baltic Fleet Air Force carried out a raid on Kotka on 16 July 1944, in which 132 aircraft participated. Initially, aircraft attacked the antiaircraft power of the enemy. Then 28 dive bombers struck the cruiser and damaged it. After that, the squadron of bombers, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Ponomarenko and the flag navigator Zavarin, dropped 6,000 kilogram bombs onto the cruiser and sunk it. The commander of the crew I.N. Ponomarenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for this feat, and Major G.A. Zavarin the Order of the Red Banner."