Nikolai Ivanovich
Polagushin
1923-1999
In Zelenograd, which is part of Moscow, there is a street named after Nikolai Ivanovich Polagushin (1923–1999), a Soviet military pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union. Nikolai Polagushin was born in Tashkent; the official date of birth is 7 March 1923, but according to Polagushin’s own records his actual date of birth was 10 December 1922 – the discrepancy was due to the need to meet age requirements for admission to aviation school. In June 1941 he was conscripted into the Red Army, and in 1942 he graduated from the Chkalov Military Aviation School of Pilots (now in Orenburg). From September 1942 he was at the front, flying the Il‑2 ground‑attack aircraft as part of the Leningrad and 3rd Belorussian Fronts. He took part in the defence and breakthrough of the Leningrad blockade, the battles on the Karelian Isthmus, the liberation of Vyborg and Estonia, the offensive operations in East Prussia and the assault on Königsberg. By February 1945 he was a Guards Captain and squadron commander of the 15th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (277th Assault Aviation Division, 1st Air Army). By that time he had flown 214 combat sorties; over the entire war he flew 259 sorties. According to records, he destroyed 16 tanks, 17 aircraft on airfields and over 200 other items of enemy military equipment. He was wounded three times and his aircraft was damaged three times, but each time he returned to combat duty. By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 19 April 1945, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, receiving the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (№ 6120). After the war he remained in the armed forces: in 1949 he graduated from the Higher Flight‑Tactical Courses, and in 1955 from the Air Force Academy. In 1958 he was retired to the reserve with the rank of colonel. He returned to Tashkent, where he worked at the Photon electronics plant: first as a fitter, and then, on the recommendation of director S.D. Papava, as head of the personnel department. In October 1966 he moved to Zelenograd and until his retirement held the post of head of the personnel department at the Research Institute of Molecular Electronics. He combined his main work with public activities: he took part in the work of the city Council of Veterans and held meetings with schoolchildren (in particular, at School № 609). In addition to the title of Hero and the Order of Lenin, he was awarded four Orders of the Red Banner, the Orders of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st and 2nd classes, the Order of the Red Star, and a number of medals.
Address: Moscow, Zelenograd, building 418
