Anatoly Kornukov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anatoly Kornukov
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Anatoly Kornukov in 2000
|
|
| Native name |
Анатолий Михайлович Корнуков
|
| Birth name | Anatoly Mikhailovich Kornukov |
| Born | January 10, 1942 Kadievka, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Stakhanov in Ukraine) |
| Died | 1 July 2014 (aged 72) Krasnogorsk, Russia |
| Allegiance |  Russia |
| Service/Branch |  Russian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1962–2002 |
| Rank |  General |
| Unit | Soviet Air Defence Forces |
| Commands held | Commander Russian Air Force Far Eastern Military District Air Defense Forces |
| Battles/wars | Soviet war in Afghanistan Shootdown of KAL Flight 007 Chechen conflict |
| Awards | See below |
| Spouse(s) | Lyudmila Vasilievna |
| Children | 2 |
General Anatoly Mikhailovich Kornukov (Russian: Анатолий Михайлович Корнуков; 10 January 1942 – 1 July 2014) was a high-ranking general in the Russian Air Force. He was also a skilled fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Defence Forces. From 1998 to 2002, he was the top commander of the Russian Air Force.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Anatoly Kornukov was born in 1942 in Kadievka, a city in what was then the Ukrainian SSR. His father was a miner who fought in World War II.
In 1959, Anatoly joined the Soviet Armed Forces. He started pilot training at the Kremenchug Military Aviation School. When that school closed, he moved to the Chernigov Military Aviation School. He finished his studies with high honors in 1964. After graduating, he became a pilot in the 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Military Career Highlights
Kornukov moved up in his career, taking on more important roles. In 1970, he became a deputy commander in the 47th Fighter Aviation Regiment in the Russian Far East. By 1974, he was commanding the 777th Fighter Aviation Regiment on Sakhalin Island. During this time, he flew over 150 missions. These missions included scouting, stopping other aircraft, and preventing planes from illegally entering Soviet airspace.
He continued his education, graduating from the Military Academy of Air Defense in 1980. That same year, he became the commander of the 40th Fighter Division. This division had regiments stationed in important areas like Sovetskaya Gavan, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands.
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Incident
On September 1, 1983, a Korean Air Lines Flight 007 (a Boeing 747) was flying from New York City to Seoul. The plane went off course and entered Soviet airspace. This happened first over Kamchatka.
At that time, Kornukov was the commander of the Dolinsk-Sokol Air Base. He was under the command of General Valeri Kamensky. Kornukov received an order from Kamensky to shoot down the airliner. This order was given when the plane was over international waters, after it had left Kamchatkan airspace.
The aircraft was shot down by a Su-15 jet flown by Major Gennady Osipovich. The Korean airliner crashed into the sea near Moneron Island. All 269 people on board died.
Kornukov kept his position after this event. He later stated that his order followed international and Soviet law. He believed the flight was a test by the United States to find weaknesses in Soviet air defense.
Rising Through the Ranks
After the 1983 incident, Kornukov continued to advance. In 1985, he commanded the 71st Fighter Aviation Corps in Germany. He also graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1988.
He became the first deputy chief of aviation for the Soviet Air Defense Forces in 1988. By 1990, he was the commander of the 11th Separate Air Defense Army. This was the largest air defense army in the USSR. It covered a huge area and included many units.
In August 1991, he was put in charge of the Moscow Air Defense District. This district protected military and civilian sites across a large part of the Soviet Union and later, Russia.
Leading the Russian Air Force
On January 22, 1998, Boris Yeltsin, the President of Russia, appointed Kornukov as the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force. He took over after the previous commander resigned following a plane crash.
In January 2002, Kornukov retired from his role as Commander-in-Chief. He then advised Russia on missile defense and how to protect against air attacks. He believed Russia needed to improve its air defense systems.
Later Life
After retiring from the Air Force, Kornukov worked for the Almaz Scientific and Production Association. This company develops anti-aircraft missile systems and other air defense technologies for Russia.
Anatoly Kornukov passed away on July 1, 2014, at the age of 72.
Honours and awards
- Order For Merit to the Fatherland 3rd class
- Order For Merit to the Fatherland 4th class
- Order of Military Merit
- Order of the Red Star (USSR)
- Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 2nd class (USSR)
- Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR 3rd class (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
- Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy"
- Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
- Medal "For Diligence in Engineering Tasks" (Min Def)
- Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR)
- Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR)
- Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation" (MVD)
- Medal "For Military Valour" 1st Class (Min Def)
- Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation" (Min Def)
- Medal "For Impeccable Service" 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes USSR)
- State Prize of the Russian Federation
- Order "Danaker" (Kyrgyzstan)
See also
