Balaluev, Alexey Andreevich

Born on September 16 (29), 1914 in the village of Tsimbulova (now Bolkhovsky District, Oryol Region ) in a working class family. Russian . Member of the CPSU (b) since 1940. He lived in Moscow . He graduated from junior high school, then factory school. He worked as an electrician at the factory. Without a break from production, he graduated from the Central Aero Club.

In the Red Army since 1936. In 1937 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk military aviation school of pilots .

Member of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. He fought in the North-Western , Kalinin and the 1st Ukrainian fronts on the LaGG-3 fighter. He was a pilot, flight commander, and then air squadron commander of the 21st Fighter Regiment. Drove into a group of groups of 6-8 aircraft. He covered the bombers, attack aircraft, flew reconnaissance, stormed the enemy airfields. October 10, 1942 was seriously wounded in a dogfight.

In March 1943, he was appointed an inspector of the Fighter Aviation Directorate of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of Frontal Aviation of the Air Force. In this position from August 1944, he flew to different sectors of the front, to different aviation divisions. Including himself in the combat calculations of the fighter groups, and with them participated in air battles. He fought in the sky of the Baltic , over the Dnieper , over Sevastopol , in the sky of Belarus . After the sorties, Major Balaluyev together with the pilots made a debriefing. Tactical errors of air combat were identified. Attention was paid to a deeper knowledge of enemy technology, its capabilities, piloting skills, radio discipline, and preparation of aircraft for departure.

In total, by the end of the war, 345 sorties were flown, conducted 52 air battles, in which he personally shot down 16 enemy aircraft, 1 aerostatic spotter and 6 airplanes in the group. When storming ground targets destroyed 11 tanks and 40 cars, burned 5 "Junkers" in the parking lot. He made 43 missions for reconnaissance and each time brought valuable information. He prepared and commissioned dozens of young pilots, and by his example he taught them to beat the enemy.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 18, 1945, for exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front of the fight against the German fascist invaders and the bravery and heroism shown to Major Balaluev Alexei Andreyevich, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal (No. 7974).

After the war, Major A. A. Balaluev continued to serve in the Air Force .

He lived in Moscow . August 9, 1946 died in the line of duty. He was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery in Moscow (station 25).

• Gold Star Medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union (No. 7974)
• The order of Lenin
• Three Orders of the Red Banner
• Medals

• In the town of Kolchugino, Vladimir region , a street is named after him and a memorial plaque is installed.

• Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. College I. Shkadov . - Moscow : Military Publishing , 1987. - T. 1 / Abaev - Lyubichev /. - 911 s. - 100 000 copies - ISBN SEC., Reg. Number in the PSC 87-95382.

• Balaluev, Alexey Andreevich (Rus.) . The site " Heroes of the country ." (Checked October 27, 2011)