Matveev, Alexander Vasilievich (Hero of the Soviet Union)

Alexander Matveev was born on November 1, 1921 in the village of Zimenki (now the Vachsky District of the Nizhny Novgorod Region ). After graduating from high school, he lived in Dzerzhinsk , worked as an accountant. In parallel with work, he was engaged in a flying club. In August 1940, Matveev was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . In the same year he graduated from the Engels Military Aviation Pilot School. Since May 1942 - on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. In 1943 he was wounded in aerial combat ^[1] .

By November 1943, Lieutenant Alexander Matveyev commanded the squadron of the 241st assault air regiment of the 291st assault air division of the 2nd Air Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front . By that time, he had made 100 sorties to attack and bombard accumulations of military equipment and manpower, inflicting heavy losses on him ^[1] .

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 4, 1944, for “exemplary execution of the combat missions of command on the front of the struggle against Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time”, Lieutenant Alexander Matveev was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the medal “ Golden Star ” under number 3188 ^[1] .

After the war, Matveev continued to serve in the Soviet Army. In 1952, he graduated from the Higher Air Force Tactical Courses. In 1957, with the rank of Colonel Matveyev, he was sacked. He lived and worked first in Dzherzhinsk, then in Odessa . He died on August 7, 1982 ^[1] .

He was also awarded two orders of the Red Banner , orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st and 2nd degrees, the Red Star , a number of medals ^[1] .

• Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1988. - T. 2 / Love - Yashchuk /. - 863 s. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-203-00536-2 .
• Tulnikov L.K., Basovich Ya. I. Heroes of the Soviet Union - Gorky. Gorky, 1981.