Anatoly Konstantinov

Anatoly Ustinovich Konstantinov (; 12 June 1923 – 22 October 2006) was a senior military officer who served as commander of the Moscow Air Defence District from 1980 to 1987. During World War II, he was a fighter pilot and a flying ace for which he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Early life Konstantinov was born in 1923 into a working-class family of Russian ethnicity. He graduated from nine classes of high school and later joined a flying club.

Military career In 1940, he was called up for military service on a Komsomol ticket to the Red Army. He graduated from the Tbilisi Military Aviation School of Pilots in 1941 and was assigned to 8th Reserve Fighter Aviation Regiment near Saratov.

By February 1945, he flew 294 sorties and took part in 90 air battles, where he personally shot down 19 enemy aircraft. For these exploits, he was presented for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The corresponding decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was signed only on 15 May 1946.

Post war After the war, he served as commander of an aviation squadron and deputy commander of a fighter aviation regiment. From November 1952, he commanded a fighter aviation regiment and from February 1956, he was appointed as deputy commander and from March 1957, commander of a fighter aviation division in the Air Force.

In April 1958, he was transferred to the Soviet Air Defence Forces, where he also became the commander of an aviation division. In 1964 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff and from 1968, he commanded an air defense corps.

Later life In the last years of his life, he served as an adviser to the commander of the Special Purpose Command of the Russian Air Force.

Konstantinov died on 22 October 2006, at the age of 83. He was buried at the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery.

Awards and decorations USSR and Russia Medal "For Distinction in Guarding the State Border of the USSR" jubilee medals Honorary citizen of Sevastopol

Foreign

Honorary citizen of Židlochovice (Czech Republic)