Grigoriy Suk

Grigoriy Suk , also known as Grigory Suk in English, was a Russian flying ace for the Imperial Russian Air Service during World War I. He held the rank of praporshik.

Early life and service Born the Estate near Moscow on 12 December 1896, Grigoriy Suk was of Czech and Russian heritage. His Russian mother, Ljubov Osipovna Sorokina, was the daughter of a well-known physician, as well as an alumnus of the Women's College of Mariinskoe. His Czech father, scientist Eduard Ivanovich Suk, was notable enough to be a hereditary honorary citizen of Moscow. His uncle, Vyacheslav Suk, conducted the orchestra at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Grigoriy Suk was raised in the Russian Orthodox faith.

Young Suk was educated at the Moscow Classical School, and passed on to the Moscow Imperial Practical Academy to study architecture.

The outbreak of World War I changed Suk's direction, as he enlisted in the Cuirassiers on 5 August 1914. He subsequently requested a transfer to aviation service, and was forwarded to the Gatchina Flying School on 5 June 1915. In July 1915 he began his aviation training with a class on aircraft engines.