Mark Shevelev

Mark Shevelev (Russian: Шевелёв, Марк Иванович) (October 11, 1904 – October 6, 1991) was a Soviet pilot during World War II and was one of founders and chief of staff of Soviet Long Range Aviation. Shevelev held the rank of lieutenant-general. He was a head of aviation department Aviaarktika of the Chief Directorate of the Northern Sea Route,Hero of the Soviet Union.

Mark Shevelev was born 11 (24) October 1904 in Saint Petersburg to Jewish parents. Shevelev joined Red Army in 1920 and participated in the Civil War. Joined Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik) in 1921. Graduated air transportation department of Leningrad Institute of transport in 1925.

Mark Shevelev joined nascent Soviet polar aviation in 1929. Since 1933 he headed aviation department of the Chief Directorate of the Northern Sea Route, Participated in 6 polar expeditions in 1929-1937. In 1937 he led the expedition to airlift North Pole-1 personnel and equipment to the North Pole. He had been awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title (36th awarded since the award had been created) for this expedition.

When Operation Barbarossa started, Mark Shevelev became deputy commander of air force division, then Chief of Staff of Soviet Long Range Aviation. Since Spring 1944 he commanded Soviet part of Northwest Staging Route.

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