Two-time Soviet Air Force commander who led its transformation into the jet and nuclear age
At Kuban, Vershinin massed aviation on the decisive axis against prevailing doctrine — the ace Pokryshkin called his fighter conferences 'unheard of in the first two years of war.'
A military commander who served two terms as C-in-C of the Soviet Air Forces (1946–1949, 1957–1969), reshaping Soviet air power into a jet and nuclear-capable strategic arm. Born into a peasant family, he joined the Red Army in 1919, fought in the Civil War, and was transferred to aviation in 1930. In the Great Patriotic War he commanded the 4th Air Army, pioneering the massing of frontline aviation on the decisive axis during the Kuban air battles and winning the title Hero of the Soviet Union for the Belorussian offensive. After the war he led the Air Force's transition to jets and created its first nuclear bomber unit, was abruptly demoted in 1949, then restored by Khrushchev in 1957, completing the build-up of Soviet strategic aviation before retiring in 1969.
Career Timeline
- 1941–1942Commander, Air Forces of the Southern Front
- 1942–1943Commander, 4th Air Army
- 1943Commander, Air Forces of the North Caucasus Front
- 1943–1945Commander, 4th Air Army (second term)
- 1946–1949C-in-C of the Soviet Air Forces · Dep. Minister of Defence
- 1953–1954Commander, PVO Forces of the USSR
- 1957–1969C-in-C of the Soviet Air Forces · Dep. Minister of Defence (second term)
- 1969–1973Inspector, Group of Inspectors General, Ministry of Defence