Air power theory alexander seversky

Tank buster plane
Seversky aircraft
Alexander procofieff de seversky

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ALEXANDER DE SEVERSKY

"The Roman Empire at the apex of its glory flourished in the era of land power. The British Empire flourished in the age of sea power. Thus our United States, in the epoch of airpower, will flourish only on the basis of matchless airpower. Every American – man, woman and child – must be an airman in his heart."
– Alexander DeSeversky

Facts:

-Born in Tifflis, Russia in 1894, grew up near St. Petersburg. His father was a wealthy poet and actor with an interest in mechanical things.

-Attended the Imperial Naval Academy of Russia, graduating in 1914.

-Became a Russian Naval Aviator during World War I, lost a leg in combat, went on to destroying 13 German aircraft (while flying with an artificial leg). He was the leading Russian Naval Ace of World War I and he won Russia’s highest military honors.

-Appointed to a Russian Aviation Commission and was sent to the U. S. in 1918. Due to the Russian Revolution which occurred while he was here, he decided to stay. During this transitional period he briefly operated

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ALEXANDER Prokofieff DE SEVERSKY

Born: June 7, 1894 In: Triflis, Russia (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Died: August 24, 1974 In: New York City, NY

After acquiring an aeronautical engineering degree, Alexander Prokofieff de Seversky was commissioned a lieutenant in the Imperial Navy of Russia in 1915. On his first combat mission he lost his right leg. Less than a year later he was back in the air, flying 57 missions, and downing 13 German aircraft to become Russia’s top Naval Ace.

In 1917 de Seversky came to the USA, offering his services to the War Dept, making outstanding contributions to our production of the British-designed SE-5 fighter and serving as a test pilot. In 1921 he and General Billy Mitchell worked together staging the bombing tests that graphically demonstrated the vulnerability of battleships to airplanes. Then, following his invention of the in-flight refueling method, he worked with the Sperry Gyroscope Co, to produce a gyro-stabilized bombsight in 19

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With all the activities going on lately about World War II aircraft, I’d like to tell the story of Russian naval pilot Alexander de Seversky, that country’s top naval ace in World War I, who later became one of the most influential proponents of the use of strategic air power in warfare — and Disney film star — in the United States. De Seversky was born in Triflis, Russia on June 7, 1894, to an aristocratic family. He learned how to fly by age 14 from his father who owned one of the first airplanes in Russia. De Seversky earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Imperial Russian Naval Academy in 1914 — at the outbreak of World War I — and became a second lieutenant in the Imperial Naval Air Service the following year.

The first time de Seversky saw combat, he was shot down, losing his lower right leg in the process, but due to his grit and determination he was flying once again a year later, assigned to the Baltic fleet. His luck greatly improved, and during 57 missions de Seversky downed 13 German fighters, making him Russia’s top naval ace. He was awarde