Mikhail Safonov (pilot), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Mikhail Safonov (pilot)

Russian pilot

Date of Birth: 31-Oct-1893

Place of Birth: Ostrogozhsk, Russia

Date of Death: 01-Jan-1924

Profession: aircraft pilot

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Lieutenant Mikhail Ivanovich Safonov (13 November 1893 – May 1924) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
He began his naval service on 20 September 1909, when he entered Saint Peterburg's Imperial Russian Naval Academy.
When he applied for aviation training in September 1915, he was a professional sailor with six years naval training and seagoing service. On 1 December 1915, he soloed.
On 2 April 1916, he was classified as a naval pilot.
He was posted to pilot Grigorovich M-9 flying boats that mounted a Madsen machine gun.
After two aerial victories while piloting flying boats, with consequent decorations for valor, Safonov was appointed to command his Glagol Detachment on 14 July 1917.
He gained access to a Nieuport fighter, which he used for his third victory on 7 September 1917.
After a promotion to Senior Lieutenant on 25 October, he married while on a brief leave.
He returned to command the 2nd Fighter Detachment and score two more aerial victories with the Nieuport.
He was mustered out in March 1918. Safonov then became an itinerant aerial mercenary in the Finnish Civil War.
In 1919, he changed loyalties to join the White Russians.
After travelling with his wife through Persia and India, he joined Britain's Royal Air Force.
In May 1924, he was killed in a flying accident in China.