Ivan Alexandrovitch Orlov

"le Héros" descendu en 1917

Orlov, Ivan Aleksandrovich (6.I.1895+17.VI.1917). Nephew of General Bezobrazov. His father Major-General A. A. Orlov (d.1908) was an intimate friend of both the Emperor Nicholas II and the Empress Aleksandra. Educated in the Imperial Alexander Lyceum, from which he left before graduation to enter the School of Aviation. Promoted to Pilot. Volunteer (VII.1914), awarded all four soldier's St George Crosses for his exploits as a pilot, promoted to Ensign (1915), awarded the Order of St George, 4th Class (1915), promoted to 2nd Lieutenant (1915), awarded the Croix de Guerre for shooting down German planes while flying in France in January and February 1917, C.O. of Flying Squadron (1917). Killed in action.

I.A. Orlov. On June 17th, at 8 p.m. before the start of our offensive on the Austrian front, one of our eminent pilot, Second Lieutenant Ivan Alexandrovitch Orlov, died a heroic death going on a reconnaissance mission. I.A. Orlov was met by four enemy fighters; in this uneven battle he forced one of them to land, unfortunately not within our lines, was himself wounded in the neck, and while starting to go down our positions, he crashed as a result of a dammage in both wings and was killed.

When he still was a junior student of the " Alexandrovsky Lycee " , I. A. Orlov was already interested in aviation. After leaving this institution from the senior class he entered the School of Aviation and finished it with the rank of pilot.

At the declaration of war, I.A. Orlov engaged as a volunteer and as a fighting pilot obtained all the four grades of the St. George Cross for his extremely daring flights.

In 1915 he was promoted Enseign and later Second lieutenant and received the St. George Cross for officers.

I.A. Orlov took part in fights on our front as well as on the French, where he shot down two German planes in January and February of this year, for which he received the " Croix de Guerre ". Of late, on the Galician front, I.A. Orlov was made commander of a Fighter Squadron.

It is curious to note that on the day of his death, on June 17th, he went out five times and from June 1st to June 17th his record was 76 flying hours.

I.A. Orlov was only 22 years old.

" The Hero " (pilot Orlov ) ...

" A mere boy. Young, brave, not knowing obstacles, always ready for a feat without conscious of it, never boasting, gay and lively and at the same time faithful to his duty. Such have I always known the pilot Orlov.

A belated telegram, not even from the Headquarters, but a private one, annoucess his death.

While on a reconnaissance flight, he met four enemy fighters, took up the uneven fight, was wounded, tried to land, but the wings of his plane broke and together with his bird he fell down and was killed. That day Orlov went out five times. This was not something unusual for him. I remember him in the battle of Lodz. It was only possible to meet him in the evening at the café where all the assieged in lodz gathered. Some even joked that Orlov came down to earth only during the night. Often he was seen in company of Poiret, and the frenchman never failed to praise his youg colleague. Orlov never spoke about himself, he didn't like it.

He received his first St. George Cross for the battle of Warsaw, whereupon military successes quickly followed. For some time luck was with him. Following the four soldier's crosses, the white officer's cross and a French Order appeared (Croix de Guerre) on his chest. From a volunteer he was promoted to enseign and second lieutenant. He couldn't get any more and nevertheless he didn't leave his post and continued to fly not because he was obliged, but because he wanted it. Lately he was made commander of a Fighter's Squadron.

This is the second heavy loss for the Russian Aviation in a short time. Kreiton (Crichton) perished, Orlov crashed to death.

When the war will be over, the chronicles will tell the deeds of these exceptional Russian men, brave, selfdenial, for who their coutry was more precious than their own lives.. They will be called the Heros of the Great War. If sometime we get a national school and really good teatchers who will educate our children in view of making good citizens for our country, they will tell them about the brave youth Ivan Orlov, as Tolstoy wrote about Petya Rostov " .

Al. Ksyunin.