| Farrukh agha Gayibov | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 2, 1891 Girag Salahli, Qazax, Azerbaijan |
| Died | September 12, 1916 (aged 24) Belostok-Grodno Oblast, Boruni |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire |
| Service/branch | Imperial Russian Air Force, Artillery |
| Years of service | 1913—1916 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Commands held | 39th artillery brigade of the 1st Caucasian Army Corps, Airships' squadron of the Western Front |
| Awards | Order of St. George, Order of St. Anna, Order of Saint Stanislaus |
| Relations | Ali-Agha Shikhlinski, Nigar Shikhlinskaya |
Farrukh-agha Mammad Kerim-agha oglu Gayibov Azerbaijani: Fərrux ağa Məmmədkərim ağa oğlu Qayıbov (October 2, 1891—September 12, 1916) – Russian pilot with Azerbaijani origin, participant of World War I. He is considered the first Azerbaijani pilot.
Contents |
Farrukh’s father-Mammad Kerim-agha, worked as cadet in the 4th platoon of Muslims (Azerbaijanis) of Life Guards of the Caucasian squadron of His Imperial Majesty's Own Convoy Guard, in 70’s of the XIX century. After the completion of military service on July 27, 1877, he was transferred to warrant officer of militia. In subsequent years, Mammad Kerim agha worked as head of the court in Kazakhsky Uyezd (administrative unit)of Elisabethpol Governorate, police officer at the police office in Dzhevanshirsky Uyezd of Elisabethpol Governorate. On August 30, 1894, Mammad Kerim agha was awarded the Third Class Order of Saint Stanislaus for the excellent military service[1].
Farrukh agha Gayibov was born on October 2, 1891, in Girag Salahly village of Kazakhsky Uyezd. He lost his father earlier. He was brought up by his uncle from father’s side, prominent enlightener and public figure Samad agha Gayibov. Farukh agha studied five years at Russian-Azerbaijan school in his native village, and then he continued his education at Tbilisi Cadet Corps according to Ali-Agha Shikhlinski’s advice[2]. After the graduation on June 16, 1910, with an excellent assessment, he entered Konstantinovskiy Artillery School. He was distinguished for faultless eye, courage, skillful conduct of gun firing. There Farrukh agha got his first prize-golden watch of the Swiss company “Pavel Bure”. Graduating from Artillery School of the first rank, he became the second lieutenant and was transferred to the second artillery battalion of the 39th artillery brigade of the 1st Caucasian Army Corps of Jelaus tract, where he was assigned as the junior officer of the 4th battery[3].
Farrukh agha met World War I at the Caucasus Campaign. On August 31, 1915, he become the lieutenant. On February 3, 1916, lieutenant Gayibov was sent to the Western Front and attached to the squadron of airships. On May 21, he was assigned as artillery officer of ”Ilya Muromets № 16” airship, which was constructed by I.I.Sikorsky in Saint Petersburg, in Russo-Balt factory.
On the eve of the war, Russia had the numerous air fleet among belligerent powers: 244 airplanes of 39 squadrons[4]. By the beginning of the hostilities, there were 221 pilots, 170 officers, 35 lower rank officers and 16 volunteers in Russian air fleet.
Initial period of the war revealed bad organization in the procurement of detachments and companies with petrol, castor oil, spares, tents and with other aviation properties. Airplanes and motors rapidly wrecked in dry field circumstances, especially with coming of inclement weather, when there was scarcity of tents and moveable hangars, usage of areas of little avail for airdromes. After the first months of the war, many squadrons had to be taken to home front for provision of new systems with airplanes and for retraining of pilots.
Gayibov accomplished combat fights on the crew of ”Ilya Muromets № 16” airship, and damaged camps, storehouses, communications and stations of enemies.
On September 12, 1916, a raid to the front of enemy was accomplished under the command of colonel Brant’s General Staff, with air squadron, where were two airplanes like “Ilya Muromets” and 13 instruments. The aim of the raid was Borun on 12 versts from the front of enemy and a nearest district, where, according to information, were settled: staff of German division, junction of narrow gauge railway with artillery and quartermaster’s storehouses and airdrome[5].
Squadron, penetrated into Krevo, through fire support of the enemy, dropped bombs weighing 100 poods forcing the enemy back.
On November 8, 1915, Farrukh agha Gaibov was awarded the Third Class Order of Saint Stanislaus with swords and bow, but on December 14, the Fourth Class Order of St. Anna with “For Bravery” legend on it. In 1916, he was awarded the Second Class Order of Saint Stanislaus with swords. On January 26, 1917, F. Gayibov was awarded the Second Class Order of St. Anna with swords (posthumously). On March 14, was awarded the Third Class Order of St. Anna, but on March 25, lieutenant of 39th artillery brigade, died in the air battle with his enemy, Farrukh agha Gayibov was awarded was posthumously awarded the Fourth Class Order of St. George.
On September 18, 1916, “Petrogradskiye izvestiya” newspaper wrote: “General headquarters report that, our airplane invaded enemy’s rear in the Western front in Borun-Krevo district. Various posts were exploded by accurate bomb attacks, storehouses of the enemy were fired. Transportation facilities, railway stations and automobiles were also destroyed. Farrukh agha Gayibov and his team entered the battle with the enemy and destroyed four German airplanes. After firing two “Albatros” airplanes, they fell into enemy’s territory and perished.”
By tradition of pilots, a note had been thrown down from German airplane and it’s reported that, Germans buried the crew of the airplane with military honours[6][7].
Recently, cemetery of destroyed airplane’s crew found out in renewed German cemetery in Borun village. Apparently, Russian pilots were reburied in this cemetery in 30’s of the XX century, when Polish government provided ordering of German military burials, with the participation Germans. These words were written on gravestone cross in Polish: «4 NIEZNANYCH ROS.LOTN.25.16», which means: “4 unknown Russian pilots were buried 25.16”. Date was written according to European calendar. Month of burial was missed in the inscription, but it wasn’t written on other gravestone crosses, too. There repose heroes-pilots:
•Lieutenant Maksheev Dmitri Dmitriyevich;
•Lieutenant Rakhlin Mitrofan Alekseyevich;
•Lieutenant Gayibov Farrukh;
•Lieutenant Karpov Oleg Sergryevich.
In 1971, Pavel Kutakhov-Chief Aviation Marshall was elected as deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union from Gazakh-Tovuz electoral district. After archival checkup and adjustments Pavel Kutakhov sent the hero to his motherland for arrangement of the Mig-15 fighter as a monument, with a memorial plate: “In memory of the first Azerbaijani pilot-Farrukh agha Gayibov”. Later, the table was changed to: “In memory of killed in the Great Patriotic War”.