Endel Puusepp was born into a family of Estonian peasants who had settled in Yeniseysk Governorate, Siberia, during the Stolypin land reform. Ever since early childhood, Puusepp dreamed of becoming a pilot. His parents, however, envisaged a different career for him: either a teacher or an agronomist. Having completed 7 grades of school, Puusepp moved to Leningrad to study at the Estonian-Finnish Teachers' College.[1]
Aviation career
After completing one year of studies at the teacher's college, Puusepp transferred to a pilot's school, first in Volsk and later in Orenburg. He stayed at the latter as a flight instructor, having graduated. He was later transferred to a newly formed squadron specializing in instrument and night flying.[1]
Polar aviation
By 1938, Puusepp was an established pilot, proficient in instrument flying. Even earlier, he participated in the operation to locate the plane of Sigizmund Levanevsky, which disappeared in the Arctic.[3] The North captivated Puusepp so much that he decided to stay and work there. He flew to the ice station North Pole-1 on several occasions and visited other Soviet Arctic stations. He was also involved in creating optimal routes for ships and in observing the movements of ice. While on one of these missions over the Kara Sea, Puusepp learned about the onset of the Operation Barbarossa. Having landed, Puusepp requested a transfer to the front line.
World War II
Puusepp (left) on the cover of the Ogonyok magazine.
On August 8, 1941, under the command of Mikhail Vodopianov, Puusepp participated in his first bombing mission. After a successful air raid on Berlin, his airplane was heavily damaged by anti-aircraft artillery and resulting in an emergency landing in Estonia, then occupied by the Nazis. Upon exiting the plane, the crew encountered a frightened shepherd boy. Puusepp, who did not forget his native Estonian was able to find out the location of the Nazi troops from him and avoid being captured, safely returning to Soviet-controlled territory.[4] By April 1942, Puusepp completed 30 nighttime strategic bombing missions against Berlin, Danzig, and Königsberg.
Soviet heavy bomber Petlyakov Pe-8.
By that time, the Soviet Union was involved in negotiations with the Allies concerning the opening of the Western front. It was decided to send a Soviet delegation headed by the Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, first to Great Britain and then to the United States. Puusepp was chosen to be the pilot for this unprecedented and highly risky operation, involving flying over the front line and enemy-controlled territories. On May 29, 1942, after stopping in Tealing, Prestwick, Reykjavík, and Goose Bay, the Petlyakov Pe-8 plane with the Soviet delegation on board landed in Washington.[2] Returning home was even more perilous. Puusepp feared the Nazis were aware of the completed negotiations, and would intend to intercept the delegation on its way back. A ruse was employed involving reports published by the Soviet press, announcing the successful return of the Soviet delegation.[2] It was only after this act of disinformation that the airplane set course for Moscow. For successful completion of the mission, Puusepp was given the honorary title Hero of the Soviet Union.[5]
He continued strategic bombing missions in Stalingrad, Kursk, Oryol, and Belgorod. During one of the missions, Puusepp sustained a shrapnel injury of his spine and had to undergo 5 surgeries. He never fully recovered and retired from the Soviet Air Force in 1946 at the rank of colonel.[3]
Later years
After the war, Puusepp moved to Tallinn, where he was appointed head of the Central Board of Road Transport of the Estonian SSR. In 1950, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR and later worked as Minister of Social Insurance of the republic.[6]
Endel Puusepp died on 18 June 1996. He is buried at the Metsakalmistu cemetery in Tallinn.[3]
References
^ abc (in Russian). Krasnaya Zvezda. 2007-11-28. Archived from the original on 2008-03-17. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
^ abc (in Russian). Izvestiya. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
^ abc (in Russian). warheroes.ru. Archived from the original on 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
^У второго фронта был эстонский акцент (in Russian). Komsomolskaya Pravda. 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
^Указ Президиума Верховного Совета СССР «О присвоении звания Героя Советского Союза начальствующему составу Военно-воздушных сил Красной Армии» от 20 июня 1942 года // Ведомости Верховного Совета Союза Советских Социалистических Республик : газета. — 1942. — 30 июня (№ 24 (183)). — С. 1.
^Эндель Карлович Пусэп (in Russian). peoples.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
January 31, 2023
endel, puusepp, russian, Эндель, Карлович, Пусэп, 1909, june, 1996, soviet, bomber, pilot, estonian, origin, completed, over, nighttime, strategic, bombing, campaigns, during, world, recipient, hero, soviet, union, award, flying, high, ranking, delegation, ove. Endel Puusepp Russian Endel Karlovich Pusep 1 May 1909 18 June 1996 was a Soviet bomber pilot of Estonian origin who completed over 30 nighttime strategic bombing campaigns during World War II He was a recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union award for flying a high ranking delegation over the front line from Moscow to Washington D C and back to negotiate the opening of the Western Front 1 2 Endel PuuseppPodpolkovnik Endel Puusepp c 1942 Born1 May 1909Samovolny farm Yeniseysk Governorate Russian EmpireDied18 January 1996 1996 01 18 aged 86 Tallinn EstoniaAllegiance Soviet UnionService wbr branchSoviet Air ForceRankColonelAwardsHero of the Soviet Union Contents 1 Early life 2 Aviation career 2 1 Polar aviation 2 2 World War II 3 Later years 4 ReferencesEarly life Edit Endel s father Karl a recipient of the Cross of St George Endel Puusepp was born into a family of Estonian peasants who had settled in Yeniseysk Governorate Siberia during the Stolypin land reform Ever since early childhood Puusepp dreamed of becoming a pilot His parents however envisaged a different career for him either a teacher or an agronomist Having completed 7 grades of school Puusepp moved to Leningrad to study at the Estonian Finnish Teachers College 1 Aviation career EditAfter completing one year of studies at the teacher s college Puusepp transferred to a pilot s school first in Volsk and later in Orenburg He stayed at the latter as a flight instructor having graduated He was later transferred to a newly formed squadron specializing in instrument and night flying 1 Polar aviation Edit By 1938 Puusepp was an established pilot proficient in instrument flying Even earlier he participated in the operation to locate the plane of Sigizmund Levanevsky which disappeared in the Arctic 3 The North captivated Puusepp so much that he decided to stay and work there He flew to the ice station North Pole 1 on several occasions and visited other Soviet Arctic stations He was also involved in creating optimal routes for ships and in observing the movements of ice While on one of these missions over the Kara Sea Puusepp learned about the onset of the Operation Barbarossa Having landed Puusepp requested a transfer to the front line World War II Edit Puusepp left on the cover of the Ogonyok magazine On August 8 1941 under the command of Mikhail Vodopianov Puusepp participated in his first bombing mission After a successful air raid on Berlin his airplane was heavily damaged by anti aircraft artillery and resulting in an emergency landing in Estonia then occupied by the Nazis Upon exiting the plane the crew encountered a frightened shepherd boy Puusepp who did not forget his native Estonian was able to find out the location of the Nazi troops from him and avoid being captured safely returning to Soviet controlled territory 4 By April 1942 Puusepp completed 30 nighttime strategic bombing missions against Berlin Danzig and Konigsberg Soviet heavy bomber Petlyakov Pe 8 By that time the Soviet Union was involved in negotiations with the Allies concerning the opening of the Western front It was decided to send a Soviet delegation headed by the Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov first to Great Britain and then to the United States Puusepp was chosen to be the pilot for this unprecedented and highly risky operation involving flying over the front line and enemy controlled territories On May 29 1942 after stopping in Tealing Prestwick Reykjavik and Goose Bay the Petlyakov Pe 8 plane with the Soviet delegation on board landed in Washington 2 Returning home was even more perilous Puusepp feared the Nazis were aware of the completed negotiations and would intend to intercept the delegation on its way back A ruse was employed involving reports published by the Soviet press announcing the successful return of the Soviet delegation 2 It was only after this act of disinformation that the airplane set course for Moscow For successful completion of the mission Puusepp was given the honorary title Hero of the Soviet Union 5 He continued strategic bombing missions in Stalingrad Kursk Oryol and Belgorod During one of the missions Puusepp sustained a shrapnel injury of his spine and had to undergo 5 surgeries He never fully recovered and retired from the Soviet Air Force in 1946 at the rank of colonel 3 Later years EditAfter the war Puusepp moved to Tallinn where he was appointed head of the Central Board of Road Transport of the Estonian SSR In 1950 he was elected Vice Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR and later worked as Minister of Social Insurance of the republic 6 Endel Puusepp died on 18 June 1996 He is buried at the Metsakalmistu cemetery in Tallinn 3 References Edit a b c My pomnim tebya Endel Pusep in Russian Krasnaya Zvezda 2007 11 28 Archived from the original on 2008 03 17 Retrieved 2008 03 06 a b c Endel Pusep estonskij brat Bronzovogo soldata in Russian Izvestiya 2007 12 13 Archived from the original on 2008 03 06 Retrieved 2008 03 09 a b c Geroj Sovetskogo Soyuza Pusep Endel Karlovich in Russian warheroes ru Archived from the original on 2008 05 02 Retrieved 2008 03 09 U vtorogo fronta byl estonskij akcent in Russian Komsomolskaya Pravda 2007 05 31 Retrieved 2008 03 09 Ukaz Prezidiuma Verhovnogo Soveta SSSR O prisvoenii zvaniya Geroya Sovetskogo Soyuza nachalstvuyushemu sostavu Voenno vozdushnyh sil Krasnoj Armii ot 20 iyunya 1942 goda Vedomosti Verhovnogo Soveta Soyuza Sovetskih Socialisticheskih Respublik gazeta 1942 30 iyunya 24 183 S 1 Endel Karlovich Pusep in Russian peoples ru Retrieved 2008 03 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Endel Puusepp amp oldid 1113898125, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
