Viktor Ivanovich Bogdanov was born on January 17, 1918, in the city of Soltsy, now in the Novgorod region, into a working-class family. He completed two courses at the Leningrad Mechanical Technical School and joined the Red Army in 1936. He graduated from the Engels Military Aviation School for Pilots in 1940, after which he worked at the aeroclub in Chernogorsk, Khakass Autonomous Region.
World War II Service
He joined the active army in February 1943. As a squadron navigator of the 828th Attack Aviation Regiment, part of the 260th Attack Aviation Division, and assigned to the 4th Air Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front, Captain Bogdanov completed 102 combat missions during the war.
In these missions, he destroyed 40 vehicles, 36 carts with cargo and military equipment, and 4 tanks. He also eliminated several self-propelled guns and armored vehicles, 2 tractors with trailers, 5 German-occupied houses, and 4 aircraft on the ground. On May 4, 1945, during a bombing raid on a railway echelon, V. I. Bogdanov saved his squadron commander by covering his aircraft with his own in an aerial battle against enemy fighters.
Decorations and Legacy
For his heroic actions, Captain Bogdanov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on August 18, 1945. He was a participant in the Victory Parade held on June 24, 1945, in Moscow. After the war, he continued to serve in the Soviet Air Force and was awarded the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, and the Orders of the Patriotic War I and II degrees.
Tragically, Viktor Ivanovich Bogdanov died on April 7, 1948, in an aviation accident while testing new equipment, successfully preventing the faulty machine from falling on a city. He was buried in Kutaisi, Georgia, and a street in his hometown of Soltsy is named after him in honor of his sacrifice.