Background
SPIRIN, Ivan was born on August 28, 1898 in Kolomna. Son of a dairyworker.
SPIRIN, Ivan was born on August 28, 1898 in Kolomna. Son of a dairyworker.
Worked as railroad repair-manitoba 1918 volunteered for Red Army. 1919 qualified as pilot.
Pioneered flight navigation systems in Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. 1927 flew in Great European Air Race. 1929 helped to find missing American aircrew in Arctic.
1930 took part in several recordbreaking long-distance flights in Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. 1931 took part in Moscow-Ankara-Teheran-Kabul-Moscow flight. In same year, together with Gromov, set up endurance flight record of 75 hours during which he covered 12,411 kilometers without landing.
1937 was navigator on Moscow-North Pole flight. During VVW 2 commanded an air force unit on active duty. 1955 retired on pension.
Also taught and did research work and held a chair at a higher educational establishment.
Communist Party member from 1920.