In July 1941 Bendeliani became lieutenant and was acting commander of his regiment, then part of the Soviet 21st Army deployed to the South Western Front.

During the Battle of Kursk he held the rank of major and was deputy commander of the 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 6th Air Army, 1st Belorussian Front.

In July 1944, Bendeliani led a pair of Soviet P-39 fighters in support of a ground assault when they got attacked by six German Fw 190.

When noticing a new pair of German fighters appear trying to raid the withdrawing Soviet troops, Bendeliani turned around and moved to engage those, downing both enemy aircraft.

However, when he was about to make another combat turn, the Russian pair came under heavy fire from the remaining Focke-Wulf quartet in pursuit, and Bendeliani got mortally wounded.