Pavel Vasilievich Rychagov (Russian: Павел Васильевич Рычагов; 2 January 1911 – 28 October 1941)[1] was the Commander of the Soviet Air Forces (VVS) for a brief time from 28 August 1940 to 14 April 1941.

[2] He was removed from that position shortly before Operation Barbarossa and the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, and was executed in a purge of the Red Army several months later.

[1] For five years, Rychagov was an ordinary fighter pilot, building up skills before becoming commander of an aviation squadron in Kiev Military District.

On 28 October 1936, Rychagov, leading a group of 15 Soviet pilots flying 25 Polikarpov I-15 aircraft, landed in Cartagena, Spain.

In December 1936 and January 1937 two more shipments of 30 Polikarpovs I-15s arrived in Spain, allowing the formation of a complete combat unit of four I-15 squadrons.

[1][2][3] Shortly before Operation Barbarossa, Rychagov was removed from the position of Commander of the Air Force as part of the purge of the Red Army in 1941, to be replaced by Pavel Zhigarev.

[3] Some other high-profile arrests made by the NKVD in 1941 included:[7] Rychagov was tortured and executed on 28 October 1941 along with his wife, air force Major Mariya Nesterenko.