Vladimir Seryogin

Vladimir Sergeyevich Seryogin (in Russian, Владимир Сергеевич Серёгин, Moscow July 7, 1922 – March 27, 1968) was a Soviet test pilot.

Vladimir Seryogin became a volunteer of the Red Army after grammar school. His flying abilities recognized, he was directed to piloting. His performance on the "Eastern Front" of the 2nd World War resulted in his being awarded several medals amongst which a Hero of the Soviet union medal and a Lenin award.

After conclusion of the war Seryogin remained in the Soviet Air Force. After completing an engineering course, he went on to work as a test pilot for the Soviet Air Force Test Institute. Also, Seryogin was the commanding officer of the Cosmonauts' Flight Preparation organization.

On 27 March 1968, while on a routine training flight from Chkalovsky Air Base with his colleague and friend Yuri Gagarin -- the first man ever to have reached space -- the MiG-15UTI they were piloting crashed near the town of Kirzhach. Both pilots were killed in the crash; their bodies were subsequently cremated and the ashes were buried in the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square.