BALODIS, NIKOLAJS

• Born: February 13, 1899, in Riga
• June 13, 1919 - called into the Latvian army, assigned to the 8th Daugavpils infantry
• November 3, 1919 - Distinguished himself by leading an attack to take the German machine guns at a critical moment (Event mentioned in his Lacpelsis Order citation)
• 1920 - Enrolls in Military College
• 1921 - Graduates from Military College with the rank of Lieutenant, assigned to the 6th Riga Infantry
• 1924 - Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant
• 1926 - Transferred to the 7th Siguldas infantry
• 1927 - Receives the Order of Lacplesis
• August 28, 1928 - Promoted to the rank of Captain-Lieutenant
• Transfers to the Aviation Division
• July 10, 1930 - as a student, he experienced a bad landing and damaged Avro trainer #37.
• September 15, 1930 - when landing at Salaspils he crashed Udet Flamingo #86. Note: The Martinsyde book suggests that the aircraft crashed was actually ADC.1 #62.
• October 8, 1930 - Graduates from pilot training.
• 1931 - Graduates from flight school (Observer)
• May 28, 1933 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• Sept.9, 1934 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• 1935, March 13-14 - participates in the 2-day tour of Latgale, along with many other distinguished members of the Aviation Division.
• May 15, 1935 - The military is put on high alert for six months. After this period Balodis is singled out for appreciation for his role.
• September 8, 1935 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
• November 29, 1935 - has responsibility (along with vltn.K.Blaus) for the Aerodrome section of the Latvian Aero Club.
• 1936 - Designated commander of the 1st fighter squadron.
• April 6, 1936 - participated in the selection of Gloster Gladiators for the Latvian Air Force.
• June 22, 1936 - participated in the goodwill flight around Europe (utilizing the new Fairey Seals). He flew as a passenger in Aircraft #26 with Janis Grinbergs as pilot.
• June, 1937 - with Lt.A.Graudins he was sent to RAF Kenley in England, where they were attached to No.3 Squadron and received experience flying the Gladiator. Prior to this course, they had also completed a blind-flying course at CFS. By August the Gladiator training was completed and they had returned to Latvia.
• 1938 - After K.Springis accidentally lands in the Soviet Union he was returned to the Latvians at a border crossing. Balodis personally attended the transfer and reassured the pilot that all is well and they were glad to see him returned.
• September 11, 1938 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Jelgava.
• June 7, 1939 - As part of the Aviation Regiment's 20th anniversary, he is awarded the Viestura Order IV class (with swords).
• 1940 - Commander of the 1st Fighter Squadron (Riga)
• November 23, 1940 - (Soviet occupation) he is relieved from military duty (Rank of Captain)
• June 14, 1941 - Arrested and deported to Russia (Usollaga Solikamska)
• Charged with having participated in the war (1919) vs. the Red Army.
• His family is also deported.
• December 19, 1941 - Dies (of heart failure) in Usollaga Surmoga, Siberia.