BLAUBERGS, ALEKSANDRS

• Born: March 22, 1896 in St.Petersburg. Family was from Trikata (now Latvia)
• Completed business school in St.Petersburg
• Studied Economics at the St.Petersburg Polytechnical Institute
• 1917 - Graduated from the Baku Naval Aviation Academy
• Called into the Red Army. Rank: Corporal
• December 18, 1918 - Goes to Latvia and volunteers for the army, assigned to the Cavalry.
• Promoted to First Lieutenant.
• Distinguished himself in the fighting in Kurzeme, January 1919 (mentioned in Lacplesis Order citation)
• July 28, 1919 - Transfers to the Aviation Park.
• helps in organizing the unit, and personally also flew military sorties.
• After Bermont-Avalov was driven from Latvia, Blaubergs was a member of the special unit formed to seek out and collect useful aviation-related materials abandoned by the retreating Germans.
• 1919 - as one of the first students of the new flight school, Blaubergs completes a short flying refresher course.
• April, 1920 - As one of the more experienced fliers, he was assigned to the Latgale front.
• May, 1920 - a member of the panel investigating and reporting on Abrams' crash of April 25.
• May 19, 1920 - with his usuaul observer Ziverts, made the three-hour flight from Spilve to Rezekne in Aviatik 8205 #12.
• May 26, 1920 - Made a 3-hour recon flight around Sebeza, Drisa and Opochka in Aviatik #12.
• May 31, 1920 - Made a 20 minute test flight of Aviatik #12.
• June 14, 1920 - Made a 25 minute test flight of Aviatik #12
• July 5, 1920 - Made a 20 minute test flight of Aviatik #12
• July 17, 1920 - Made a 30 minute test flight of Aviatik #12
• July ?, 1920 - Flew Aviatik #12 from Rezekne to Riga (perhaps for repairs? It is clear from the record that this aircraft was giving him a great deal of mechanical trouble)
• July 28, 1920 - Flying Aviatik #12 back to Rezekne from Riga, he (and his observer, Rolfs Ziverts and passenger Zanis Rulle) fatally crashed and burned near Plavinas. Buried in Bralu Kapi.
• 1921 - posthumously awarded the Order of Lacplesis