During WWI, his family fled to Russia. First, to Pogoreloje Gorodisce, then Moscow, where he continued his primary schooling.
1918 - his family moves to Siberia.
July 1921 - the family returns to Latvia.
February, 1926 - joins the Aviation Regiment
April 23, 1926 - having completed his basic military training, he signs his military pledge.
Serves in the Aviation Regiment as a records clerk.
1933 - completes the "motorists" course
1934 - is offered an administrative position in the newly-founded Latvian Aero Club, but he declines as it would have
required him to leave the Regiment.
July 9, 1935 - makes his first solo flight, in a Flamingo, at Spilve.
September 1935 - assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron. Rank: sergeant
September 22, 1937 - crashed Martinsyde ADC.1 #66, near Carnikava.
August 21, 1938 - participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
Summer, 1938 - assigned Gloster Gladiator #166.
October, 1938 - still on the roster of the 2nd Fighter Squadron.
January, 1941 - (Soviet Occupation) - accepted as a pilot in the civil aviation service, flying ambulance aircraft.
July, 1941 - Sent to the Mineralnije Vodye for training on twin-engined aircraft, then assigned to Eastern Siberia.
Serves as a flight instructor in Siberia.
Assigned to the Soviet (latvian) night-bomber unit, flying U-2 biplanes.
Shot down by german anti-aircraft fire. His navigator dies and he is burned in the crash.
Captured by the Germans and returned to Riga for questioning.
Sent to a series of POW and work camps in Germany, from which he makes two unsuccessful escapes.
Liberated from the POW camp by the Americans. Given a choice to escape to the west but, after hearing that the Soviet Union has
pledged amnesty to Soviet military personnel released from POW camps, he decides to return.
After being questioned by Soviet authorities, he is permitted to return to Riga where he lives, with his family, for about two years.
November 27, 1948 - he is arrested and faces unfounded charges, essentially for being a surviving prisoner of the Germans.
February 5, 1949 - his is sentenced to 15 years labour in Siberia, along with the loss of his rank of Lieutenant.
December 8, 1954 - he is released from the camp in Siberia and returns to Riga.
