PULINS, NIKOLAJS

• Born: September 14, 1901, in Talsis
• Attended business school
• 1917 - voluntarily joined the Russian military, in a cavalry batallion
• Oct.5, 1917 - is wounded in battle and captured by the Germans. He escapes from the POW camp on four occasions, but was unable to evade recapture.
• Nov.25, 1918 - released from captivity, returns to Riga, Latvia.
• Dec. 3, 1918 - voluntarily joined the Latvian army and participated in battles in Kurzeme, Zemgale and near Riga.
• February 7, 1919 - Distinguished himself in action vs the enemy near Skrunda.
• Assigned to the 2nd Ventspils Infantry
• Assigned to the technical section of the Aviation Division.
• During the Bermont-Avalov battles he serves with the 9th Rezeknes Infantry, in a heavy machine gun unit.
• August 1919 - assigned to the 2nd Squadron as a mechanic. Rank: Corporal.
• March 10, 1920 - released from the military.
• 1923 - builds the first "Spridite" biplane
• 1925 - accepted into military flight school.
• 1926 - Awarded the Order of Lacplesis
• 1926 - Graduates from flight school as a qualified pilot.
• 1926 - Completes the "Ikars 3A" two-seater.
• November 1926 - reportedly receives a lucrative job offer from an aircraft manufacturer in Estonia, which he declines.
• Pulins also acquired his civilian pilot's license - the first issued in Latvia (with license # 0001).
• 1928 - completes the first privately-constructed hangar in Latvia.
• Died: March 23, 1979 in Sweden.

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