Participated in the battles for Independence as a member of the infantry.
1920 - transfers to the Aviation Park.
1920 - Attended aviation school, a member of the first graduating class.
June 14, 1920 - graduates as a qualified pilot.
August 20, 1921 - flying Hannover CL.III #21 he performs the first night
flight in Latvian aviation. With his observer, Ltn.Inselbergs, Sgt.Putnins
made a flight of 1 hour, 35 minutes from Petersfeld aerodrome.
Serves as a flight instructor for new military pilots. His name appears in R.Gulbis' log book as his first/primary instructor
in 1922.
Feb-March, 1923 - participant in the aviation maneouvres in Latgale,
flying Hannover CL.III #21 with Veinbergs as his observer.
1923 - When the SVA-10 aircraft are purchased, Putnins is one
of only three pilots initially permitted to fly these new aircraft
January 8, 1927 - promoted to the rank of administrative Lieutenant.
July 3, 1930 - with Col.Indans as passenger, Putnins completes an historic flight around the
borders of Latvia. They departed from Riga in a DH9A and, in stages, completed the flight in
a counter-clockwise direction. The total flight time was 9 hours, 35 minutes and covered a
distance of 1800 km.
May 31, 1931 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
June 5, 1932 - participated in the Spilve Aviation Festival. Flying a DH9A (with observer
Kadikis) he demonstrated ground attack and he also flew a DH9A (with observer Kaneps) in
the parade of aircraft.
May 28,1933 - participated in the Spilve Aviation Festival. Flying a DH9A (with observer
Lt.Kadikis) he demonstreated ground attack and he also flew a DH9A (with observer Lt.Birznieks) in
the parade of aircraft.
September 9, 1934 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
September 8, 1935 - participated in the Spilve Aviation Festival. Flying a Udet
Flamingo he demonstrated low-level leaflet drops, and he also flew a Letov S.16
in the parade of aircraft.
Recipient of the Order of the Three Stars.
As an aviator, survived a number of dangerous incidents. These included
an occasion where his longeron broke while in flight, a time when the fuel in
his engine caught fire during a flight, and another event where, searching for
Liepaja's aerodrome in heavy fog he crashed on the dunes.
He particularly specialized in high altitude flight, often making such flights
to gather data for the meteorological division and was known to fly above 7,000 metres
without benefit of bottled oxygen.
In his spare time, he took up other studies and was actually a qualified
military clerk, though he never did serve in this capacity.
Noting his piloting skill and legendary calm, slow demeanor, he
was assigned as an instructor at flight school. Rank: adm. Capt-Lieut.
Sources
- Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture
- Latvijas Kareivis May 30, 1931
- Latvijas Kareivis June 2, 1931
- Latvijas Kareivis, Sept.5, 1934
- Latvijas Kareivis, Sept.11, 1934
- Sparnota Latvija No.17, November 1935, pg. 470 - 472
- R.Gulbis' log book
