Solemn event launched in Defense Ministry dedicated to Nelson Stepanyan's 100th anniversary

YEREVAN, AMRCH 29, ARMENRPESS. On March 29 the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan attended the solemn event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the twice hero of the Soviet Union Nelson Stepanyan.

As reports "Armenpress" the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan stated that Nelson Stepanyan is a legend and it’s impossible to introduce his life without excitement. Among other things Seyran Ohanyan noted: "A row of peculiarities should be mentioned while characterizing him. He was a brave and courageous, the quantitative advantage and new weaponry of the rival meant nothing to him."

At the course of the event Seyran Ohanyan awarded a number of World War II veterans. Artsakh hero, writer and publicist Zori Balayan introduced interesting details from Nelson Stepanyan's life and activity to the attendees.

Nelson Gevorgi Stepanyan was an Armenian dive bomber pilot during the second World War in the Red Air Force. He was twice awarded with the military title of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the highest title in the former USSR. Stepanyan was teaching at another military flight academy when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. He volunteered for combat and participated in a multitude of aerial battles as a pilot of an Ilyushin Il-2 fighter bomber. He defended the skies over Leningrad while he was a member of the 2nd Air Squadron, 8th Air Brigade, 57th Division. As of November 1942, Stepanyan was reported to having destroyed 78 German trucks, 67 tanks, 63 anti-aircraft guns, nineteen mortars, 36 railroad cars, twenty merchantmen and warships (including a destroyer), thirteen fuel tankers, twelve armored cars, seven long-range guns, five ammunition dumps, five bridges.