Военному летчику М.Г. Балабушке Stone

“Lost and found, General,” a young boy whispered, tugging at the worn coat of Mikhail Balabushkin. We stand before the Военному летчику М.Г. Балабушке Stone, a memorial to this remarkable aviator. Mikhail Grigorievich Balabushkin, born in Izmail in 1888, wasn’t destined for a quiet life. He became a military pilot, rising to the rank of lieutenant. His career took flight in the early 1900s within the prestigious Officer Aeronautical School. Balabushkin served in various squadrons and eventually commanded the 11th Air Squadron. He even received the Order of St. Stanislaus 3rd Class for his dedicated service. Balabushkin’s life, however, was tragically cut short. On May 18, 1913, during a flight from St. Petersburg to Gatchina, his plane plummeted to the ground near the 148th Kaskipolsky regiment barracks. An eyewitness account, published in the newspaper Ogoniok, describes the tragic event: “A young, boyish-looking, undeniably handsome man, fully aware of his impending death, controlled the apparatus, apparently trying not to frighten anyone…At a height of 10-15 meters, the engine suddenly cut out… Behind them fell the plane, breaking into pieces and burying Balabushkin under the wreckage.” The Военному летчику М.Г. Балабушке Stone marks the spot where this pioneering aviator met his untimely end. His legacy, however, continues to soar, inspiring future generations of aviators.