Sergei Safronov (fighter pilot)

Sergei Safronov
Born(1930-03-25)25 March 1930
Gus-Khrustalny, Ivanovo Industrial Oblast, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Died1 May 1960(1960-05-01) (aged 30)
Degtyarsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Soviet Union
BranchSoviet Air Defense Forces
Years of service1952–1960
RankSenior lieutenant
Unit764th Fighter Aviation Regiment
AwardsOrder of the Red Banner

Sergei Ivanovich Safronov (Russian: Серге́й Ива́нович Сафро́нов; 25 March 1930 – 1 May 1960) was a senior lieutenant and fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Safronov was shot down by a friendly surface-to-air missile after attempting to intercept Gary Powers' reconnaissance Lockheed U-2 near Sverdlovsk.