De Seversky, Alexander Prokofieff (1894-1974)

Georgian-born US aeroplane manufacturer. After a distinguished flying career for the Russian side in World War I, he served at the Russian embassy in Washington. He decided to stay in the USA and founded a company manufacturing aeroplane bombsights and landing gear.

He was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. During World War I, he flew more than 50 combat missions after he had lost a leg. He was assistant naval attaché at the Russian embassy in Washington. His decision to stay in the USA followed events in the Russian Revolution. He founded Seversky Aero Corporation, which became Republic Aviation. He became a naturalized US citizen and wrote Victory Through Air Power (1942), which was controversial at the time for arguing that the Allies could win World War II primarily through air superiority.