Arkady Ivanovich Apraksin

Arkady Ivanovich Apraksin was a Soviet national, recognized as one of the most highly decorated pilots in history for his World War II service, earning awards including the Red Star, Red Banner, and Patriotic War First Class. Post-war, he became a premier test pilot for the Soviet military, evaluating advanced aviation technology. On June 16, 1948, during a test flight, he encountered a 'cucumber-shaped' UFO approaching his aircraft; it vanished at 10 km distance, coinciding with his plane's failure, forcing an emergency landing. Accounts suggest he had multiple close UFO encounters, two resulting in crashes. Subsequently, he underwent evaluation, was deemed 'Group One Disabled,' and vanished from official records, with no confirmed birth/death dates or publications. His story emerged via UFO researchers Felix Zigel and Timothy Good from leaked Soviet files.