January 11

Born in 1901, Kwon Ki-ok left Korea to study aviation in Japan before joining the Republic of China Air Force. She became one of the first female military pilots in East Asia, flying reconnaissance and transport missions. After Korea's liberation, Kwon returned home and contributed to civilian aviation and pilot training. Her achievements broke gender barriers and inspired future generations of women aviators in Korea. She was honored for her service and pioneering spirit before passing away in 1988. Kwon remains a symbol of courage and determination in Korean aviation history.

Lev Dyomin was a Soviet Air Force colonel and cosmonaut. Born in Moscow in 1926, he served as a test pilot before being selected for the space program in 1967. On August 26, 1974, he commanded Soyuz 15 with the goal of docking at the Salyut 3 military space station. Although the docking system failed, the mission provided vital data for future long-duration flights. After his flight, Dyomin worked at the cosmonaut training center, training new crews. He authored memoirs and articles on aviation and space exploration. Dyomin died in 1998, leaving a legacy in early Soviet space achievements.