Andrey Andreevich Kalachikov was born on November 17, 1907 in Semipalatinsk in the family of a carpenter. After graduating from school he went to Orenburg, where he studied at the College of Industry and Economics. After graduating from the technical school he entered the Leningrad Higher Technical Pilot School and graduated in April 1928. He was sent to the Higher Flight School in Orenburg, where he graduated with distinction in 1929 and worked as a flight instructor at the school. In 1938 he fought in Spain in the international brigade. On 23 February 1939 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the outstanding performance of his duties in Spain. After the war he received a commemorative medal from Spain for his participation in Spanish events. During the Great Patriotic War he commanded a regiment consisting mainly of PE -2 dive bombers. He ended the war with the rank of Colonel of the Guard, Commander of the 127th Guard Bomber Flying Regiment Borisov. For military awards and impeccable service in the Soviet Armed Forces he received the Order of Lenin, four orders with the red banner, the Suvorov Order of the 3rd grade., the Order of the Patriotic War of the 2nd grade, the Order with the red star; the medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad", "For the Defense of the Caucasus", "For the capture of Koenigsberg", "For the victory over Germany"; the commemorative medal for participation in Spanish events and two commemorative medals. The last years of his retired life, Andrey Andreevich, lived in Volsk in the Saratov region, where he died on 22 January 1980. His wife gave all his military awards to the Museum of Local History in Wolsk.