On January 14, Danis Shakirov, Head of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of the Tatars and Deputy of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, laid flowers at the monument to Musa Gareev during a working visit to the Republic of Bashkortostan.

As part of his visit on January 14-15, he is also scheduled to meet with representatives of local Tatar organizations.

Musa Gareev was born on July 9, 1922, in the village of Ilyakshide, Ilishevsky District, in the Bashkir ASSR. After completing seven grades at a rural school, he enrolled at the Ufa Railway Technical School while simultaneously attending an aeroclub. A talented young man, Gareev quickly attracted the attention of experienced instructors. After graduating from the aeroclub at the end of 1940, the 18-year-old Komsomol member became a cadet at the Engels Military Aviation School.

During World War II, Musa Gareev served in ground-attack aviation, piloting an IL-2 aircraft. Together with his comrades, he bombed and attacked enemy airfields, fortifications, tank columns, railway junctions, naval transports, artillery and mortar batteries, and enemy manpower. For his courage and heroism in battles against the Nazi invaders, the skilled pilot received numerous government awards. Starting the war in Stalingrad as a sergeant, he ended it in Germany as a major, a regiment navigator, and a Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

For his exceptional bravery and skill during 207 successful combat missions in which he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy’s personnel and equipment, Major Musa Gareev was awarded a second “Gold Star” medal. Among the 153 Twice Heroes of the Soviet Union, only three—including Gareev—received their second medal within less than two months.
Over the course of the war, he completed approximately 250 combat sorties. Musa Gareev played a historic role in the conclusion of the war by participating in the Victory Parade in Moscow on June 24, 1945.

After being discharged from active service, Musa Gareev spent many years as Chairman of the Bashkir Regional Committee of DOSAAF (Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Fleet). Under his leadership, DOSAAF in Bashkortostan flourished, rising from 48th to 2nd place nationwide in overall performance. For his contributions to preparing youth for military service, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

At the age of 65, after a prolonged illness, Musa Gaisinovich Gareev passed away. He was buried in Victory Park in Ufa.