Semen A. Lavochkin, 51, rumpled, plodding builder of the LA series of Red fighters (the initials, as in all Russian planes, come from the designer's name). Son of a rabbi, he learned his trade for ten years, got his big chance after the late '30s purges, finally hit pay dirt in 1943 with his light, highly maneuverable LA5 ("The wooden savior of Stalingrad"). Now working on long-range, single-jet escort fighters (LA-17) and twin-jet night fighters (LA-15).
Artem I. Mikoyan, 52, Armenian-born brother of top Politburocrat Anastas I. Mikoyan and designer of Russia's famed MIG-15,...