Gennady Olonkin

Gennadi Nikititch Olonkin (Russian Геннадий Никитич Олонкин; * 1898 in the province of Arkhangelsk, Russian Empire, † September 1960 in Tromsø ) was a Russian- Norwegian radio operator and Arctic explorer.

Life

Olonkin the only son was among twelve children of a Norwegian mother and a Russian father.

From 1918 to 1925 he was a radio operator and mechanic on the ship Maud by Roald Amundsen. In 1926 him the Olav's Medal was awarded. Olonkin acquired Norwegian citizenship and was working for the Norske Institutt Meteorologisk. From 1958 he was involved in the development of LORAN station NATO on Jan Mayen, the housing estate was later named after him.

Gennadi Olonkin was married and had a son and two daughters. To him, the settlement Olonkinbyen and the Cape Olonkin are named in honor of Jan Mayen.