Mondvor

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His medal book

Gentlemen, Today I want to share with you a small group from my collection. This group is not very impressive, but for me it is special because it was belonged to my grandfather. I do not remember him very well, he died when I was 9 years old. He didn't tell me much about the war, so from my grandmother (she is still alive) I only knew that he was in artillery during the war. Finally I made a research one year ago and found more about him and his military career. This is his picture in a rank of Senior Lieutenant. I have another picture of him in the rank of Captain (his last rank berfore retirement), but on that one he didn't have actual awards - just a ribbon bars.

I'm not a big expert in Academy badges. But from what I've seen before I can say that there was no such badges with blank shield. All of them came with a legend (exept late ones without a shield). Now it's a question arised - what happened with Kravtsov's badge? I don't know... I can give two possible theories about that. 1. Kravtsov missed his original badge of Frunze Military Academy, find somewhere the other one with different legend and removed all letters from the shield. But it is hard to be real. 2. More real theory. A badge was missed from the group and dealer decided to make a group more complete. He found a badge from different Academy and removed the legend mechanically. After that he polished the area. 3. Could be some other explanation, but I beleive that original letters were removed from the badge. On General Mitrofanov's photo both badges could have a legend. But they are unvisible because of camera flash reflection, lack of light or low picture resolution. Take a look at Suvorov that is hanging near those badges. Do you see any letters? I do not. But it should be a legend ALEXANDER SUVOROV. Otherwise it is a new variation

Thanks for proposition, Dave! But we already made an agreement with Ed. Tomorrow I'll send him a picture. Andrew.

Rick was absolutely right - "it's a small world..." I bought this foto in Kiev about 4 years ago together with 6 or 7 other pictures of Soviet officers wearing Nevsky. I bought them from a dealer who had a lot of stuff from Kiev City Military Registration Office Archive (sorry, I don't know how to translate VOYENKOMAT in English). The rumors were around that he had a friend among the officers from this Archive and gave him a percent from his buisness. Anyway, I think that Dave war partially right. No real pictures could be taken out from Podolsk Central Military Archive. It's a law and they obey it. But probably you know that all pictures were made at least in 3 specimens. First specimen is in Podolsk Archive. Second one is in local "Voyenkomat" file were this officer was registred after retirement (in our case - in Kiev's Voyenkomat). That is much easier to get an access to those local files comparing with Podolsk (especially in Ukraine which is independent now). Were the third specimen goes I don't know. Probably to KGB arcives or somewhere else. I have a friend who is currently working in Magadan's Voyenkomat (Russia's Far North city). I can ask him how it works. Of course I can make a high-resolution scan of that picture. But I can only download the files that are less than 65 kb. Well, I can cut a fragment... But on the picture the badge is facing to the side. It's not exact frontal view. Also it's in a shadow. But I can try Ed asked if it would be on the market. If you are interested I can just trade it for similar picture of the other Nevsky or any 3rd class "polkovodets" cavalier.

Back of the foto.

Here is a somewhat better picture of this brave General.

There is only one minor problem with Epson scanners. Most of the models (including my one) give original pictures that somewhat darker than usual. But it's not a problem if you have Photoshop I really appreciate that Gerd Becker recommended me to visit this Club. This is a wonderful place and it's a real pleasure for me to be there. I have some more researched groups in my collection. If somebody interested, I can share them with others.

Well, it's mostly a question of a scanner quality. Some scanners doing amazing images of flat objects, but they unable to penetrate deeper. If the distance between scanner surface and object surface is more than 3 - 4 mm, then object surface is out of focus. Currently I'm using Epson Perfection 3590 Photo Scanner. I would not say it is excellent, but it is OK. I would give it 8 out of 10 in rating. When I lived in Kiev I used to have HP scanner that was best scaner for screwback orders ever. Even though its highest available resolution was only 1200 dpi (my present one can give 3400 dpi), the reverses even of early screwback GPW 2nd class (with unusually long screwposts) were pretty sharp and clear. When I came to US 3,5 years ago I tried to buy same model but it was out of the market already. I found only parts and repair kits I tried several models including Lexmark, HP and finally stoped with Epson.

RB reverse

RB obverse

RS reverse

RS obverse

Good evening, gentlemen. Thanks for your remarks about Kravtsov's long-service Red Banner. It is interesting that some differences are visible even from citations. On both citations, that I posted before, it says that he joined Red Army in 1938. But in his record card (on the very top) it says that he joined on January 1, 1939. If we count from 1938, then his first long-service MM medal was given exactly at right time - after 10 years. But the next one - Red Star - is already one year ahead the schedule. And third award - RB - is one year ahead of Red Star and two years ahead normal schedule. Unfortunately, at the moment I do not have any additional papers about that group. My friends who did this research send me the those few images by email. All actual papers I asked them to send at my mother's address in Kiev, Ukraine. I'll be there in June and pick them up. Maybe additional infomation from those papers would help to find the truth. But I beleive that is all because of total mess in military paperwork. I've seen similar situations before. Anyway, here are the final images - his triplet for long service.

Reverse of GPW. I would add his post-war awards for long service tomorrow, it's time to sleep for me

His GPW for war with Japan

Second part

Award registration card, Part 1

Another part of his personal record card. We can see that he joined Communist Party in 1943. Rank list: Junior llieutenant - 1940 Lieutenant - 1942 Senior lieutenant - 1942 Captain - 1944 Major - 1948 Lt. Colonel - 1960 He was in combat on Western Front from June 25, 1941 to July 14, 1941 and from Feb. 24, 1942 to May 15, 1943. He was fighting in war with Japan from Aug. 9, 1945 to Sep. 3, 1945 He had wife and daughter, who was born in 1950.

To Rick: Unfortunately I don't have Kravtsov's full-size photo among his records. All I have is his small 3X4 black and white xerox copy picture attached to the record card. Here it is in a closer look. Pre 1943 uniform with Voroshilov Marksman badge.

This is Kravtsov?s personal record card: Jan. 7, 1939 ? cadet in Odessa Military Pilot School. Nov. 19, 1940 ? pilot of 163rd Fighter Air Regiment, 43rd Fighter Air Division, Western Military District Jul. 14, 1941 ? pilot of 4th Reserve Fighter Air Regiment, Western Front Feb. 24, 1942 ? pilot of 3rd Independent Reconnaissance Air Regiment, Western Front May 20, 1942 ? pilot of 172nd Mixed Air Regiment, Western Front Sep. 15, 1942 ? flight commander in 172nd Fighter Air Regiment, 1st Air Army, Western Front May 15, 1943 ? student in Special Training Course of Red Army Air Force Dec. 2, 1943 ? student in Volsk High Tactical Officer School May 3, 1945 ? squadron commander in 14th Fighter Air Regiment, 296th Fighter Air Division, 11th Air Army, Far Eastern Front Mar. 14, 1948 ? control flight commander in 83rd Bomber Air Division, 18th Air Corps, 10th Air Army Sep. 24, 1951 ? assistant commander of 104th Independent Special Air Squadron, 34th Air Army, Transcaucasian Military District Oct. 2, 1954 - commander of 104th Independent Special Air Squadron, 34th Air Army, Transcaucasian Military District Dec. 30, 1955 ? unit commander in 193rd Mixed Air Squadron, 34th Air Army, Transcaucasian Military District Oct. 9, 1957 ? received a degree ?Military Pilot 3rd class? Jun. 24, 1959 - received a degree ?Military Pilot 2nd class? Aug. 9, 1960 ? commander of 62nd Independent Helicopter Squadron, 34th Air Army Dec. 18, 1962 ? transferred to reserve with a right of wearing military uniform. Registered in Minsk military registration office. So that was the end of his military career. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. By some reason, after he received his Red Banner, he was sent to Military Officer Tactic School. Maybe his high commanders considered him to be a perspective and promising officer. Well, I don't know. But I know for sure that sending him to school gave him a chance to survive in that terrible war. In 1945 he also participated in the war with Japan on Far Eastern front and even was awarded with 2nd class Patriotic War order (I do not have a citation so far, people are looking for it).

Second page

Here is a citation for Kravtsov's Red Banner Award citation for Red Banner Name: Kravtsov Dmitrij Afanasyevich Military Rank: Senior Lieutenant (corresponding to 1st lieutenant in US Military Forces). Position: 172nd Fighter Air Regiment, flight commander (at the beginning of the war typical Russian flight included 3 planes, later Russians switched to German model of 4 planes flight structure). Born: 1918 Nationality: Belorus In Red Army: since 1938 Party membership: Communist Party candidate since 1942 Participation in war: in Great Patriotic War since June 22, 1941 Wounds or contusions: none Previous awards: Red Star order on October 30, 1942 From what Military Registration Office was recruited: entered voluntarily in a pilots school Home address: Polevaya Pochta (Field Army Post Office) 29603 Short description of merits: During Great Patriotic War accomplished 175 battle sorties against German invaders. Most sorties were made for aerial visual and photo reconnaissance (68) and for providing cover to our ground-attack planes (28). Participated in 12 air fights ? personally shot down 4 enemy Ju-88 planes and together with other pilots shot down 2 Fw-189 planes. During air combat missions he fights until all his guns are empty, always helps his flight comrades. On October 30, 1942 he was awarded with Red Star order for 113 successfully accomplished missions. After receiving this award he made 62 more battle sorties for photo reconnaissance and for providing cover to our ground-attack planes. During March offensive he made 21 battle sorties. On a period from May 5 to May 14 accomplished 17 flights to provide air-cover to our Il-2 ground-attack planes. Participated in 3 air fights cutting-off German fighters from our bombers. All missions were successful, our attack planes returned to their base without losses. His flight is well prepared and didn?t loose single plane since the beginning of 1943. Technical personnel of his flight unit is also doing highly professional job while preparing the planes for combat missions. His flight unit is holding the first place in the whole air regiment by the level of combat and technical skills, demonstrated by personnel. Because of that his flight was able to perform 3 to 4 sorties a day during last operation. On May 8, 1943 he received an order to provide a cover for 4 Il-2 attack planes together with the fighters of 162nd Fighter Air Regiment. But pilots of 162nd FAR didn?t find attack planes, so comrade Kravtsov defended Il-4 planes only by himself and his second wingman. All attack planes returned safely to their base. Kravtsov is well determined and vigorous commander, who is able to carry out any order even in a bad weather conditions. He demonstrated an excellent job, especially on covering our ground-attack planes on a period from May 5 to May 14, 1943 while they were striking enemy air fields and communications. For excellent execution of combat missions for defending our attack planes he deserves a state award - order of Red Banner. Commander of 172nd Fighter Air Regiment Major Samohvalov May 16, 1943

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