Lapa

Enzo, "ЦПЛС" means "Центра Подготовки Летного Состава", in other terms the Center for Preparation of Flight Crew. It was opened in September 2002, following Prikaz No 17 of the Ukraine Ministry for Economic Policy of 27/07/2001. Marc

Bryan, I have finally realized that it is indeed the map of the USSR, and not some sort of enamel defect Marc

That's always impressive. I remember seeing once a picture of a 10~12 year-old proudly wearing an Order of the Red Star! Marc

Andwwils, You can't compare the record keeping in the former USSR with anything else. Their archives are simply amazing Marc

Woldzimierz, Andreas definitely hit the nail on the head here. Quality of your pictures does not allow for a definite diagnosis here. Please post better resolution pics of this order (especially the medallion and the mintmark/serial number are). My immediate feeling is that your order looks a bit rough, but then again that could be because of the pic quality. One (almost...) definite minus for me is the way the screwpost is soldered to the back. Marc

Rick, I am afraid that you are mistaken on this point. Research is possible, it even happens to be the most straightforward way to conduct it. Researching by award number means first IDing who the awardee was, then (surprize, surprize) conducting a regular search by name. Marc

Enzo, Your method of authentification will lend you in heaps of trouble today. Fakes are made in silver, some of them even coined and not cast. Marc

Guys, I apologize for not being able to give the next answer on time, Russian schedules can be tough to handle at times. Anyway, back to the quiz! Marc

William, It was, it sure was ... back then Marc

Rick, Research is possible as Ed indicated. You need full name (last, first, patronym), DoB, rank. The more info, the better the chances to get a hit. Marc

UsAirForce, That is a suspension Lenin that has been "upgraded", unless it is an outright fake (difficult to tell with such pictures...), in which case they could have selected a serial number that did fall within the range of issued screwbacks Marc

Guys, You'll have to wait until Friday, I am off to Moscow in about 1 hr, sorry! Marc

Usairforce, Enzo gave you the basic description. Here, you have the two different medals that were awarded to winners of the VDNKh after 1984: the Gold and the Silver VDNKh Laureate medals. Marc

Wlodzimierz, What is that huge thing hanging below his other screwback orders? Marc

Rick, The verb "вступить" means to enter into, to join (an organisation); "Вступление" means entry, joining (an organisation). Marc

Auke, Maybe Rozaliya Samoylovna Zalkind (or Zemlyachka). Marc

Christophe, I unfortunately do not know his complete list of awards. I know that he was awarded and ORB in 1968 for his participation in the first trip from Murmansk to Kamchatka by the Northern route onboard a nuclear submarine. He was promoted to Kontr-Admiral in 1980, just a few months before the crash. He was 51. Marc

Auke, Congratulations, I did not expect this one to be cracked so fast and completely Well, Kontr-Admiral Psotnikov rests at the Serafimovsky Cemetery in St Petersburg, along with all but 3 of the other victims of that crash, where a monument stands. By the way, on 7 February 1981, the entire commanding staff of the Pacific Fleet was killed when their plane crashed a few seconds after takeoff from Leningrad's airport. They had attended a General Staff meeting of all the fleets, presided by Admiral Gorshkov, and were flying back home. Most officers had come with their families which were forbidden to travel on military planes, and watched as the plane crashed. You got the hand, my friend! Marc

Christophe, Are you trying to cheat here? And don't tell me that my previous hint didn't help OK, I'll help a bit: he had absolutely NOTHING to do with space. Marc

Bob, In my reference to the auction results, I noticed that the "common stuff" did not sell. My remark was about that, not about the rare OMDs. Marc

Forgot to say, "Good Luck" Marc

Hi Guys, Sorry about keeping you waiting. So, let's try that (who asked for something difficult?) My name is Vassily Sergeevich, I was born on 18 October 1929. For me, 7th February is a date to mark with a black stone (litteraly). 1) What is my family name? 2) Where was I born? 3) What is my profession and in what location did I work? 4) What happened on 7th February? 5) Where am I now? One little hint, that definitely will not help anyone here (trust me on that one!), I am the great-uncle of Marc's wife (told you so ) Marc

Hi Guys, Sorry, I di not log in for quite a few days Let me sleep over that one, and I'll post something tomorrow. Marc

Ed, I believe this simply means that, at current price levels, Mongolian orders are overpriced. Marc

Brian, Both orders are fine, original examples. Marc