Digger Doug

[attachmentid=41433] 14.Listing of all awards received Red Banner / 15144 / 446 / ______ Front / No 25/4 ot 11.11.41 Aleksander Nevsky / 1374 / 387064 / Briansk Front / 27.2.43 Order of the Patriotic War II Class / 137022 / B-375601 / 61st Army / 2.3.44 Order of the Red Banner / 16520 (2) / 630324 / 3rd Guards Army / 24.8.44 Red Star / 965437 / 144015 / 3.11.44 / 38th Army Red Banner / 4326 (3) / D-581543 / 1.3.45 / 1st Guards Army Red Banner / 1041 (4) / B-977880 / 27.5.45 Red Banner / 295373 / 6.11.47 Signature of Awardee Rybchenko Certified by and Signed by witness

Here are some of the documents for Colonel Rybchenko. As usual, it is incomplete and my hope is that someone will give me a hand ;~): [attachmentid=41432] AWARD CARD Orders Booklet No. 180065 Certification 1. Last name Rybchenko 2. First name and patronymic Anempodist Dmitrievich 3. Military rank Colonel 4. Sex Male 5. Year of birth 1903 6. Place of birth 7. Party membership (from what year) Member of the VKP(S) since 1938 8. Education 9. Nationality Ukrainian 10. In the Red Army since what year 1926 11. Place of service (unit designation) and duty position at the time of award 1320 Rifle Regiment 413 Rifle Division Regimental Commander 12. Present duty location and duty title 13. Awardee?s home address

Here is a bit more info on General Vasil'ev from his long service (27 years, 3 months as of 1944) award of the Order of Lenin: [attachmentid=39025] Of particular interest, his record begins in 1917 where he was with the 1st detachment of the Red Guards. He was the Soviet military attache to Afghanistan from 1/31-8/33 during which time, he was awarded the Order of Labor Red Banner from the Uzbek Republic. From 8/33-2/38, he was the chief intelligence officer of the Central Asian Military District (SAVO) in Tashkent. From 2/38 - 9/43, he was imprisoned for reasons yet unknown by me (though we all can guess why). By 1/44, he was the deputy commander of the 66th Guards Rifle Division and by 2/44, he was the commander of the 138th Carpathian Rifle Division. By 1956, he was in Hungary putting an end to their short-lived revolution. Quite a story if only his personnel file was available. Unfortunately, I was only able to get his award card and citations. If there is any interest, I can post more of his documents. Doug

Have you tried to research that Red Banner? Should be really interesting if anything is available. I've had some success with NKVD recipients so it is possible that you could find something on him. A nice group indeed. Doug

Dave, You can certainly use the Afghan OSH 3 info I posted here. In addition, I have research on OSH 3 #2347 awarded to Colonel Nikolai Alekseevich Potanin on April 30, 1975. I haven't translated it yet but can send you scans in the meantime if that would help. Doug

I'm not finding him. Is there more writing on the back that isn't in the scanned image?

Thanks for adding to my translations. The hand written stuff is really hard for me. Test pilot is pretty cool - I've got to get the rest of his personnel file now!

Here's his 11 medal docs: Victory Over Germany Capture of Berlin Liberation of Prague 30 Years Red Army Zhukov Commerative 30 Yrs Victory 40 Yrs Victory 50 Yrs Victory 50 Yrs Red Army 50 Yrs Red Army 60 Yrs Red Army 70 Yrs Red Army [attachmentid=26496] Born in 1918 and received his last medal, the Zhukov Commerative in 1996. Saw the early years of the revolution and lived to see it crumble. Shot down 9 German fighters in only the last months of the war. Received a mysterious (to me anyway) Red Star sometime in the mid-1950's. Imagine the stories Mikhail must have told his grandchildren!

Here's his OK booklets: [attachmentid=26487] The thing that really puzzles me is that last Red Star # 3392084. I have the star and it is listed in his OK but it, evidently, was awarded after the award card was signed in 1953. I suppose it could have been added to enhance the group but I doubt it. When I got this group researched, I only ordered the OPW2 and the Red Banner. I assumed the other stuff was for long service and that this second Red Star would be uninteresting. I now know better that these "off date" Red Stars can be really interesting. I'm going to have to order the rest of the file to know the whole story.

Here's the citation for his Red Banner: [attachmentid=26482] Here's my incomplete translation of this citation: For 32 combat sorties, for leading two air combats, for shooting down one enemy plane, he was awarded on 22.2.45 the order "Patriotic War 2nd Class". Since receiving this award, i.e. from 22.2.1945 to 10.5.1945, he remained at the front in the patriotic war and has made 62 combat sorties, from them: providing air cover for ground troops 51 sorties, flying ground attack missions against enemy troops and equipment 7 combat sorties, flew reconaissance missions to investigate enemy forces 4 sorties, has led his group in 10 air battles as a result of which he has personnaly brought down 8 enemy planes, of types: 5 ME-109 and 3 FW-190. During the period of his command, the squadron flew 432 combat missions, he led 18 air battles, bringing down 25 enemy planes, of them: 16 ME-109 and 9 FW-190. Combat losses were: 3 pilots and 4 planes, there were no non-combat losses. Senior Lieutenant Krasnookii is able and is organized in his supervision of the squadron. In aerial combat he has proven to be a master of conducting group air battles. There's still a couple more paragraphs of this citation that I haven't finished translating yet. I'll wrap this up in a couple of days.

Here's the citation for the OPW2: [attachmentid=26477] Here's a brief albiet poor translation of the above: At the front during the Patriotic War since July 1944. During the time of the combat operations of the 1st Ukrainian Front, he flew 32 combat missions in the Yak 1 and Yak 3, conducting 32 combat sorties with a flight time of 27 hours with the mission of escorting bombers to the target and their return, and in providing aircover for ground troops, of which in January-February operations in 1945 he participated in 11 combat sorties, conducted two air combats in which he shot down one enemy ME-109. From 12.1.45 to 10.2.45 his flight conducted 63 combat sorties with an overall flight time of 51 hours 40 minutes with the mission of aircover for ground troops, conducted 4 air battles, in which 3 enemy aircraft were shot down: 2 Ju8_, 1 ME-109, without losses. Senior Lieutenant Krasnookii is brave in air combat, skillfully conducts leadership work in the flight, an energetic, demanding commander. He has not been a POW nor was surrounded/encircled. For 32 combat sorties, for one enemy aircraft shot down and for skillful leadership of flight personnel he has attained the award of the order "Great Patriotic War 1st Class" Commander of the 32nd IASP LtCol Petrunin The first class was knocked down to a second class by the commander of the 256 IAKKOVKhD and seconded by the commander of the 5th IALK.

Here's the back side of his award card listing his awards as of 1953: [attachmentid=26469] Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class # 280454 35IAK (Independent Aviation Corps) 22.2.1945 Order of the Red Banner # 247221 2VA (2nd Air Army?) 18.5.1945 Military Merit Medal # no serial number Ukaz 24.6.1948 (without a doubt for ten years long service) Red Star # 3108416 Ukaz 21.8.1953 (again, without a doubt for 15 years long service) Victory Over Germany Capture of Berlin Liberation of Prague 30 Years Red Army

Back in 2002, I saw a group on that popular auction site to a guy who, I thought, had a funny name. I noticed from the medal documents for his GPW campaign medals that he was with an aviation regiment. No one bid against me and I got the little group of 5 orders and 12 medals for under $200 US. On a whim, I had a couple of the orders researched and this is what I got back: [attachmentid=26468] Major Mikhail Danilovich Krasnookii Sex: Male Born in 1918 Place of Birth: can't make it out Party member since 1942 Education: can't make it out Nationality: Ukrainian In the Red Army since December 27, 1937 Place of service (unit designation) at the time of the award: can't make it out Present duty location and duty title: can't make it out Awardee's home address: can't make it out - handwritten stuff is really hard for me!!!

Gunner, I'm sorry that I missed your response back in December. I just noticed it while taking a look at the site during my lunch earlier today. Check out this site: http://www.avia-hobby.ru/publ/sovaces/09_k.html He is listed as 9+0. I also have a couple of his citations as well as his orders and a couple of documents. I hope to get the rest of his file within the next year. I'll post some of his documents in the research area.

Here's General-Lieutenant Vasilev's citation for his Kutuzov 2nd Class: [attachmentid=26353] Here's my cut at his citation. As usual, any additions or corrections to my translation is greatly appreciated: Comrade Vasil'ev is a thoroughly competent and demanding general. He possesses good organizational abilities. During the period of fufillment by his troops in the region of ________________ for the liquidation of the counter-revolutionary mutiny in Hungary, General Lieutenant Vasil'ev, leader of the operations group, ensured clear leadership and communication with command that contributed to the fulfillment of the mission. He deserves to receive the government order Kutuzov Second Class. Commander in Chief Forces of the Transcarpathian Military District General Army P. (Pavel) Batov "3" December 1956 While this Kutuzov is the only award in his group I was able to get, I did get copies of most of his personnel file. I'll post some of his other citations and service info as time permits.

[attachmentid=26348] Here's the reverse side of his award card: AWARD................................................NUMBER..............BASIS OF AWARD 1. Order of Labor Red Banner of UzSSR.....526..................(can't read first 2 lines) UzSSR 27.2.33 * 2. Medal XX Years Red Army............................................Ukaz VS. USSR 22.2.38 3. Order of Red Banner............................109196.............4th Ukrainian Front 10.10.44 4. Order of Red Banner............................6346 (2)...........Ukaz VS. USSR 3.11.44 5. Order of Lenin.....................................26269...............Ukaz VS. USSR 28.2.45 6. Order of Red Banner............................198911.............4th Ukrainian Front 22.2.45 7. medal Victory Over Germany.......................................Ukaz VS. USSR 9.5.45 8. Order of Suvorov 2nd Class..................2049................Ukaz Pr(esidium?) VS. USSR 29.6.45 9. Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class...................3114...............Ukaz 18.12.56 10. Order of Red Banner...........................1354 (4)..........Ukaz 15.11.50 * Kutsenko's book on Republican Orders confirms this award to Vasil'ev and indicates he was serving as Regimental Commander SAVO. SAVO = Central Asian Military District

[attachmentid=26346] Here's the obverse of General Vasiliy Efmovich Vasil'ev's award card. My brief translation is below: Award Card Last Name: Vasil'ev First Name and Patronymic: Vasiliy Efomovich Military Rank: Guards General Major Sex : Male Year of Birth: 1898 Place of Birth: City of Leningrad Party Membership (From what year): Member since 1918 Education: ___________ Nationality: Russian In the Red Army since what year: ______ 1917 Place of Service (unit designation) and duty position at the time of award: Commander 138th Rifle Division Present duty location and duty title: Commander 50th Rifle Division Awardee's home address: City of Dobrol___

And as far as post GPW awards go, I have citations for a Suvorov 3rd and a Kutuzov 2nd for Hungary in 1956 that I plan to post this weekend time permitting. The Kutuzov belonged to General Vasil'ev who was military attache to Afghanistan in the early 1930's and spent 1938 - 1943 in prison. He began the GPW in prison and finished commanding a division. Stay tuned! Doug

I'm with you guys when it comes to paying more for a researched piece that has important history attached to it. I once paid $240 for a common Red Star and OK back when a Red Star was $12 because it was awarded to the guy who destroyed that 88 you see in all those post battle pictures of the Reichstag. Friends who were with me at the OMSA convention where it came on the market thought I was a nut at the time - some of them who are strictly type collectors, still do. I used to have in my collection a Suvorov 3rd awarded to an officer who's unit captured a Hungarian tank regiment and tanker school during the 1956 uprising. I still have the research if you guys ever want to see it. Man, I regret selling that one!

I had some research in that last shipment that left Russia a couple of weeks ago as well. Every night when I get home, I go right to the mail. Still no joy. Now that you guys in the East have yours, hopefully mine will bere in a couple of days unless the pony express is held up on the way to Arizona. Grrrrrrr.

Thanks for all the replys. I was kind of leaning toward the Red Star too assuming that the Red Banner was for long service. I'm also looking forward to the book Dave mentions. I've recently made a plea to the publisher to see a draft as I can't wait until the summer release date to pour over it. I know that at least a couple of you who read these posts contributed data. As I have a particular interest in the Berlin Operation, I've been hoarding a little stash of Red Stars, Glory 3's, OPW2's and Valor medals that I think are potential Berlin awards. With the book, I hope to know which ones to submit for research that have the best chance of coming back with Berlin citations. Doug

A couple months ago, I picked up a little group of Soviet orders from a guy who bought them together as a group several years ago. While there's no document with the orders, he was sure they all belonged to the same guy. The "group" consists of the following: Red Banner #304144, Red Star (w/ screw base) #121962, and a 1985 OPW2 #1722866. I got the lot of them for much less than the cost of the individual pieces so I didn't care too much whether they went together or not but am now thinking about researching one of the pieces in the event this really is a group. My question to you guys is this: Which one do I research? The early Red Star should be interesting given that it was given when a Red Star was still considered important. On the other hand, Red Banners are usually pretty interesting unless they are long service. Given the high serial, this one may be for long service. Assuming that these are unrelated orders, which would you research? I'm not ready to research both just yet. Doug

Dave, Thanks for taking all the time to post this. I appreciate your efforts! Doug

Thanks for the great information. I appreciate your efforts. All the best, Doug

Hello, I'm researching a Victory Medal to Frank Chapman, a private in the Royal Fusiliers 9th BN who was killed on 19.02.1916. He is remembered at the Loos Memorial in France. Could anyone tell me where his unit was at the time of his death? I'm sure this is an obvious question but please bear with me as I have no experience researching British medals. I've had Private Chapman's medal for over 20 years - I found it in an antique store in Michigan and bought it for $3.00 USD. I didn't know about the CWGC website until tonight and was surprised when I found Private Chapman on it. I'd like to find out more as a tribute to him. Thanks for any help or direction you can give me! Doug