Hauptmann

Olympic awards... the TR 1st and 2nd class Decorations are copies but the medal and the 57 version of the 1st class and medal are original as are the badges, etc.:

One of the bells also sold as souvenirs during the games:

An ashtray which I'm assuming was one of the souvenirs sold during the games:

Hope these fit the bill. First is the torch holder which is shown in one of your photos and talked about in the articles:

Very happy I was able to help out on this one. Always a pleasure to see such things come together. Keep up the great work... and if you ever need more just give me a shout. Dan

Many thanks! I suspected as much but I don't know a lot about Imperial Russian awards and have very few references that cover any. But that's just what I needed to know. Just for the benefit of others as well as myself what shows this to be a fake? That ways we'll have it for future reference. Dan

Hi all, Just wondered if anyone can tell me it this one is good or bad? I suspect the ribbon is incorrect and probably the kolodka as well but more concerned about the medal itself. Many thanks in advance! Dan

Well, my doctor gave the x-ray his best shot but no luck. Don't know if perhaps another type of machine might do anything better but they used a flouroscope and basically the metal was too dense for it to work. I may see if I can get a dentist to give it a shot but aside from that I've no idea where to go from here. Will let you know if anything else works. But my deepest thanks to my doctor, the X-ray tech and the radiologist who so graciously took time from the very busy schedules to try and make this happen. Dan

Hi Chris, Hoping this helps. If you need more let me know what and where it should be and I'll give it a shot. If you PM me your email I'll pop over a larger version of the original document. Dan Name:Karl DreitzelBirth Date:24 Mai 1893 (24 May 1893)Birth Place:Stolpe Tellow BrandenburgCombat Arm:InfanterieType of Unit:Infanterie-RegimenterUnit:Infanterie-Leib-Regiment Source Citation: Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, München. Abteilung IV Kriegsarchiv. Kriegstammrollen, 1914-1918. 349. Kriegsrangliste: Bd. 6 Source Information: Ancestry.com. Bavaria, Germany, WWI Personnel Rosters, 1914-1918[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data: Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv. Kriegsstammrollen, 1914-1918. Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Abteilung IV Kriegsarchive, München.

Here's a couple more shots. Seems to be an SG and also a W right before the . and then F U... if any of that makes any sense or looks that way to ya'll. Also if that is FU (it definitely looks like an F to me) then could that be an abbreviated Fusiliers? Note the small S again as in the abbreviated form of Charles. Also after the Chas. (Charles) could be an H... again let me know what ya'll think. So close... and yet just out of reach. Very frustrating to say the least. Dan

Hi Leigh. Many thanks for the suggestion. Okay... took me a few days but managed to dig out one of my old black light bulbs. Put it in a small lamp, managed to set the medal on top of a spray bottle and then tried to do some shots with my camera. Not the most professional setup I'm sure but the best I'm able to do. Oh how I wish I had one of those computer microscope dealies as I bet that would help a bit too. But for what it's worth here are the shots that seemed to come out best with the black light. Hoping perhaps one of you might be able to make a bit more from these. I'm kind of bleary eyed at the mo from staring so intently at it in the black light. But hope it was worth it. Let me know what ya'll think. Thanks!!!! Dan

Generally the first thing we do whenever we get settled into hotels on a vacation trip is to go through the phone book for listings for antique stores, surplus stores, militaria shops, coin shops, etc. We also ask around, check out any flea markets if we're there at the right time and just generally keep on the alert for such things. And of course since the advent of laptops, wireless, etc., we're also able to check things out on the web. Sadly most places we've been haven't had a ton to offer in the way of militaria or surplus stores but it's always something we try to work in along the way. Of course the whole family loves history so alot of what we do is check out old battlefield and historic sites, museums, etc., on our vacations. With the exception of when we went somewhere like Disney World. Dan

And the rim: She's definitely been there, done that, seen a ton of history and for all her dings, buffed areas, lost details, etc., I love her and pray I'm able to recover her history. Dan

Hi all. Been a loooooong time since I've been able to add anything here. I've got another coming but for now, and with many thanks to Perce, an Indian Mutiny medal. As you can see it appears to have been buffed along the way and the name was partially removed, but hoping to get it X-rayed to try and recover same. Will keep everyone posted.

And the rim: Dan

Thanks everyone for your suggestion on the X-ray. I wish I still had connections in a PD with the proper facilities. I know pretty much everyone on the force here, both PD and Sheriff's Dept. but we're a small town of about 2,500 and don't really have much in the way of CSI type stuff here. Had I still been down in Florida I would have had better luck in that area. But I've put out the word to my doctor (also a member here and very intro'd in military history) and he's going to see what he can do to help out on this. Keeping my fingers tightly crossed. Anyhow I finally got a chance to do the scans so without further ado here is it:

And last but not least the translation: Award Sheet 1. Last name, name, and patrionymic: Gavrilov, Petr Tikhonovich 2. Rank: Junior Lieutenant 3. Duty position: Bomber – 859 Short-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment Recommendation for the Order of the Red Star 4. Born: 1916 5. Nationality: Russian 6. In Red Army: since 1941 7. Party membership: Comsomol member since 1932 8. Previous combat: Patriotic War participant since August 1942 9. Wounds or shell-shock: n/a 10. Previous awards: n/a 11. Inducted by: Career military 12. Home of record: Nizhnii-Tagil Short description of personal combat feat or accomplishment He has been a bomber in the 859 Bomber Aviation Regiment on the frontlines in the war against German fascism since August 1942. During the Regiment’s fighting against the German invaders near Sovetskaya and Mozdok, Comrade Gavrilov participated in group combat sorties in a Boston-3 against an enemy mechanized unit. The effectiveness of the Regiment’s group raids in which Comrade Gavrilov participated was verified by ground commanders and aerial imagery. Since October 1942 he has worked as a Division HQ liaison officer in the 4th Air Army. He has proven himself an energetic, steadfast, and accomplished commander. Combat orders, situation reports, and other operational documents are continuously delivered on time, he flies in any weather, and orients well to the terrain. His flight experience is the following: U2 aircraft - 72 hours during 230 sorties, UT-2 - 38 hours during 120 sorties without incident. He displays courage and assertiveness while delivering the Commands combat orders. He capably keeps the staff informed and transmits the higher Command’s orders. He is morally steadfast, physically fit, and hardy. He is dedicated to the Party of Lenin-Stalin and the Socialist Motherland. For combat contribution to the destruction of the German occupiers, selflessness in supporting the Command’s personnel, and displaying steadfastness and courage in delivering combat reports he is deserving of the Order of the Red Star. Signed Acting Chief of Staff, 219 Bomber Aviation Division, Lieutenant Colonel Orlov on 16 February 1943 Recommended downgrade to the Bravery Medal by Commander, 219 Bomber Aviation Division, Colonel Batygin on 17 February 1943 Awarded the Bravery Medal by 219 Aviation Division Order 05/N dated 18 February 1943, verified by Chief of Personnel, 219 Aviation Division, Captain Lisenchikov Award Card Abbreviated award card indicates Bravery Medal #162.221 was awarded to Russian Junior Lieutenant Petr Tikhonovich Gavrilov (b.1916) in Temporary Certificate #393.194. He was a member of the 859 Bomber Aviation Regiment, 219 Aviation Division by that division’s Order 05/N dated 18.2.43. His address is listed as Kharkov, Artem village, Bldg 3, Apt 42. Abbreviated Career File Junior Lieutenant Petr Tikhonovich Gabrilov was born 14.7.1916 in Kursk Oblast, Be(?)orodskii Region, village of Solomino. He joined the Comsomol in 1939 and graduated a State University in 1940. He finished a lieutenant(?) course in 1939 and another military course in 1941, abbreviation unknown. He had a knowledge of French. Service record: 859 Bomber Aviation Regiment Bomber 25.5.42 859 Bomber Aviation Regiment Bomber 20.7.42 244 Bomber Aviation Regiment Crew Navigator 17.8.43 8 Indep. Aerial Signals Squadron Bomber 25.3.44 165 Indep. Army Aerial Signals Sqd Same 8.2.45 4 Air Army Adjutant of Air Army Chief of Staff 3.5.45 Released into the reserves 14.2.46 Hope you've enjoyed as much as I have. Many thanks to Kapusta Norm for bringing this awards history back from the dark recesses and for allowing me to share it here on GMIC! Dan