Hauptmann

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

The research:

Photos of the original recipient:

Hi all. I got this one from Rick (Stogieman) back in 2006. It's now in the collection of Kapusta Norm over at SAF but as he's said it "may" come back to my collection some day. I'm posting this with his kind permission... the research and pics are his with the exception of the two of the award itself which, if memory serves were from Rick (Stogieman) from when I got it from him... was actually a shot of this one and a T1 MMM but I cut it down just to show the T1 BM. Many thanks to both Kapusta Norm and to Stogieman.

And awaaaaaay we go! First the award itself:

Hi Michael. I believe this one is impressed... I'll do up some scans of the edge if I can work it out and will post them. I'll have to check with my doctor who is a member here and is also a Lt. Col. in the National Guard. I'll see if perhaps they ever have to run tests on the X-ray equipment where perhaps he might be able to get them to try doing a shot of the edge to see what we can come up with. Otherwise it might be a bit pricey... but if they have to run a test anyhow then perhaps it won't cost anything, they'll get the info they need and I'll hopefully be able to discover the name and info on this one.

Many thanks!

Dan

I have an Indian Mutiny medal which has most of the name missing from the edge. It appears to have been buffed out. I know that things like firearms whose serial numbers have been removed can often have them brought back through use of acid. Is something like this possible to recover such lost information?

I can only clearly make out Chas (the s has an underline). I can see faint remainders of other letters/numbers but not well enough to make them out... just to know that they were there.

Hoping perhaps one of you might have experience with something like this. I wouldn't want to do anything to harm the medal but just bring up the inscription.

Dan

My lastest addition... a gift from Victor (ph3s)... many thanks my friend!

Dan

A two place:

Dan

Nick... hope you don't mind but here it is a bit bigger.

Nice find! And can't beat the price!

Dan

Hi Brian. No problem... love to share. I glad I could work out getting it. I don't have but a very few stickpins and with my love of WB's plus the fact that other than WB's one of the few original TR medals I still have is the "frozen meat medal" as well as the West Wall... and I also have the FMM in it's 57 version.

Dan