Soviet Ivan Akimovich Pishchenko

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This nice BM (#117508) was awarded by the 8th Air Army of the Stalingrad Front on 19 December 1942. It is also listed in Echoes of War.

Edited February 13, 2009 by Ferdinand

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Award Record Card, obverse:

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Award Record Card, reverse:

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Award Record Card translation:

1. Last name: Pishchenko

2. First name and patronymic: Ivan Akimovich

3. Military rank: Guards Senior Lieutenant

4. Sex: Male

5. Year of birth: 1918

6. Place of birth: Byelorussian SSR, Pronoisky Region, village of Prudsk

7. Party membership: Member of the VKPb [Communist Party] since 1942

8. Education: Higher

9. Nationality: Belorussian

10. In the Red Army since: 1939

11. Place of service and duty position at the time of the awarding: Assistant Commander of the Political Department of the 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division

12. Current Place of service and duty position: Assistant Commander of the Political Department of the 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division

13. Home address of awardee: Bobruisk Aviogorodsk

14. Record of all awards presented:

Bravery Medal #117508 by order of the 8th Air Army of 19 December 1942

Order of the Red Star #1027496 by order of the 1st Air Army of 19 November 1944

Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class #339249 by order of the 1st Air Army of 8 June 1945

Medal for the Victory over Germany

Medal for the Capture of K?nigsberg

[signed Pishchenko]

Chief of the Personnel Department of the division

[signature]

29 December 1945

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Citation, obverse, upper part:

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Citation, obverse, lower part:

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Continuing

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And the last part

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And up the chain of command:

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Citation translation:

Last name, patronymic and first name: Pishchenko, Ivan Akimovich

Military rank: Deputy Politruk

Assignment, unit: Driver and at the same time secretary of the Komsomol Bureau, 690th Airfield Maintenance Battalion

Recommended for the Bravery Medal

Year of birth: 1918

Nationality: Belorussian

Party membership: Member of the VKPb since 1942

In the Red Army since: October 1939

Participation in combat: Fought against the Fins in 1940 in the air forces of the 13th Army, North-Western Front in the Kavpolovo area.

Wounds or contusions: No

Earlier awards: No

Which RVK: Pronoisky RVK, Mogilyov Oblast

Home address: Village of Prudsk, Roginsky Rural District, Pronoisky Region, Mogilyov Oblast

Brief description of personal feat or merits:

During the entire Patriotic War comrade Pishchenko is a good organizer and motivated, as well as an energetic comrade, systematically accomplishing responsible work demanding maximum energy. In addition to this, comrade Pishchenko accomplishes his work in a conscientious and timely manner.

When the battalion was deployed to the Volchansk airfield, the battalion?s equipment, ammunition, and fuel were threatened as a result of the enemy?s rowdy advance. Comrade Pishchenko, located at the intermediate base at the ?1 May? Sovkhoz, was given the task to organize the evacuation of 120 tons of materiel to the alternate airfield, 100 kilometers away. The mission was accomplished ahead of schedule, denying the enemy to seize the valuable materiel. While servicing three night bomber aviation regiments at the ?Bryansk Lipyagi? Airfield, the battalion encountered exceptional difficulty in delivering ammunition, petroleum, oil, and lubricants due to the lack of enough ground transportation and good roads, compounded by rainy weather and 130-kilometer distance to the mess point. During this the battalion was under threat of enemy aerial attack.

Leading the convoy of ammunition, comrade Pishchenko read the developing situation and worked for several days without rest or sleep, delivering ammunition, fuel, petroleum, and lubricants. During this period 260 tons of various sized bombs were delivered. The aviation units? combat missions were supported.

As the officer in charge of transporting equipment and ammunition between the village of Aidar and Rossosh, the twelve-vehicle convoy was forced to move in close proximity to the enemy. It became encircled. Despite the difficult situation, comrade Pishchenko displayed exceptional calm and without agitation, extricated the convoy to the battalion without losses in full order.

As the best group leader, he was additionally chosen to be the battalion?s Komsomol secretary. During his short, two-month term, the Komsomol has significantly grown with the best people. He is a young, maturing communist, possessing boldness, courage, and resourcefulness.

For his dedicated work and undiminished fulfilling of his combat tasks, comrade Pishchenko deserves to be awarded the Bravery Medal.

Commander of the 690th Airfield Maintenance Battalion

Captain [signature] (Kholevitsky)

Military Commissar of the 690th Airfield Maintenance Battalion

Battalion Commissar [signature] (Ovcharenko)

9 October 1942

Is deserving of the Bravery Medal.

Chief of the 27th Air Base Region

Battalion Commissar [signature] (Lazarev)

Military Commissar of the 27th Air Base Region

Regimental Commissar [signature] (Borovov)

19 October 1942

Is deserving of the Bravery Medal.

Commander of the rear of the 8th Air Army

Major-General of Aviation [signature] /Rabtsev/

31 October 1942

By order of the 8th Air Army nr. 3/N of 19 December 1942 awarded the Bravery Medal.

Chief of the 2nd Section of the Personnel Department of the 8th Air Army

Major [signature] /Kurnosov/

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Thanks for looking. Additions and corrections are always welcome.