Soviet Senior Lieutenant Mikhail Danilovich Krasnookiy

[Digger Doug]

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!!!

[Digger Doug]

Here's the back side of his award card listing his awards as of 1953:

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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

[Stogieman]

Not too shabby for "buying blind". But, can the research tell you.... flyer? Or ground crew?

[Digger Doug]

Here's the citation for the OPW2:

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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.

[Digger Doug]

Here's the citation for his Red Banner:

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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.

[Digger Doug]

Here's his OK booklets:

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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.

[Digger Doug]

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

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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!

[Guest Rick Research]

That final 1955 Red Star must have been a "for something" one... and on a later Award Record Card. Many a group I've had back with multiple ARCs.

He was born in the city of Krivoi Rog, Dnetropetrovskaya Oblast. Primary education. As of 1953 as a Major, his position in Unit 28587 was Starshy Letchik Ispytatel'-- Senior Pilot Examiner. I'm having trouble with his home address then too-- city of Vladimrovia (?) in Letvataiskaya (?) Oblast.

[Dudeman]

He was born in the city of Krivoi Rog, Dnetropetrovskaya Oblast. Primary education. As of 1953 as a Major, his position in Unit 28587 was Starshy Letchik Ispytatel'-- Senior Pilot Examiner. I'm having trouble with his home address then too-- city of Vladimrovia (?) in Letvataiskaya (?) Oblast.

Senior Test Pilot. Astrakhan Oblast, Vladimirovka.

[Guest Rick Research]

Doh! Astrakhan! NOW I see it!

Deserts. Big big BIG empty far away no witnesses deserts.

Soviet "Area 51" in 1955, maybe? Oooooooooooooooooooo.

[Digger Doug]

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!

[Stogieman]

Fantastic! A pilot no less. Now that's a nice little pearl to find!

[Gerd Becker]

Great find, Doug. Were you able to get the personal record for this pilot?