Soviet Unusual Combination of Award Numbers

[NavyFCO]

His MM and first Red Star are both long-service awards. I have to go to work at the moment, but will post up the citations for his final Red Star and Red Banner later.

Dave

[Riley1965]

Dave,

Would you Please post scans of the Polish document for the War Medal 1939-1945?

Doc

[NavyFCO]

Dave,

Would you Please post scans of the Polish document for the War Medal 1939-1945?

Doc

Doc-

It was a pretty common doc so I don't think I scanned it before the group got packed up. I should be able to access the group here shortly though and can scan it for you then.

Dave

[Riley1965]

Doc-

It was a pretty common doc so I don't think I scanned it before the group got packed up. I should be able to access the group here shortly though and can scan it for you then.

Dave

Dave,

Thank You!!! I appreciate that

Doc

[NavyFCO]

Doc-

It's your lucky day. I found my scans of the group.

Here's the inside of the doc for you. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see.

Dave

[Riley1965]

Thank You Dave!!! Would you Please post the front of the document, too?

Many Thanks,

Doc

[NavyFCO]

Would you Please post the front of the document, too?

Ask and you shall receive.......

[Riley1965]

Many Thanks Dave!!! I appreciate Ya!!!!!

Doc

[NavyFCO]

Just added some translations. Enjoy!

[NavyFCO]

Here's his second Red Banner that I forgot to post earlier...

1. Name: Toropigin, Konstantin Pavlovich

2. Military Rank: Lieutenant

3. Place of service: Commander detachment, 845th Fighter Aviation Rizhskoi Regiment

Recommended for the Order of the Red Banner

4. Date of birth: 1921

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Date joined the Red Army: Since 1941

7. Party membership: Member VLKSM since 1938

8. Service in the war, where and when: In the Patriotic War since 1943

9. Any wounds or contusions: Received a wound in his leg in 1944 and burns to his face in 1945.

10. Other awards received: Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class by Order of the 13th Air Army No. 052/N dated 24 April 1944. Order of the Red Banner by Order of 14th Air Army No. 039/N dated 10 August 1944. Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of the 4th Air Army No. 014/N dated 12 February 1945.

11. From which call up station: Lyubimskim RVK

12. Address of record: Yaroslavskoi Oblast, Lyubimskii Raion, P/O Zakovyakino Der. Mashinovo. Father: Toropigin, Pavel Ivanovich

For exemplarily accomplishing missions assigned by his commanders in order to fight against the German invaders, displaying valor and courage, conducting 107 successful sorties, personally bringing down 2 enemy aircraft Comrade TOROPYGIN has been awarded the Patriotic War Order, 1st degree, Red Banner Order and Patriotic War Order, 2nd degree.

Since he was awarded for the last time, Comrade Toropygin has conducted 38 successful sorties to escort ground attack aircraft during offensive operations by the 2nd Byelorussian Front. He has combined escorting ground attack aircraft with delivering 3 air strikes, thus killing up to 10 soldiers and officers, and destroying 1 motor vehicle.

The flight under Comrade Toropygin?s command has conducted 155 sorties to escort ground attack aircraft.

The enemy fighters have not inflicted losses on the escorted ground attack aircraft, for which the flight personnel have been commended 4 times by the chain of command.

During the last air combats Comrade Toropygin has personally brought down 2 enemy FW-190 aircraft.

On 22 April 1945 while escorting ground attack aircraft towards KRAKOW they met 4 enemy aircraft at an altitude of 800 meters, which tried to attack the ground attack aircraft.

While rebuffing attacks by the enemy aircraft Comrade Toropyhin personally brought down 1 FW-190, which fell 6 km west of Krakow.

The written reports of Senior Lieutenant GVANOVSKYI and Junior Lieutenant BYSTRITSKYI corroborate the downing of the aircraft.

On 24 April 1945 while escorting ground attack aircraft towards SMELLEN. Nearing the target they met 4 enemy FW-190 planes which tried to attack the ground attack aircarft.

While rebuffing attacks by the enemy aircraft, Comrade TOROPYGIN brought down an FW-190 which fell some 5 km south of SMELLEN.

The written reports of Junior Lieutenants LARKIN, BYSTRITSKIY and SAZINOV corroborate the downing of the enemy aircraft.

CONCLUSION: He deserves to be awarded the RED BANNER Order for exemplarily accomplishing missions assigned by his chain of command, conducting 38 sorties, bringing down 2 enemy FW-190 aircraft, and skillfully leading his subordinates.

Squadron Commander 845th Riga Fighter Aviation Regiment

Senior Lieutenant /Gvanovskii/

Award order of the Red Banner

Commander 845th Riga Fighter Aviation Regiment

Major /Drekalov/

12 May 1945

[NavyFCO]

Flight Red Star citation:

AWARD CARD

1. Name: Toropigin, Konstantin Pavlovich

2. Military Rank: Major

3. Place of service: Squadron Commander, ?Fighter Pilot 2nd Class? 486th Fighter Aviation Regiment

Recommended for the Order of the Red Star

4. Date of birth: 1921

5. Nationality: Russian

6. Party membership: Member KPSS since 1947

7. Awards received for mastery of flying: None

8. Time of joining the Soviet Army, VMS: Since 15 March 1941

9. Identification document: Serial: AG No. 14557

10. Certificate of flight hours from: 1 April 1950 to 10 February 1956

Aircraft Type Night In severe weather Total

Day Night

Jets: Yak-15, MiG-15,17 57.18 64.23 18.56 140.37

Military Piston: Yak-9, 9P 9.11 9.11

Transport

Total 57.18 73.34 18.56 149.48

Aircraft flight numbers are based on the pilot book of Major Toropigin K.P.

He was granted the qualification of the 2nd class military pilot by the Air Force Commander-in-Chief?s order # 00496 dated 23 December 1953. He is quite well trained as a pilot. He has flown a total of 1,353 h. 20 m. on all types of aircraft, including 383 h. 43 m. on jets. In 1956 he has flown 23 h. 26 m., including 4 h. 55 m. in the daytime under adverse weather conditions, 7 h. 18 m. by night under adverse weather conditions, and 2 h.37 m. by night under adverse weather conditions. His taxiing and flying skills are excellent. He knows how to conduct air combats. He is good at firing. He is trained to act as an instructor in the daytime and by night, under good and adverse weather conditions. He does not lose his presence of mind in complicated situations and makes right decisions.

He is competent in political issues and commands a due respect among the personnel.

Conclusion: He deserves to be awarded the Red Star Order for having flown 149 h. 48 m. and mastered flying techniques by night as well as in the daytime and by night under adverse weather conditions.

Commander 486th Fighter Aviation Regiment

/Razpog__/

10 February 1956

[RedMaestro]

Just so no one's kept in suspense for too long, the aircraft that he was awarded the Red Star and Red Banner for flight hours in are: MiG-15, MiG-17, Yak-15, Yak-9 and Yak-9P. Quite an eclectic set of aircraft! At the time he was a squadron commander in the 486th Fighter Aviation Regiment. He was awarded the Red Star for 149 hours, 48 minutes of flight time (cumulative from 1 January 1956 to 16 February 1956) and the Red Banner for 208 hours, 46 minutes from 16 February to 23 October 1956. By 23 October 1956, his career total for flight time was 1471 hours and 32 minutes (from September 1942 onwards.)

Having been a pilot before, I find it a little odd to have received these awards for flight hours. Strangely, the fact that he was bitter because he didn't receive a Lenin for 208 flight hours (which I think should have been "normal operation" for an average pilot during a 10 month period) is nothing short of really weird. I wonder what the circumstances were that the air force was layering on these awards in 1956.

Will post some scans tomorrow.

Dave

Sorry I'm about 3 years late replying to this thread. I just noticed it

I actually have a similar 1950's flight-time group (albeit, much smaller and less impressive) in my collection:

http://gmic.co.uk/in...showtopic=28617

Major Didusenko earned two Red Stars (one long-service, the other for bombing in Manchuria) and a missing Order of Lenin for flight time and other feats of aviation. I have copied the citation below:

"As a navigator he is well prepared. He flies the Tu-4 in all conditions. He has a total of 2132 fight hours, 1551 during the day. He has flown 1035 hours on the Tu-4, 634 hours in the day. He flew 180 hours in 1954, 85 during the day. He was allowed solo flights by order of the 184th Guards Bomber Aviation Long-range Aviation on October 31, 1950. He is a flight instructor. During 1954, he complete 13 bombing raids with a score of 4.6 and did 8 photo shootings with a score of 4.6. He set up 25 flight paths with a 4.7 score. He loves to fly. He systematically trains new navigators for mastering flights on the Tu-4 in all conditions."

He was originally recommended for a Red Banner. I'm still trying to work out if he had anything to do with nuclear testing. In any case, Toropigin's 208 hours for the Red Banner were 1,924 hours short of Didusenko's Order of lenin. And even for career flight time had 661 hours fewer, despite having a more significant war record.

Hope this sheds some light on the topic. I'm very interested to hear anything else concluded from this info

Also, Dave, could you please post the award card for this group? Thanks in advance!

-Alex

Edited December 28, 2009 by RedMaestro