Description
Group of Soviet Orders of the Red Banner #213293 and Red Star #3222556
(picture of the emblem of the Berlin 368FAR)
Awarded to fighter pilot and Jr. Lieutenant Leonid Dmitrievich Scherbatykh (Леонид Дмитриевич Щербатых)
Flight commander of the 368th fighter aviation regiment
For conducting dozens of successful combat missions in the East Prussia and the Orel campaigns and attacking a superior enemy fighter group of up to 20 Fw-190s and Me-109s confusing their combat formation and thus allowing the escorted bombers to finish their mission
Red Banner #213293
Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 45.11 mm in height, 36.72 mm in width and it weighs 26.3 gram without its suspension. The serial number and curved mint mark are located at the 6 o’clock position of its reverse.
In excellent, above average condition for a wartime piece. Its details are all visible and the red enamels are almost fully present apart from a small chip on the 9 o’clock ray of the center star. The white enamel is problem free without damage and its connection ring has not been cut. Much of the original gold plating is still present and both sides show an appealing dark patina. The order comes with its time period double layer steel suspension and the order has no repairs.
Order of the Red Star #3222556
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 47.58 mm in width, 45.64 mm in height and weighs 30.5 gram without its screwplate. The serial number is located at the 6 o’clock position and the mint mark on the 12 o’clock position of its reverse.
This beautiful order of the Red Star is near mint condition. Its details are crisp and even the higher laying parts on the soldier show little wear. The enamels are absolutely stunning without dings, scratches or flaking and the silver shows a nice patina on both sides. There have been no repairs and the screw is full length.
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements (for the Red Banner):
“During his service in the regiment, he proved himself as a courageous, skilled fighter pilot, and a capable commander and leader of his subordinates.
During the period of the regiment formation, being one of the flight commanders, he trained well and prepared his flying and the technical ground personnel for the combat missions. The flight conducted well two long relocation flights, each up to 1200km without landing.
He participated as a pilot in the Orel operation, where he conducted 19 successful combat missions: 12 reconnaissance missions and 7 for escorting reconnaissance planes. In the East-Prussia campaign, he flew as a flight commander. His flight conducted 20 successful combat missions with total of 24 hours of flying time. He personally made 15 combat sorties with 20 hours of flying time. He participated in the strikes against the enemy troops in Danzig, Heiligenbeil, port Pillau, Rosenberg, and the Hel Peninsula. In the bomber escort mission on 22 March 1945, he was attacked by a superior enemy fighter group of up to 20 Fw-190 and Me-109. Comrade SCHRERBATYKH boldly attacked them confusing their combat formation and thus allowing our bombers to finish their mission and return home without losses.
He has received 2 gratitudes from the Supreme Commander STALIN for capturing towns Heiligenbeil and Danzig.
For exemplary execution of the combat objectives, he deserves state award – order “RED BANNER””
The full translation of the research can be read below:
More info on Lt. Scherbatykh can also be found here
These orders are the only numbered awards Lt. Scherbatykh was given, so technically this can be considered to be a complete group
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