Description
Order of Alexander Nevsky #22725
Awarded to Lt. Colonel and Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Fedorovich Volkov (Виктор Федорович Волков)
As a skilled and brave fighter pilot, he has been in combat since June 1941. By early 1944, he completed 229 sorties and shot down 23 enemy planes. Honored with several prestigious awards, he led his regiment to execute over 964 sorties between July 1944 and January 1945, successfully downing 35 enemy aircraft and maintaining minimal losses
Note that HSU Volkov shot down his first plane at the first hours at the first day of the war!
Made of solid silver and enamels. Measures 51.30 mm in height, 50.29 mm in width and weighs 41.9 grams without its screwplate. The serial number and the mint mark Monetni Dvor are located at the 6 o’clock position underneath the screw.
In excellent condition with light overall wear and crisp details on on even the raised bust of Alexander Nevsky. The red enamels are well preserved without chipping or repairs and show some small dings and contact marks only. Much of the original gold plating on the wreath, poleaxes, sword and arrows is still present. Its screw has not been shortened and the order shows no repairs. It comes with its well fitting and correct screwplate.
A beautiful piece awarded to a fighter pilot Hero of the Soviet Union. Rare as such!
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:
He is a fighter pilot of great courage and extensive experience. He is determined and tactically trained regiment commander. He has been participating in combat operations defending the Motherland since July 1941. Until 23.02.1944, he made 229 combat sorties and personally shot down 15 enemy aircrafts and 8 aircrafts as part of a group. For his combat feats and courageous command of his regiment, Lt. Colonel VOLKOV was bestowed with “Lenin” order in 1942, order “Red Banner” in 1943, and granted the title “Hero of Soviet Union” in July 1944.
During July 1944 – 14.01.1945, the aviation regiment under skilful command of Lt. Colonel VOLKOV made 864 combat sorties and shot down 35 enemy aircrafts loosing only 7 aircrafts and 6 pilots in return.
Since the beginning of offensive operation of 1 Belorussian front, i.e. during 14-25 January 1945, the regiment made 104 combat sorties: 2 ground strike missions, 4 enemy interception in the air, 50 bomber escort missions, 48 missions for covering ground troops. The regiment didn’t suffer a single loss during this period.
Comrade VOLKOV always personally participated in the combat missions and led his fighter pilot into battles. Thanks to his efficient command, courage and bravery, and fearless attitude, his pilots many times came victorious out of the battles. Comrade VOLKOV daily trains and educates his pilots in best examples of courage, bravery, and endless devotion to the Motherland.
During July 1944 – 25 January 1945, Lt. Colonel VOLKOV personally made 46 combat sorties, of which 17 missions for covering ground troops, 8 air patrol missions, 14 free hunting missions, 2 missions after the call of the main “Tiger” radio station, 5 reconnaissance missions of enemy airfields and ground troops. He loves performing combat missions and inspires his subordinates for feats in the struggle against the German Fascists.
For his efficient and brave command of the regiment in the fight against he Fascist vultures, for efficient combat result of the regiment, and for 46 personal combat sorties, Lt. Colonel VOLKOV deserves state award order “ALEKSANDER NEVSKY”.
The full translation of the research can be read below:
A short translated biography of Lt. Col. Volkov:
Viktor Fedorovich Olkov – Major and Commander of the 157th Fighter Aviation Regiment, 234th Fighter Aviation Division of the 16th Air Army, 1st Belorussian Front.
Viktor Fedorovich Olkov was born on January 25, 1917 (February 7 in the Gregorian calendar), in the village of Samsonovo, now part of Danilovsky District, Yaroslavl Region. He was born into a peasant family and joined the CPSU in 1940. Prior to his military service, he worked at the Yaroslavl Palace of Pioneers, graduated from a technical school specializing in synthetic rubber, and was employed at a car plant and a synthetic rubber plant.
In 1936, he was drafted into the Red Army and sent to the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots after passing a medical examination. He graduated in 1938 and was on the front from the first days of World War II. He claimed his first victory on an I-16 fighter, shooting down a reconnaissance aircraft on the second hour of the war.
During a battle on August 8, 1942, in the Rzhev area, his plane was shot down and he parachuted from the burning aircraft. By December 1942, he was appointed as the commander of the 157th Fighter Aviation Regiment, leading his unit through major battles including Kursk and the Dnieper. From December 28, 1942, to March 9, 1944, his regiment undertook 2,458 combat missions, downing 131 enemy aircraft.
One of his most notable engagements occurred on Red Army Day in the Rogachev area, where he shot down an FV-190 and targeted a group of Yu-87 bombers, setting the lead bomber on fire with a precise burst. By March 1944, Major Olkov had completed 236 combat missions, engaging in 59 air battles, personally shooting down 15 enemy planes and contributing to eight group victories.
On July 1, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for his courage and heroism in air battles against Nazi invaders. By the war’s end, he had flown 290 combat missions, participated in 75 air battles, and personally shot down 17 enemy aircraft.
After the war, Major Olkov graduated from the Air Force Academy in Monino in 1951 and flew various types of jet fighters. He served as the deputy commander of a fighter aviation division and deputy head of the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. He retired to the reserve with the rank of colonel in 1972 and lived in Yaroslavl until his death on October 21, 1998. He was buried in the Military Memorial Cemetery in Yaroslavl on the Alley of Heroes.
Throughout his career, Major Olkov was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Orders of the Red Banner, Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st Degree, Red Star, and numerous medals.
From the Hero’s Memoirs:
According to intelligence, the central airfield in Bobruisk housed a squadron of “Mölders,” considered among the enemy’s best. An interview with a captured pilot revealed that our fighters had inflicted significant losses on them. Despite being 40% young pilots, the squadron was critical to the German command, which often sent it to decisive sectors of the front.
On February 23, 1944, I led 14 crews of our best pilots to challenge the Mölders squadron. We were stationed at Yudich airfield, 12 km from the front line. Our group was organized into three combat pairs, ready to engage at different altitudes with Yak-9t and Yak-1 fighters.
Late in the day, after detecting enemy aircraft near Bobruisk, we intercepted and engaged them in a structured formation using tactical advantages of clouds and the sun. During the intense air battle, we shot down four enemy bombers and nine fighters without any losses. This decisive engagement significantly shifted the air superiority in our favor along that sector, limiting enemy fighters’ actions and achieving aerial dominance.
A lot of information on Volkov can be found online. Some links here, here, here and here
The list of air victories of Viktor Fedorovich Volkov:
06.1941 – 07.1941 : Mig-3 , 10 fighter aviation regiment.
07.1941 – 10.1942 : Yak-1, 163 fighter aviation regiment.
10.1942 – 03.1945 : Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-1, Yak-31, 157 fighter aviation regiment.
03.1945 – 05.1945 : headquarters of 234 fighter aviation division.
>250 combat missions in total, 60 air fights.
Victories: 15 personal + 6 in a group.
1 22.06.1941 1 Ju-88 group victory near Šiaulē.
2 23.06.1941 1 Ju-88 group victory near Šiaulē.
3 23.06.1941 1 He-111 group victory near Šiaulē.
4 25.06.1941 1 Me-109 group victory near Šiaulē.
5 02.08.1941 1 M-109 personal victory near Yelnya.
6 02.08.1941 1 Hs-126 group victory near Yelnya.
7 03.08.1941 1 Me-109 personal victory near Yelnya.
8 11.08.1941 1 Me-110 personal victory near Podmoshie.
9 24.08.1941 1 He-113 personal victory near Yelnya.
10 20.01.1942 1 Ju-88 (victory in a group of 2) south of lake Kamennoe.
11 31.01.1942 1 Ju-52 town Holm.
12 18.05.1942 1 Ме-109 Demyansk region.
13 01.08.1942 1 Ме-109 north-east of Rzhev.
14 06.08.1942 1 Ме-109 Rzhev.
15 08.08.1942 1 Ме-109 village Galakhovo.
16 09.08.1942 1 Ju-88 (victory in a pair 1/2) river Vazuza near town Rzhev.
17 06.07.1943 1 FW-190 south of village Ponyri.
18 04.08.1943 2 Ju-87 village Beldyashki-kolki.
19 23.02.1944 2 Ju-87 east of town Rogachev.
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