Description
Order of Glory 3rd Class #125179
Awarded to Guards Sergeant Fedor Petrovich Zan’ko (Федор Петрович Занько)
For his successes during 27 missions as an IL-2 aerial gunner where he displayed exceptional skill and courage. Zan’ko efficiently protected his HSU pilot from enemy fighters, downed three enemy aircraft, and even managed to fend off an enemy attack when his machine-gun jammed
The only Belarusian full cavalier of the Order of Glory in the air force!
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 46.74 mm in width, 48.80 mm in height and weighs 22.8 grams without its suspension.
In worn but decent condition. The enamels are mostly present without repairs but show some superficial flaking. The raised parts exhibit medium to strong wear of both sides and some of the details on the spasskaya tower have worn off. Its connection ring has not been cut and the order comes with its time period double layer steel suspension and old ribbon.
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
During his service in 75 Guards ground assault aviation regiment, Guards Sr. Sergeant ZAN’KO flew 136 successful combat ground strike missions as an aerial gunner on IL-2.
For his 109 successful missions and exhibited heroism, he was bestowed with order “Red Banner”, “Red Star”, and “Patriotic war I class”.
After his latest award, comrade ZAN’KO made further 27 successful combat missions as an aerial gunner on IL-2 aircraft.
He flies combat missions with great enthusiasm and executes them diligently, skilfully protecting his pilot from enemy fighter planes.
Guards Sr. Sergeant ZAN’KO is one of the best aerial gunners in the regiment and flies always in the leading aircraft of the formation.
During the missions, he always efficiently assists his pilot-commander with monitoring the skies and coordination with our fighter escort.
When engaging enemy fighter planes in the air, he exhibits exceptional courage and bravery.
He shot down 3 enemy aircrafts during of the war. He received a number of gratitudes from the command for his excellent combat performance.
He skilfully and bravely repels enemy fighter plane attacks, such as: On 24.04.1944, in a combat mission near “Sapun Gora” mount, a group of IL-2 was attacked by 4 enemy planes. Comrade ZAN’KO repelled 3 attacks by 2 enemy planes, which attempted to scatter our formation.
On 05.05.1944, in a ground strike mission at the enemy airfield “Shestaya versta”, our IL-2 formation was attacked by 2 Me-109. Comrade ZAN’KO repelled 2 attacks in this engagement.
On 05.07.1944, in a ground strike mission against an enemy vehicle caravan, comrade ZAN’KO set ablaze a truck by the fire of his machine-gun.
On 04.08.1944, during a combat mission, his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighter planes. Apart from that, his IL-2 was already severely damaged by AA fire. Guards Sr. Sergeant ZAN’KO was engaging enemy fighters with his protective fire, when his machine-gun jammed. Then he fired a signal flare directly into approaching enemy plane and hit it. Blinding flash confused the enemy pilot, who stopped his attack run and exited the fight. ZAN’KO sustained 3 light wounds in this combat engagement.
For 27 successful combat missions on IL-2 as an aerial gunner and for exhibited courage and bravery, he deserves state award order “RED BANNER”.
The full translation of the research can be read below
More information on Sgt. Zan’ko can be found here, here, here and here
Also in the picture gallery is an image of his pilot Nikolay Nikolaevich Tarakanov who was bestowed the Title Hero of the Soviet Union
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