Description
Order of the Red Banner 2nd award #3510
Awarded to Captain Boris Aleksandrovich Tobolin (Борис Александрович Таболин)
For flying 43 successful combat night sorties, of which 8 missions long behind the enemy line with the aim to drop supplies and parachute our agents. During some of the combat missions he was fired at and hit multiple times by enemy AA fire but managed to return safely
Recommended for the Order of Lenin
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 36.46 mm in width, 40.47 mm in height and weighs 24.3 grams without its screwplate. The mint mark is located above the serial number.
In excellent, above average condition with medium overall wear and most of the original gold plating still present. The red and white enamels are generally well preserved but show some repairs on two rays of the center star and on the top banner. Its reverse shows several dings and scratches but its serial number and mint mark are crisp. The order has never been (re)converted to a suspension type and its screw has not been shortened. It comes with its well fitting silver screwplate.
The order was authenticated by Filer and is rated a 7.5 out of 10. Unfortunately the certificate is not physically present but it can be checked online in the database of Medalsmarket. An image of it can be seen in the picture gallery.
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
He has been in the active field forces of the Red Army since the beginning of the Patriotic war. Before his arrival to 12 Guards long range aviation regiment, he made 138 combat sorties, of which 92 day missions and 46 night missions as part of the Civil Aviation Fleet command.
During his service in 12 Guards long range aviation regiment since 09 May 1942, he made 107 combat bombing missions against the enemy’s large railway junctions, such as in Bryansk, Orel, Rzhev, Vyazma, Poltava, and others. All the 107 missions were night missions.
For 64 successful combat sorties, he was bestowed with order “Red Banner”. After this award, he made further 43 combat sorties with the same success, of which 8 missions long behind the enemy line with the aim to drop supplies and parachute our agents (total flying time 78 hours 30 minutes).
During the combat missions, he acts exceptionally determined and he had not a single failed mission caused by his fault. He conducts his bomb strikes from minimal possible altitude, which is corroborated by a number of aerial photos taken by a camera on his aircraft.
There were occasions, when comrade TOBOLIN’s aircraft came back with up to 10 holes caused by the enemy AA fire, which also witnesses the pilot’s persistent desire to strike the enemy most painfully.
As the best aircraft crew, he was several times sent as a path finder to illuminate the target, which he as a rule performed successfully.
He proved his devotion to the cause of the Lenin-Stalin’s party in the combat struggle against the German-Fascist invaders.
For exhibited courage and unyielding will to accomplish his combat missions, I recommend him for state awards order “LENIN”.
The full translation can be found below:
More info on Captain Tobolin can be found here
Also present in the picture gallery are:
- the citation for the Partisan Medal 1st class he received for dropping cargo behind enemy lines to the partisans
- a book mentioning Tobolin
- two scans of images of Tobolin we found online
Please contact us with questions
