Description
Documented Group of Soviet Awards
Awarded to Naval Pilot Major (later Colonel) Ivan Fyodorovich Karpov (Иван Федорович Карпов)
This group of Soviet awards consists of the following items:
Order of the Red Banner #312751
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 46.10 mm in height, 37.98 mm in width and it weighs 25.5 grams. The mint mark Monetni Dvor and the serial number are located at the bottom of its reverse.
This beautiful Red Banner is in great condition with crisp details and most gold plating still present. The enamel is problem free apart from minor crack in the enamel on the bottom of the top banner. The double layer suspension is time period to the order and its connection ring has not been cut.
Order of the Red Star #1693455
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 48.64 mm in height, 50.09 mm in width and it weighs 31.1 grams without its screwplate. The mint mark Monetni Dvor in two lines is located at the top of its reverse and the serial number at the bottom.
In excellent condition with problem free enamels. The higher laying parts show light wear only and most details are still present. The screw has not been shortened and its screwplate is time period to the order.
Order of the Red Star #2032736
Made of silver and enamels. Measures 46.81 mm in height, 48.41 mm in width and it weighs 31.2 grams without its screwplate. The mint mark Monetni Dvor in two lines is located at the top of its reverse and the serial number at the bottom.
This Order of the Red Star is in excellent condition with problem free enamels. The higher laying parts show light wear only and its details are still present. The screw has not been shortened and its screwplate is time period to the order.
Medal for Combat Merit #1331722
Made of silver and red lacquer. Measures 37.28 mm in height including its eyelet, 32.18 mm in width and it weighs 17.9 grams without its suspension.
In excellent condition with crisp details and most red lacquer still present. The medal comes with its time period suspension and old ribbon. Its connection ring has not been cut.
Order Booklet
In decent condition with all pages firmly attached to the cover. The booklet mentions all awards above.
Military Passport
In worn condition but all pages still present and attached to its cover. It contains a picture of Col. Karpov.
Several images of Karpov with text witten on their back
An original autobiography of Karpov (partial translation below)
Translation of the citation for the Medal for Combat Merit:
“Major KARPOV I.F. has been serving in the RKKA since 1931. In 1938, he was promoted from a pilot position to a political position of the aviation squadron commissar. After having graduated from the pilot school in 1934, comrade KARPOV quickly mastered his skills and became the best pilot in his unit. In the 4 years of his flying career, he hadn’t had any flying incidents. Eventually, he was promoted to flight commander of a bomber aviation squadron. He was serving as an aviation regiment commander’s political deputy during the period of 1941-1944. In this capacity, he proved himself as an energetic and gifted leader. He skillfully addressed the issues of the combat and political readiness and was intolerant to any sorts of shortcomings. He is a disciplined officer and decisively improves discipline in the unit. He is is attentive and carrying towards every single serviceman needs and enjoys well deserved respect among the troops. He conducted properly the education and development of the local party and Komsomol organisations, focusing the attention on fulfilling the goals the Bolshevik’s Party, high discipline and organisation, and incident free operations.”
Translation of the autobiography:
KARPOV IVAN DEDOROVICH
Born 16 April 1908 in the Tula region, Chern’ district, village Pashutino in a worker’s family.
Father, KARPOV Fedor Parfenovich worked in a coal mine, later as a shoemaker. He died in 1912 due to an illness.
Mother, KARPOVA Dria Erofeyevna, worked as a simple laborer until 1917. First , she worked at the Baron TOLSTOY estate, later at the landlord NAGORNOVA estate in the Tula region, Chern’ district.
In 1917, the whole family moved to the Donbass area, town Alachevsk, “Ekaterininsky” mining enterprise, where the mother worked on different positions until 1921. In connection to the famine of 1921, the facility moved again to the town Priluki, Chernigov regio, where she has been living there ever since and is under my financial patronage.
In the Summer 1918, I worked as a shepherd for a wealthy local estate owner in the town Gorodische, Ekaterinovka region. In 1919, I took 3 education courses at the school of the “Ekaterininsky” mining enterprise, town Alachevsk. From 1920 till 1921, I lived on the streets. During 04.1921 – 08.1927, I was an apprentice at the communal town service goods depot in the town Priluki. Later, I became an apprentice of a plumber.
I became Komsomol member in 1924. In 1925 I finished the first year of a 3 year school, town Priluki. At that point, I signed up for an extended course at the evening working youth school, which I graduated from in May 1927.
……..
In May I was sent to the pilot school. From the beginning, I underwent combined arms training in the camps of the Moscow infantry school, and in November 1961 I arrived at the school in Stalingrad, which I graduated in November 1934. After that I was sent to the Far East as a pilot in 112 airborne squadron. In April 1937, I was appointed a pilot of an air squadron 29th Air Brigade of the Pacific Air Force From September 1938. In September, I was appointed commissar of the second torpedo air squadron, 29 air brigade. In January I was appointed deputy commander for political affairs of a separate dive squadron of the Pacific Air Force
…
[Full translation on request]
The full translation of the archival research can be found here
More info on Karpov can be found here
The other citation for the Red Star can be translated on request
Please contact us with questions
