Description
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Soviet Medal for Combat Merit #62822
Awarded to Aerial gunner / radio operator Sergeant Fyodor Fyodorovich Lopatochkin (Федор Федорович Лопаточкин)
For mastering Pe-2 aircraft’s armament systems and radio transceiver to perfection, shooting down a Me-109 aircraft and many successful reconnaissance missions!
Made of solid silver. Measurements; 32.32 mm in diameter and 2.85 mm in thickness. The height of the medal; 36.67 mm (including the eyelet). The eyelet itself is 4.89 in width and the medal weighs 23.1 gram without its suspension. The suspension measures 25.72 mm in width at its narrowest point and 32.05 at its widest point.
The medal is in great, well above average condition with only some small dings and scratches. Nothing distracting from the overall appeal of the medal. Most details are well visible and the red lacquer is all present. The brass suspension is original as is the screw, the nut, the plate holding the ribbon and the screw plate tightening it all up. The ribbon is old and probably belongs to the medal too and its connection ring has not been cut.
Interesting information: According to the document from the OBD Memorial Lopatochkin died Augustus 5th 1942. It also says: “On August 5th 1942 Lopatochkin didn’t return from his mission. According to the report of first lieutenant Podkolodny comrade Lopatochkin was captured while wounded as a prisoner of war.”
Interesting piece and very detailed citation!
Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or accomplishments
“He is dedicated to the cause of the Party of Lenin and Stalin and the socialist motherland. He proved his dedication through the bravery and courage he exhibited during combat missions. He flies with great zeal. He is well familiar with the workings of his Pe-2 aircraft’s armament systems and radio transceiver and has mastered these to perfection. During combat missions he provides reliable communications and as a gunner he vigilantly watches the skies. He has been credited with one downed enemy Me-109 aircraft. During his day-to-day military service he upgrades his own skills and assists the young radio operators. Among the men he commands great authority.
Between October 9, 1941 and June 18, 1942 he flew 96 successfully executed combat sorties on the Northwestern Front, 56 of which were reconnaissance sorties.
On May 8, 1942 a single aircrew reconnoitered the enemy airfields at Dedovichi and Grivochki, the main roads between Chikhachevo and Vzglyady and between Staraya Russa and Ramushevo, and the railroad line between Dno and Staraya Russa. During the reconnaissance mission 10 enemy transport aircraft were spotted on Grivochki airfield, a transport train with up to 30 covered railroad cars was observed at Volot station, and a column of 130 vehicles was detected on the road between Staraya Russa and Borodino.
On May 9, 1942 a single aircrew reconnoitered and photographed the Lovat River in the Novoselki-Ramushevo and Ramushevo-Omychkino sectors. During the reconnaissance mission 5 tanks were spotted along the Lovat River northwest of Omychkino. At the village of Omychkino, at the edge of the woods 1 kilometer east of the Lovat River, 3 antiaircraft guns were discovered. 800 meters south of Ramushevo up to 10 antiaircraft machine-gun positions were seen.
On May 18, 1942 a single aircrew reconnoitered enemy troops along the Shimsk-Medved-Utorgosh-Soltsy-Relbitsy-Volot-Ramushevo route. During the reconnaissance mission a column of up to 60 vehicles was detected in the village of Medved, 2 transport trains of up to 25-30 cars each were spotted at Utorgosh station, and 25 covered railroad cars and a flatcar were observed at Vzglyady platform.
On May 24, 1942 a single aircrew reconnoitered enemy troops along the Shimsk-Medved-Utorgosh-Soltsy-Relbitsy-Ramushevo-Demyansk route. During the reconnaissance mission a transport train of up to 40-50 cars was discovered at Utorgosh station, up to 15 twin-engine aircraft were observed on Soltsy airfield, a concentration of up to 50 vehicles was seen 2 kilometers northwest of Ramushevo, and 5 twin-engine aircraft were spotted on Demyansk airfield.
On June 8, 1942 a single aircrew reconnoitered enemy troops in the Dedovichi, Grivochki, Tuleblya, and Ramushevo areas. During the reconnaissance mission up to 22 bombers were detected on Tuleblya airfield and up to 60 vehicles were spotted in the village of Kobylkino.
During all sorties, communications functioned smoothly and reconnaissance information was transmitted via radio, for which he received a number of commendations.
Conclusion: For the exemplary execution of combat missions at the front in the struggle with the German invaders and the bravery and courage he displayed in the process, Sergeant F.F. Lopatochkin is being nominated for a second decoration, the Order of the Red Star.”
Full translation of the research: Translation_Lopatochkin
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