Description
Order of the Red Banner 2nd award #4810
Awarded to Naval Reconnaissance Pilot Anatoly Andreevich Smirnov (Анатолий Андреевич Смирнов)
For flying 29 combat reconnaissance missions – 25 short-range and 4 long-range – over enemy naval areas in northern and northwestern Finland and Norway. He conducted aerial photography and gathered intelligence on enemy ships, including minesweepers, patrol boats, and even a submarine, as well as coastal infrastructure
Please note the extremely low serial number suspension-type Order of the Red Banner – one of the first 10 produced, according to Durov’s Orders of the Red Banner (and probably the lowest know number on the market)
Made of silver and enamels, it measures 36.86 mm wide by 44.88 mm tall (including the eyelet) and weighs 22.3 grams without the suspension. The mint mark is located above the serial number in one straight line, with a maker’s mark “7” at the center.
In excellent condition with sharp details. Raised areas like the torch and central wreath show only light wear. The red and white enamels are well preserved for such an early issue and show no repairs. Much of the original gold plating remains, and both sides display a light toning to the silver. Its connection ring remains uncut and the order comes with a time-period suspension.
A rare and historically significant piece with not often seen ties to the Scandinavian theater!
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
He has taken part in the Patriotic War since January 1942. For exemplary performance of 65 combat sorties, he was awarded two government awards. After his last awarding on 16.03.1944, he carried out 25 combat sorties on short-range reconnaissance and 4 combat sorties on long range reconnaissance of enemy ports and sea lanes in the northern and northwestern Finland and in Norway. During these combat reconnaissance sorties, the following were observed:
On 13.02.1944 – Gamvik: 2 patrol boats; Berlevåg: 2 patrol boats (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet №44)
On 15.02.1944 – Gamvik: 3 patrol boats, 1 minesweeper; Nordkinn: 1 tug; Honningsvåg: 2 trawlers, 4 patrol boats, 2 minesweepers, 12 tugs; Hammerfest: 3 trawlers, 1 depot ship, 3 patrol boats, 2 minesweepers, 1 submarine (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet №46)
On 16.02.1944 – Nordkinn: 1 minesweeper; Honningsvåg: 1 minesweeper, 2 tugs; Revsbotn: 1 trawler, 3 patrol boats, 2 minesweepers; Hammerfest: 1 trawler, 1 depot ship (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Sea Fleet №47)
On 19.02.1944 – Høybuktmoen: aerial photography conducted; Kirkenes: aerial photography conducted (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №50)
On 08.03.1944 – Berlevåg: 1 trawler, 2 patrol boats, 1 minesweeper (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №50)
On 14.03.1944 – Makkaur: 2 minesweepers; Gamvik: 1 minesweeper, 3 tugs; Nordkinn: 3 tugs (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №72)
On 17.03.1944 – Honningsvåg: 2 minesweepers; Breisun [?]: 1 self-propelled barge; Hammerfest: 1 trawler, 1 depot ship, 2 patrol boats (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №75)
On 18.03.1944 – Gamvik: 1 minesweeper (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №76)
On 20.03.1944 – Gamvik: 1 minesweeper; Honningsvåg: 1 trawler, 1 patrol boat; Magerøya: 2 minesweepers (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №78)
On 07.04.1944 – Honningsvåg: 4 tugs; Gamvik: 2 patrol boats, 2 tugs; Tanafjord: 1 trawler, 2 patrol boats, 2 minesweepers, 3 small hunters (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №97)
On 14.04.1944 – Honningsvåg: 18 tugs; Magerøya: 2 trawlers, 2 minesweepers (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №104)
On 20.04.1944 – Kobholmfjord: course-planning aerial photography; Jarfjorden: course-planning aerial photography; Kramvik: 6 trawlers, 12 guard ships; Holmengrafenfjord [?]: 3 patrol boats (Operational Report, Air Force, Northern Fleet, №110)
For excellent performance of 26 successful combat sorties on short-range reconnaissance and 4 combat sorties on long range reconnaissance and for valor and courage displayed therein, he deserves the government award the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the 118th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, Air Force of the Northern Fleet,
Lieutenant-Colonel Pavlov [signed & stamped]
13 May 1944
[Page 3]
II. Conclusion of Superiors
For 29 combat sorties carried out on short-range and long-range reconnaissance of enemy ports, sea lanes, and naval bases, and for courage and bravery displayed therein, he deserves a government award.
I motion for awarding the Order of the Red Banner.
Commander of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet
Lieutenant-General of Aviation Andreev [signed]
17 May 1944
The full translation can be read here
Also included in the picture gallery are scans of the research to his order of the Red Star and other two Red Banners as well as a scan of a picture of Lt. Smirnov which we found online. The citation for his other awards mention the following:
On 21 February 1943, during a reconnaissance mission over the sea, Smirnov’s crew was attacked by three enemy fighters. One enemy plane was shot down in front of the crew. His own aircraft caught fire mid-air and made an emergency landing on the sea while burning.
Smirnov suffered second-degree burns and spent three hours in icy water in a rubber raft before rescue.
27 February 1943: Participated in a group operation that sank an enemy submarine (cited in Air Force summary No. 35).
17 May, 3 June, 8 June, 9 June 1943: Escort and protection of convoys (“ПЛО конвоя”)—each time the mission was marked as “task completed excellently”.
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