Description
Soviet Order of the Red Star #69380
Awarded to pilot 3rd class of the special purpose Black sea Navy aviation squadron Lieutenant Ivan Timofeevich Belkin (Иван Тимофеевич Белкин)
For transporting 650 men, 4700kg of cargo, delivering 950 urgent dispatches and intelligence documents and flying 921 hours without any incidents even though he often landed during enemy air raids and air bombardments. During one air raid he sustained a contusion
Made of silver and enamels. The order measures 47.89 mm in width, 45.87 mm in height and weighs 31.4 grams without its screwplate. The serial number is located at the 6 o’clock position and the mint mark on the 12 o’clock position of its reverse. This early variation has a round base ‘heel’ of the screw.
In pristine, well above average condition. The details of the raised silver parts like the soldier and lettering are crisp and show minor traces of wear only. The red enamels are stunning without chipping, repairs or noticeable dings and scratches. The reverse of the order is in excellent condition too and both sides show an appealing dark toning to the silver. Its screwpost is full length and the order comes with its time period and well fitted silver screwplate.
An early award, next to impossible to upgrade and with great research. Scarce as such!
Brief and specific description of the personal feat or merits:
During Lieutenant Ivan Timofeevich BELKIN’s service as a pilot in the special purpose Black sea Navy aviation squadron, he proved himself as a disciplined pilot with good piloting technique, deeply devoted to the cause of the Lenin-Stalin party comrade. Operating light aircraft types during the war, comrade BELKIN transported 650 men (soldiers, officers, wounded), 4700kg of cargo (ammunition, armament, medical supplies), delivered 950 urgent dispatches and intelligence documents. In the same period, he flew 921 hours 46 minutes without any incidents.
Most of his missions, comrade BELKIN performed in adverse conditions exposing himself to direct life menace. Flying over Crimean peninsula to the places Yevpatoria – Befteri – Dzhankoj – Skadovsk and others, comrade BELKIN often landed during enemy air raids and several times were subjected to enemy air bombardment. In one of the missions, he sustained a contusion during an air raid. But these difficulties couldn’t break comrade BELKIN’s desire to make as many as possible most important missions.
For his excellent performance, he received a number of gratitudes from the commanders of the special purpose Black sea Navy aviation squadron and from the higher level airforce commanders. For example, he received gratitude from the commanders of 27 Airforce and 21 aviation base, who recommended him to be bestowed with a state award.
The full translation of citation card can be found here
More information on Lt. Belkincan be found here
Also included in the picture gallery is a digital image of Lt. Belkin and an image of the memorial plaque to the special purpose aviation squadron
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