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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 484

A spectacular Soviet Anti-Aircraft Gunner's Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Senior Lieutenant P. I. Luchkin, a Battery Commander in the 1400th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, who had the extraordinary personal tally of 7 downed enemy aircraft

Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, Type 2, concave reverse, reverse officially numbered '531472', very fine

Pyotr Innokentyevich Luchkin was born in the village of Ust-Kut in Irkutsk Oblast in 1921. He had served in the Red Army since 1939, having seen action on the Stalingrad Front from July-November 1942 and the 1st Ukrainian Front from December 1943 onwards.

Luchkin's first award was an Order of the Red Star awarded to him by Order of the 37th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division on 23 February 1944, this was followed by a First Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of the Artillery Commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front on 30 October 1944. This award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class, Luckhin's second was awarded to him on 15 February 1945, the citation states:

'Through painstaking labour Lieutenant Luchkin instills in his battery's men a feeling of bitter hatred toward the enemy and a sense of dedication toward their motherland. He has shown initiative, bravery and steadfastness.

During the fighting for the Oder bridgehead Lieutenant Luchkin's Battery, the Regiment's best, has been carrying out its combat missions efficiently and in a timely manner. He skillfully directed his battery's artillery fire and prevented enemy aircraft from scouting and bombing the Oder River crossings and our troop formations. In doing so he guaranteed arriving reserves and the troops engaged in battle in the Oder bridgehead reliable cover.

Under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire Lieutenant Luchkin repeatedly repelled enemy aerial attacks, displaying steadfastness and bravery in the process. On 4th February 1945 his battery, fired upon by enemy artillery, quickly opened fire at 2 Me-109's, and thanks to Lieutenant Luchkin's able fire direction 1 Me-109 was shot down. Lieutenant Luchkin's personal tally comprises 7 downed enemy aircraft. In one of his Orders the Supreme Commander in Chief expressed his gratitude to the Division for taking part and distinguishing itself in the fighting for the Oder bridgehead, for which Lieutenant Luchkin deserves significant credit'.

The recommendation was originally for an Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class signed by the Commander of the 1400th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Reks, this was upgraded to an Order of the Red Banner by Guards Major General of the Artillery Gudkov, the Commander of the 37th Lvov Anti-aircraft Artillery Division of the High Command, but then downgraded to an Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Captain Lyagavko, the Artillery Commander of the 21st Army.

Luchkin was subsequently awarded an Order of the Red Banner on 27 June 1945 by Order of the 21st Army, this quite probably for a role in that armies final offensive of the war, aimed at capturing Prague and finally destroying Army Group Centre.

After the war he was serving as a Platoon Leader at the Non-Commissioned Officer School of the 37th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division; sold together with copied citation and research, including english translation.


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£80