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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 496

A Soviet 'Kirovograd Offensive' Pilot's Order of the Red Star awarded to Lieutenant A. M. Shtokalenko, 66th Aviation Regiment, 266th Aviation Regiment, 5th Air Army, 2nd Ukrainian Front, who later went on to be awarded both the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class and the Order of the Red Banner, before joining the Uzbek Civil Fleet as a Captain

Russia, U.S.S.R., Order of the Red Star, Type 6, reverse officially numbered '414993', enamel repair to one arm, very fine

Aleksandr Mikhailovich Shtokalenko was born in 1922 at Krasnovodsk Aleksandr Mikhailovich Shtokalenko and was drafted by the Military Commissariat of the Lenin Raion, in the city of Tashkent, he joined the Red Army in August 1940. Shtokalenko became of a Candidate Member of the Communist party in 1942, his front line service began on 26 December 1943 with the 66th Kiev Ground Assault Regiment, where he was recommended for the award of the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class (which was later downgraded to an Order of the Red Star), the recommendation was as follows:

'Comrade Shtokolenko has been serving with the 66th Kiev Ground-Assault Aviation Regiment since 26th December 1943. During this period he showed himself a fearless airman. During the regiment's period of particularly intense combat actions he conducted 12 combat flights, aimed at destroying enemy troops and material. During his missions he releases his bombs exactly over his target, as a result of which, during this period, he destroyed or damaged 5 tanks and armoured vehicles, 1 fuel storage tank, 1 ammunition depot, and 5 field and anti-aircraft guns. He took part in fierce air and defensive combat three times. He doesn't lose himself even at the most trying moments, is cool-headed, and skilfully engages in battle. In combat he acts decisively and confidently and looks out for his comrades-in-arms.

On 16th January 1944, during a combat mission, the aircraft flown by comrade Shtokolenko was damaged by enemy anti-aircraft artillery and fighters, the tires and wings had been punctured and the rudder was damaged, but comrade Shtokolenko didn't disengage from battle and continued carrying out his mission. He flew the damaged aircraft to the airfield and landed it smoothly, thus saving the aircraft.

For 12 successful combat flights, during which he destroyed or damaged 5 tanks and armoured vehicles, 1 fuel storage tank, and 5 guns of various calibres and blew up 1 ammunition dump, he deserves the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class'

The recommendation was signed off by the Commander of the 66th Kiev Ground-Assault Aviation Regiment, Major Kruglov. It was subsequently downgraded to an Order of the Red Star by Colonel Rodyakin the Commander of the 266th Poltava Ground Assault Division.

In the time covered by the recommendation, the 5th Army of which his Regiment was a part, was engaged in supporting the Kirovograd Offensive in Central Ukraine, which was part of the larger Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive that sought to finally push out the Germans and their allies from the Ukraine.

Shtokolenko was later awarded the Order of the Red Banner by Order of the 5th Air Army on 20 February 1945 and the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class on 23 February 1945. After the war Shtokolenko returned to live at 11 Chimkent Street, Tashkent where he became an Aircraft Captain with the Uzbek Civilian Air Fleet; sold together with citation and research, including english translation.


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Sold for
£190

Starting price
£110