Aviation Medals

[ericlida]

I found few interesting aviation medals (they are not in my collection ).

60 years anniversary of first non stop flight from Russia to North Pole and United States of ANT-25 aircraft flown in 1937 by Soviet pilots Chkalov, Baidukov and Belyakov. Pilots used Tupolev`s ANT-25 aircraft painted with red wings and tailplane and registration number NO25-1, leaving Moscow after midnight 20 july 1936 and flying Franz-Josef Land, Severnaya Zemplya, but had to land on island Udd (since named Chkalov)- 9374 km in 56 hours, 20 minutes. Using experience same crew took off for USA 18 june, 1937 and flown non stop to Portland (Washington state, near Vancouver) covering 9130 km in 63 hours 25 min.

[ericlida]

Award medal `I.N.Kozhedub Hero of Soviet Union Aviation Marshal` issued for distinguisher pilots of Soviet and Russian airforces.Mintage of these awards was very limited and this is a extremely rare piece of collectible related to name of legendary pilot of Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Air Marshal Ivan Kozhedub was one of only two Soviet fighter pilots to be awarded the Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union three times during World War II. The other, Aleksandr Pokryshkin, had flown from the German invasion in the summer of 1941 through the end of the war, during which time he scored 59 aerial victories in MiG3s, Bell Airacobras, Lavochkin La-5s and Yakovlev Yak-9Us. Ironically prevented from fighting because his skill as a pilot made him more useful as an instructor, Kozhedub did not fly his first combat mission until March 26, 1943. On February 19, 1945, he became the only Soviet pilot to shoot down a Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter and, on April 19, 1945, he downed two Focke-Wulf Fw-190s to bring his final tally to 62--the top Allied ace of the war. In contrast to Aleksandr Pokryshkin, Ivan Kozhedub is associated with a single fighter type, the series of radialengine, wooden aircraft designed by Semyen Lavochkin. The last of them, La-7 No. 27, has, like its pilot, survived to graceful retirement-in the airplane`s case at the Monino Air Museum.

[ericlida]

Award medal of DOSAAF of Russia `First Three Times Hero Of Soviet Union Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin` issued for distinguished pilots awards.Here`s a short info on legendary Soviet pilot of Great Patriotic War: Alexander Pokryshkin was one of the greatest tacticians in the Soviet Fighter Air Arm. He approached air combat in a scientific manner, learning much from the me***rs of French WW 1 ace Ren?© Fonck, Mes Combats. Pokryshkin would eventually develop to the second most successful fighter pilot on the Allied side during WW 2. During the war Pokryshkin was 3 times awarded by Soviet Hero Title (Gold Star). He flew total of 550 sorties, participated in 139 air combats he scored officially 59 enemy planes. But in opinion of some historicans his killboard list should be enlarged by next 13 victories, scored in battles over Kuban. During free hunt over German territory he downed a row of enemy planes, but in that period Soviet Command confirmed only planes destroyed over own area.

[Tal Inbar]

Nice medal dedicated to SOKOL

[ericlida]

Medal dedicated to 80th B-Day of Marshal of Aviation Koldunov.

Eric