Russia – Soviet: A fascinating Order of the Red Banner of Cold War interest awarded to Lieutenant I.I. Tezyaev for his part in air operations during the Bobruisk-Zhlobin operation which included an aerial victory, he is most notable for being the pilot who claimed the first US plane of the Cold War when he shot down a Privateer in the Liepaja Incident of 1950, an incident that caused a storm at the highest diplomatic levels, conversation still ongoing about the fate of the US flyers some 40 years later.
Order of the Red Banner, type 4, reverse numbered 266504
Condition: one or two small chips to the enamel, Very fine
Ivan Ivanovich Tezyaev was born on 21st November 1922, he graduated from the 4th grade of the Humen School. On the 1st January 1940 he was called upon in the ranks of the Red Army and went to study at the Bataisk Flight School. After finishing in the summer of 1942, he joined the 6th Air Force Lieutenant Tezyaev was to receive his first baptism of fire on 12th July 1942 whilst participating in the defence of Stalingrad.
Tezyaev flew Yak-1s during the offensive, encirclement and defeat of the Germany Sixth Army at Stalingrad, where his unit earned the ‘Guards’ title for its mass heroism during the fighting there. He would also take part in the fighting at Kursk and during the subsequent Orel offensive.
Tezyaev did not only master Soviet aircraft but also the American ‘P-39’ ‘Cobra; a popular fighter supplied under the lend-lease program and flown by famous Soviet aces suech as Pokryshkin, Rechkalov and Kutakhov amongst others.
During 1944 he took part in the liberation of Belorussia and participated in the liberation of Belorussia, and Minsk and Lublin-Brest offensives, this Order of the Red Banner was awarded to Tezyaev belatedly for his part in these operations.
‘As a fighter pilot, he takes part in the fronts of the Patriotic War from the Bobruisk-Zhlobin operation. In the battles with the Nazi invaders showed courage and bravery. During the period of combat work, he made 45 combat sorties, of which he conducted 7 successful attacks on enemy troops in which he destroyed 3 vehicles, up to 20 soldiers and officers and put of the fire of one small calibre anti-aircraft gun.
In the same sorties, was involved in 3 air battles, shooting down on enemy aircraft. In aerial combat, he comes to the rescue of his friend without regards for his life. Disicipline in the crew and his personal discipline are good. He has excellent piloting skills and is an example for other comrades.
There were no violations against directive 1 of the military council of the Baltic Fleet and decree 008.
For successful combat missions carried out, for 7 successful ground attack flights, for one shot down enemy aircraft and an excellent discipline, he is worthy of the governmental award of the Order of the Red Banner.’
During 1945, Tezyaev took part in the liberation of Poland, the Vistula-Oder offensive, the East Pomerania and Berlin Offiensive, his unit being awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky for its role in the fighting.
Tezyaev was awarded two Order of the Red Star, two Order of the Red Banner, and the medals for the Liberation of Warsaw, Capture of Berlin and the Victory over Germany.
Tezyaev continued to serve as a pilot after the war, stationed in the Baltics at Goring’s dachas in Neuhausen he mastered the new Mig-15 jet. However his most notable achievement was the first recognised shoot down of an American aircraft during the Cold War.
On 8th April 1950 a PB4Y-2 Privateer named ‘Turbulent Turtle’ entered Soviet Air Space near Liepaja, identified by Soviet air defences, four Soviet fighters went into the pursuit and told the plane to follow them. One of them firing a warning shot to the side.
Despite this, the Privateer turned around and went in the direction of the sea and began to shoot, Lieutenant Tezyaev fired a round at the offender. His LA-11 fighter had a battery of 23mm cannons, and the precisely directed fire was fatal to the US aircraft, the plane fell through the clouds and none of the 10 people on board survived the resultant crash.
The incident caused a storm at the highest level, with the diplomatic notes of the USSR and USA being personally approved by Stalin and Truman respectively. Searches for the missing airman lasted for many years, with the unsuccessful efforts still ongoing in the 1990s.
Tezyaev was awarded an Order of the Red Star for his successful intercept, and was recognised in a radio broadcast covering the incident. He continued to serve in the Baltics until transferred to the Reserve in 1962, when he moved with his family to Yaroslavl for civilian life. He died as a result of a medical error on 3rd August 1966 and was buried at the Yaroslavl Military Memorial Cemetery.
A fascinating award to an important Cold War serviceman
