Russia – Soviet: An aerial gunner’s Order of the Red Star awarded to Senior Sergeant Nikolai Kondraetyevich Pikhulya, aerial gunner at the headquarters of the 36th Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Regiment, 5th Kirkenes Red Banner and Mine Torpedo Air Division, Northern Fleet Air Forces for his role in the downing of an ME-109 and his sharing in the sinking of 1 and damaging of 2 transport vessels in the far north.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, numbered 975320
Condition: Good very fine
Nikolai Kondratyevich Pikhulya was born in the village of Gupalovka, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast was born in 1920, joining the Red Army 1940. Serving as a Senior aerial gunner in the 36th Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Regiment, Northern Fleet Air Forces he would have seen service in the Far North.
The first medal Pikhulya was to receive was the Medal for the Defence of the Caucasus whilst serving with an unknown unit. This would indicate that Pikhuly was involved in the defensive battles against the drive to Stalingrad and the Oilfields in the summer and autumn of 1942.
After this Pikhulya would have gone on to fight in the Soviet far north, being awarded the Medal for the Defense of the Polar Regions, the Medal for the Victory over Germany, the Medal for the Victory over Japan before in December 1945 he was awarded this Order of the Red Star on 29th December 1945 by Order of the 5th Mine and Torpedo Air Division, Northern Fleet Air Forces with the following citation.
‘He has been taking part in the Patriotic War since June 1942 and since that time he has flown 61 successful combat sorties, bombing enemy transport ships. During the offensive operations in the north he flew 4 combat sorties, including the following:
On September 27, 1944 he shared in the downing of 1 Me-109 (Operational Report of the Staff of the Northern Fleet Air Forces nr. 271 from 1944.
On October 11, 1944 he helped sink a transport ship with a displacement of 3000 tons and 1 400 ton barge in the harbour of Kirkenes (Operational Report of the staff of the Northern Fleet Air Forces nr.285 from 1944)
On October 21, 1944 he took part in damaging 1 transport ship with a displacement of 3000 tons and 1 barge with a displacement of 400 tons in the harbour of Kirkenes (Operational Report of the staff of the Northern Fleet Air Forces nr.295 from 1944)
On October 26, 1944 he took part in damaging 1 transport ship with a displacement of 5000 tons and 1 torpedo boat (Operational Report of the staff of the Northern Fleet Air Forces nr.300 from 1944.)
For flying 61 successful combat sorties, for helping sink 1 transport ship with a displacement of 3000 tons and 1 400 ton barge, for sharing in the downing of 1 Me-109 for taking part in damaging 2 transport ships with a combined displacement of 8000 tons and 1 enemy torpedo boat, and for the bravery and courage he displayed in the process, he fully deserves to be awarded the Order of the Red Star.’
Signed by the Interim Commander of the 36th Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Regiment, 5th Kirkenes Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Division, Major Obukhov, December 1st, 1944.
The citation was added to:
For the exemplary execution of combat missions at the front in the struggle with the German invaders, for flying 61 successful combat sorites, during which he helped sink 1 transport ship with a displacement of 3000 tons and 1 400 ton barge, for sharing in the downing of 1 Me-109, for taking part in damaging 2 transport ships with a combined displacement of 8000 tons and 1 enemy torpedo boat, and for the bravery and courage he displayed in the process, I award the Order of the Red Star,
This signed by the Commander of the 5th Kirkenes Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Division, Northern Fleet Air Forces, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Yefremov, December 8, 1944.
At the time of receipt of this award in February 1947 he was serving as a Senior aircraft radio direction finder operator in the 36th Red Banner Mine and Torpedo Air Regiment, Pacific Fleet Air Forces. Pikhulya was a resident of the village of Gupalovka, Kotovka Raion, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast.
