Russia – Soviet: An Engineer’s aircraft bomb testing Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class awarded to Engineering Lieutenant Colonel Boris Ivanovich Minakov, Deputy Chief of the 3rd Department, 4th Directorate, State Red Banner Air Force Research Institute for his role in testing aircraft bomb armaments, he had seen service throughout the war including during the Defence of Moscow in the autumn of 1941.
Order of Patriotic War 2nd Class, flatback reverse, numbered 552636
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Boris Ivanovich Minakov was born in the city of Pushkin, Leningrad in 1907. A Russian national he gained a higher education before joining the Red Army in May 1927. He would participate in the Patriotic War in July and August 1941 as part of the 410th Aviation Regiment and would go on to receive a Medal for the Defence of Moscow for his part in defending the city in the autumn of 1941.
He would then serve with the 3rd Air Army between 15th September 1942 until 1st February 1943 and would have seen action in the central part of the eastern front in the fighting around Rzhev,
His first decoration was an Order of the Red Star by decree of the Supreme Soviet on 3rd November 1944, this would have been for 15 years long service, and this his second would have been this Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by decree of the Red Army Air Force on 5th June 1945.
This was awarded to him whilst serving as an Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel and Deputy Chief of the 3rd Department, 4th Directorate, State Red Banner Air Force Research Institute and was as a result of the following recommendation:
‘He has been in his present position of Deputy Chief of the 3rd Department of the Directorate since 1.8.44.
During the prior period, he had positive service evaluations. Possessing great experience in testing work and deep knowledge of the hardware of aircraft bomb armaments, Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel Minakov quickly engaged in the testing work of the 3rd Department, as Deputy Chief of the Department and acting Chief of the department over 5 months.
Considerable new work was done in compiling methodologies for testing aircraft bomb armaments. Tactical-Technical Standards were compiled for prototype plans for 1945 and are already partially agreed upon with design bureaus and People’s Commissariats.
Possessing good theoretical training and rich practical experience, Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel Minakov deservedly enjoys authority and respect among the section heads and lead engineers, and well as among the aircraft designers. He personally led courses at meetings held at the Directorate of Aviation Armament Testing, State Red-Banner Research Institute of the Red Army Air Force.
Personally, Engineer Lieutenant-Colonel Minakov is modest, seasoned, disciplined, and enterprising officer, demanding both of himself and subordinates.
For great merits in the area of testing work and for providing the front during the Patriotic War, with new aviation armaments, he deserves awarding of the order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class.’
He would shortly afterwards be awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 6th November 1947 for 20 years long service and then an Order of Lenin for 25 years long service on 20th April 1953. He was also in receipt of a Medal for the Victory over Germany, a Medal in Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow and the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy.
