Russia – Soviet: An interesting shooting down of 4 aircraft Order of the Red Star awarded to Lieutenant Ivan Alekseyevich Korolyov, a Platoon Leader in the 944th Independent Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 416th Rifle Division for his part in the Vistula-Oder and Berlin Offensives.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, numbered 2156799
Condition: screw shortened, Good very fine
Ivan Alekseyevich Korolyov was born in the village of Plotnoye, Pronsk Raion, Ryazan Oblast in 1924, and joined the Red Army in 1942, seeing frontline service from March 144 onwards with the 64th Anti-aircraft Division of the 1st Belarussian Front.
Korolyov’s first award was a Medal for Courage by Order of the 1st Belarussian Front on 30th September 1944, this most likely for an act of gallantry in the final stages of Operation Bagration, which had destroyed the German Army Group Centre during the summer months and delivered the Red Army to the gates of Warsaw and East Prussia.
Korolyov continued to see service with the 1st Belarussian Front until the end of the war, taking part in the Liberation of Warsaw in January 1945, entitling him to the medal for this event. Subsequently advancing across Poland in the Vistula-Oder offensive, and then taking part in the Capture of the city of Berlin, for which he received the relevant medal.
Korolyov was to receive this Order of the Red Star by Order of the 416th Rifle Division on 6th October 1945.
‘During the Patriotic War with the German invaders he fought on the front line from March 1944 onward.
He served in the 64th Anti-aircraft Division as a firing platoon leader. During its time on the front line his platoon shot down 4 enemy aircraft, two of which were downed during the offensive of April 1945.
In battle with the German invaders he showed bravery and steadfastness.
He deserves the Order of the Red Star.’
Signed by the Commander of the 944th Independent Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Makarenko.
416th Rifle Division took part in the fierce fighting in the eastern areas of Berlin during the capture of the city. He would go on to receive the Medal for the Victory over Germany, before having his medals revoked by the Supreme Soviet on 6th June 1952.
After the war he was living in the village of Plotnoye, in Ryazan Oblast.
