Orders, Decorations and Medals

U.S.S.R., Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, silver and gold, almost a flat-back type, the reverse numbered ‘220548’, extremely fine £70-90

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class (No. 220548) awarded by decree of the 1st Byelorussia Front, order number 239 dated 5 September 1944. Award bestowed on the 18th September 1944, to Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Guskov, Deputy Chief of the Political Section, 6th Air Army. He was born in Russia in 1904.

Colonel Guskov served at the front during the Patriotic War from June 1942. He began on the Leningrad Front, then to the North West and the 1st Byelorussia Front. From June 1942 he worked as the Deputy Chief of the Political Section of the 6th Air Army. Whilst fulfilling these duties he showed himself to be dedicated, diligent and a capable political commissar. From 25th September until 3rd November 1943, he worked as the deputy to the Political Commander of the Air Group of the 6th Air Army on the Kalinin Front.

During the tense military actions of the sector, Guskov proved himself able to organise with skill the political work amongst the technical crews of the Air Group. He was responsible for giving full support to the pilots which enabled them to achieve battle readiness and culminating with them achieving high military spirit. Since his arrival on the 1st Byelorussia Front, he was at all times actively engaged in air operations on this front and often visited all the military airfields in the command. Several times he fulfilled special tasks set by the Commander of the 6th Air Army. Sold with citation from the Moscow Military Archives and English translation.