Order of Alexander Nevsky

Описание: Awarded to Fighter Pilot Guards Captain Ivan Evdokimovich Komarov (Иван Евдокимович Комаров)

Komarov shot down 14 German planes during 310 combat mission and 60 air battles

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Made of solid silver and enamels. The order measures 42.69 mm in width and 47.77 mm in height including its eyelet. It weighs 49.3 grams with its suspension and 40.0 grams without. The suspension is 29.58 mm in width at its widest point and 20.58 mm in height at its narrowest point. The serial number is located at the 5 o’clock position on its reverse. The suspension ring, screwplate, ribbon and the suspension itself are all original.

In great condition considering it is a suspension type order. All details are perfectly crisp and even the raised areas on its obverse show light wear only. The red enamels are fully original and mostly present but show a superficial chip on the 12 and 3 o'clock rays. Both sides gained a nice medium dark patina to the silver there have been no repairs. The order comes with its suspension with all parts original and uncut connection ring.

Rare piece with amazing research!


Brief, concrete description of his feat of arms or achievements:

Guards Captain KOMAROV I.E. has been participating in the Patriotic war as part of the 64 Guards fighter aviation Red Banner regiment since 18 September 1942. In this period, he conducted 183 combat missions, engaged in 44 air fights, in which he personally shot down 8 enemy aircrafts: 1 Me-109, 6 Fw-190, 1 Ju-87. He also achieved 4 air victories together with his wingman: 3 Me-109, 1 Ju-87. All the air victories are corroborated by the ground troops commanders (se decrees №№1,9-1943 by 274 fighter aviation division; №64 by 4 Guards fighter aviation division on 23.08.1943).

For the effective ground assault missions against the enemy ground troops and for achieving 2 group air victories, he was bestowed with order “Patriotic war II class” (decree №01 by 1 Guards fighter aviation corps on 26.12.1942).

For 65 successful combat missions, for 1 personally shot down enemy fighter aircraft, and 1 fighter and 1 bomber shot down in a group, he was bestowed with order “Red Banner” (decree №013 on 17.03.1943 on Airforce Commands).

For 4 personal air victories, he was bestowed with order “Red Banner” (decree №31 on 19.07.1943 on 15 Airforce). Now, he is being recommended for his 4th award, order “ALEKSANDER NEVSKY” for his exemplary organisation of the combat operations by his aviation squadron and for 3 personal air victories.

Comrade KOMAROV is an excellent fighter pilot, tactically experienced commander. Having extensive combat experience, he daily trains his young piloting personnel the art of aerial combat. In his training, comrade KOMAROV, stresses especially the necessity of providing effective escort to the ground assault and bomber aircrafts, fighting cohesively in a pair and a group formations, midair combat cooperation between the pairs in opposition to the enemy all purpose aviation formations. He diligently follows each pilots training progress, their conduct during the combat missions and their mistakes, which are thoroughly analysed immediately after landing. This improves the training and gives the pilot the required skills in avoiding dangerous situations in air battles and gaining advantage over the enemy in altitude and manoeuvrability for more effective attacks.

Effective training process and prompt analysis of the piloting mistakes during combat missions bore fruits: comrade KOMAROV’s pilots shot down 27 enemy aircrafts only on the Bryansk and 1 Baltic fronts, loosing in return only 5.

Most typical air battles, in which comrade KOMAROV expressed his commander skills, occurred on the Bryansk front during the ground troops offensive, when each of the air combat mission was an encounter with a significantly superior enemy aviation force. The qualities, that allowed his unit to come out victorious were his commander’s steadfastness and cool, effective midair governance and wit, personnel example of courage, and special attention to training in the preparation period.

On 19 July 1943, a group of 7 Yak-7 aircrafts led by comrade KOMAROV flew a ground troops cover mission. They encountered 4 Ju-87 escorted by 8 Fw-190. Following comrade KOMAROV order, our fighters pushed head on into the enemy air formation and scattered it preventing the enemy bombers in conducting precision strike. Ju-87 released their bombs in disarray and escaped seeking cover in clouds, but not before loosing 1 bomber. The enemy fighters also were not able to withstand the push and retreated into cloud cover, after losing 1 Fw-190. In this combat engagement, comrade KOMAROV presonnaly shot down 1 Ju-87 and 1 Fw-190.

For exemplary organisation of the combat operations by the squadron, for 27 destroyed enemy aircrafts by the squadron, for 3 personnel air victories, he deserves the Order of NEVSKY.