Photo of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain of the Red Army Air Force B.V. Biryukov

A rare photo in excellent collector's condition. The size is 53*76 mm. On the back there is a signature and traces of pasting into the album. Guarantee of authenticity.

Boris Vasilyevich Biryukov (August 3, 1916, Shchurovo, Moscow province — May 24, 1942, Balakleisky district, Kharkov region) was a lieutenant in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (1941).

Boris Biryukov was born on August 3, 1916 in the village of Shchurovo (now a district of Kolomna, Moscow region) in the working—class family of Vasily Sergeevich Biryukov[1]. After graduating from seven grades of Kolomna school No. 9 and the school of factory apprenticeship at the Kolomna Machine-Building Plant, he worked as a planer at the same plant, while studying at the aero club. In 1938, he was drafted to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In the same year, he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School and served in the 6th Fighter Aviation Regiment in the Far East. Since August 1941, he served on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, was a squadron commander of the 92nd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 44th Fighter Aviation Division of the 6th Army of the Southwestern Front. By November 1941, Lieutenant Boris Biryukov had flown 105 combat missions, 40 of them for ground assault, 15 for reconnaissance, and 50 for patrolling. During his combat activities, he personally destroyed 6 enemy tanks, 112 vehicles, about 900 enemy soldiers and officers, 4 artillery pieces, 82 horse-drawn wagons, and 9 anti-aircraft guns.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated November 20, 1941, Lieutenant Boris Biryukov was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal number 663 for "exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and his courage and heroism."

On May 24, 1942, B. V. Biryukov was the wingman of a group of 9 fighters. On that day, she met 70 enemy planes and was forced to take an unequal battle. In an air battle, the pilots destroyed 15 aircraft. Biryukov died in that battle 5 km east of Volvenkovo. A street and passage in Kolomna are named after Biryukov. During the years of Soviet power, the pioneer squad of school No. 30 also bore his name. There is a bust of Hero of the Soviet Union Biryukov in Kolomna Memorial Park, and a memorial plaque is installed on the building of the aero club where he studied.