Photo of Hero of the Soviet Union V.V. Kibalko with his crew on the background of an airplane

An original and very colorful picture in excellent collector's condition. The size is 80*103 mm. Signed on the back. Guarantee of authenticity.

Vasily Vasilyevich Kibalko (1918-1992) — colonel of the Soviet Army, participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (1943). He was born on January 14, 1918 in Odessa. After graduating from the seventh grade of school and the factory apprenticeship school, he worked as a foundry worker at a shipyard. In 1936, he graduated from three courses of the Odessa Pedagogical Institute Faculty, and in 1937 from the aero club. In the same year, he was drafted to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In 1938, he graduated from the Odessa Military Aviation School of Pilots. Participated in the Polish campaign. Since June 1941, he served on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. By early 1943, the captain was deputy squadron commander of the 10th separate long-range reconnaissance Aviation Regiment of the 1st Air Army of the Western Front. By that time, he had completed 100 combat sorties for long-range reconnaissance and bombing of enemy troops.

By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On awarding the title Hero of the Soviet Union to the commanding staff of the Red Army Air Force" dated May 24, 1943, Captain Vasily Kibalko was awarded the high title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order for "exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the German invaders and his bravery and heroism". Lenin and the Gold Star medals.

After the end of the war, he continued to serve in the Soviet Army. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1949. Since 1953, he commanded the 56th Bomber Aviation Division (Kalinin) for several years. In 1978, Kibalko was discharged with the rank of colonel. He lived in Moscow. He died on October 1, 1992, and was buried at the Mitinsky Cemetery in Moscow. He was also awarded two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star and "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" of the 3rd degree, and a number of medals.