Photo of Hero of the Soviet Union N.V. Kharitonov

The original wartime photograph is in very good collector's condition. The size is 52*82 mm. There are traces of pasting into the album on the back. Guarantee of authenticity.

Vasily Nikolaevich Kharitonov (February 28, 1922 — April 27, 2002) was a participant in the Great Patriotic War, flight commander of the 123rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 7th Fighter Aviation Corps of the Air Defense, Hero of the Soviet Union. Since June 1941, he fought in the Great Patriotic War. By August 1942, he was a flight commander of the 123rd Fighter Aviation Regiment (7th Fighter Aviation Corps, Air Defense Forces of the country) Senior Lieutenant V. N. Kharitonov flew 281 combat missions, personally shot down 10 enemy aircraft in 58 air battles and 16 in a group. For these exploits, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 10, 1943, the title Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded for the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time. During the war, he flew more than 400 combat missions, conducted about 80 aerial battles, shot down 18 enemy aircraft personally and 11 in a group. Among these planes were 19 bombers flying to bomb besieged Leningrad. In 1945, he graduated from officer training courses, and in 1955, he completed tactical flight training courses for Air Force officers. Since 1958, he has been a colonel in the reserve, and then retired. He worked for the Leningrad United Airlines, and for 28 years he was in charge of flights at Pulkovo Airport. He was a member of the Joint Council of Veterans of the Air Defense Forces of the city, the Committee of Leningrad Veterans of War and Military Service. He died on April 27, 2002. He was buried in St. Petersburg on the avenue of the Knights of the Order of Alexander Nevsky at the Nikolsky Cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.