Photo by Major General of the Red Army Air Force Stupishin M.P. – Hero of the Soviet Union

An original and rather rare photograph in very good condition. The size is 87*134 mm. There are traces of pasting into the album on the back. Guarantee of authenticity.

Mikhail Protasovich Stupishin (November 2, 1916, Nizhny Novgorod Region — May 17, 1980, Moscow) was a navigator of the 198th assault Volkovysk Red Banner Aviation Regiment of the 233rd Assault Yartsevsky Red Banner Aviation Division of the 4th Air Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front, Major. Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1935, he was drafted into the Red Army and was assigned to the Voroshilovgrad Flight School. He graduated with honors in 1937, but did not become a military pilot at that time. In the same year, his father, a senior employee of the Ivanovo Regional Party Committee, was repressed. He was demobilized and went to Gorky. Stupishin worked as an instructor at the local flying club, and it was here that he met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

In December 1941, he was drafted back into the army. In the first five months on the Western Front, he flew 24 combat missions on a light night bomber Po-2. In May 1942, he mastered the IL-2 attack aircraft, on which he fought until his last day. Stupishin, an attack aircraft pilot, led groups of planes on the most difficult and dangerous missions. Participated in the Battle of Kursk. He fought near Rzhev, Vitebsk, Minsk, Bialystok. He was wounded twice and concussed once. He worked his way up from an ordinary pilot to a regiment navigator. By August 1944, Major Stupishin had flown 98 combat missions to attack enemy personnel and military equipment and was promoted to the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union. In September 1944, he was sent to study at the Air Force Academy. By that time, he had conducted a total of 133 combat missions. But I didn't have to study at the academy.: the concussion took its toll. I had to be treated in hospitals, to restore my health, so as not to part with aviation.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 26, 1944, Major Stupishin Mikhail Protasovich was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal for his exemplary performance of command tasks and his courage and heroism in the battles against the Nazi invaders.