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

The original photo is in good collector's condition. The size is 77*117 mm. There are traces of pasting into the album on the back. Guarantee of authenticity.

Vladimir Vasilyevich Kurakin (1922-2001) — colonel of the Soviet Army, participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (1945). Vladimir Kurakin was born on June 7, 1922 in the village of Tinovodka (now defunct, located on the territory of the modern Vichugsky district of the Ivanovo region). He graduated from high school and studied at the aero club. In August 1940, Kurakin was drafted to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. He graduated from the 1st Chkalov Military Aviation School. Since November 1943, he served on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. By May 1945, Guards Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Kurakin was deputy squadron commander of the 141st Guards Assault Aviation Regiment of the 9th Guards Assault Aviation Division of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps of the 2nd Air Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front. By that time, he had flown 92 combat missions, participated in 22 aerial battles, shooting down 3 enemy aircraft personally and 4 more as part of a group. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 27, 1945, for "exemplary performance of command tasks and displayed courage and heroism in battles with the German invaders," Guard Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Kurakin 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 2423. After the end of the war, Kurakin continued to serve in the Soviet Army. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1955. After graduation, he served as deputy commander of the 130th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 187th Bomber Aviation Division at Bereza Airfield until its disbandment in 1960[2]. In 1965, Kurakin was discharged with the rank of colonel. He lived and worked in Bila Tserkva. He died on May 9, 2001. He was also awarded two Orders of the Red Banner, the Orders of Alexander Nevsky, the Patriotic War of the 1st and 2nd degrees, the Red Star, and a number of medals, including foreign ones.