Photo of Red Army Air Force Lieutenant N.V. Ivanov, Hero of the Soviet Union

The original photo is in good collector's condition. The size is 82*113 mm.. Guarantee of authenticity.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Ivanov (May 9, 1923 — November 10, 1993) was a Hero of the Soviet Union, senior pilot of the 59th Guards Baranovichi Red Banner Assault Aviation Regiment (2nd Guards Assault Chernigov-Rechitsa Red Banner Order of Suvorov Aviation Division, 16th Air Army, 1st Belorussian Front), Guards Lieutenant.

In March 1941, he was drafted into the Red Army and sent to flight school. He met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War as a cadet at the Kirovabad Military Aviation School of Bomber Pilots. In the fall of 1941, he completed his studies. At the front since October 1942. The first time I flew a biplane Around-2. On the instructions of the command, he maintained contact between the headquarters of the Don Front and the headquarters of the armies. In total, he flew more than 100 successful combat missions near Stalingrad. On December 10, 1942, returning from a combat mission, I saw our fighter landing in the location of the Nazi troops. Risking his life, he landed his car near the fighter jet, transferred the seriously injured pilot to his plane and took him to the hospital. This is not an isolated case for Ivanov. During his combat work on the Po-2, he saved the lives of eight pilots, taking them out of emergency landings behind the front line.

After the defeat of the encircled Nazi divisions near Stalingrad, he fought on the Central Front in the Kursk region. And here the pilot performed all combat missions perfectly, showed himself to be a fearless and determined warrior. On March 8, 1943, despite the bad weather conditions, he managed to establish contact with the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps operating behind the front line. For completing this task, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star, and after a while, for 269 successful combat missions, the Order of the Red Banner.

In the spring of 1944, he underwent retraining and mastered the Il-2 attack aircraft. Since June 1944, he fought as part of the 59th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment, in which he served until Victory. In the same year, 1944, he joined the CPSU. He participated in the battles for the liberation of Belarus and Poland. By November 1944, Guard Lieutenant N. V. Ivanov had flown 371 combat missions (of which 269 were on Po—2), in which he destroyed 15 tanks, 2 railway trains, 130 wagons, up to 60 vehicles, 8 batteries, 2 ammunition depots, and many soldiers and officers.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 23, 1945, Lieutenant Nikolai Vasilyevich Ivanov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin (No. 38074) and the Gold Star Medal (No. 5987) for exemplary performance of command tasks and shown courage and heroism in battles with the Nazi invaders of the Guard.

After the war, he continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1948 he graduated from the Pugachev Military Aviation Gliding School of the Airborne Forces, in 1952 — secondary school, in 1955 — advanced officer training courses. He served in the 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Bolshoe Savino airfield, Perm). Since 1962, Lieutenant Colonel N. V. Ivanov has been in reserve. He lived in the town of Bila Tserkva, Kiev region, and worked as an OTC supervisor at a factory. He died on November 10, 1993. He was buried in the town of Bila Tserkva, Kiev region. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, two Orders of the Red Star, and medals.