Photo of Air Force Major V.P. Shlepov, Hero of the Soviet Union

The original photo is in good collector's condition. The size is 80*118 mm. A photo from a personal file. Guarantee of authenticity.

Viktor Petrovich Shlepov (1918-1959) — ace pilot, lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Army, participant of the Great Patriotic War, Hero of the Soviet Union (1943). Viktor Shlepov was born on February 2, 1918 in the village of Lebedevo (now the Dmitrovsky district of the Moscow region). After graduating from the eighth grade of school and the factory apprenticeship school, he worked as a turner in Moscow, at the same time he studied at the aero club. In 1938, Shlepov was drafted to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. He graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School of pilots. Since August 1941, he served on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. By July 1943, Guards Captain Viktor Shlepov commanded a squadron of the 41st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 8th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 5th Fighter Aviation Corps of the 2nd Air Army of the Voronezh Front. By that time, he had flown 685 combat missions, 160 of which were aimed at attacking enemy concentrations of military equipment and manpower, inflicting heavy losses. He took part in 122 air battles, shooting down 5 enemy planes personally and 16 more as part of a group. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated September 28, 1943, for "courage and heroism shown in the fight against the German invaders," Guard Captain Viktor Shlepov 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 1232. After the end of the war, Shlepov continued to serve in the Soviet Army.  Tragically died in a plane crash on March 23, 1959, and is buried at Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery. He was also awarded three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of the Red Star, and a number of medals.