Photo by Senior Lieutenant of the Red Army Air Force Bystykh BS – Hero of the Soviet Union

The original photo is in excellent condition. The size is 90*58 mm. Guarantee of authenticity.

Boris Stepanovich Bystykh. He was born on March 28, 1916 at Mysovaya station, now within the city limits. Babushkin (Republic of Buryatia). In 1939 he graduated from the School of the Civil Air Fleet in Balashov. After graduation, from 1939, he was a pilot at the Tyumen Aviation Enterprise. In 1940, he was drafted into the The Red Army. At the front — since June 1941. I flew a bomber. By September 1, 1942, Senior Lieutenant Bystykh had flown 168 combat missions, 35 of them for reconnaissance to enemy troops and airfields. On July 13, 1942, he went on a mission near the village of Olshana and discovered an enemy airfield with up to 130 aircraft of various types. Despite anti-aircraft artillery fire and fighter patrols, the airfield was photographed. On July 28 of the same year, he was conducting reconnaissance in the Kalach—Tsimlyansk area when he was attacked by three German fighters. The plane was shot down and caught fire 40 km from the front line. The plane was pulled to the front line and when the car began to fall apart, the crew parachuted out. Upon landing, the Pilot and the radio operator suffered severe bruises, and the navigator died. On August 8, 1942, in the area of the Kalach settlement, he discovered an enemy airfield with about 100 aircraft. As a result of the information received, stormtroopers flew to this point. Awards: 1941 — the Order of the Red Banner, 1942 — the Order of Lenin, medals "For Bravery" and "For military merit". By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 05.11.42, Boris Stepanovich Bystykh was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the German invaders and his bravery and heroism. He died on June 3, 1943 in the Bryansk region — the plane was shot down, the Pilot was mortally wounded. He was buried in S. Prolysovo (Navlinsky district of the Bryansk region).