Heroes of the Soviet Union from the 16th Air Army, awarded in the Battle of Stalingrad

The first Heroes of the Soviet Union from the 16th Air Army, awarded January 28, 1943 in the Battle of Stalingrad. From left to right: Valentin Makarov, Ivan Motorny and Zakhar Semenyuk. All of them served in the 512th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Makarov Valentin Nikolaevich (August 30, 1919 – May 20, 1978) – the commander of the wing of the 512th IAP.
Motorny Ivan Porfirievich (August 29, 1918 – July 11, 1973) – commander of the 512 th IAP.
Semenyuk Zakhar Vladimirovich (March 24, 1919 – May 17, 1958) – navigator of the 512th IAP, then pilot instructor in the technique of piloting the 220th Fighter Air Division. Killed during a flight on an airplane near Ulyanovsk.

Photo from the album Yu.G. Shafer.

Location: Stalingrad, USSR
Date: 1943