Hero of the Soviet Union, squadron commander of the 210th assault aviation regiment of the Red Army Air Force, senior lieutenant Nikolay Esaulenko (September 14, 1919 – July 28, 1997).
By February 1945, the squadron commander of the 210th assault aviation regiment, senior lieutenant Nikolay Esaulenko, made 138 sorties to bombard and attack enemy personnel and equipment.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 18, 1945, for exemplary fulfillment of combat missions by the command on the front of the struggle against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time, Senior Lieutenant Nikolai Esaulenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal” (No. 6910).
Source: slavhistory.ru.
Information source about the Nikolay Esaulenko photo: www.warheroes.ru
Location: USSR
Photo Time: 1945
Author: Hallvard Løken