Pilots Heroes of the Soviet Union, awarded this title for distinction in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. From left to right: Major General Ivan Gavrilovich Pyatykhin, captain Alexander Yakovlevich Letuchiy and regimental commissar Alexander Nikolaevich Kostylev.
Pyatykh Ivan Gavrilovich (1904—1971) – participant in the Soviet-Finnish war as commander of the 15th high-speed bomber aviation brigade. For the skillful command of the aviation brigade and personal courage and heroism displayed, Colonel Ivan Gavrilovich Pyatykhin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on April 7, 1940 with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 290).
Letuchiy Alexander Yakovlevich (1908–2002) – a participant in the Soviet-Finnish war as an assistant commander of a squadron of the 3rd light bomber aviation regiment (8th Army, North-Western Front). On February 1, 1940, when performing a mission, an aircraft of one of the followers was shot down and made an emergency landing on Ilya-Lavayarvi Lake (Suojärvi District of Karelia). He ordered the rest of the crews to patrol over the landing site and fire from the machine guns to cover the lake, landed his plane and took the crew from the downed plane.
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 19, 1940, “for exemplary performance of combat missions of command at the front of the struggle against the Finnish White Guard and for showing courage and heroism”, Senior Lieutenant Alexander Yakovlevich Letuchy was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union awarding the Order of Lenin and the Gold Medal The Star ”(No. 464).
Kostylev Alexander Nikolaevich (1908–1983) – a participant in the Soviet-Finnish 1939–1940 in the post of military commissar of the 50th high-speed bomber aviation regiment. For courage and heroism shown during the Soviet-Finnish war, the battalion commissioner Kostylev Alexander Nikolaevich Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated March 21, 1940 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No.263).
Sources of information about the Ivan Pyatykhin, Alexander Letuchiy and Alexander Kostylev photo:
Location: Moscow, USSR
Image Date: 1940