Ivan Akimovich Pishchenko

Medal for Courage nr. 117508 was awarded by Order of the 8th Air Army of December 19, 1942 to 24-year-old Deputy Political Officer Ivan Akimovich Pishchenko, driver in and simultaneously the Secretary of the Komsomol Bureau of the 690th Airfield Service Battalion, 27th Airfield Basing District, 8th Air Army, Stalingrad Front.

Promotions

Date

Deputy Political Officer

Junior Lieutenant

January 12, 1943

Lieutenant

March 16, 1944

Senior Lieutenant

September 11, 1944


Record card

Order booklet nr. 522585

1. Last name: Pishchenko
2. First name and patronymic: Ivan Akimovich
3. Military rank: Guards Senior Lieutenant
4. Sex: Male
5. Year of birth: 1918
6. Place of birth: Village of Prudok, Propoisk Raion, Byelorussian SSR
7. Party membership (since which year): Member of the Communist Party since 1942
8. Education: Higher
9. Nationality: Belarusian
10. Since which year in the Red Army: 1939
11. Place of service (name of unit) and position occupied at the time of the award: Assistant chief of the Political Section of the 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division
12. Current place of service and position: Assistant chief of the Political Section of the 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division
13. Home address of the awardee: Bobruisk Air Force Settlement

14. Record of all awards received:

Name of the order or medal

Serial number

Number of the document

Ground of award

Medal for Courage [citation]

117508

Temporary certificate nr. 232495

Order of the 8th Air Army nr. 3/N of December 19, 1942

Order of the Red Star

1027496

Temporary certificate nr. D-144977

Order of the 1st Air Army nr. 030/N of December 19, 1944

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class

339249

Temporary certificate nr. Zh-227570

Order of the 1st Air Army nr. 068/N of June 8, 1944

Medal for the Victory over Germany

D-0065975

Decree of the Presidium of May 9, 1945

Medal for the Capture of Kцnigsberg

A-014665

Decree of the Presidium of June 9, 1945

Signature of the awardee: [signed]

I confirm the correctness of the data and the signature of the awardee (position and signature):

Chief of the division's Personnel Section
[signed]
December 29, 1945


Award sheet

Last name, first name and patronymic: Pishchenko, Ivan Akimovich
Military rank: Deputy Political Officer
Position and unit: Driver with and simultaneously the Secretary of the Komsomol Bureau, 690th Airfield Servicing Battalion
Nominated for: Medal for Courage
1. Year of birth: 1918
2. Nationality: Belarusian
3. Since when in the Red Army: Since October 1939
4. Party affiliation: Candidate member of the Communist Party since 1942
5. Participation in combat (where and when): Fought against the Fins in 1940 with the Air Forces of the 13th Army, Northwestern Front, in the Kavpolovo area
6. Wounds and contusions received: No
7. Awards received previously (for which merits): None
8. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Propoisk Raion, Mogilyov Oblast
9. Permanent home address (of the prospective awardee or his family): Village of Prudsk, Roginsky Rural Municipality, Propoisk Raion, Mogilyov Oblast

Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits:

Throughout the Patriotic War comrade Pishchenko, being an excellent organizer and an energetic comrade, capable of taking initiative, was systematically given highly responsible combat tasks, which required maximum energy and strength to be accomplished. Pushing himself beyond his physical limits, comrade Pishchenko accomplished his tasks conscientiously and in a timely manner.

During the period in which the battalion was deployed to the Volchansk airfield, the battalion's equipment, ammunition, fuel, and lubricants were directly threatened as a result of the enemy's rapid advance. Comrade Pishchenko, located at the intermediate base at the Pervomaisky Sovkhoz, was given the task of organizing the evacuation of all equipment, 120 tons in total, to an alternate airfield, located 100 kilometers away. The mission was accomplished ahead of schedule, denying the enemy the opportunity to seize the valuable equipment. While servicing three night bomber aviation regiments at the "Bryansk Lipyagi" airfield, the battalion encountered exceptional difficulties in delivering ammunition, fuel, and lubricants, due to the insufficient number of transport vehicles and the absence of decent roads, compounded by rainy weather and the 130-kilometer distance to the mess points. All of this threatened the battalion's ability to fly combat sorties.

Leading the convoy delivering ammunition, comrade Pishchenko read the developing situation and worked for several days and nights on end without any rest or sleep, delivering ammunition, fuel, and lubricants. During this period he delivered 260 tons of bombs of various calibers. The aviation units' combat operations were supported.

As the officer in charge of transporting equipment and ammunition from the village of Aidar to the city of Rossosh, the twelve-vehicle convoy was forced to move in close proximity to the enemy. It became encircled. Despite the difficult situation, comrade Pishchenko displayed exceptional calm and without agitation, extricated the convoy to the battalion without any losses and in full order.

As the best group leader, he was additionally elected to be the Secretary of the battalion's Komsomol organization. During his short, two-month term in this position, the Komsomol organisation has significantly grown stronger and accepted some of the very best people. He is a young, rising communist, possessing boldness, bravery, and resourcefulness.

For his dedicated efforts and his skill, shown while carrying out combat tasks, comrade Pishchenko deserves to be nominated for the Medal for Courage.

Commander of the 690th Airfield Servicing Battalion
Captain [signed] /Kholevitsky/

Military Commissar of the 690th Airfield Servicing Battalion
Battalion Commissar [signed] /Ovcharenko/
October 9, 1942



Senior Lieutenant Ivan Akimovich Pishchenko


Medal for Courage nr. 117508, obverse and reverse



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