Badge "XXX Years Of The Liberation Of Ukraine".

[Pobeda45]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know anything about these badges--whether they were semi-officially awarded etc? They are massive and very well made; I have two in my collection with slight differences; one is MMD marked.

Design borrows from this table medal by artists Yaromenok and Oleynik:
http://soviet-awards.com/forum/sovie...-invaders.html

Side note, this badge shows a map of Ukraine that includes Crimea. This rendition of the Ukrainian map may now be a relic.

Cheers,

George

[desantnik]

I've got similar ones buried somewhere - seem to be official due to the lack of a price stamp.

[CtahhR]

Certainly not "official" if going by state recognition but it will be an award of a state sanctioned organisation.

[Pobeda45]

Thanks guys, I have a photo somewhere of a vet wearing this badge.. We'll find a doc / more context some day.

[CtahhR]

Paperwork (and citations) certainly clear up many misconceptions whilst also filling in the blanks. Knowing that the Soviets loved their paperwork something has to turn up sooner or later.

[Pobeda45]

(Photo from The Comprehensive Guide to Soviet Orders and Medals)
HSU Borisov with the badge in wear. It's the lowermost badge on the right side of his jacket, under "Excellent Worker of Aeroflot."

[Pobeda45]

Aviation Colonel HSU Georgiy Gordeevich Golubev with the badge in wear.
Golubev was a fighter pilot on the I-16 and the Airacobra, and had the following official stats on his record:
308 combat missions
70 air-to-air engagements
15 enemy aircraft shot down personally.

Golubev is credited in Russian media with the last air victory of WWII--he shot down a Do-217 near Prague on May 10, 1945.

[CtahhR]

I'm sure there were plenty of Japanese planes to shoot down well into August....

[Al-muell]

Probably they actually meant the GPW, not the WW2.