The order is in silver and enamels; measures 57.3 mm in height, 57.4 mm in width; weighs 62.3 g without the screw plate. Massive multi-piece construction: the center star, center medallion disc, and silver starburst are separate parts superimposed on the four-sided blue star. This is a relatively early version of the order featuring "stubby" points on the reverse of the horizontal rays of the starburst (as opposed to the elongated points on the later issues.)

Excellent condition. The enamel is pristine throughout, completely free of the typical flaking at the tips of the roc

The order is in silver and enamels; measures 57.3 mm in height, 57.4 mm in width; weighs 62.3 g without the screw plate. Massive multi-piece construction: the center star, center medallion disc, and silver starburst are separate parts superimposed on the four-sided blue star. This is a relatively early version of the order featuring "stubby" points on the reverse of the horizontal rays of the starburst (as opposed to the elongated points on the later issues.)

Excellent condition. The enamel is pristine throughout, completely free of the typical flaking at the tips of the rockets or any other noticeable wear. The apex and ridges of the star are perfectly crisp. There are only a few minuscule contract marks to the star and starburst, practically unnoticeable to the naked eye, no significant wear. There is a very attractive even patina to the silver parts, both on the obverse and reverse. The screw post is of full length, approx. 10 mm measured from the retaining nut, and includes an original screw plate.

Order Booklet, Series Z #641980. The document contains an entry for only a single award, the Order for Service to the Homeland 3rd cl. with its award decree date of 18 February 1981. Interestingly, the date of issue of the booklet itself is omitted - not a rare occurrence - but it was probably filled-out within days after the award decree of within a few weeks at the most. The document contains a nice photo of the recipient wearing the uniform of an Air Force major. (Note that in the 80s, a photo was no longer required in the order booklet and it was added by the owner of the booklet on his own volition, hence it does not show an official stamp. Nevertheless, we have no doubts that the photo indeed shows Vladimir Morozov, the original owner of the booklet and the recipient of the award.)

The order booklet is in excellent, near mint condition. The cover shows no detectable wear; the gold national emblem and lettering are perfect and extremely bright. The binding is tight. The interior pages show only a tiny amount of foxing and normal age toning, no soiling, stains, or wear.

Honorary Certificate / Thank You Letter from the Commander of the Soviet Air Force, dated 27 June 1987.

The document is a large format bi-fold, approx. 8 ¼ " x 11 ½ " (21 x 29 cm) when closed. The first inside page shows the Soviet state emblem, typographically printed words "Certificate of Appreciation", and red star military insignia, along with the typed full name and rank of the recipient, Major Morozov. The opposite side has the printed text of the citation "I thank you for the irreproachable service in the Armed Forces of the USSR. Wishing you good health (and) success in social / political activities and labor for the benefit of our Motherland". The letter is hand-signed by Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Marshal of Aviation Aleksandr Yefimov (Александр Николаевич Ефимов), Supreme Commander of the Soviet Air Force. There is the red ink stamp of the Chief of the Air Force near the bottom of the same page.

The honorary certificate is in very good condition. It shows some minor marks but no stains or significant soiling. There is only a minor wear to the edges. When it was issued, it was probably enclosed in a hard folder, easy to replace with any generic period Soviet folder of similar format (which is common for Soviet documents of the period.)

Aleksandr Yefimov, the signer of the document, earned two Gold Star Hero Medals in WW2 while flying as an Il-2 Shturmovik pilot and squadron leader. He completed a total of 288 combat sorties and was particularly effective in attacking German airfields, being credited with as many as 85 enemy airplanes destroyed on the ground personally and with group assistance. He was also an air ace, having eight shared air-to-air kills - an extremely uncommon feat for a ground attack pilot! After the war, Yefimov graduated from the Air Force Academy and later, Voroshilov General Staff Academy. He quickly rose through the ranks to command first an air division and then an air army, and in the early 70s, served as one of the top Soviet military advisers in Egypt during the Yom Kippur War. In 1975, he was promoted to Marshal of Aviation but remarkably, continued to occasionally fly combat airplanes until 1983. From 1985 - 90, Yefimov served as Deputy Defense Minister and Commander of the Soviet Air Force. He outlived the Soviet Union by almost 21 years and died of heart attack in August 2012 upon learning of the death of his close friend Marshal Sokolov (who passed away on the same day).

So far, no information could be found about the recipient of the award, Vladimir Morozov, in the Russian military archives It is entirely possible that his file is still classified due to a highly sensitive position he occupied in the 80s or secret nature of his missions. Given the timing of the Service to the Homeland award decree and subsequent Thank You Note from Marshal Yefimov, it is very likely that Morozov served and flew combat missions in Afghanistan. Whatever may be the case, details about Maj. Morozov's military service will likely become available with the eventual opening of the archives or / and publication of memoirs. His award certainly has a great research potential!

Please note, the pen in our photo is for size reference.
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