Two pages, front and verso. The document is a standard form for service evaluation and promotional recommendation of Guards Major Konstantin Stanishevskiy for the position of Chief of Staff of an artillery brigade. Nedelin's signature is at the bottom of the verso, in black ink. Since Maj. Stanishevskiy already occupied this post at the time, the evaluation is not so much promotional as confirmational.

In excellent condition. The filing left margin has been cut off in a neat straight line, the paper is very slightly wrinkled, mostly along the top edge, and is nicely and evenly age-toned. The typed text, signatures and seals are bright, perfectly legible and untouched by wear.

Mitrofan Nedelin (Митрофан Иванович Неделин, 1902 - 1960), made a significant contribution to development, testing and introduction into the Soviet Armed Forces of nuclear rocket armament. His death in the 1960 accident at the Baikonur Cosmodrome during a rocket test launch was, of course, kept classified. The official cause of death was announced as a plane crash. Different sources cite different numbers of people who died during and shortly after the accident, ranging from 78 to 126. Knowing the Soviet love of secrecy and sweeping their failures under the rug, the higher number is probably closer to the truth.

Marshal Nedelin was buried in the Kremlin Wall in Red Square, perhaps the highest posthumous honor in the country.

Please note that the photo portrait of Nedelin is for illustrative purposes only and does not come with the document.