3 ½" x 4 ¾", printed on thin glossy photo paper. The obverse presents a Naval Air Force Commander (equivalent to Army Lt. Col.) in dress uniform, wearing multiple decorations. Among them are two Orders of the Red Star, Order of the Red Banner, Medal for Combat Service Type 2, and the Korean Liberation Commemoration Medal, one of the first awards of North Korea awarded to Soviet soldiers who had fought in Korea against the Japanese in the last days of WW2. The included commendation letter for the Order of the Red Star is for the 1945 war against Japan.

The typewritten military archival entry on the verso identifies the officer as Lt. Col. Grigoriy Kruzhenets, and bears the hand signature of the Senior Personnel Officer Maj. Matsak and the seal of the Stalin Order of Lenin Naval Aviation School. Dated 5 August 1953.

The photo is in excellent condition. The emulsion is unbroken; the typewritten text has, of course, pressed through to the obverse but is visible only when tilting the photo to reflect a bright light. The paper is unwrinkled and corner bumps are all but absent. The image is in sharp focus providing an excellent opportunity to examine the decorations.

Research: photocopy of the award commendation for the Order of the Red Star for the 1945 war against Japan; photocopy of the 1st page of the decree for this order, and of the page where Kruzhenets is listed in it.

Please note that the penny in our photo is for size reference.