Belonging to the 18th Air Army, Guards Major Sergey Ustinovich Balalov was the squadron commander of the 3rd Guards "Smolensk-Berlin" Red Banner Long-Range Aviation Regiment.
A formidable figure, decorated with two Orders of Lenin and two Orders of the Red Banner, he was one of the rare long-range aviation pilots who participated in both the northern Leningrad and southern Stalingrad campaigns. The two Lenin Orders were awarded by decree of the Supreme Soviet, and his lengthy citation for the Red Banner Order No. 113990 details his leadership in organizing continuous day-and-night bombings of enemy frontlines and rear positions, accident-free flights under difficult weather conditions, and mastery of the Il-4 long-range bomber.
Born in Tula in 1914, he was a civil aviation lieutenant pilot before the war. He joined the Red Army combat units in April 1942. On August 4, 1943, during a bombing mission over Bryansk, he was shot down and captured, but heroically escaped captivity, joined a partisan unit, and with their help, returned to his regiment. After the war, he worked as a transport aircraft pilot for Kazakhstan Civil Aviation.
Order of the Red Banner Award Card No. 113990
Awarded to:
Guards Major Baralov Sergey Ustinovich,
Commander of the Air Squadron, 3rd Guards "Smolensk" Bomber Aviation Regiment,
Red Army Air Force
Recommendation for the Award of the "Order of the Red Banner"
- Date of birth: 1914
- Nationality: Russian
- Social status: Worker
- Party membership: Joined the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in 1943
- Date of enlistment: April 1942
- Participation in Civil War, Great Patriotic War, or other defense battles of the USSR: None
- Wounds or injuries: None
- Previous award recommendations, dates, and reasons: Recommended for awards due to combat merits
- Previous awards and reasons: Awarded two Orders of Lenin – December 31, 1942, and July 27, 1943
- Current address and family address: Not specified
Summary of Merits:
Since April 1942, Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich has served in combat units of the Red Army. Over the designated period, he has completed 207 combat sorties, including 205 night sorties, 15 of which were long-range missions.
Since his last award, he has successfully carried out 42 night combat sorties, including 5 long-range attacks on targets:
- April 11, 1944 – City of Constanța
- April 16, 1944 – City of Constanța
- July 18, 1944 – City of Galați
- July 18, 1944 – City of Lublin
- July 26, 1944 – City of Tilsit
Out of these, 29 sorties targeted enemy rear positions and military targets in temporarily occupied Soviet territories. The remaining 8 sorties supported our army’s frontlines and operations in the rear areas of armies and fronts, conducted in regions including:
- City of Pskov
- City of Fastiv
- City of Akkerman
- City of Brest
- City of Baranovichi
- City of Minsk
- City of Šiauliai, etc.
His crew includes:
- Navigator: Guards Captain Belyantsev
- Air Gunner: Guards Sergeant Zotov
Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich is a brave and fearless commander, showing unyielding hostility toward the enemy, with excellent flying skills. He is capable of flying day and night under complex weather conditions, has thorough knowledge and mastery of the Il-4 aircraft systems and M-88B engines, and has not suffered losses due to navigational failures or accidents. As squadron commander, he diligently fulfills his duties, paying great attention to the combat readiness of his squadron. During his service, he has participated in 456 combat sorties, totaling 2,529 flight hours.
As an outstanding pilot, Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich has repeatedly executed missions to attack enemy illumination and surveillance installations. Due to his flexible organization of the squadron's combat operations, his regiment was awarded the titles "Smolensk" and "Red Banner". Comrade Baralov is strict with himself, leads effectively, and commands well-deserved respect among the personnel of his regiment.
Since April 1942, Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich has been serving in combat units of the Red Army. During this period, he has completed 229 combat sorties, including 225 night sorties, 30 of which targeted long-range objectives.
His crew included:
- Navigator: Guards Major Tarasov
- Guards Captain Shakhshaev
- Guards Captain Belyantsev
- Air Gunner and Radio Operator: Guards Sergeant Miroshnichenko
- Guards Sergeant Zotov
- Air Gunner: Guards Sergeant Melnik
His total flight time amounts to 4,360 hours, of which 950 hours were combat flight hours. Since his last commendation, he has successfully completed 19 combat sorties, including 16 long-range missions, specifically:
- December 22, 1944 – City of Győr
- February 20, 1945 – City of Stargard
- February 21, 1945, April 8, 1945, April 27, 1945 – Königsberg
- March 19, 1945 – City of Danzig
- March 24, 1945 – City of Pillau
- March 26, 1945 – Heubude
- March 25, 1945 – City of Danzig
- April 7, 1945 – City of Pillau
- April 20, 1945, April 25, 1945 – Berlin
- December 20, 1944 – City of Prešov
- October 26, 1944 – Budapest
Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich is a brave and fearless commander, harboring irreconcilable hostility toward the enemy, and possesses excellent flying skills. He is capable of conducting flights day and night under complex weather conditions and is thoroughly familiar with the construction and operation of the Il-4 aircraft and M-88B engines. He has never experienced accidents or malfunctions.
To his crew, he is a flexible organizer and educator, skilled in organizing personnel to accomplish tasks assigned by command. He fosters unity, mutual assistance, and camaraderie among technical and flight personnel. Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich efficiently manages the operations of the squadron and provides considerable care in the night training of newly formed crews. As a squadron commander, he has led 18 newly formed crews into active service, with the squadron completing a total of 947 combat sorties.
While executing a bombing mission on the Bryansk railway junction, Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich's aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters. The plane was engulfed in flames, and communication and control functions failed. He bailed out, parachuted, and was captured unconscious by the enemy. However, as a true patriot, he escaped captivity, joined a partisan unit, and on December 7, 1943, returned to his unit with the help of the partisans.
Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich is an outstanding pilot, repeatedly undertaking missions to attack enemy illumination and surveillance installations. He is strict with himself, leads effectively, and enjoys well-deserved authority among his subordinates. He adheres strictly to discipline, has firm convictions, clear political stance, and stable moral principles.
Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich is loyal to the cause of Lenin and Stalin's Party and the socialist Motherland.
Comrade Baralov Sergey Ustinovich is worthy of being awarded the "Order of Alexander Nevsky".
Commander of the 3rd Guards "Smolensk" Long-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment,
Hero of the Soviet Union, Guards Colonel Glazkov
May 16, 1945
