Autobiography
I, Gavriil Polikarpovich Pekyur, was born on 24 March 1904 in the village of Sednev in the Chernigovskaya Oblast of the same region. My mother and father were farmers. The farmland was poor. My father died from typhoid in 1920. He was 64. I entered school in 1913 and in 1920, when I was in the 7th grade, I left school because my father had died.
We had 11 people in the family: mother, father, four brothers, four sisters and my father’s sister. From 1920 I worked on our farm and worked as a hired hand for rich farmers until 1924. From 1924 to 1926 was a member of a leather tanning cooperative shop which became a land cultivation partnership in 1926. In 1926, I was drafted into the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army the Chernigov drafting office. From November of 1926 – a cadet in the Independent Signals Company - 7 ?? the junior command personnel in the town of Chernigov. From November 1926 served as a re-enlistee in the same place.
From August 1930 to August 1931, attended the Kiev unified commanders courses.
From August 1931 to July 1932, commander of the platoon of the 3rd Independent Signals Battalion under the headquarters of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army of Khabarovsk. From July 1932 until May 1934, worked as assistant platoon commander of the of 6th Independent Signals Battalion under the headquarters of the Western Military Command in Chita. From May 1934 to May 1935, KUKS of Khabarovsk. From January 1936 to November 1936 – Mongolia (the Mongolian People’s Republic) with the military command from the town of Baing-Gulyaev.
From December 1937 to August 1938 Commander of the Independent Signals Company-75 of the Fighter Division in Chita and assistant signals battalion commander in the town of Perchinsk.
From August 1938 to May 1941 a student at the Military Aviation Academy of the Army Air Forces of the of the Red Army in Moscow and Monino.
From June 1941 until September 1941, chief of staff of the 285th SBAP of the 75th IAD in Mirgorod.
From September 1941 to October 1942 head of headquarters of the 602nd B6PAP (or B6MAM) of 12th BAD of the Western Front. From June 1941 to December 1941 at the front on the aerodromes: Monino, Ramenskoe and others near Moscow at the Western Front.
January – June 1942 – adding staff and replenishing equipment at the ???? at the aviation courses in the town of Sergievel.
July – October 1942 at the 23rd AD Artillery Regiment at the station of Belaya adding staff and replenishing equipment of the regiment.
From October 1942 to October 1943 – chief of staff of the 971st Guards Air Regiment of the 9th (??) of the Air Academy of the Far Eastern Front.
From October 1943 to August 1944, head of automobiles of the 25th A DVF (??) in the town of Voroshilov.
From August 1944 to April 1945, chief of staff of the 78th SHAP of the 251st ??? of the 9th ??? from the village of Khorol.
From April 1945 until now – chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing of the 149th Fighter Group of Antiaircraft Defense.
Married, with a wife and two children. Vladimir (1937) and Lidia (1939). They live with me. The eldest son, born in 1930, from my first wife, is studying at the Ordzhenikidze Aviation Institute in Moscow.
My mother is living with my sister in the village of Sednev. Two brothers, Alexander and Ivan were at the front at the start of the war. They are missing in action.
Brother Peter, the commander of an Antiaircraft Battery was wounded 19 times and was dismissed from the Red Army. He is living on a pension.
Sister Tatyana is working in a hospital in the village of Sednev, her family is also there; sister Nina is working as a veterinary doctor in Bessarabia, sister Anastasia is working as a cook in a children’s camp of the Central Committee, Moscow. No betrayers or convicts in the family or among my wife’s relatives.
The daughter of my sister Tatyana Prikhod’ko (her married name), Alexandra Grigorievna Prikhod’ko, born in 1924, was in captivity in Germany from 1942 to 1945. (he’s a pupil in her 9th year.)
From 22 June to January 1941 was at the front, never was surrounded or in captivity.
Chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing
Lieutenant Colonel Pekyur
1 October 1947
Informational Report
A report on the chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing of Antiaircraft Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Pekyur, Gavriil Polikarpovich.
He was born in 1904, Ukrainian, member of the Communist party from 1928. Education: General – 6 grades, Political – a second-level two-year training course at the Soviet Party School in 1930; Military – Kiev unified Commanders courses of the RKKA in 1931. Communication troops of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army in 1935, on the Commanders faculty of the Military Academy. KSHS of the Red Army Air Forces in 1941. In the Soviet Army since 1926. Participant in the Great Patriotic War and the War with Japan. Was awarded the Order of Red Banner, two orders of Red Star, medals For Victory Over Germany and For Victory Over Japan.
Lieutenant Colonel Comrade Pekyur has two party penalties: A reprimand without mention in the record card was announced in November of 1944 by the party commission of the 9th Air Army for poor behavior during the party commission meeting and a strict reprimand with a mention in the report card, issued by the party commission of the 9th Air Army on 7 March 1945 for systematic disrespect towards higher-ranking officers, ignoring orders and undermining their authority. This penalty has not been pardoned.
In August 1947 Lieutenant Colonel Pekyur submitted a petition for the penalty to be lifted but the party commission under the policy department of the 149th Fighter Division of Air Defense decided on 9 August 1948 to refuse to lift the strict reprimand and, at the same time, pointed out that, should Pekyur repeat the actions which slander the high calling of a communist, he will be subjected to a stricter party discipline action.
The refusal to lift the party reprimand is motivated by the fact that from the moral point of view during this period showed Comrade Pekyur showed some selfish tendencies: He cared more about his personal well-being on the expense of the state.
(He exchanged 59 kilos of his own vegetables in the 879th Air Base Battalion for 28.5 kilos of rice, which he later sold in the market for 18 rubles a glass.)
In May 1948 Lieutenant Colonel Pekyur submitted the petition to lift the party reprimand for the second time but on 14 May 1948 the party commission of the 149th Fighter Division refused his request because Comrade Pekyur did not perform well in practical work, and didn’t deserve to have his party reprimand lifted.
SERVICE IN THE SOVIET ARMY
Red Army soldier and Assistant Platoon Commander – 3 years 11 months;
Cadet at the Unified Red Army Commanders Training Courses – 4 months;
Platoon Commander and Assistant Squadron Commander of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army – 2 years 8 months;
Chief of Communications of the Rifle and Machine Rifle Battalion of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army – 8 months;
Student of the KUNS of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army – 5 months;
Chief of Communications of the Rifle and Machine Rifle Battalion of the Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army – 10 months.
Commander of a Training Squadron - 7 months;
Head of Communications in the Rifle and Machine Rifle Battalion in the city of Chita, 77th crossing – 1 year 7 months;
Assistant Battalion Commander responsible for construction, the city of Nerchensk – 9 months;
Student at the Military Aviation College of KSHS of the Red Army Air Forces, Monino – 2 years 5 months;
Deputy chief of staff for operations unit of the BAP, Mirgorod – 4 months;
Chief of staff of the aircraft regiment (from September 1941) – 2 years;
Aviation department chief of staff of the 25th Army of the Far East Front – 9 months;
Chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing (From July 1944) – 4 years.
It is attested:
He is well versed in operations and tactics. Exhibits great effort to expand his knowledge. As a chief of staff knows his responsibilities and does his work well. The planning of the military training in regiment HQ is carried out correctly but has insufficient control. Military training control and reporting is in a good condition.
All dispatches for the senior HQ are passed on time. Methods employed in setting up and implementing training courses are correct.
Strong-willed. Persistent and determined in his work. Disciplined. Demanding of himself and his subordinates.
Politically savvy and works to improve his political knowledge.
Provides actual help in strengthening the military discipline in the regiment. Gives attention to every detail.
Among his drawbacks are:
Short-tempered, which sometimes shows in his being rude and untactful to his subordinates and senior staff. Gives insufficient help to the secretary of the Komsomol organization. Doesn’t give sufficient attention to improving specialist knowledge among staff officers and the adjutants of the squadron (unsystematic training sessions.)
Recently showed less control over fulfilling orders from the senior commanders and standing guard in the regiment.
We would like to draw attention to insufficient personal leadership in the operations and tactics training sessions in the regiment.
We would like to point out his overvaluation of this own abilities and knowledge.
He fits the post of the Regiment HQ Chief which he currently occupies.
CONCLUSION: May be appointed an HQ Fighter Wing Chief but due to the fact that there is no such position open at the moment, temporarily employ as a deputy Fighter Wing Regiment HQ Chief.
Head of HR department of the Fighter Air Force of the Aircraft Defense of the Country
Colonel Rumyantsev
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Pekyur, Gavriil Panteleimonovich.
2. Military Rank : Major.
3. Place of Service: Chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing of the 149th Fighter Aviation Division of the Antiaircraft Defense.
Recommended for: Order of Red Banner.
4. Year of Birth: 1904.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the Communist Party from 1928.
7. Place of Birth: Chernigovskaya Oblast, Chernigovsky Area, village of Sednev.
8. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): Great Patriotic War: Western Front from October 1941 to December 1941 and the 2nd Far East Front from 9 August to 6 September 1945.
9. Have any Wounds or Contusions in a) the Civil War: None.
b) the Great Patriotic War: None.
c)
10. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 7 November 1926.
11. Received Which Awards (from which order): Order of Red Star on the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 2 November 1944; the Order of Red Star on the Order of the 2nd Far East Front from 12 September 1945. Medals For the Victory Over Germany and For the Victory Over Japan.
12. Which Call-Up Station: Chernigovsky call-up station.
12. Permanent Home Address of the Awardee or His Family: Primorsky Region, E.A.O. Smidovichesky Area, Village of Nikolaevka.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
During the time of service in the Red Army from November 1926 Comrade Petkyur is positively characterized as a disciplined, demanding and initiative commander who knows his job well.
As a chief of staff knows his responsibilities well and does a good job with them. Likes his chief of staff work, manages the staff officers correctly and teaches them how to work in the staff. Good tactician. Accounting and planning of military training in the regiment is also in good condition. The completion of plans and orders is well-organized. Commanders training sessions in the regiment are well-organized and well-implemented. Systematically studies the lessons of the Great Patriotic War and ably passes on his knowledge to the staff during group lessons, lectures and reports in class.
General and military training are in good order. Knows the political situation well and is working constantly to improve his knowledge of it. Ideologically secure, morally stable. He is dedicated to the cause of Lenin and Stalin and is devoted to his socialist motherland.
Conclusion: For serving in the Army for twenty years as of 7 November 1946 deserves to be awarded the Order of Red Banner.
Commander, 3rd Aviation Wing of the Antiaircraft Defense
Major Menyailo
12 June 1946
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Pekyur, Gavriil Panteleimonovich.
2. Military Rank, Position, Unit, Alliance, Army: Major, chief of staff of the 3rd Fighter Wing of the 149th Fighter Aviation Division of the Antiaircraft Defense of the 2nd Far East Front.
Recommended for: Order of Red Banner.
3. Year and Place of Birth: 1904, Chernigovskaya Oblast, Chernigovsky Area, village of Sednev.
4. Nationality: Ukrainian.
5. Party Membership: Member of the Communist Party from 1928.
6. Service in Battles (when and where): Great Patriotic War: Western Front from October 1941 to December 1941, 602 Aviation Regiment of the 12th SMAD, Western Front, From 9 August 1945 in the acting Army of the 2nd Far East Front.
7. Have any Wounds or Contusions (which ones, where and when): None.
8. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 7 November 1926; as an officer from 1931.
9. Which Call-Up Station: Chernigovsky call-up station.
10. Received Which Awards (from which order): Order of Red Star for the number of years in service, in 1945.
11. Permanent Home Address of the Awardee and His Family Address: Khabarovsky Region, Smidovichesky Area, Village of Nikolaevka; Chernigovskaya Oblast, Chernigovsky Area, Village of Sediev.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
Comrade Pekyur is dedicated to the cause of Lenin and Stalin and is devoted to his socialist motherland. Ideologically secure, morally stable. Politically aware. As a chief of staff knows his responsibilities excellently and fulfills his duties. Carries out the planning of military trainings in the regiment correctly, teaches the regiment to stay in an exemplary order, which was noted by several checks by the inspections of the Army Air Forces of the Red Army of the Far East Front of the 10th Military Command and duly rewarded. Comrade Pekyur has been personally commended for this several times. Manages staff operations correctly, teaching the staff in the timely fulfillment of objectives set by the Commander.
As an officer and a leader, he is a good tactician. He ably passes his knowledge to the regiment staff by giving group lessons and lectures in class.
During 1946 he has complied 5 good-quality projects and gave 11 lectures during which he shared the knowledge from the Great Patriotic War.
He shows initiative in his work, is well-organized and has good organizational abilities. He is a willful and disciplined officer. Knows well the standing orders and instructions and admonitions of the Red Army. As chief of staff constantly offers effective help in organizing work in the regiment in the area of perfecting military skills of the pilots. From 1931 to 1937 served in the Far East Front Units; from 1942 and throughout his time of service raised military skill not only his own but also that of his staff, preparing them for future battles against the enemies of our Motherland.
Conclusion: For scrupulous and honest work in developing military skills, good organization and planning of military training deserves to be awarded the Order of Red Banner.
Commander, 3rd NAP
Major Menyailo
27 August 1945
AWARD CITATION
1. Last Name, First Name, Middle Name: Pekyur, Gavriil Panteleimonovich.
2. Military Rank : Major.
3. Place of Service: Chief of staff of the 78th Attack Aviation Wing.
Recommended for: Order of Red Star.
4. Year of Birth: 1904.
5. Nationality: Ukrainian.
6. Party Membership: Member of the Communist Party from 1928.
7. From Which Time with the Red Army: From 7 November 1926.
8. Service in the Civil War, in later Battles in Service of the USSR and in the GPW (when and where): Great Patriotic War: Western Front from October 1941 to December 1941.
9. Have any Wounds or Contusions: None.
10. Received Which Awards (from which order): None.
11. Which Call-Up Station: Chernigovsky call-up station.
12. Permanent Home Address of the Awardee or His Family: Primorsky Region, Khorol’sky Area, Village of Khorol’.
Short Concrete Description of Excellent Military Action or Service.
Comrade Pekyur is dedicated to the cause of Lenin and Stalin and is devoted to his socialist motherland. Ideologically secure, morally stable. Politically aware. Able to keep military and state secrets. During his stint serving in the Red Army may be characterized as a disciplined, demanding and initiative commander. Leads in a struggle to implement military discipline in the regiment. Took part in action at a front in the Great Patriotic War. At the Western Front of the 12th Composite Aviation Division where she showed himself as a disciplined, hard-working commander and organizer.
Enjoys staff work, manages his subordinates correctly, teaches them their functional responsibilities. He is well-prepared in a military sense. Independently prepares flight and tactics training documents. Is well-respected among staff.
Conclusion: For serving in the army for 18 years as of 7 November 1944, Major Pekyur deserves to be awarded the Order of Red Star.
