Soviet Air Force and Paratrooper Badges
(1946-1959)
 

 
Soviet Air Force Badges

This section covers some of the many badges that were awarded to members of the Soviet Air Force during the post-war period.  In each case we will attempt to give a full history of each badge when possible, and a general description at the very least.

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Awards of the Era of Rebuilding

  

 

Aviation Technician Badges (1958) (1)

These badges were established in four classes in June of 1958.  They replaced the earlier 1949 Air Force Engineer Badge.  They are 66mm across and have pin back fasteners.  Each is made of aluminum.  The 2nd and 3rd class badges below are older variations that were stamped, details of the front can be seen on the reverse.  The Basic badge is a later, possibly 1980's version that has a flat back and maker's marking.  These were issued until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Air Force Engineer Badge
1st Class		 Air Force Engineer Badge
2nd Class
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Air Force Engineer Badge
3rd Class		 Air Force Engineer Badge
Basic

 

 

Excellence in Service Badges (1957)

This badge was established in 1957 and awarded to soldiers and airmen for their excellent service. These badges were originally made of brass and enamel, but by the 1980's they were made out of enamel and aluminum. The badge says - Excellence in VVS (Air Force)

       

 

Air Force Long Service Badge (1957) (1)

Badges for service beyond the mandatory  two year conscription period were authorized in August 1957 by Prikaz of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR #146.  Early badges were made of brass and enamel, but later 1980's versions were made of painted aluminum. 

A marker denoting how many years of faithful extended service could be attached to the hangers below the badge itself. This badge is a pin back type.

 

 

Komsomol Membership Badge (1953)

This badge signifies that the wearer was a member of the young Communist society known as Komsomol.  It was established on 26 June 1953 and was worn by both soldiers, airmen, and sailors. (2)

This version of the badge is the military (screw back) type used in the late 1970's and 1980's.  The civilian version of the badge is a pin back type.

 

 

Military Navigator Badge (1950)

This badge was established for qualified navigators in 1950.  It is a screw back badge composed of brass and enamel.  The badge is 67.5mm wide.  It was replaced by a new series of badges in 1966.

 

 

Soldier Sportsman Badges

These badges were established in 1950 and awarded to soldiers for excellence in physical conditioning and sports activities.  It came in three classes and was worn by both soldiers, airmen, and sailors.  The screw back badges replaced the sport specific badges of earlier times.  Each is made of brass and colored enamel.  They were replaced in 1964 by a new series of soldier-sportsman badges.
First Class Badge Second Class Badge Third Class Badge

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Coming Soon!!

 

 

Excellent Aviation Engineer (1949)

This badge was established in 1949 and awarded to high performing aviation engineers. These pin back badges are 99mm across and composed of silver plated brass.

  

 

Guards Badge (1942)

This is a more recent version of the Soviet Guards badge created in May 1942 during the Great Patriotic War.  It was worn by all members of a unit within a Guards division.  Guards  divisions were those that had distinguished themselves in battle. Since then other units (usually airborne) have been awarded Guards status. This version of the badge is of 1960's vintage screw back that is made of brass and enamel, later versions of the 1980's were pin back variants made of aluminum and paint.

 

 

Works Cited

(1) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, ВОЕННАЯ ОДЕЖДА ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР И РОССИИ (1917-1990), Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999. Print.

(2) Borisov, V.A., НАГРУДНЫЕ ЗНАКИ СОВЕТСКИХ ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ 1918-1991, St. Petersburg: FARN, 1994. Print.