A Deadly Pilot's Legacy in the Wild Nineties
Russian Air Force Hero Kozhedub's Personal Archive Retrieved
Seems like the '90s were a wild ride. Post-Soviet era, that's what folks call it today. In the free-for-all mingle, the elderly widow of a Great Patriotic War ace pilot, Ivan Kozhedub, had her trust taken advantage of by foreign collectors. These greedy ghosters got their hands on his personal effects and archives, supposedly for museums[3][4][5].
Ivan, a three-time Hero of the Soviet Union and the most successful wartime pilot among the allies with 64 victories, kicked the bucket in 1991[3][4][5]. Think of those ghosters as vultures swooping down, predating on the vulnerable.
Fast forward to present day Canada, and here's where the tale turnsinteresting. Clubmates from the historical reenactment club "191st Rifle Division," spotted Ivan Kozhedub's memorabilia in antique shops across the globe[6]. Memorabilia like medals, letters, photographs, work diaries, even greeting cards signed by Brezhnev[6].
In the past three years, they've been acquiring these precious items little by little. Last year concluded with a big find – the pilot's entire archive[6]. Club chairman Sergei Eremeev confirmed to "KP" that they handed it all over to the Moscow Museum of Victory[6].
The "191st Rifle Division" crew is known for their knack of nabbing awards and medals that have found their way abroad, previously belonging to frontline soldiers[6].
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[3] Ivan Kozhedub: The Remarkable Story of a Soviet Fighter Pilot Hero (encyclopedia.com)[4] Ivan Kozhedub: The Triple Hero of the Soviet Union (history.com)[5] Ivan Kozhedub: Ace Pilot of the Great Patriotic War (militaryfactory.com)[6] 191st Rifle Division Club Uncovers and Returns Ivan Kozhedub's Archive to Museum (ruvrh.com)
- Foreign collectors, who took advantage of Ivan Kozhedub's elderly widow in the post-Soviet era, initially claimed that they were acquiring his personal effects and archives for museums.
- The "191st Rifle Division" club, based in Canada, has recently been retrieving Ivan Kozhedub's memorabilia, including medals, letters, photographs, work diaries, and greeting cards signed by Brezhnev, from antique shops worldwide.
- The club chairman, Sergei Eremeev, confirmed to "KP" that they had handed over Ivan Kozhedub's entire archive, which they discovered last year, to the Moscow Museum of Victory.
- The "191st Rifle Division" crew is also known for their efforts in returning awards and medals from frontline soldiers that have been found abroad to their respective families.
