Does anyone have information about Medals from Russia in the 1990s to crews flying missions in Operation Frantic; in particular the B-17 squadrons(97th and 99th BGs) that raided Debrecen, Hungary on June 2, 1944? If there are any photos of these documents, could you give me a website from which  I could download these photos?

Thanks, Zamasr

Forum Membership. This reply post is to close this request for a copy of the medals from Russia for USAAF crews that participated in the Frantic missions. I now have a copy of the official document and an accompanying photo copy of the medal itself. The text of the letter reads:

Dear Sir,
     On behalf of Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Government and the entire Russian people, I am pleased to to inform you that you have been awarded this Commemorative Medal, "The 50th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War." (World War II)
     This medal is awarded to you in recognition of your courage and personal contribution in the Allied support of Russia during the fight for Freedom against Nazi Germany.
     Please accept my heartfelt congradulations and wishes for your good health, well being and every success.

     Sincerely,
     Yuri Vorontsov

I recovered this copy from an old website b-17combatcrewmen.org/Freemen.htm  The copy of the medal had been issued to Frank Freeman of the 97thBG. The medals were issued in 1997.

A correction to my previous post. The name of the airman who put together the website that I found the information regarding the Commemorative Medal from Russia is Frank Freeman, and the now inoperative website was b-17combatcrewmen.org/Freeman.htm

S/Sgt Frank Freeman was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 flying with the 97th BG during an Operation Frantic mission in 1944. This scribbler can at least honor this veteran by spelling his name correctly.

                                                    The Ball Turret Gunner
                                                        by Randall Jarrell


                                       From my mother's sleep I fell into the state,
                                     And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze
                                   Six miles from earth, loosed from the dream of life,
                                     I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
                             When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.