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"On January 6, 1944, in GO 3, the War Department announced 20 awards of the DSC to officers and men "of the Red Army, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for extraordinary heroism in action against our common enemy, Germany." No other details were published about the DSCs, but there is no doubt that some ofthese Soviet recipients received their decorations: Major General of Aviation Ivan Diomidovich Antoshkin, whose award appears in GO 3, wore his DSC when he met with American World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker in April 1943 (Figure 2.) While Antoshkin’s DSC was not announced in GO until January 1944, the fact that he was wearing the decoration during Rickenbacker’s visit indicates that Antoshkin’s DSC had been awarded much earlier." http://www.omsa.org/files/jomsa_arch/Splits/2003/219217_JOMSA_Vol54... World War I ace Eddie Rickenbacker (left) and Soviet DSC recipient Lieutenant General of Aviation Antoshkin (right), near the German/Soviet front lines, April, 1943.
Eddie Rickenbacker Photo Collection at Auburn University, Alabama
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Photo:Eastern Air Lines' Board of Directors at The Rickenbacker's Bear Creek Ranch in Hunt, Texas
== The next day, Eddie reported to the Russian Air Force headquarters. There, he met with an old friend, Commander Andrei Youmachev. In 1937, Eddie had entertained Andrei for a week in New York. The friendly reunion was another favorable stamp on Eddie's business in Moscow.=
From wikipedia: Still determined to support the US war effort, Rickenbacker suggested a fact-finding mission in the Soviet Union to provide the Soviets with needed technical assistance for their American aircraft. Rickenbacker approached Soviet diplomats, and avoided requesting help from President Franklin Roosevelt, due to their prior disagreements. With the help of the Secretary of War and by trading favors with the Soviet ambassador, Rickenbacker secured unlikely permission to travel to the Soviet Union. The War Department provided everything Rickenbacker needed, including a highly unusual letter stating that the bearer was authorized to "visit ... any ... areas he may deem necessary for such purposes as he will explain to you in person", signed by the Secretary of War.[29]
Rickenbacker's trip took him over South America, where he made observations about the conditions there. He stopped in Africa, China and India, at each stop reviewing American operations and making notes to report to authorities. In Iran, Rickenbacker offered to bring along an American officer, whose unapproved request to travel to the Soviet Union delayed Rickenbacker's party for a few days.
In the Soviet Union, Rickenbacker observed wartime conditions, the extraordinary dedication and patriotism by the populace, and the ruthless denial of food to those deemed unproductive to the war effort. He befriended many Soviet officials and shared his knowledge of the aircraft they had received from the United States. He was lavishly entertained and recalled attempts by KGB agents and officials to get him intoxicated enough to disclose sensitive information.
Rickenbacker's mission was successful. He discovered that a commander of Moscow's defense had stayed at Rickenbacker's home in 1937, and personal connections like this and the respect the Soviet military personnel had for him greatly aided his information-gathering.=
He learned about Soviet defense strategies and capabilities. In the distraction resulting from the outbreak of the Battle of Kursk, he saw a map of the front line showing the locations of all major Soviet military units, which he did his best to memorize.[30] He also persuaded his hosts to give him an unprecedented tour of the Shturmovik aircraft factory. But it was comments made by Rickenbacker during his trip that alerted the Soviets to the existence of the secret B-29 Superfortress program.
http://www.fofweb.com/History/HistRefMain.asp?iPin=FFER08&SID=2&Dat...
In Eddie's mind, the biggest change that the Pacific ordeal brought about was a spiritual one. Before those few weeks on the ocean, Eddie was quietly religious, admitting that "quite a few of his cronies" did not realize his spirituality. After the rescue, Eddie no longer had any shyness about expressing his true feelings. He believed that his rescue could be attributed to God's grace, and he wasn't ashamed to announce it. One columnist wrote: "Rickenbacker has become an evangelist without knowing it. . . ." But Eddie disagreed with one part of that statement—he knew it.
In early April 1943, Eddie went to see Secretary Stimson. He was ready to continue to serve as his special consultant if he so desired. Stimson gave Eddie an assignment that would take him around the world gathering vital military information. The assignment would take him from the West Indies to Natal, Brazil; across the Atlantic to Kakar, the westernmost point of Africa; up to Algiers, where General Eisenhower was directing the North Africa campaign; along the Mediterranean coast of Africa to Cairo, Egypt; and to Abadan and Tehran in Iran, which was the gateway to Russia. When Eddie realized his mission would bring him so close to the Russian door, he suggested that he be permitted to visit with the Russians as well. Stimson agreed that there was much to learn about the war in Russia and how the situation there affected the western front, but getting Eddie accepted by the Russian government would not be an easy task.
As it turned out, the U.S. government was not much help in getting Eddie into Russia. His only chance would be if President Roosevelt were to ask Premier Stalin personally, and since Eddie had publicly criticized Roosevelt's administration in its handling of the war, this did not seem a likely route. But Eddie had another idea. Secretly, he made plans with a governmental agency called Lend-Lease. This program sent American military supplies to nations fighting the Axis powers, including Russia. Eddie made arrangements with Lend-Lease to visit representatives in Russia. Once inside, he could have an eye on other operations as well. Eddie gave strict instructions that there was not to be a word to anyone regarding his plans to visit Russia.
Eddie went about his military business, finishing up in Tehran. At 6:00 on the morning of July 19, 1943, a C-87 took off headed toward Russia, with Eddie Rickenbacker passenger. When the plane landed in Moscow, Eddie was greeted by Russian officers and three Americans, one of whom was Admiral William H. Standley, the American ambassador in Russia, all looking very confused. They greeted Eddie and whispered, "What in the hell are you doing here, Eddie?" Eddie had enough time to whisper the reply—military secret. Later, when they were alone, Eddie fully explained the nature of his mission. Of course, Stimson soon learned about Eddie's arrival in Russia and once again agreed that his information about the Russian situation was too valuable to pass up. He allowed Eddie to stay.
A couple of days after arriving in Russia, Eddie had a luncheon with Foreign Minister Molotov and Marshal Georgi Zhukov. During the lunch, they asked Eddie what he wished to see on his visit. Eddie listed his requests and watched as the Russian interpreter carefully wrote them down. After Molotov and Zhukov heard the list they asked about Eddie's interpreter. Eddie explained that he did not have one and hoped they could supply him with an interpreter that was a good pilot, an aeronautical engineer, and who spoke English well enough that the two would be able to understand each other. This reply won the trust of the two men. They saw that Eddie's purpose in Russia was honest, and agreed to give him what he asked for.
The next day, Eddie reported to the Russian Air Force headquarters. There, he met with an old friend, Commander Andrei Youmachev. In 1937, Eddie had entertained Andrei for a week in New York. The friendly reunion was another favorable stamp on Eddie's business in Moscow.
Even though Germans were bombing locations in Russia about 500 miles away, Eddie asked Andrei why the Germans had not attempted an attack on Moscow. Andrei smiled and handed Eddie a stopwatch. He told Eddie to push the button on the watch as soon as he telephoned orders. Eddie did just as Andrei instructed. In 39 seconds, one hundred American P-39s dotted the sky. There was Eddie's answer.
Strategically placed air bases surrounded Moscow in three concentric rings. Andrei took Eddie to one of the bases in the outside ring. At this base, Eddie saw a squadron of planes at the end of the runway, engines running and pilots at the controls. Each pilot served a four-hour tour of duty, ready to take off at an immediate order. The men then proceeded to a base within the second ring. At the second base, Eddie observed planes positioned at the end of the runway, pilots inside, but the engines were not running. The engines were started once an hour to keep them warmed up and prepared. Inside the third-ring base, pilots waited in a heated tent, planes just outside. The planes were warmed every two hours at this base.
"Commander," Eddie said, "now I understand thoroughly why the Germans do not attempt to bomb Moscow."
At each base, Eddie talked to the pilots, relaying his experience with the planes they were flying. He gave them tips on maneuverability and handling techniques. Pilots and engineers listened intently to Eddie's lectures, understanding that the Russian Air Force could greatly benefit from his technical information.
All the while, Eddie was 500 miles away from the ambitiously offensive Germans. It was June 1943, and the Germans did not show signs of giving up the offensive. It appeared as though the Germans had abandoned a frontal attack on Moscow, and they were marching around to the south to come in the back way. Zhukov told Eddie that if they attack, the Russians will defend, and if they do not attack, the Russians will wait until winter and "tear them to sheds." Eddie was surprised at the frank statements Zhukov was speaking to him, and he later asked the Russian official why they were so open with him. "There are two kinds of foreigners whom we entertain," one of them said. "One kind is those we must, the other, those we like. You happen to fall in the latter category."
Eddie then was taken to visit the air regiments on the front. At his stops, Eddie spoke to pilots flying A-20s and P-39s. The P-39 pilots praised the American planes, noting that one of them had shot down a total of 27 Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts. Eddie learned that the Germans had decreased the number of planes on the Russian front from 2,700 to fewer than 2,000. Those planes had to go somewhere, and Eddie figured they must have gone to the western front.
The first night, Eddie awakened to violent shakes. He and the Russian officers hurried to nearby headquarters and went into the underground war room. The Germans had attacked. Eddie was standing in a room that had a large map of the entire front line on the wall. On the map, every major unit had been marked in universal military language. Eddie could hardly believe the information he had been exposed to. =He calmly asked questions of General Antoshkin while he concentrated on the map, memorizing every detail.=
Despite the beginning of a full German offensive in Russia, the Russians were content to let Eddie continue his mission there. The next day, Eddie made several visits, one of which was with Admiral Standley. Eddie gave him a careful report of what he had learned the previous night, along with a detailed description of the map. Standley wanted to send Eddie back to Washington with this information immediately. But Eddie argued that it would be suicide for him to leave now—after just receiving such classified information. Although America had become Allies with Russia against Germany, the Russians were still distrustful of Americans. For years, Americans had opposed Russia's actions. Eddie convinced the admiral it would be best for him to stay and complete his mission.
At the end of his visits, Eddie was convinced that the Red Army and the Red Air Force were growing stronger day by day. They had excellent military leadership. The groups were well disciplined and organized, comprising a capable military machine. Eddie returned to the United Kingdom and spoke with top British officers about the situation in Russia, including Mr. Churchill. Eddie then arrived back in the United States on August 7, 1943. Despite a cable urging President Roosevelt to meet with Eddie and discuss his visit in Russia, Eddie never spoke to the president about his findings. Roosevelt did not even respond to the cable, which to Eddie was statement enough.
Back at home, Eddie had catching up to do with Eastern Air Lines. The company was experiencing difficulties resulting from inefficiencies, equipment shortages, and personnel problems. Troubles of tightness continued through the war years, but after the war, employees began coming back. The number of employees increased from approximately 3,400 in 1944 to more than 6,700 in 1946. To account for the boom, Eddie began organizing a more complex management system to provide Eastern with a more stringent form of checks and balances. In the years following the war, Eastern maintained its position as the most prosperous operator in the entire airline industry.