Vasil'ev Stalin Prize Winner Size 14 x 21. One of the very first Heroes of the Soviet Union, Gromov received the Title for a setting a world record in flight distance in 1934. During the war he distinguished himself as commander of an air division and, later, commander of 3rd and 1st Air Armies. By the end of his career he became one of the most highly decorated Soviet pilots, with 5 Orders of Lenin, 4 Orders of Red Banner and numerous other awards. Printed in July 1937 - note the absence of a Hero Star award which was instituted later, in 1939 and at that time retroactively issued to all surviving Heroes of the Soviet Union.