Håkan,
The Russian HSU web-page
http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=1177
gives following info about Shmelkov:
- born 5.5.1912, died 24.3.1967, HSU No. 25 31.12.1967
- 66 combat missions in Spain with I-15, 4 individual and 2 shared victories
- 1938 commanded 54 IABr (Leningrad Military District), 21.3.1940 Red Banner Order. (I have however not been able to find his task in the Winter war - probably a staff position/Carl)
- in 1941 commanded 145 IAP (VVS 14. Army, Karelian Front) in the Murmansk area, "a number of victories". Later deputy commander of 1 SAD (VVS 14.A), injured in German bombing attack.
- deputy commander of 5 ZABr SibVO from Oct 1942 Commander of 297 IAD Zabalkajskoj Armii PVO
- from July 1944 back to the front as commander of 234 IAD, fought in Belorussia, Poland and East Germany. Shot down by AA-artillery at Berlin. Altogether 18 victories.
- very strange that Shmelkov is missing from Mihail Bykov´s ace book!
Carl