On the night of August 7-8, a group of aircraft of the Baltic Fleet carried out a reconnaissance flight over Germany and bombed the city of Berlin.

5 aircraft dropped bombs on the center of Berlin, and the others on the outskirts of the city.

I announce my commendation to the personnel of the aircraft that participated in the flight.

I am petitioning the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the decoration of those who distinguished themselves.

Each crew member who participated in the flight is to be paid 2,000 rubles.

Henceforth it is established that each crew member who drops bombs on Berlin shall receive 2,000 rubles.

This order is to be announced to the crews of the aircraft that participated in the first bombing of Berlin and to the entire personnel of the 81st Long-Range Aviation Division.

People's Commissar of Defense

I. Stalin

Voenno-istoricheskiy zhurnal [Military History Journal]. 2001. No. 8. P. 27.