Head of State Rumen Radev will award the Presidential Badge of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Stefanov and Major Dimitar Grigorov for their significant contribution to national security, the institution's press office announced, quoted by BTA.
The same award will also be awarded to Retired Major General Ivan Parapunov for his significant contribution to the development and strengthening of the Air Force and the national security of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The awards, which will be presented at an official ceremony in the Coat of Arms Hall of the Presidency at 11:30, are also on the occasion of October 16 – the combat holiday of the Air Force, the press service also states.
On October 16, the holiday of aviation and the Air Force is celebrated. It is celebrated by Order 400 of the Council of Ministers of June 1, 1963, according to information from the BTA “Archives and Reference“ Directorate. The same day also marks the anniversary of the first in the history of Bulgarian aviation and in Europe flight of an airplane (1912) with a reconnaissance purpose in real combat conditions during the Balkan War (1912-1913). In addition to reconnaissance of the enemy forces, the first aerial bombing over the old continent in a real frontline situation was carried out. The pilot Lieutenant Radul Milkov and the observer Lieutenant Prodan Tarakchiev fly with their "Albatross" above the Edirne fortress, they reconnoitered the location of the reserves and managed to throw two hand grenades over the Karaagach station.