In the Hall of Honor of Heroes and Models of the People's Air Force, an unusual commemorative medal-the first Congress of Heroes and Models of the Air Force is displayed.
From March 21 to 29, 1955, the First Congress of Heroes and Models of the Air Force was held in Beijing.
At the conference, the leaders of the Air Force presented medals and certificates to all heroes, models, heroes and representatives of collective meritorious service units participating in the conference.
Carrying out meritorious service and model creation activities is a fine tradition of our army.
The Air Force was established on the basis of the Army and inherited the fine traditions of the People's Army. Since its establishment, it has paid great attention to carrying out meritorious service and model creation activities.
In March 1950, the Air Force’s first political work conference issued the "Interim Measures for the Air Force's Meritorious Service (Draft)", and the activities of meritorious service and model creation gradually began.
The National Meeting of Representatives of Fighting Heroes held in September 1950 and the "Draft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Meritorious Service" issued by the former General Political Department in 1951 provided references and implementation methods for the Air Force to organize and carry out meritorious service.
During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the revolutionary heroism of the troops rose.
In order to inspire officers and soldiers to overcome difficulties and fight bravely, in October 1951, the Air Force Political Department issued standards for wartime meritorious service for pilots and other personnel, which encouraged the morale of officers and soldiers. Various heroes and collective meritorious units emerged in large numbers.
In 1952, a total of 15,830 people made meritorious services, and heroes and models began to appear, including 5 first-level heroes, 9 second-level heroes, 2 second-level models, and 450 meritorious units.
In 1953, a total of 23,902 people made meritorious services, including 4 second-level heroes, 7 second-level models, and 823 meritorious units.
During this period, the Air Force Political Department issued the "Temporary Standards for the Service of the Air Force (Draft)", which initially unified the standards for the service of the Air Force.
On January 15, 1954, at the First Teaching Advanced Representative Conference of the Air Force Aviation School, the advanced experience of the "second-level model" Shao Changyuan and Xu Qingchun was summarized and promoted, which made the meritorious and model creation activities not only inspiring the morale of the officers and soldiers, but also guiding the work. effect.
This year, the military and aviation school's flight accidents decreased significantly, and the quality of aviation school teaching was improved.
According to statistics, a total of 17,091 people made meritorious services in 1954, including 9 second-level models and 450 meritorious units.
In March 1955, the Air Force’s First Congress of Heroes, Models and Meritors pushed the activities of meritorious service to a higher level.
There were 407 official representatives attending the meeting and 132 non-voting representatives.
Among them are outstanding representatives in more than 40 different positions, including flight, maintenance, teaching, military administration, and logistics.
Mao Zedong wrote an inscription for the conference: "Establish a powerful People's Air Force, defend the motherland, and prepare to defeat the invaders." Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Xu Xiangqian, Su Yu, etc. respectively wrote inscriptions for the conference.
Zhu De also attended the conference in person and received all the representatives cordially.
This is the first event of unprecedented scale in the history of the People’s Air Force. It is a grand commendation and concentrated display of the outstanding achievements of the People’s Air Force and the emergence of heroes, models and heroes since the establishment of the People’s Air Force.
It inspires the morale of the troops, inspires fighting spirit, strengthens the sense of mission, responsibility and honor of all Air Force commanders and fighters, and forms a good atmosphere of "comparison between heroes and models and chasing after comrades in arms", which has contributed to the construction of the People’s Air Force. deep influence.
Li Yahui Li Guizhou