Everyone considered him missing when, on June 26, 1941, he did not return from a sortie. However, 10 years later, his personal belongings were found. But the story didn't end there. In order for the country to recognize the name of Alexander Maslov from Kolomna, 55 years had to pass, only in 1996 Maslov received the well-deserved title of Hero of Russia posthumously. The story of the feat and the difficult path to the recognition of the hero as a Hero is told by the major of the Russian Air Force, writer Eduard Kharitonov.