Memories of the gold medals and medals of the "two bombs".
Fan Zhongqi
This article was written by Fan Zhongqi
I have been awarded two "Two Bombs" medals, one for the 20th anniversary of the first successful atomic bomb in October 1984 and the 50th anniversary of the first successful hydrogen bomb in July 2017.
Medal awarded in 1984 (left) and medal earned in 2017 (right)
The first medal for the 20th anniversary of the successful atomic bombing in October 1984 was awarded by the Ministry of Nuclear Industry of the People's Republic of China, which also issued a certificate of honor.
Certificate of Honor in 1984
The certificate of honor reads:
Comrade Fan Zhongqi contributed to the successful explosion of the mainland's first atomic bomb. In order to stimulate the spirit of arduous struggle, continue to forge ahead, and make new contributions to the cause of national defense, a certificate of honor is specially awarded to encourage them.
Ministry of Nuclear Industry of the People's Republic of China (official seal)
16 October 1984
In July 2017, the first medal for the 50th anniversary of the successful explosion of the hydrogen bomb was awarded by the 29th (Beijing) Friendship Association, which also distributed commemorative books and postcards.
Commemorative albums and postcards issued in 2017
In April 2023, in order to thank my alma mater, Zhejiang University, for the cultivation of the above medals, honorary certificates and some materials related to the development of nuclear weapons, I donated the above medals, honorary certificates and some materials related to the development of nuclear weapons to the archives of my alma mater for preservation, in order to repay my alma mater for its training.
In 2023, he presented commemorative medals, honorary certificates and some materials related to the development of nuclear weapons to the archives of his alma mater, Zhejiang University, for preservation
At the ceremony, I also told the alumni of Zhejiang University about the difficult road and outstanding contributions made by Zhejiang teachers and students who worked in nuclear weapons research and development units, from the initial No. 17 construction site to Qinghai No. 221 factory and then to Sichuan 902 base.
In April 2023, he lectured students on the development of nuclear weapons at Zhejiang University
I still remember that when I received the medal and certificate of honor for the 20th anniversary of the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb in October 1984, my heart was very excited, because I had been transferred out of the Ninth Academy at that time and was not working in the nuclear industry system, but the Ninth Academy did not forget us, the old comrades who worked in the Ninth Academy during the development of the "two bombs," and did not forget my youthful work in the Design Institute of the Ninth Academy for ten years (1964-1974). It has been 50 years since I remember this event, and every time I think about it, I feel a warm current in my heart.
In particular, when I learned that the reason why we, the comrades who had been transferred out of the Ninth Academy, were able to receive the same commemorative medals and honorary certificates as the comrades in the Ninth Academy, was closely related to the meticulous and hard work of the leaders and staff of the Ninth Institute (Theoretical Department), and I was even more moved to my excitement. So here, I would like to tell the story of the leaders and staff of the Nine Institutes in particular to express my respect and gratitude to them.
The reason for the incident was that in October 1982, when the State Science and Technology Commission selected the National Natural Science Award, it awarded the first prize of the National Natural Science Award for the nine declared projects, "Physics, Mechanics and Mathematical Theory Problems in the Design Principles of the Atomic Bomb and Hydrogen Bomb".
This award is the highest standard commendation for the research and development achievements of the "two bombs" (atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb) principle of the nine institutes, and it is also a full affirmation of the hard work of the scientific research and technical personnel of the Ninth Academy.
To this end, the State Science and Technology Commission awarded the following to the nine authors of the achievement:
1 gold medal for "Science"; The total bonus is 10,000 yuan; 1 copy of the certificate of honor for each person.
In October 1982, he was awarded the honorary certificate of the first prize of the National Natural Science Award
In October 1982, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the First Prize of the National Natural Science Award
Among the nine authors, Mr. Peng Huanwu is the first author, which is expected and well-deserved, because the theoretical research and design of the mainland's atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb were carried out under the personal organization and guidance of Mr. Peng.
The other eight authors are all business directors and deputy directors of the Nine Institutes (Theory Department) in the early stage of the development of the "two bombs," and they are: Deng Jiaxian, Zhou Guangzhao, Yu Min, Huang Zuqia, Zhou Yulin, Qin Yuanxun, Jiang Zepei, and He Guilian.
In October 1982, he was awarded the first prize of the National Natural Science Award
Since there was only one gold medal, and the stipulation was to award it to the first person to complete it, when the Ninth Institute got the gold medal and gave it to the first author, Mr. Peng Huanwu, Peng Gong did not keep it himself, but handed it over to the institute for preservation on the grounds that the achievement was a collective merit, and wrote down the famous inscription of "The collective collects the collective, and the day is new and the day is new", encouraging the comrades of the Nine Institutes to continue to carry forward the "spirit of the two bombs", constantly create new achievements, and make new and greater contributions to the motherland.
The inscription of Mr. Peng Huanwu
Two years later, in October 1984, when celebrating the 20th anniversary of the successful detonation of the mainland's first atomic bomb, the 10,000 yuan prize received by the Ninth Institute was distributed to all the scientific and technological personnel who had participated in tackling key problems on the principle of the two bombs at the Ninth Institute (Theory Department) -- more than 600 scientific and technological personnel from the Ninth Institute (Theory Department) had participated in tackling key problems on the principle of the two bombs, with an average of 10 yuan per person, except for those who had made special contributions, 50 yuan.
However, by the time the bonuses were paid in October 1984, more than half of the more than 600 people had actually been transferred out of the Ninth Institute, and some had even been transferred out of the Ninth Institute or the nuclear industry system.
But when the Nine Institutes handed out the bonuses, they did not forget these participants of the year. The planning section and the trade union of the No. 9 Institute conscientiously searched for and verified the veteran comrades who were no longer working in the institute, and sent an official letter in the name of the No. 9 Institute to the units where the personnel were transferred, informing them of the good news that they had won the first prize and the bonus had been issued.
The official letter reads:
xxxxx (name of unit):
Comrade xxx of your unit, when you worked in our institute before 1975, you participated in the research work of a major topic in the mainland's national defense construction, and the research results won the first prize of the national natural science category in 1982. The State Science and Technology Commission awarded a certificate of honor, a gold medal and a bonus of 10,000 yuan. Certificates of honor and medals are kept in our firm. The results of this research are collective. Before 1975, more than 600 comrades participated in the study, and for the comrades who had been transferred out of our institute, except for the five comrades who had made special contributions, a bonus of 50 yuan was given to each of the other comrades, and the rest of the comrades were paid according to the average number of comrades in our institute.
Comrade xxx has made positive contributions to the research work during his work in our institute, and I am now sending a bonus of 10 yuan, please contact the comrade and inform me of the content of this letter.
Regards
Beijing No.9 Research Institute (official seal)
16 October 1984
In this official letter, the Nine Courts set the scope of the issuance "during the period of work in our firm before 1975", which also provided a precedent for the other institutes of the Ninth Academy. It is precisely on the basis of this precedent of the Ninth Institute that when the entire Ninth Academy issued the medal and certificate of honor commemorating the 20th anniversary of the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb, it also took into account we, the veteran comrades who had been transferred out of the Ninth Academy, found our unit and mailing address through various channels and channels, and then sent commemorative medals and honorary certificates to us, the veteran comrades who had participated in the early work of the "two bombs," by mail, which made us feel very moved. I deeply feel that these commemorative medals and certificates of honor are not only proof that our comrades are engaged in the cause of nuclear weapons on the mainland, but also an affirmation and praise from the organization for dedicating our youth, wisdom and talents to the national defense cause of the motherland.
In 1974, I was transferred from the Ninth Academy Design Institute, and through the connection between the Ninth Academy Design Institute and Yanshan Petrochemical Company, I was transferred back to the original system and place of origin. The colleagues who remained in the Ninth Academy not only continued to strive for the development of the nuclear industry system, but also dedicated their youth and life to make more achievements and contributions to the country's national defense.
Today, although we are both retired, we still maintain close contact, participating in the activities of the Beijing 29th Friendship Association of the Ninth Academy, reminiscing about the fighting friendship of our youth and the happy life in our later years.
Together, we returned to Base 902 to find places where we used to work and live.
In October 2009, 15 veteran comrades of the Ninth Academy of Design Institute in Beijing, accompanied by Chen Shushan, who worked in the hospital, returned to the Zitong Academy, and took a photo in front of the "Deng Jiaxian's Former Residence" in the "Two Bomb City", from left to right: Han Zhentao, Chen Zhaoyin, Qi Huifang, Cui Huichen, Li Zengzhi, Jin Lihua, Wang Yanwei; Back row from left to right: Zhen Bingbei, Chen Yonghui, Li Shaogui, Jiang Yunxuan, Yuan Keqin, Xu Hongjia, Zhang Kan, Chen Shushan, Fan Zhongqi.
We also visited the old leaders and colleagues in Mianyang, and watched the scenery and scenery of the Science City.
Our old leader, Li Yingjie, came to visit us at the Kowloon Hotel
We saw that the Ninth Academy (now known as the China Academy of Engineering Physics) had been relocated from the ravines where we were scattered back then, and the whole was concentrated in Mianyang Science City. Here, the cause we were engaged in in in those years is carrying forward the past and forging ahead into the future, and this makes us veteran comrades feel very gratified and encouraged, and we deeply feel that there are successors to our "two bombs" cause, and our dream of a strong country for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is being realized!
Source: Dawn 902
Text / Photo: Fan Zhongqi