Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Leitenant Nikolai Ignatovich Derunov

1920 – 23 October 1953

Nikolai Derunov was born in 1920.

He graduated from flight school in 1942.

As a Serzhant he served in 11 IAP-KBF from January 1943.

In May 1943, he was posted to 71 IAP-KBF, which at the time still was flying the old Polikarpov I-153s. This unit was part of the Baltic Fleet.

On 31 May 1943, 71 IAP-KBF became a guards-unit when they became 10 GIAP-KBF.

In July, the unit was sent away from the front to re-equip with La-5s.
They went back to combat on 13 January 1944.

He was decorated with the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class on 19 September 1943.

On 30 April 1944, he was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.

Derunov ended the war with 2 shared biplane victories and a total of 2.
These had been claimed during 106 combat missions (as of 20 April 1944).

He continued to serve after the war but was killed in a plane crash on 23 October 1953.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1943                
  21/05/43   1/? FW 190 Shared destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF
  26/05/43   1/? FW 190 Shared destroyed I-153     71 IAP-KBF
  1944                
1 30/03/44   1 FW 190 Destroyed La-5     10 GIAP-KBF
2 30/03/44   1 FW 190 Destroyed La-5     10 GIAP-KBF

Biplane victories: 2 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 2 and 2 shared destroyed.

Sources:
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov




Last modified 13 August 2019