Nikolay Gorbunov was born in 1915.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, mladshiy leytenant Gorbunov served in 38 IAP. This unit was equipped with Polikarpov I-153s and stationed on the North-Western Front.

38 IAP claimed two Bf 109s on 11 July; one by mladshiy leytenant Vasiliy Belous and one by mladshiy leytenant Gorbunov.

On 17 July, 38 IAP claimed four Bf 110s. One was claimed by kapitan Vasiliy Kashtanov (I-153 or I-16) over Staraya Russa airfield. The other three were individual claims by three I-153s pilots; leytenant Konstantin Gorin, mladshiy leytenant Vasiliy Belous and mladshiy leytenant Gorbunov. It’s possible that these claims also were made over Staraya Russa airfield.
Leytenant Gorin was killed during the day and it’s also possible that this was during this combat.

On 25 July, Gorbunov was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.

He didn’t return from a combat mission on 10 August 1941.

At the time of his death, Gorbunov was credited with 3 biplane victories.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
1	10/07/41		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	I-153		North-Western Front	38 IAP
2	11/07/41		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	I-153		North-Western Front	38 IAP
	13/07/41		1/?	Hs 126	Shared destroyed	I-153		North-Western Front	38 IAP
3	17/07/41		1	Bf 110	Destroyed	I-153		North-Western Front	38 IAP

Biplane victories: 3 and 1 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 3 and 1 shared destroyed.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936-1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov