Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Major Ivan Dmitriyevich Leonov HSU

11 September 1915 – 30 May 1944

Decorations
Date Decoration Note
29/12/41 Order of the Red Banner 1st
05/02/42 Order of the Red Star  
22/07/43 Order of the Red Banner 2nd
01/11/43 Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union No. 1274
01/11/43 Order of Lenin  
05/09/44 Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class  

Ivan Leonov was born in Lviv on 15 September 1915.

He joined the Red Army on 18 March 1938 and graduated from Odessa Military Aviation School in 1939.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, mladshiy leitenant Leonov served in 2 IAP. This regiment was equipped with Polikarpov I-153s.

On 18 March 1943, 2 IAP became a guard’s unit and renamed to 85 GIAP.

He distinguished himself in the battles during the liberation of Melitopol and for this kapitan Leonov was decorated with the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union (no. 1274) and the Order of Lenin on 1 November 1943.

On 30 May 1944, major Leonov was killed in an air accident.

At the time of his death, Leonov was credited with 4 shared biplane victories and a total of 5.
These had been claimed during 288 combat missions.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941                
  05/07/41   1/? Ju 87 Shared destroyed I-153   Kiev region 2 IAP
  28/07/41   1/? Ju 88 Shared destroyed I-153   Kiev region 2 IAP
  04/08/41   1/? He 111 Shared destroyed I-153   Kiev region 2 IAP
  08/08/41   1/? Hs 126 Shared destroyed I-153   Kiev region 2 IAP
  1942                
1 10/06/42   1 Ju 87 Destroyed LaGG-3   Kharkov region 2 IAP
2 11/06/42   1 Bf 109 Destroyed LaGG-3   E Semonovka 2 IAP
3 22/06/42   1 Bf 110 Destroyed LaGG-3   Kupyansk 2 IAP
  1943                
4 27/02/43   1 He 111 Destroyed Yak-1   SW Politotdel'skoye 2 IAP
5 31/07/43   1 Bf 109 Destroyed Yak-1   SE D'yakovo 85 GIAP

Biplane victories: 4 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 5 and 4 shared destroyed.

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




Last modified 19 February 2021