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