1913 – 1 July 1942

Aleksandr Salov was born in 1916.

Starshiy leitenant Salov took part in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940 flying Polikarpov I-153s in 149 IAP.

149 IAP was formed on 31 January 1940 at Pushkin based on elements from 38 IAP and was attached to VVS SZFr. Reinforcements was received from 25 IAP (16 I-16s for 1st Eskadrilya), from 51 IAP (14 I-153s for 2nd eskadrilya arrived on 14 February 1940 from Leningrad) and from the Air Force Academy (VVA) in Moscow.

On 1 February, 149 IAP moved to Vejno west of Lake Peipus (Chudskoye ozero).

At 15:00 on 26 February 1940, 149 IAP was involved in combat over Kouvola when starshiy leitenant Viktor Vilchik claimed a monoplane (Fiat?). Leitenant Pavel Kel'in and leitenant Salov claimed one Fokker each (both flying Polikarpov I-153s). Leitenant Begrov and starshiy leitenant Pindyukov shared a fighter ”equipped with open radial engine” (this is clearly referring to a Fiat).
Urgently needed on the front, LLv 26 used only ten days in Fiat training before the baptism of fire. Luutnantti Olli Puhakka (FA-4) took his pair to combat bombers and fighters south of Kouvola. Over Pyhtää, he claimed one I-16 and his wingman vänrikki Kauko Linnamaa (FA-9) claimed one probable DB-3 (from 1 AP). Puhakka also claimed a damaged I-15bis over Kotka during the same combat.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, he still served in 149 IAP, flying MiG-3s.

He left 149 IAP in July 1941.

In August 1941, he was posted to 263 IAP, flying MiG-3s and LaGG-3s with this unit.

Four MiG-3s from 263 IAP claimed a shared Do 215 over Ardulyevo on 3 October 1941. Two of the pilots were starshiy leitenant Salov and starshiy leitenant Nikolay Senchenko.

Salov was killed in action on 1 July 1942, when he didn’t return from a combat mission.

At the time of his death, Salov was credited with 1 biplane victory and a total of 5.
During his career he had been decorated with the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1940
1	26/02/40	15:00	1	Fokker (a)	Destroyed	Polikarpov I-153		Kouvola	149 IAP
	1941
	23/08/41		1/3	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	MiG-3		Yartsevo - Pnevo	263 IAP
2	27/08/41		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	MiG-3		Yartsevo	263 IAP
	03/10/41		1/4	Do 215	Shared destroyed	MiG-3		Ardulyevo	263 IAP
	1942
	11/04/42		1/3	Hs 126	Shared destroyed	LaGG-3		Pal'na	263 IAP
3	09/06/42		1	Hs 126	Destroyed	LaGG-3		Bryansk airfield	263 IAP
	24/06/42		1/2	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	LaGG-3		Bagrimovo	263 IAP
4	30/06/42		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	LaGG-3		Kastornoye	263 IAP
	30/06/42		1/3	FW 189	Shared destroyed	LaGG-3		Livny	263 IAP
5	30/06/42		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	LaGG-3		Livny	263 IAP

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 5 and 5 shared destroyed.
(a) Probably claimed in combat with Fiat G.50s from LLv 26, which claimed 1 destroyed I-16 and 1 damaged I-15bis without losses. 149 IAP claimed 4 destroyed enemy fighters without losses.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936–1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Ilmavoitot, osa 1 - Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman, ISBN 952-99432-8-8
Ilmavoitot, osa 2 - Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman, ISBN 952-99432-8-8
Red Stars 7 - Talvisota Ilmassa - The Winter War In the Air - Carl-Fredrik Geust, 2011 Apali Oy, Tampere, ISBN 978-952-5877-04-5
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov
Suomen Ilmavoimat part II – 1928-40 – Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman, 2006, ISBN 952-99743-0-2