Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Major Alfons Iosifovich Shimenas

Alfons Shimenas was born in Riga on 29 February 1908.

Not much is known about Shimenas but he served as a Leitenant in China from 24 October 1937 until 12 September 1938, flying I-15bis. During his time in China, he reportedly claimed five destroyed; three Ki-27s and two bombers.
He was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner on 14 November 1938.

He was on active service from the start of the Second World War in June 1941, flying 15 sorties in an unknown unit.

After being wounded, he fought on the Volkhov Front.

In February 1942, he was posted to 484 IAP, flying Yak-1s.

He was decorated with a second Order of the Red Banner on 29 June 1942.

Major Shimenas later commanded 484 IAP but on 21 July 1942, he did not return from a combat mission. His flight had been out to attack the Millerovo airfield when his fighter was seen being hit by AA-fire and he crashed into the ground in his burning Yak-1.

At the time of his death, Shimenas was credited with 5 biplane victories and a total of 7.
He had roughly flown 50 sorties during the Second World War.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	193?
1	??/??/3?		1	Ki-27	Destroyed	I-15bis		China
2	??/??/3?		1	Ki-27	Destroyed	I-15bis		China
3	??/??/3?		1	Ki-27	Destroyed	I-15bis		China
4	??/??/3?		1	Enemy bomber	Destroyed	I-15bis		China
5	??/??/3?		1	Enemy bomber	Destroyed	I-15bis		China
	1942
6	??/??/42		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Yak-1			484 IAP
7	??/??/42		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Yak-1			484 IAP
	??/??/42		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Yak-1			484 IAP
	??/??/42		1/?	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Yak-1			484 IAP

Biplane victories: 5 destroyed.
TOTAL: 7 and 2 shared destroyed.

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