Boris Yakushev was born on 12 June 1916.

He graduated from flight school in February 1938.

On 17 February 1939, he was posted to 42 IAP-KBF before going to 13 IAP on 15 April 1939.

Yakushev took part in the Soviet-Finish Winter War where he served in 13 OIAE-KBF.
During this conflict he flew I-15bis and took part in 28 combat missions.

During a ground attack mission on Björkö Island on 25 December, he was shot down and made an emergency landing on Seiskari Island. His aircraft was later saved.

He was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner on 21 April 1940.

He was posted to 2./71 IAP-KBF on 19 June 1941.

When the Great Patriotic War started June 1941, leitnant Yakushev served in 71 IAP-KBF, which was equipped with Polikarpov I-153s.

On 14 September, he was posted to 12 IAE-KBF.

He was wounded during a combat mission on 16 November 1941 and sent to hospital.

He was decorated with a second Order of the Red Banner on 16 December 1941.

From 4 March to June 1942, he worked as an instructor before going back to 71 IAP-KBF, again flying I-153s

On 13 January 1943, he was posted to 11 IAP-KBF (from 71 IAP-KBF), which also was equipped with I-153s.

He left 11 IAP-KBF and returned to 71 IAP-KBF on 22 May 1943.
The 71 IAP-KBF became the 10 GIAP-KBF on 31 May 1943.

He claimed an FW 189 on 30 May 1944, while flying a La-5.

On 22 June 1944, he was posted to 3 GIAP-KBF. During his time with the unit it was equipped with La-5s and La-7s.

On 1 August, he claimed an FW 190 over Rakvere airfield in Estonia.

3 GIAP-KBF intercepted enemy aircraft over Yevve on 4 August. Yakushev claimed a Ju 87 while starshii leitenant Dmitri Kurochka claimed a second and an additional FW 190.

On 5 August he claimed an FW 190.

He was decorated with a third Order of the Red Banner on 19 August 1944.

On 8 May 1945, he claimed a FW 190 and a shared Ju 88 west of Libau, Latvia.
By this time kapitan Yakushev was deputy commander of 1./3 GIAP-KBF.

Yakushev ended the war with 5 victories.
He had flown 425 sorties and taken part in 87 air combats.
During his career he was decorated with the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner (four times).

He was decorated with a fourth Order of the Red Banner on 31 May 1945.

Yakushev continued to serve in the Navy after the war in various positions.

He was decorated with the Order of the Red Star on 30 April 1954.

Major Yakushev was placed in the reserve on 25 February 1955.

He was decorated with the Order of Patriotic War 2nd Class on 11 March 1985.

Yakushev died on 10 August 1992.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1944
1	30/05/44		1	FW 189	Destroyed	La-5		N Azeri	10 GIAP-KBF
2	01/08/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	La-5		Rakvere airfield	3 GIAP-KBF
3	04/08/44		1	Ju 87	Destroyed	La-5		Yevve	3 GIAP-KBF
4	05/08/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	La-5		S Bolshoy Tyuters	3 GIAP-KBF
	1945
5	08/05/45		1	FW 190	Destroyed	La-7		W Libau	3 GIAP-KBF
	08/05/45		1/2	Ju 88	Shared destroyed	La-7		W Libau	3 GIAP-KBF

TOTAL: 5 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
Stalin's Falcons - Tomas Polak and Christhoper Shores, 1999 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-01-2