Ivan Dmitriyevich Borisov

Ivan Dmitriyevich Borisov (Иван Дмитриевич Борисов) (1913–1939) was a Soviet aircraft pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union.

Biography
Ivan Borisov was born in 1913. In December 1939 he served as a pilot in the 1st squadron commanding 5 IAP-KBF which were equipped with Polikarpov I-153s. On December 23 his squadron shut-down a Finnish aircraft, VL Kotka near Paldiski. At 12.45 (Finnish time) a Blackburn Ripon IIF of LeLv 36 took off to Paldiski which was flown by 24-year-olds Kaj Uolevi Söderholm and his observer Esko Antero Huhanantti. The aircraft was not seen since 13.10 from Mäkiluoto fort which was located 40 km southwest of Helsinki. 35 Minutes later, an explosion was seen in the air 210 degrees away. It was reported by the Soviet radio that Finnish reconnaissance aircraft at Pakri got shot-down by interception at 14.05 and that both crew members were killed when they tried to escape the burning aircraft. There is a believe that this was the aircraft that was shot-down by Borisov crew. Besides this victory Borisov flew 9 more missions in the Winter War but was shot-down and killed on December 25, 1939 over Hanko peninsula. He was awarded Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union on February 7, 1940.