Leonid Ivanov (pilot)

Leonid Ivanov (1909-1939) was a Russian pilot.

Biography
Leonid Ivanov was born on August 8, 1909 in Kashirain. He graduated from the 7th Stalingrad military aviation school in 1935 after which he served as a fighter pilot in the Far East and in the Far North. He participated in the Winter War against Finland in 1939-40 and was decorated for this with the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union and with the Order of Lenin after he crashed to his death on June 27, 1941.

Combat history
In June 1941 first lieutenant Ivanov was a commander of 147 IAP Squadron which was equipped with Polikarpov I-153 and stationed at Karelian Front with a duty to defend the harbours of Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. On 25 June, he and his wingman lieutenant Filimonov damaged two Ju 88s over Kandalaksha, and the next day he damaged a He 111 over the same region. On the third day he attacked seven Bf 109s which he didn't managed to fight off. After the fourth one he crashed to his death.