Soviet La-5F Pilots Sergey Yasanis and Kalmyatov, 1944

August 22, 2025 - Reading time: 2 minutes

Soviet fighter pilots Sergey Yasanis and Kalmyatov are seen beside a La-5F fighter in 1944. Both men served in the elite Guards aviation units.

Soviet La-5F fighter pilots Sergey Yasanis and Kalmyatov, 1944

Aces of the Red Army Air Force

Sergey Yulianovich Yasanis (born 1922, left in the photo) flew with the 113th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. By May 1945, he had become commander of a separate reconnaissance squadron.

Combat Record

Yasanis completed 416 combat sorties, including 328 reconnaissance missions. He fought in 51 air battles, personally shooting down 7 enemy aircraft.

Survival and Bravery

He was shot down six times, made four forced landings, and twice parachuted from burning planes. Despite these ordeals, Yasanis kept returning to the skies.

Awards and Recognition

For his service, Yasanis was decorated with the Orders of the Red Banner, Alexander Nevsky, Bogdan Khmelnitsky (3rd class), the Order of the Patriotic War (1st class), the Order of the Red Star, and multiple medals.