Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

http://www.iremember.ru/pilots/emelianenko/5_8.jpg

He was one of the best Il-2 pilots of war. For courage and heroism shown in 92 combat sorties Emelianenko was conferred the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944. He has also several doesens of tanks, 23 aircrafts destroyed on land, and 1 (Ju86K) shot down in air.

His book:
http://www.iremember.ru/content/view/369/36/lang,ru/

Rest in Peace.

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

May his relatives find comfort in this poem by W.B.Yeats: 'An Irish Airman Foresees His Death'

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Indeed, may he rest in peace.

Are details of his sole air 'kill' (a Ju 86K?) known?

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Hi Dénes,

He shot it down on 09Jan43 above the village of Kagalnitskaya, Caucasus. He was C/O 3 AE/7 GvShAP at the time. He originally thought it was a Bf 110 but he managed to take a look at the wreckage.

Source: Red Star Against the Swastika - V.B. Emelianenko

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Yes, indeed. May he rest in peace.

And may we all think about his and all teh others life in order to never let something like 39-45 happen again.

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Such a sad news. His book was one of the first aviation books I ever got into my hands.

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Salute Vasily! Thanks for your great book on IL-2 operations. It forms an integral part of WWII literature, and has opened many peoples eyes to air warfare on the Eastern Front.

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Yes, and in russian varioant of book there are a photo of that aircraft with Vasily Emelyanenko near it. It has almost destroyed crew cockpit, burned out engine, and many visible holes from 23mm shell explosions...

Unfortunatly cant scan it to show - may be some of You gents can do it?

Any ideas which unit that Ju86K from?

Best wishes!

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Can you see on the photo if it indeed is a Ju 86? Does it have Gnome&Rhone K14 type radial engines? At that time, this airplane type performed only transport duties. And the 'K' suffix denotes an export version, that's why my query.

Re: Polkovnik Vasily Borisovich Emelianenko, Il-2 ace, passed away, 24.02.2008.
 

Yes, it is front veiw of aircraft, and it shows 2 radial engines, 1 is completely burned out. Pilots canopy is destroyed.

May be that aircraft was Staff or delivery aircratf, I can only quess.