Ivan Yeremenko was born in Yekaterinograd (now Krasnodar) in 1910. He joined the army in 1927, graduating from the Leningrad Military Air College in 1928 and then from Sevastopol Military Air College in 1929. After graduting he flew in I-4 on fighter group in Baku.
In May 1937 he arrived to Spain (USSR-Poland-Germany-France) as a Capitan and as a volunteer. During this war he flew under the name "Antonio Aragon". Here he commanded the 1. Escuadrilla based at Kartahena and Los Alcazares (from Jule 1937) airfield and equipped with Polikarpov I-15s. In squadron was not Russian and Spain pilots, same flew Austrian Tom Dobias and Walter Korrouz, Serb Bozhko Petrovich and American Albert Baumler.
On 30 June he claimed a shared destroy of CR.32 with Viktor Kuznetsov.
Group of Soviet volunteers in Spain ( third from
left-A. Serov, next- I. Yeremenko)
On 6 July he claimed a shared destroyed Do17 with the Yugoslav volunteer Bozko Petrovic and Spain Luis Sardino. Three days later, on 9 July, he downed enemy fighter (Heinkel or Fiat CR.32).
On 12 July Yeromenko claimed a CR.32. In this time he was promoted to Commander of Group.
He claimed two Meridionali Ro.37s on 22 August.
At the end of August his unit moved to Bajaralos, while in October it operated from Zaragoza.
During the night of 14-15 September he claimed a Ju52/3m (# 22-61) from Group 2-G-22. One of co-pilots was ex-Russian Czarist pilot Marchenko. For this night he awarded Orden of Red Banner and car from President Spain Republic.
I.Yeremenko (from right) with car, awarded from Spain President.
On 15 October 1937 he led a ground strike on Garapinilios airfield, Zaragoza. Taking part in the attack was following units and aircraft:
Only the I-15s took part in the main attack with the I-16s providing air coverage. About 60 planes were claimed destroyed and damaged but the real total losses were only three Ju52s, six CR.32s and three He46s. Other aircraft were damaged by fire. The Republican aircraft only suffered one damaged I-15. This aircraft was from the 1. Escuadrilla and it was unserviceable that afternoon.
On 28 October 1937 he was decorated with the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.
On 15 December he claimed a Bf109B near Teruel. At this time he was flying the Polikarpov I-16.
By the end of 1937 he had claimed 16 victories, and in mid January 1938 he returned to the Soviet Union. In Spain Yeremenko flew 348 sorties.
During 1939 he completed a course at the General Staff Academy, and in 1940 he was promoted to General Major. And was promoted to deputy Commander Air Force First Separate Red Banner Far-East Front.
He commanded an IAD and then a Composite Air Corps during the Great Patriotic War.
And was promoted to deputy Commander Air Force First Separate Red Banner Far-East Front.
In 1949 he graduated fully from the General Staff Academy, retiring in 1956 as a General Leitenant.
During his career he was decorated he was decorated with a second Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner (twice), the Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class (twice) and the Order of the Red Star.
He lived and worked in Kiev until his death on 1 December 1986.
Sources:
Stalin's Falcons - Tomas Polak and Christhoper Shores, 1999 Grub
Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-01-2
The Legion Condor - Karl Ries and Hans Ring, 1992 Schiffer
Publishing, ISBN 0-88740-339-5
"Ispanec s Kubani" (Aviatcia i Vremya, Kiev,2000)- M.Prucakov,
V.Litvinenko
I-15 (in Spain known as "Chato") of Ivan Yeremenko, 1 Esquadrille de Chatos , July 1937. In period autumn 1936 - summer 1937 about 150 I-15 were delivered from USSR to Spain. In 1938 Republican forces got another 31 I-15bis, midificated version of I-15.
2000.08.14, © WW II Ace Stories.