Early Life and World War I Accomplishments
He was born to a peasant family on a tiny village near Vladimir. In the outbreak of the World War I Smirnov enrolled as a volunteer. He was enlisted in the 96th Omsk infantry regiment which fought on Russian Northern Front (World War I). Ivan Smirnov was awarded the Cross of St. George of the 4th degree. He was seriously wounded on December 8, 1914 by machine gun fire and was sent to Petrograd (St. Petersburg) where he saw airplanes taking off. Smirnov decided to enter into the Aviation Corps. In early 1915 he was sent to a pilot school in Petrograd, then for more training in Moscow. After a year-and-half course Smirnov was ordered to the 19th Corps Air Fighter Detachment whose commander was a distinguished pilot, Alexander Kazakov. His first plane was Nieuport 10 and he scored for the first time on December 20, 1916 and was promoted to Praporshchik. Smirnov started flying a Morane-Saulnier and hit 5 more planes using it. In March 1917 the 1st Combat Air Group was moved to Galicia where Smirnov scored 6 victories and was awarded the Crosses of St. George (3rd and 2nd degrees). Finally on October 31, 1917 Smirnov got the Order of St. George (4th degree) for his 7th plane. In November Smirnov took his last two planes as a Russian Imperial pilot. He celebrated over 20 victories during World War I and Smirnov was never hit. On December 14, 1917 he left his unit because of the threat of lynching of all officers. He finally managed to reach England, where he was served as a flight instructor for British officers.
Read more about this topic: Ivan Vasilyevich Smirnov
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