| Vasili Ivanovich Yanchenko | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1894 Nikolsk-Ussuriski Region |
| Died | August 1959 Dade County, Florida |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Praporshik |
| Unit | Imperial Russian Air Service: 7th Corps Detachment, 32nd Corps Detachment; Russian Volunteer Army: 2nd Air Squadron |
| Awards | Order of Saint George, Cross of Saint George, Order of Saint Vladimir, Order of Saint Anne, Romanian Order of the Star and Military Service Medal |
Praporshik Vasili Ivanovich Yanchenko was a World War I flying ace credited with 16 aerial victories.[1] He was the second ranking Russian ace, trailing only Aleksandr Kazakov.[2] Yanchenko flew on the Eastern Front, gaining his first victory on 25 June 1916, and his last on 14 October 1917.[3]
Yanchenko was an engineer. He began in two-seater reconnaissance airplanes but progressed to the fighters of the 7th Corps Detachment by early 1916. He used a Nieuport 11 to open his victory list on 25 June 1916,[4] sharing his win with fellow ace Ivan Orlov. He also split his second win with Orlov, on 4 October, but scored on his own on the 18th. Yanchenko would not score again until 7 March 1917, when he teamed up with Donat Makeenok. On 13 April, Yanchenko would use a Morane-Saulnier H to share a couple of victories with Makeenok and Juri Gilsher. He then used a Nieuport 17 for his seventh win, on 27 June 1917. He then switched back to a Nieuport 11, and between 2 July and 23 September, added seven more wins.[5] He transferred to the 32nd Corps Detachment[6] in late September, and used a Nieuport 23 for his last two victories, on 8 and 14 October.[7]
Yanchenko would go on to serve with the White Russians in 1919 and 1920. After that, he emigrated to the United States, worked as an engineer, and took up citizenship.[8]
Nieuport Aces of World War I. Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1855329611, 9781855329614.
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