Ivan Nikiforovich Stepanenko | |
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Native name | |
Born | 13 April 1920 Nekhayki village, Kiev Governorate, Ukrainian SSR |
Died | 31 May 2007 (aged 87) Cherkasy, Ukraine |
Allegiance | Soviet Union |
Service | Soviet Air Force |
Years of service | 1940 – 1976 |
Rank | Major-General of Aviation |
Unit | 4th Fighter Aviation Regiment |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union (twice) |
Ivan Nikiforovich Stepanenko (Russian: Иван Никифорович Степаненко, Ukrainian: Іван Ничипорович Степаненко; 13 April 1920 – 31 May 2007) was a Soviet pilot who became a flying ace with over 30 solo shootdowns during World War II. He remained in the military after the end of the war and went on to fly a variety of MiG aircraft and become a Major-General.