Ivan Zamorin Fighter pilot Date of Birth: 10.10.1918 Country: Belarus

Biography of Ivan Zamorin

Ivan Alexandrovich Zamorin was born on April 10, 1918, in the village of Kostenka, in what is now the Mogilev district of the Mogilev region. He completed seven grades of secondary school and worked as an engine operator at a sewing factory. In 1937, he graduated from the Mogilev Aero Club and joined the ranks of the Red Army in 1938.

Zamorin completed his training as a pilot at the Borisoglebsk Red Banner Military Aviation School for Pilots. As the Great Patriotic War began, Zamorin found himself on the front lines. He fought as part of the 523rd and 168th Fighter Aviation Regiments, as well as the 18th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. Many of the aerial battles in which Ivan Zamorin participated have become part of the history of Soviet aviation.

On August 19, 1942, near the city of Bolkhov in the Oryol region, Zamorin, as the leader of a squadron of Yak-1 fighters, engaged in combat with 50 Heinkel He-111 bombers, escorted by 12 Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters. During the battle, Zamorin shot down the leading Heinkel. The following bombers dropped their bombs haphazardly and turned back. At that moment, the Messerschmitts entered the battle, hoping to quickly deal with the Soviet fighters. However, their hopes were not realized. The fight lasted a long time, and at the end of the battle, Zamorin went after one of the Messerschmitts. He tried to fire his weapon, but ran out of ammunition. Zamorin made the decision to ram the enemy aircraft, causing his own Yak to catch fire. He managed to parachute to safety, but suffered significant burns. Zamorin was awarded the Order of Lenin for this battle.

After spending several months in hospitals, the medical commission wanted to remove Zamorin from flying duty, but he fought to return to active service. He returned to his regiment and served as a deputy commander, squadron commander, and senior navigator in the aviation division.

During the war, Ivan Zamorin mastered several types of combat aircraft, including the German Messerschmitt Me-109. After flying several missions in captured Messerschmitts, he concluded that in the hands of an experienced pilot, the Me-109 was more dangerous than the Focke-Wulf FW-190. The Me-109's advantage over the FW-190, which had stronger armament and a more resilient air-cooled engine, was its higher maneuverability. According to the official records, Zamorin completed 231 combat sorties during the war, personally shooting down 12 enemy aircraft and 14 in cooperation with his comrades. However, according to the commander of the 303rd Fighter Division, G.N. Zakharov, Ivan Zamorin had up to 20 personal victories, but he never insisted on including many of them in his official tally due to his modesty.

After the war, Ivan Alexandrovich continued his service in the Air Force. He retired due to illness in 1960, holding the rank of Guard Lieutenant Colonel. Zamorin was awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner (three times), Alexander Nevsky, and the Patriotic War (2nd degree), as well as numerous medals.