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Leonid DemaSoviet military pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 18.06.1916
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Pre-War Career
- Military Service
- Aerial Ramming Heroism
- Combat Record
- Post-War Life
- Honors and Recognition
Early Life and Education
Leonid Vasilyevich Dema was born on June 18, 1916, in the village of Mikhaylovka, Bashkiria, to a peasant family. After completing his primary education, he studied at a vocational school and became a mechanic. He went on to pursue his passion for aviation by joining the aeroclub in Magnitogorsk and graduating from the Kazan Flight Instructor School in 1934.
Pre-War Career
Dema worked as an instructor at the Chelyabinsk Aeroclub before being conscripted into the Red Army in July 1941. Until October of that year, he served as a civilian flight instructor.
Military Service
During the Great Patriotic War, Dema fought on the Western and North Caucasian Fronts. By May 1943, he had become a senior lieutenant and commander of a link in the 236th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
Aerial Ramming Heroism
On May 18, 1943, after engaging in an aerial battle, Dema spotted an enemy Ju-88 bomber heading towards Soviet troops. With his ammunition exhausted, he made a bold decision. He flew beneath the fuselage of the bomber, approached it head-on, and used his propeller to sever its tail fin. The bomber crashed to the ground, earning Dema the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Combat Record
Throughout the war, Dema flew 273 combat sorties and engaged in 38 aerial battles. He personally shot down 17 enemy aircraft and contributed to the destruction of five others with his wingmen.
Post-War Life
After the war, Dema retired from military service in 1946 with the rank of major. He went on to fly civilian aircraft on Far Eastern routes, served as a polar pilot, and worked as a dispatcher at the Magnitogorsk Airport. He remained an active member of the community in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast.
Honors and Recognition
Dema's bravery and accomplishments were recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War first and second class, the Order of the Red Star, and foreign orders. He is remembered as a courageous and skilled pilot who played a significant role in the Soviet victory in World War II.
