The surnames of Soviet ace-heroes are known to many, but few know about the pilots of the Russian Empire. This is due to the fact that in the USSR, World War I was referred to as the Imperialist War, and many pilots switched sides to the Whites. One of them was Vasily Ivanovich Yanchenko, a native of Ussuriysk. In 1915, he graduated from the military aviation school and went to the front. At first, the young pilot engaged in reconnaissance flights, but he remained a fighter at heart and often, defying orders, opened fire on the enemy during low passes. Soon, Yanchenko was able to transfer to another aviation unit as a fighter, where he fully showcased his abilities.

In battle, Yanchenko was distinguished by his fervor and emotionality, often attacking head-on from dangerous distances. He was not afraid to engage in aerial dogfights, even when faced with multiple enemy fighters. For example, on July 7, 1917, in a battle near Tarnopol, he repelled attacks from more than 20 enemy aircraft. No less impressive was his encounter with the Austrian ace Johann Mayer. Meeting the enemy's "Brandenburg C.I" in the sky, Vasily Ivanovich opened a hail of fire. The opponent skillfully maneuvered and evaded the strike, but Yanchenko approached from the sunlit side and accurately hit the aircraft. The Austrian plane began to smoke and was forced to land on Russian territory, where the enemy ace was captured, and the aircraft became a trophy.

The talented pilot was soon sent for training in France at the School of Higher Piloting. On the Western Front, he shot down two more aircraft. Throughout the war, Yanchenko personally destroyed 16 aircraft and the same number in group battles, becoming a full holder of the Order of St. George. After the revolution, he fought for the Whites, emigrated to the USA, and worked as an engineer at Sikorsky. The brave pilot passed away in 1959.