Solomatin was born on 12 February 1921, in Bunakovo-2 village, Ferikovsky District, Kaluga Oblast, in a large peasant family.

When the Great Patriotic War broke out, he was serving with the 160th Reserve Aviation Regiment near Odessa, in Ukraine.

Later he was transferred close to Krivoy Rog, in the 296 IAP (296th Fighter Regiment), 268th Aviation Division, 8th Army Air, Southern Front.

Solomatin's Yak-1 was damaged but he managed to remain in the fight till the end [1] and was credited with the destruction of a Bf 109.

Then his unit was renamed 73 GvIAP (73rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment) and he was promoted Kapitan (Captain).