Throughout the year he rapidly increased his tally of aerial victories, resulting in him being nominated for the title Hero of the Soviet Union in July 1943.

Later he was deployed to the warfront of the Korean War in mid 1952 as deputy commander of flight training in the 676th Fighter Aviation Regiment; there, he conducted sorties on the MiG-15, but gained no aerial victories.

[3][4] On 29 June 1953 Gorbunov, then a lieutenant colonel, participated in a sortie over Korea that resulted in an intense dogfight with American Sabers.

During the flight, a young and inexperience pilot from his unit broke away from the squadron, leading to a pair of American Sabers swooping in to attack him.

Gorbunov intervened to save him, rushing to the lone MiG and opening fire on the attacking Sabers, but in the end he was shot down.