After completing his ninth grade of school in 1935 he worked at a labor colony in Odessa before entering the military in 1937.

In November 1942 he became a mechanic in the 615th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, based in the Volga Military District.

[2] Two days later he shot down a B-29 bomber while flying at an altitude of 6,000 meters; when he and his flight crew found a group of five B-29s, they opened fire.

After returning to engage the F-80s, lieutenant Serafim Volodkin lagged behind the rest of the jets, and as a result separated from his wingman Ivan Grechko.

With the F-80s at a moment of strategic advantage, they rushed in to target Volodkin, who was saved by Grechko coming to his aid.

As a result, flight inspection Yefromeenko from the 50th Fighter Aviation Division was shot down and forced to parachute out.

[5] During the dogfight on 24 December, Naumenko was able to position himself 800 meters behind a F-86 and opened fire, gaining his fifth shootdown in the war.

In total he flew about 50 sorties and engaged in 10 dogfights, officially claiming five solo aerial victories.

Based on American loss listings and Soviet claims, Naumenko had two confirmed plus two probable aerial victories.

[8] Not long after leaving the warfront in early 1951, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on 12 May 1951 for his actions in Korea.