Vitaly Popkov

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Vitaly Ivanovich Popkov (1 May 1922 – 6 February 2010) was a Soviet fighter pilot and a World War II flying ace. He is credited with about 40 aerial victories in roughly 345 combat missions and was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union twice. After the war he stayed in the military and rose to General-Lieutenant, retiring in 1989. He died in Moscow in 2010 and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Popkov was born in Moscow and grew up in Sochi and Abkhazia. He trained as a glider pilot, finished school and aeroclub training, and joined the military in 1940. He completed pilot training by 1941 and began front-line service in 1942 with the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. He scored his first victory on 10 June 1942, downing a Heinkel Ju 88. He was wounded in August 1942 but survived. He mainly flew the La-5 and later the La-7, achieving most of his kills in those aircraft. He quickly rose to flight commander, and in August 1943 he was first nominated for Hero of the Soviet Union after shooting down 17 enemy planes in 168 sorties. In August 1944 he was wounded again but managed to land safely and was promoted to captain. By February 1945 he was a squadron commander and earned his second Hero nomination after more victories, including some on the La-7. By the end of the war he had about 40 aerial victories and participated in many major battles across the Soviet Union.

After the war Popkov continued to serve. He held several command and staff roles, became a regiment commander, then led formations such as the 24th Guards Fighter Aviation Division. He studied at the Military Academy of General Staff, graduating in 1964, and later served as inspector-general of Aviation and in roles training foreign specialists. From 1987 to 1989 he headed a special faculty at the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy. He flew several aircraft during his career, including the Yak-9, MiG-15, MiG-17, Tu-16, and An-24.

Popkov was honored as a Hero of the Soviet Union twice and was named an honorary citizen of several cities. He passed away in Moscow in 2010 at the age of 87.