News | Roster | History | Tactics | Rank | Enlist | Links | Messageboard
| Index |
| History |
| 5 GIAP History |
| Online Unit History |
| Popkov |
|
Vitalii Ivanovich Popkov
Decorations: 1st Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 8, 1943 in recognition of 17 kills, 168 sorties, 45 encounters as of August, 1943, 2nd Gold Star on June 27, 1945 for 36 victories, 1 fractional credit, 325 sorties - 124 of which were groundforce cover, 75 escorts, 17 ground attacks, 37 free hunts, 52 reconnaissance - 83 air combats as of February, 1945; the Orders of Lenin(3), the Red Banner(2), Aleksandr Nevskii, the Patriotic War 1st Class(2), the Patriotic War 2nd Class, the Red Star1. Vitalii Popkov was born in Moscow on 1 May 1922. He joined the army in 1940, attending the Chuguyevsk Military Air College from which he graduated during the following year. He then entered the Bataysk Military Air College, following which he was posted to the 5 GIAP in spring 1942. With this unit he began flying LaGG-3s on the West Front as a Serzhant. The unit later moved to the Kalinin Front, where in August he claimed his fifth victory near Rzhev, but was obliged to bale out of his own burning aircraft. On recovery from the burns he had sustained, he rejoined the unit, then operating on the Southwest Front, and now flying La-5s, taking part in the fighting over Kursk during summer 1943. He was by then a Mladshii Leitenant, leading a zveno. During this battle he claimed at least five victories, one of his victims reportedly being the holder of the Knights' Cross with Oak Leaves. At the start of August 1943 he had claimed 17 victories during 168 sorties and 45 engagements. By early September this total had increased to 24. During the fighting to liberate Kharkov in November, he shot down another Knights' Cross holder, who reportedly flew an 'orange-coloured aircraft'. The regiment was then transferred to the 3rd Ukrainian Front, operating over Odessa in April 1944, now flying La-5FNs. It was transferred again later in the year to 2nd Ukrainian Front, and then to the 1st Ukrainian Front. In 1945 he had been promoted to Kapitan and put in command of an eskadrilya, operating over the Oder River. By the end of January 1945 his total of sorties had increased to over 300, and his victories to 36 during 82 combats. Heavy fighting during the drive to Germany brought the opportunity for further successes, and when the war ended he had claimed 41 victories (1 shared), having engaged the enemy 117 times during 325 sorties. He remained in the Air Force, graduating from the Air Academy in 1951 and the General Staff Academy in 1964; in Korea he claimed three further victories. He was promoted General Leitenant in 1968. At the time of writing he was living in Moscow2. Popkov is best remembered by his comrades for his lightning reactions and his brilliant leadership. His regard for the safety of his squadron mates evoked confidence and devotion among those who fought with him1.
|
