Mikhail Vodopyanov

Mikhail Vodopyanov
Native name
Михаил Васильевич Водопьянов
Born18 November [O.S. 6 November] 1899
Bolshiye Studyonki village, Tambov Governorate, Russian Empire
(now part of Lipetsk, Russia)
Died11 August 1980(1980-08-11) (aged 80)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service1918–1946
RankMajor General
Commands81st Special Purpose Aviation Division
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Vasilyevich Vodopyanov (Russian: Михаил Васильевич Водопьянов; 18 November [O.S. 6 November] 1899 – 11 August 1980) was a Soviet aircraft pilot, one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union, and a Major General of the Soviet Air Force. Together with Mikhail Babushkin, he was the first to land an airplane on the North Pole.