Vitaly Popkov

Vitaly Ivanovich Popkov
black-and-white portrait photograph of Popkov from 1945
Native name
Виталий Иванович Попков
Born(1922-05-01)1 May 1922
Moscow, RSFSR
Died6 February 2010(2010-02-06) (aged 87)
Moscow, Russian Federation
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service / branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service1940–1989
RankGeneral-Lieutenant of Aviation
Unit5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union (twice)

Vitaly Ivanovich Popkov (Russian: Виталий Иванович Попков; 1 May 1922 – 6 February 2010) was a Soviet fighter pilot who became a flying ace during the Second World War. During the war, he was credited with around 40 aerial victories for which he was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. After the war he remained in the military and reached the rank of general-lieutenant, retiring in 1989. He died in 2010 at the age of 88.