Vitalii Popkov and his "01" Lavochkin fighter. Vitalii Ivanovich Popkov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union twice. The photo above is from the period of the battles on the right banks of the Dnepr river. Below is a post-war photo of General Popkov, from the 70's.
Vitalii Popkov belongs to the 15 Soviet top aces, who achieved more than 40 aerial victories in WWII. He was 18 when the German forces invaded the Soviet Union. After fulfilling two flight training schools, he was posted to the 5th Guards Fighter Regiment (5 GvIAP), where he would remain through the remainder of the war. The bulk of his successes were achieved in the air over the areas of Kalinin, Kolach, Kharkov, Odessa, Donbass, Lvov and Shprotava. He ended the war as Guards Captain and Regimental Commander. The 5 GvIAP was constantly in action, from Bialystok city to Moscow in 1941, over Demyansk and Stalingrad in 1942, over Odessa, Luck, Shprotava, Berlin, and Prague. In total, Popkov downed 41 German planes. He graduated from the Air Force High Military Academy in 1951, and the High Headquarter´s Academy in 1964. Since 1964, he held the rank of Air Force General.
Born in 1922, in Moscow, he worked in the modeller's club in Elementary School. In the second half of the 30's, he joined the Soviet Aeroclub. He completed a gliding course in Osoviakhim. In 1940, his compulsory service in the Soviet Army started. One year later, he completed the Czugeyskya Military Flight Training School, and in 1942, the Batayskya Military Flight Training School. As Sergeant he was posted to the 5th Guard Fighter Regiment, operated in conjunction with the 17th Soviet Air Army, in April 1942. The 5th Guards Fighter Regiment (originally named 129 IAP) was one of the foremost crack units in the VVS (Soviet Army Air Force). Equiped with I-153 and MiG-3 fighters, the 129th Soviet Fighter Regiment was stationed in the Bialystok area (until 1939 Polish territory) as the war broke out.
Early in the morning of 22 June 1941, four squadrons of 129 IAP were scrambled to defend the city of Lomza against a German air raid. In the first combat, they shot down 2 Bf 109E. Later that day, the Regiment was transferred to Dobrzyniewo airfield, from where the regiment covered Bialystok city. The pilots of the unit put up a courageous fight, and as a reward they were transferred to the Moscow area to defend the Soviet capital. In the autumn of 1941, the regiment was equiped with the new LaGG-3 aircraft. Following its successes, the 129th (IAP) was awarded the title of honour 5th Guards Fighter Regiment (GvIAP). Between 22 June 1941 and December 1941, the regiment flew a total of 1,793 combat sorties and claimed 62 aerial victories, with another 20 planes destroyed on the ground.
Posting Popkov to such an advanced and famous Regiment
was an award in itself. Shortly after his arrival to the unit,
Popkov shot down his first enemy aircraft - a bomber. This was in
May 1942, over Kholm on the Kalinin front. During his first three
months of frontline service, Popkov undertook 45 combat missions.
In November 1942, the Regiment was equipped with the new La-5
fighter. Popkov consequently widened his combat experience.
In 1943 the brilliant fighter career of this Soviet ace started. In April 1943, his score stood at 4, followed by his fifth victory in May. During a stiff digfight on 23 June 1943, Popkov downed two Bf 109s and the other pilots of 5 GvIAP were accounted for 8 more kills, plus 3 enemy aircraft damaged. After this battle, the pilots received personal congratulations from the Front Commander (Army Group Commander). On 10 June 1943, Popkov shot down another two German planes (by this time, his score stood at 14). On 29 August 1943, as he downed one enemy aircraft, the victory tally for 5 GvIAP reached a total of 499 since the outbreak of the war. During the hard aerial battles over Donbass, on 8 September 1943, he received his first Golden Star as Hero of the Soviet Union . By now, he had flown 168 combat missions and achieved 17 kills.
On one combat mission during the battle of Kursk in July 1943, Popkov lead a group of five Lavochkin fighters of 5 GvIAP. They were ordered to cover attacking Soviet ground forces. Spotting 18 Ju 87s and 6 Bf 109s, Popkov ordered one pair of La-5s to engage the Bf 109 cover, while he and the rest of the Soviet fighters intercepted the Junkers. The Germans immediately abandoned their mission and made a quick retreat. At his moment, Popkov saw another group of German bombers, this time escorted by 5 Bf 109s. Without hesitating, Popkov decided to make a surprise attack. Within short, he downed two German planes. His comrades took a further 8 victories, and damaged another 3. Not a single German plane managed to reach their target, they just escaped.
On 7 June 1944, the 5th GvIAP was transferred from Teraspol to Luck. From this airfield, Popkov flew many successful combat missions in the Lvov area. On 25 June 1944, as a Squadron Commander, he defended the bombers of the 2nd Guards Bomber Aviation Corps, led by the famous General Ivan Polbin. On 21 August 1944, the fighters under Popkov's command downed 6 German planes. In the winter of 1945, the regiment was stationed on the fields near Gostyn. Let hear Popkov's account of very successful combat from that period:
"The ground forces pressed the enemy and advanced rapidly. Our airfields came nearer to the frontiers of Germany. Almost all Poland was gone through. It was the last airfield on polish territory. The pilots were prepairing for flights to Germany. The air was quiet for last days.
The tankmen of colonel-general Rybalko had removed German airfields far away. We were engaged with low-flying attacks of roads, ferries and made reconnaissance but did not forget about our air enemy. We recolled, discussed and seriously criticized all the combats past. Besides the weather was getting worse, it was raining for the whole week. In the dug-outs pilots practised with the trainer and tried to determine aspect angles and ranges to the "enemy". In the planes they had checked up the weapon adjustment.
The airfield became limp; the soil had thawed and the airplanes were sunk in the ground up to the semi-axes oftheir wheels. It was impossible to take off from such airfield and even to taxi.
We received new airfield to be based in it. The problem was how to remove to the new airfield. Kaplunovsky, the regiment engineer, offered to "wheel" them. It was decided to try with my squadron. The wing planes were taken away, aircraft tails were fixed on the trucks. The wing planes were placed together with them deviding them with soft covers. When the squadron was redy pilots took their places side-by-side with drivers and we slowly went ahead.
In four hours the machines were already in Germany. We went through the frontier but did not fly it over. At night it was a strange column to look at.
At the same night the technicians assembled ten machines, and at dawn motors were getting to buzz. I led the six planes for "hunting" already from the new former German airfield. The route was directed to the river crossong. And here, to the south of Glogau town, my first over Germany air combat occered. Our troops were continuously going through the crossing. Flying along the river fron the south I noticed in the distance eight FW-190s. We had higher altitude than German fighters. We were approaching with the enemy from its side. I decided to attack in the flight formation having a pair for covering and informed Glinrin about this. It was happened so that we attacked two FW-190s in the rear as soon as they became changing to chain formation. The surprise of the approach and attack in many respects promoted our success. Having noticed our attack "Fokkers" released bombs without aiming.
When attacking the nearest FW-190 I tried to approach it closer. I knew that then my comrades were watching for me and trust in me and my success in the attack would give them special "ardour" so necessary in combat. There was no mistake during attack. After releasing bombs without aiming one of FW-190s that was downed by me fell on the ground. Other FW-190s deverged in "sheaf" manner dividing into pairs.
Breaking off the attack I ordered the leader of the other pair to attack FW-190 planes next to him. It was impossible to find out the German leader. All were mixed up. As soon as the pair of the "Fokkers" finishing combat turn came to be under Glinkin's pair the last successfully attacked it and downed the leader of the pair. The FW-190 pilot leader bailed out. The combat developed well. When "Fokkers" deverged in "sheaf" manner they were fired by upper pair and did not gained more altitude. Our six fighters which were attacking the Germans all the time prevented them gathering together and what was more gaining them altitude.
In that combat there was nothing random, unnecessary. We organized combat well. Certainly it was difficult to fight six against 12, but each of six our pilots was already an "old hand".
Glinkin attacked after me. He and his wingman strongly took a German "in pincers" and downed him. The parachute dome got shining in the air. But at that time two "Fokkers" hang already over Glinkin. Having noticed it I took all efforts to help the comrade but could not do it even boostin the motor power. However But at that very instant the upper pair helped Glinkin. I hurried Pchelkin who was above. When Glinkin "threw" the machine upwards, a "Fokker" came after him but Pcelrin and his partner Sorokin had already been in the hostile tail. They intercepted FW-190 and brought it down with aimed burst. The German blazed up. Our hearts became merry at once and already all our six planes attacked the other FW-190s. After that combat five German fighters found their grave behind the Oder river.
Our six planes returned home safe. As for me it was for the first time behind the Oder river that my shirt stuck to the seat back.
Our airplanes kept the accurate formation. It was the first combat in the enemy den and the first victory on the German ground!
Once again Suvorov's rule was proved: you must "war not by number but by skill".
Text from: HUNDRED STALIN FALCONS FIGHTING FOR THEIR MOTHERLAND (Collection of combat episodes of Heroes of the Soviet Union) - The first air combat behind the Oder river .
On 11 February 1945, Popkov led a group of five La-5 aircraft. In the Shprotava area, they met 10 Fw 190s. In the ensuing battle, the Soviet fighters claimed 4 German aircraft (2 by Popkov), without any loss of their own aircraft. But the loss by FLAK fire of Major-General Ivan Polbin weighed heavier. Having participated in 157 bomber missions, Polbin was awarded his second Golden Star as a token of a Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously two months later. Four days later, 5 GvIAP was stationed on Shprotava airfield. Following this, the unit took part in the Berlin operation. A few days before the end of the war, Popkov shot down his last, and 41st, German plane in WWII.
At the end of the war he was 23 years old and held the rank of Guards Captain. In total, he completed 475 combat missions, took part in 117 air battles. On 38 occasions he attacked German planes on airfields. His 'double Hero of the Soviet Union' was awarded to him on 26 June 1945, three days after the great victory march on the Red Square, where Vitalii Popkov partcipated in the column of the the best Soviet war aviators
Once, following a very hard and difficult aerial combat, one of the veterans of the 5 GvIAP, Hero of the Soviet Union Major Ivan Lavieykin, told Popkov: "We were watching you and it looked as if you were born in the sky, that the aerial combat is everyday´s business to you. There is no guaranteed method to ensure victory in every combat. One combat is different from another, but you are a true master, even in the hardest of combats. We really admire you, and we are very fortunate to have you in our regiment!"
On display are two different interpretations of the camouflage schemes of the the same plane. It is uncertain which of them is the accurate, however light/dark grey painting was standartly used on Lavotchkin fighters. It is suggested to visit Dariusz Tyminski´s Scale Model Aircraft Gallery to see another type of Popkov's LA-5FN camouflages.
2000.08.25, © WW II Ace Stories.