Vitaly Popkov, Maestro

Walter Krupinski (197 aircraft shot down), Eric Hartmann (352 aircraft shot down), Gerhar Barghard (302 aircraft shot down, 301 of which were Soviet) - German aces, each had a battle with Hero of the Soviet Union Vitaly Popkov, commander of the "Singing" squadron, the prototype of Maestro from the film "Only Old Men Are Going to Battle".

Vitaly Ivanovich Popkov (1922–2010) was a legendary Soviet ace pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, who became the main prototype for squadron commander Titarenko ("Maestro") and, in part, "Kuznechik" in Leonid Bykov's famous film "Only Old Men Are Going to Battle."

During the Great Patriotic War, he flew 475 combat sorties, fought in 117 air battles, and personally shot down 41 enemy aircraft. His call sign, "Maestro," was real. Popkov's regiment created a "singing squadron" with its own choir, which he directed. Many episodes in the film are taken from Popkov's life. For example, the incident in which the pilot was shot down, he returned to his unit on foot in a German uniform and was nearly shot by his own people, who mistook him for an enemy. It was Popkov who insisted that Leonid Bykov make the film and advised the crew, helping to recreate the atmosphere of frontline life and the chivalry of the skies. Vitaly Ivanovich rose to the rank of colonel general. aviation and remained in memory as one of the most successful and brilliant pilots of World War II.

Comments

[roosei]

What a wonderful and detailed story!

[Smirnov Vadim]

The "Video" category doesn't say anything?

[Same lech]

Popkov has 47 German aircraft shot down personally and 13 (uncounted) in a group... plus 4 American aircraft in Korea.
A legendary pilot...biography...one can only envy.

[your vsr 66-67]

I read about Popkov before.
And still, many thanks to the author!
We need to talk more and more often about the heroes of bygone days. I'm sure not everyone knows about such people from WWII.
P.S. I don't understand what rank the hero in the main photo has!
Colonel General? The uniform doesn't match, and the age isn't right either.

[Alexander I]

In the original photo: Air Force captain

[your vsr 66-67]

Quote: AlexanderI

In the original photo: Air Force captain

With three stars in a row?
Maybe it looks like this from a phone?

[Alexander I]

I'm talking about the original photo [https://cs16.pikabu.ru/s/2025/08/30/19/rkicjbgn.webp]

[RaDeVl]

A button, a bird, and then stars a little lower. This is what an Air Force captain's shoulder strap looks like.

[Vladimir Vladimirovich Vorontsov]

❝ With three stars in a row?
Maybe it looks like this from a phone? ❞ —

[Yuri Vasilyev]

It looks like the AI ​​did its job there and pasted on non-existent shoulder straps. See how the photo is black and white, but only the shoulder straps are colored?!

[torbas41]

Why is the Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General, wearing the shoulder straps of a senior warrant officer in the photo?

[Fitter65]

It was Popkov who insisted that Leonid Bykov make the film and advised the film crew,

V. Popkov is not among the consultants.

[Romanenko]

What are those weird shoulder straps Popkov is wearing in the photo? Three stars in a row, missing the "gap," which is red for some reason, and, most importantly, it's obvious they're doctored. Is this supposed to be a joke? It seems completely out of place to me. He didn't deserve this.

[catnip]

Walter Krupinski (197 aircraft shot down)

Not "aircraft shot down," but "air victories," that is, enemy aircraft captured on camera in the sights at the moment of firing. That's how the Luftwaffe kept records. Yes, some (possibly a large number) of those aircraft were shot down, some made it back to the airfield and were written off, some were repaired, and a small number were not hit at all.

In the Red Army Air Force, in order to defend a shootdown if film did not show an explosion or destruction of a glider, confirmation from ground services or aerial photography was required.

[MSN]

No, that's not true. The claim wasn't confirmed based on camera footage. There must be a report from the leader, wingman, or other participant in the battle who recorded the shootdown.