Photo of Red Army Air Force Captain V.N. Osipov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union

The original wartime photo is in good collector's condition. The size is 48*67 mm. There are traces of pasting into the album on the back. Guarantee of authenticity.

Vasily Nikolaevich Osipov (in some sources Vasily Nikitich) (December 30, 1917 — July 16, 1991) was a bomber pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. He was born in the city of Petrograd into a working-class family. In the Red Army since 1937. In 1940 he graduated from the Chkalov Military Aviation School. During the Great Patriotic War, he participated in battles on the Southern and Southwestern fronts. He was a flight commander, deputy commander and commander of a long-range aviation squadron. Member of the CPSU since 1942. At the beginning of the war, he fought on the Southern Front on a DB-3 aircraft, from the end of 1941 as part of the 81st long—range Bomber Aviation Regiment (later the 5th Guards Long-range Aviation Regiment of the 50th Long-range Aviation Division of the 6th Long-range Aviation Corps). Between March 1, 1942 and November 1943 alone, he flew 267 sorties at night and 8 during the day. His crew destroyed a lot of enemy military equipment and manpower, and shot down six enemy aircraft in aerial battles.

The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by Decree "On awarding the title Hero of the Soviet Union to the commanding staff of the Red Army Air Force" dated June 20, 1942, awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union (medal No. 691): "For exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the struggle against the German invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time."

Captain Vasily Nikolaevich Osipov, Deputy Squadron Commander of the 5th Guards Aviation Regiment, was awarded the second Gold Star medal on March 13, 1944 "For his skillful command of the squadron and his heroism and determination."

In total, he flew about 420 combat missions during the war. After the Great Patriotic War, V. N. Osipov graduated from the higher officer flight tactical school, and then held a number of command positions in the Air Force. Since 1954, for health reasons, he was in reserve, lived and worked in the hero city of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), where he died. He was buried at the Southern Cemetery of St. Petersburg.