Vasily Osipov

Vasily Nikolaevich Osipov (; – 16 July 1991) was a Soviet long-range bomber pilot who was twice awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Early life Osipov was born on in Petrograd to a working-class Russian family. After completing his tenth grade of school he focused on his dream of following in his father's footsteps by joining the military, participating in sharpshooting and sports before joining the Red Army in August 1937. After graduating from the 1st Chkalov Military Aviation School of Pilots in November 1940 he was posted to the 169th Reserve Aviation Regiment, based in Voronezh. Shortly before the German invasion of the Soviet Union he transferred to the 231st Long-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment in May 1941.

Postwar Until the reorganization of Soviet long-range aviation in April 1946, Osipov remained a squadron commander in the 26th Guards Bomber Regiment. He then transferred to the 199th Guards Bomber Regiment, where he was also squadron commander, but left in November 1948. Before returning to the regiment one year later he graduated from the Higher Officer Flight and Tactical School of Long-Range Aviation. In October 1950 he transferred to the 250th Guards Bomber Regiment, but less than two years later he transferred to be a deputy squadron commander in the 238th Guards Bomber Regiment, where he remained until leaving the military in April 1954 for health reasons. During his career he flew the B-25, Li-2, and Tu-4. He lived out the remainder of his life in Leningrad, where he died on 16 July 1991.

Awards and honors Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (20 June 1942 and 13 March 1944) Order of Lenin (20 June 1942) Two Order of the Red Banner (5 November 1941 and 28 April 1943) Order of Alexander Nevsky (2 October 1945) Order of the Patriotic War 1st class (11 March 1985) campaign and jubilee medals