Vasily Reshetnikov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vasily Reshetnikov
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| Native name |
Василий Васильевич Решетников
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| Birth name | Vasily Vasilyevich Reshetnikov |
| Born | 23 December 1919 Katerynoslav, Ukrainian People's Republic |
| Died | 20 March 2023 (aged 103) |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service/ |
 Soviet Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1986 |
| Rank | Colonel General |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union |
Vasily Vasilyevich Reshetnikov (Russian: Василий Васильевич Решетников; 23 December 1919 – 20 March 2023) was a brave pilot from the Soviet Union. He flew many missions during World War II. Vasily Reshetnikov was known for flying long-range bombers.
In the summer of 1943, he earned the special title of Hero of the Soviet Union. After the war, he became a top leader in the Soviet Air Force. He was promoted to Colonel General. He led the Long-Range Aviation branch and later became a Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.
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Early Life and Training
Vasily Reshetnikov was born on December 23, 1919. His hometown was Katerynoslav. His family had a history of artists. His uncle, Fyodor Pavlovich Reshetnikov, was a famous artist.
In 1936, Vasily joined the Red Army. He went to a military aviation school. He graduated in 1938. After school, he started serving in the long-range aviation part of the Soviet Air Forces.
Flying in World War II
When World War II started for the Soviet Union in June 1941, Vasily was ready. He joined a special bomber unit. Their job was to attack enemy targets far behind the front lines. He flew an Ilyushin Il-4 bomber.
In 1942, he became a member of the Communist Party. In May 1942, he bombed a German command center. He also took part in a long-range bombing of Berlin in September 1942. He became a squadron commander, leading other pilots.
On July 27, 1943, Vasily Reshetnikov was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. This was a very high honor for his bravery.
Shot Down Twice
Vasily's plane was shot down two times during the war. The first time was in February 1942. He was bombing an airfield near Orsha. He managed to get back safely.
The second time he was shot down, it was tougher. It took him more than a week to escape from enemy territory. In 1943, he helped free his hometown from German control. He flew his last combat mission on April 16, 1945. He ended the war as a deputy regiment commander. He had flown 307 missions in total.
After the War
After the war, Vasily continued his studies. In 1946, he finished a course at the Gagarin Air Force Academy. He then returned to his bomber regiment. He became its commander for eight years.
From 1951 to 1954, he commanded another bomber regiment. In 1954, he went back to school. He graduated from the Higher Military Academy in 1956. He was then made a division commander.
Setting a Flight Record
In 1959, Vasily Reshetnikov set an amazing unofficial world record. He flew 17,150 kilometers (about 10,656 miles) without landing. This was a very long flight, lasting 20 hours! He broke the previous American record by a lot.
He became a deputy commander and then commander of a division with Tu-95 strategic bombers. These are very large, powerful planes. From 1969 to 1980, he led the entire USSR Long Range Aviation branch. Later, he became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Air Force. He retired from active duty in 1986.
Later Life
After retiring, Vasily Reshetnikov lived in Monino. He stayed very active with a group for veterans of Long-Range Aviation. He was the chairman of this group for 10 years.
In 2003, when he was 83 years old, he even flew a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber at an air show! He turned 100 years old in December 2019. He was one of the last living Heroes of the Soviet Union who flew the Il-4 bomber. Vasily Reshetnikov passed away on March 20, 2023, at the age of 103.
Awards and Honors
Vasily Reshetnikov received many awards for his service and bravery.
- Hero of the Soviet Union (1943)
- Order of Lenin (three times)
- Order of the October Revolution
- Order of the Red Banner (three times)
- Order of Alexander Nevsky
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class
- Order of the Red Star (twice)
- And many other medals for his service and for participating in battles like the Medal "For the Defence of Moscow", Medal "For the Defence of Leningrad", and Medal "For the Defence of Stalingrad".
He also received awards from Russia after the Soviet Union ended, and from other countries like Bulgaria, Mongolia, and Poland.
