Nikolay Karpov was born in 1922.

He graduated from Serpukhovskaya flying school in 1941.

He served on the Western Front from July 1941 but in July 1942, serzhant Karpov was posted to 84-A IAP.
84-A IAP was formed on 30 July 1942 with Polikarpov I-153s.
The regiment became operational on 11 August 1942 on the Transcaucasian Front.

On 17 November, the regiment transferred to the North Caucasian Front and was replenished with Polikarpov I-16s from other regiments.

From 11 March 1943, the regiment was in the reserve.

Karpov was posted away from 84-A IAP in May 1943 when he was posted to 16 GIAP.
This regiment operated on the North Caucasian Front since 9 April 1943 and was equipped with Airacobras.

16 GIAP was transferred to the Southern Front on 1 August and was immediately operational.

On 20 October, the Southern Front was renamed to the 4th Ukrainian Front.

On 11 January 1944, 16 GIAP was placed in the reserve.

On 7 May, the regiment became operational again on the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

Leitenant Karpov was killed in air combat on 7 May 1944.

At the time of his death, leitenant karpov was credited with 1 biplane victory and a total of 4.
These had been claimed during around 200 combat missions and around 50 air combats.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1942
1	29/11/42		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	Polikarpov I-153		Transcaucasian Front	84-A IAP
	1943
2	26/08/43		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	Airacobra		Southern Front	16 GIAP
	1944
3	30/05/44		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	Airacobra		2nd Ukrainian Front	16 GIAP
4	30/05/44		1	FW 190	Destroyed	Airacobra		2nd Ukrainian Front	16 GIAP

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 4 destroyed.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936-1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov