Vasiliy Korolev was born in Korolovo in 1918.

He graduated from Kachinskaya flight school in 1938.

Mladshiy leitenant Korolev took part in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War in 1939-1940.
Between November 1939 and January 1940, he served in 5 SAP before, he in January was posted to 147 IAP. This regiment was equipped with Polikarpov I-15bis and I-153s.

When Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, leitenant Korolev still served in 147 IAP. This regiment operated on the Northern Front and was equipped with I-153s.

Leitenants Aleksandr Zhgun and Korolev claimed a shared Bf 109 together with a third pilot on 27 July.

On 3 September, five I-153s from 147 IAP claimed a shared Hs 126 over Alakurtti. Pilots taking part in the claim included leitenant Aleksandr Zhgun, Korolev and mladshiy leitenant Viktor Krupskiy.

In January 1942, a number of pilots was posted away from 147 IAP to 760 IAP. These pilots included Aleksandr Zhgun, Korolev and Viktor Krupskiy.
760 IAP was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and also operated on the Karelian Front.

On 21 February 1942, six Hurricanes from 760 IAP claimed four shared Bf 109s over Kovda-Knasha. Pilots taking part in these claims included Aleksandr Zhgun, Korolev and Viktor Krupskiy.

Korolev and starshiy leitenant Viktor Krupskiy claimed a shared Bf 110 north-west of the Artic Circle station together with a third pilot on 23 February.

On 22 February 1943, both Korolev and Viktor Krupskiy were decorated with the Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin.

In July 1944, he was posted to the HQ of 7 VA.

In October 1944, he was posted to the HQ of 257 SAD, which was later renamed to 257 IAD.
He remained with this unit until November 1944.

Major Korolev ended the war with 1 biplane victory and a total of 2.
These had been claimed during 388 combat missions and 31 air combats.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
	27/07/41		1/?	Hs 126	Shared destroyed	I-153		Northern Front	147 IAP
1	22/08/41		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	I-153		Northern Front	147 IAP
	03/09/41		1/5	Hs 126	Shared destroyed	I-153		Alakurtti	147 IAP
	1942
	21/02/42		1/6	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Kovda-Knasha	760 IAP
	21/02/42		1/6	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Kovda-Knasha	760 IAP
	21/02/42		1/6	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Kovda-Knasha	760 IAP
	21/02/42		1/6	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Kovda-Knasha	760 IAP
	23/02/42		1/3	Bf 110	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		NW Artic Circle station	760 IAP
2	04/04/42		1	Bf 109	Destroyed	Hurricane		Karelian Front	760 IAP
	04/04/42		1/?	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Karelian Front	760 IAP
	04/04/42		1/?	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane		Karelian Front	760 IAP
	16/05/42		1/?	Ju 87	Shared destroyed	Hurricane, Kittyhawk		Karelian Front	760 IAP
	1943
	24/01/43		1/?	Bf 109	Shared destroyed	Hurricane, Kittyhawk		Karelian Front	760 IAP

Biplane victories: 1 and 2 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 2 and 11 shared destroyed.
(a) Claimed between September 1941 and September 1942.

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