Biplane fighter aces

Soviet Union

Podpolkovnik Viktor Iosifovich Krupskiy HSU

21 December 1921 – 10 September 2000

Decorations
Date Decoration Note
07/11/41 Order of the Red Banner  
01/05/42 Order of the Red Star  
22/02/43 Gold Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union No. 897
22/02/43 Order of Lenin  
13/11/44 Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class  
11/03/85 Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class 2nd

Viktor Krupskiy was born on 21 December 1921 in Kremenchug and learned to fly in an aeroclub.

He joined the army in 1939 and attended the Chuguyevsk Military Air School from which he graduated in 1940.

In July 1941, he was served in 147 IAP on the Karelian Front, flying I-153s.

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, Vasiliy Korolev and mladshiy leitenant Krupskiy.

In January 1942, a number of pilots was posted away from 147 IAP to 760 IAP. These pilots included Aleksandr Zhgun and 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, Vasiliy Korolev and Krupskiy.

On 24 March 1942, he was promoted to flight commander.

In December 1942, starshiy leitenant Krupskiy was transferred to 20 GIAP (this was his old 147 IAP which had become a Guards unit on 7 March 1942) where he commanded the 5th eskadrilya. This unit was equipped with Kittyhawks.

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

He claimed a Bf 109 over Luostari airfield on 25 March 1943 before being shot down and seriously wounded.
He was hospitalized and didn’t fly any combat missions after this.

He left 20 GIAP in August 1944.

Krupskiy ended the war with 2 biplane victories and a total of 9.
These were claimed on 330 sorties and 32 combats.

Krupskiy was demobilized in 1946 as a Podpolkovnik.

He passed away on 10 September 2000 and is buried in Orel.

Claims:
Kill no. Date Time Number Type Result Plane type Serial no. Locality Unit
  1941                
1 20/07/41   1 Bf 110 Destroyed I-153   Murmansk 147 IAP
2 02/08/41   1 Bf 109 Destroyed I-153   Bol'shaya Zapadnaya Litsa 147 IAP
  02/08/41   1/5 Hs 126 Shared destroyed I-153   Alakurtti 147 IAP
  1942                
3 24/01/42   1 Bf 109 Destroyed Hurricane   Kovda River station 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
  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
4 09/06/42   1 Ju 88 Destroyed Hurricane   Sig station 760 IAP
  13/06/42   1/3 Ju 88 Shared destroyed Hurricane   Lake Pongoma 760 IAP
5 13/06/42   1 Ju 88 Destroyed Hurricane   Pingosalma 760 IAP
6 08/07/42   1 Ju 88 Destroyed Hurricane   Lake Keret 760 IAP
7 14/07/42   1 Ju 88 Destroyed Hurricane   W Keret 760 IAP
  1943                
  20/03/43   1/8 Bf 109 Shared destroyed Kittyhawk   Murmashi-Shonguy-Taybola 5./20 GIAP
  20/03/43   1/8 Bf 109 Shared destroyed Kittyhawk   Murmashi-Shonguy-Taybola 5./20 GIAP
  20/03/43   1/8 Bf 109 Shared destroyed Kittyhawk   Murmashi-Shonguy-Taybola 5./20 GIAP
8 20/03/43   1 Bf 109 Destroyed Kittyhawk   Maiatalo airfield 5./20 GIAP
9 25/03/43   1 Bf 109 Destroyed Kittyhawk   Luostari airfield 5./20 GIAP

Biplane victories: 2 and 1 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 9 and 10 shared destroyed.

Sources:
All aces of Stalin 1936–1953 – Mikhail Bykov, 2014
Soviet Aces 1936-1953
Soviet Fighter Pilots 1936-1953 - Mikhail Bykov
Stalin's Eagles - Hans D. Seidl, 1998 Schiffer Publishing, ISBN 0-7643-0476-3
Stalin's Falcons - Tomas Polak and Christhoper Shores, 1999 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-01-2
Additional information kindly provided by Ondrej Repka.




Last modified 04 June 2021