Vasily Molokov

Vasily Sergeyevich Molokov (Russian: Васи́лий Серге́евич Мо́локов; 13 February [O.S. 1 February] 1895, settlement of Irininskoye, Moscow Governorate – 29 December 1982, Moscow) was a Soviet aircraft pilot, major general of aviation (1940), and a Hero of the Soviet Union (29 April 1934).

Vasily Molokov
Native name
Russian: Васи́лий Серге́евич Мо́локов
Born13 February [O.S. 1 February] 1895
Irininskoye, Moscow Governorate, Russian Empire
Died29 December 1982(1982-12-29) (aged 87)
Moscow, USSR
Allegiance Soviet Union
Service/branch Soviet Air Force
RankMajor-General
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union

Birth and Youth

Vasily Molokov was born in Irininskoye village in Moscow Governorate (now Molokovo of Moscow Oblast) on 13 February [O.S. 1 February] 1895. From 1904 he worked in a box workshop in Moscow, then as a hammerer and metalworker in a smithy.[1]

Army Service

Vasily Molokov enlisted in the Imperial Russian Army in 1915. He then joined the Red Army in January 1918 and took part in the Russian Civil War. In 1921, he graduated from the Naval Aviation School in Samara and then took training extension courses at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy (1929).[1] Since 1925 Molokov was member of the Communist Party.

Civil Aviation and Feat

In 1931, Vasily Molokov joined the civil aviation. He flew the airlines in Siberia and Far East of Russia. In April 1934 he took part in the successful Arctic aerial rescue operation saving people from the sunken steamship Cheliuskin from an improvised airfield on the ice of the Chukchi Sea. Vasily Molokov saved 39 men[1] - more than any other pilot. His two-seat R-5 took on board 6 men, using parachute boxes under the wings for carrying passengers. He was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union for this deed.

After the Deed

In 1935, Molokov performed an outstanding for that time flight by route Krasnoyarsk-Kirensk-Yakutsk-Nagaevo-Nizhnekolymsk-Uelen and back along the Arctic coast to Arkhangelsk on a Dornier Do J flying boat. This flight has opened a new line over Eastern Siberia and Kamchatka.

In 1936, Vasily Molokov performed a flight along the Soviet Arctic coast. In 1937, he participated in a North Pole expedition as the command pilot of TB-3, he deployed crew of a drifting ice station. In 1938, Molokov was appointed head of the Air Fleet Chief Directorate. During the German-Soviet War, he was appointed at October 9, 1941 authorized representative of the State Defence Committee on the creation of ALSIB - classified ferrying route for aircraft from Fairbanks to Krasnoyarsk.[1]

For a short period he headed the Gromov Flight Research Institute (1942–1943).[2]

Later (since 1943) Molokov commanded the 213th Night Bomber Aviation Division on the Western and 3rd Belorussian Fronts. In 1947, he was withdrawn to reserve.

He has died in 1982. Molokov is buried in Moscow, in Kuntsevo Cemetery.

Vasily Molokov's son, Valery (born at October 3, 1924), World War II veteran, graduated from Bauman Moscow State Technical University, worked in aerospace industry.

Honours and awards

Memory
  • In 1934 his birthplace, Irininskoye, was renamed to Molokovo.
  • In 1935 a postmark, dedicated to Vasily Molokov, was issued in USSR.
    USSR postmark, 1935.
  • A statue was installed in 2010 at his birthplace to commemorate his 115th birthday.
  • Molokov Cape at Franz Jozef Land was named after him.
  • Molokov Island at Yenisei River.
  • Ulitsa Molokova (Molokov Street) In Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Ekaterinburg.[1]
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References
  1. "Молоков Василий Сергеевич". www.warheroes.ru. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  2. Васильченко, К. К.; Знаменская, А. М.; Клячко, М. Д.; Махонькин, Ю. Е.; Миронов, А. Д.; Хейфец, М. И., eds. (1993). Лётные исследования и испытания. Фрагменты истории и современное состояние : Научно-технический сборник [Flight Research and Testing. Fragments of History and the Present State: A Sci.-Tech. Collection] (in Russian). Москва: Машиностроение. p. 11.

This article includes content derived from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978, which is partially in the public domain.

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