Mikhail Vodopyanov

Mikhail Vodopyanov
Native name
Михаил Васильевич Водопьянов
Born18 November [O.S. 6 November] 1899
Bolshiye Studyonki village, Tambov Governorate, Russian Empire
(now part of Lipetsk, Russia)
Died11 August 1980(1980-08-11) (aged 80)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance Soviet Union
Branch Soviet Air Force
Years of service1918–1946
RankMajor General
Commands81st Special Purpose Aviation Division
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Vasilyevich Vodopyanov (Russian: Михаил Васильевич Водопьянов; 18 November [O.S. 6 November] 1899 11 August 1980) was a Soviet aircraft pilot, one of the first Heroes of the Soviet Union, and a Major General of the Soviet Air Force. Together with Mikhail Babushkin, he was the first to land an airplane on the North Pole.