Vasily Ivanovich Minakov (Russian: Васи́лий Ива́нович Минако́в; 7 February 1921 — 8 October 2016) was Soviet naval pilot who was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union during World War II. After the conflict he remained in the military, reaching the rank major-general. As a member of the Komsomol since 1938, he joined the Communist Party 1943. After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia in 1961, he became Chief of Staff First Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Northern Fleet.