Flag of the USSR Air Force. The one in the heart......
Yesterday, through Odnoklassniki, I received congratulations from my classmate at the military school. He congratulated me on the start of the holiday week. At the same time, it was quite logical to note that if the overwhelming majority of representatives of, so to speak, ordinary professions have only one holiday a year, then military aviators have two of them :-). This week begins with one holiday, with Sunday 12th oh, and another ends, in Sunday 19th.
I somehow didn’t attach any importance to this before. Probably because I have never lived in Russia since it became a separate independent state. As they say, my homeland is the Soviet Union. And then we, the army, had only one aviation day. The same one that Stalin installed in 1933. Then it was August 18th.
Since then USSR Air Fleet Day celebrated every third Sunday in August. Moreover, this holiday was more associated with the 18th. There was also Aeroflot Day (more precisely, the civil air fleet) - the second Sunday of February, but we didn’t consider it ours then (in general, rightly so) and many had not even heard of it.
Then Aeroflot Day was canceled in 1988 and combined with August aviation day. And three years later the Soviet Union ceased to exist. Socialism, not really built, sank into oblivion... Then everything around collapsed, starting with the economy and ending with long-term historical and spiritual traditions.
Soviet aviation, unfortunately, did not escape this fate (not only military, but also civilian). The losses that she suffered probably cannot be compared even with the losses during the fighting. Especially in the second half of the 90s and early 2000s.
It was painful and bitter to watch all this. Every at least somewhat positive action and any, even small, movement forward was perceived with great hope. And now, it seems, these hopes are beginning to come true.
Our honored one, now just as once in the first years of its existence, Russian aviation, which has always had many victories and outstanding achievements, begins to spread its wings again.
On August 12, exactly 100 years ago, the first military aviation unit was officially formed by royal decree. Thus the Russian Air Force was born. And from May 31, 2006, by Presidential Decree Russian Federation this day became official holiday, Air Force Day(has the status of a memorial day). Absolutely correct and logical decision :-).
As you can see, all good things come back :-). Russian aviation is beginning to restore its former power and perfection. I really want to believe that this process will only accelerate and go in the right direction, which means there is and will be something to celebrate. And we will definitely do it :-).
Now, after all, we have two holiday dates: the 12th and the following 19th (officially approved, by the way, in 1992 by the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation). Russian Air Force Day and Russian Air Fleet Day. And I don’t even know if they should be divided. It's all easy for me Aviation Day.
And today, on the eve of these two big holidays, I want to congratulate everyone on the 100th anniversary of our glorious Air Force and on the upcoming Russian Air Fleet Day.
Congratulations to everyone who had and has the great happiness (that’s right!) to touch the mysteries of the fifth ocean, those for whom the sky has become a second home, and its delicate blue and snow-white light clouds are their favorite colors in life.
Congratulations to everyone who is familiar with powerful, heavy and, at times, formidable machines. Thanks to your ground work, which is often very difficult and even thankless, planes take to the air and there they turn into light birds of the sky :-).
Happy holidays to everyone who creates the most complex modern aircraft, builds them at giant factories, who in one way or another ensure the daily flight operations of Russian aviation.
Happy holidays to all aviators, past, present and future. Although, of course, former aviators, like former officers can not be….
Congratulations to everyone who understands, who remembers, who knows...
The starting point in the creation of military aviation in Russia is considered to be August 12 (July 30, old style) 1912, when an order was signed according to which all issues of organizing military aeronautics and aviation were concentrated in the Aeronautical Unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff.
The first aircraft suitable for military use appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1910, the Russian Ministry of War began to purchase aircraft and train military pilots. By August 1914, Russian military aviation already had 263 aircraft.
During the First World War (1914-1918), there was a quantitative and qualitative development of aviation technology, which increased its role in combat. Russian military aviation from an auxiliary means of reconnaissance and communications has turned into an independent branch of the ground forces, including reconnaissance, fighter and bomber aircraft. At the final stage of the war, air forces took part in all major front-line and army operations and had a significant impact on the nature of combat operations.
The Soviet Air Force was created together with the Red Army. In the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs on January 2, 1918 (December 20, 1917, old style), the All-Russian Collegium for the Management of the Air Fleet of the Republic was established, which was entrusted with the management of the formation of aviation units, central and local departments of the Air Fleet, the preservation and conservation of aviation property, training aviation personnel, organization of logistics.
In the same year, the transition to the construction of regular military air force. On May 24, the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Force was formed, and in September, the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics of the active army. By November 1918, the Soviet Air Force had 38, and by December 1920, 83 air squadrons (including 18 naval ones). In total, during the Civil War, up to 350 Soviet aircraft operated simultaneously on the fronts.
After its completion for short term Aviation enterprises were restored and partially expanded, and the production of aircraft of domestic designs was established. In 1924-1933, I-2, I-3, I-4, I-5 fighters, R-1 and R-3 reconnaissance aircraft, and TB-1 and TB-3 heavy bombers entered service.
The organizational structure of the Air Force was improved. The Red Air Force in 1924 was transformed into the Air Force of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), which in 1932 received the status of an independent branch of the military and consisted of military aviation (as part of combined arms corps), army aviation (as part of combined arms armies) and frontline (air forces of military districts). In 1933, heavy bomber aircraft became the means of the High Command. In 1938, Soviet naval aviation was withdrawn from the Air Force and became one of the branches of the fleet.
During this period, the combat strength of the Air Force was represented almost exclusively by fourth-generation aircraft (Tu-22M3, Su-24M/MR, Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29 and MiG-31).
The collapse that took place at the end of 1991 Soviet Union and the events that followed significantly weakened the Air Force. A significant part of the aviation group (about 35%) remained on the territory of the former Soviet republics (more than 3,400 aircraft, including 2,500 combat aircraft). Also on their territories remained the most prepared airfield network for basing military aviation, which in comparison with the USSR was reduced by almost half in the Russian Federation (primarily in the Western strategic direction). The level of flight and combat training of Air Force pilots has sharply decreased.
In 1992, Russia began building the Air Force as an integral part of its own Armed Forces. In accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated July 16, 1997 “On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure”, by January 1, 1999, the the new kind Armed Forces - Air Force, which united two independent branches of the Armed Forces: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces (Air Defense).
In 2003, army aviation was transferred to the Air Force, and in 2005-2006, part of the military air defense formations and units equipped with S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the new generation S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the Air Force.
In 2009-2010, serious changes occurred in the organizational structure of the Air Force: a transition was made to a two-level (brigade-battalion) command system.
Since 1935, air parades dedicated to the Day USSR Air Fleet, were held in Tushino (Moscow) on weekends, that is, they were not strictly tied to the day of August 18, and were sometimes postponed to another day or even canceled due to weather conditions. Even during the Great Patriotic War, the country celebrated USSR Air Fleet Day, but air parades were not held.
In the period from 1947 to 1961, Air Fleet Day was celebrated, as a rule, on one of the Sundays in July and was accompanied by an air parade in Tushino. Since 1962, the holiday has been celebrated without annual air parades (excluding 1967 and 1977) on August 18, and since 1972 - on the third Sunday in August.
However, the tradition of holding air holidays dedicated to the USSR Air Fleet Day has been preserved at the regional (local) level. Every year, air festivals were held in Zhukovsky, Monino, Kubinka and other aviation cities.
As the importance of the components of the USSR Air Fleet grew, USSR Civil Aviation Day (February 9, since 2013 - Civil Aviation Worker Day), Navy Aviation Day (July 17), etc. appeared. In 1997, responding to requests from military aviators, the President of the Russian Federation established by its decree, Air Force Day, but festive events dedicated to it are held on Russian Air Fleet Day (the third Sunday in August).
Since 2015, based on maintaining the historical traditions of the Air Force and continuity after their reorganization, the Aerospace Forces.
(Additional
The history of the holiday is as follows. In 1917-1930, aircraft manufacturing, aviation sports and the military use of aviation developed rapidly in the young Soviet Republic. The popularity of aviation among the population was unparalleled.
The development of aviation in the USSR can be illustrated by the following the most important events those years:
On May 1, 1918, the first military and aviation parade of the Moscow garrison troops took place on Khodynskoye Field.
It involved infantry units, cavalry, artillery and armored vehicles, as well as the first aviation detachments, and many aircraft also had the insignia of the Russian Army.
From Red Square, after the rally, V.I. Lenin arrived here (accompanied by N.K. Krupskaya and M.I. Ulyanova). He inspected hangars and airplanes and talked with pilots and aircraft technicians.
After passing the infantry, artillery, and cavalry, everyone’s eyes turned to the sky, where pilot I.N. Vinogradov flew over Khodynka in a Nieuport-21 aircraft and performed aerobatic maneuvers.
January 17, 1921 - the first Soviet legislative act on aviation was adopted - the Decree “On air movements in the airspace over the territory of the RSFSR and over its territorial waters.”
May 1, 1921 - the Moscow-Oryol-Kharkov postal and passenger airline opened (served by old Ilya Muromets aircraft).
May 1, 1922 The first international airline in the USSR Moscow-Konnigsberg (Deruluft airline) opened.
February 9, 1923 - The Council of Labor and Defense adopted a resolution “On the assignment of technical supervision of air lines to the Main Directorate of the Air Fleet and on the organization of the Council for Civil Aviation” - the official date of the creation of civil aviation.
March 8, 1923 - The Society of Friends of the Air Fleet (ADVF) was created, which took part in equipping airfields, raised funds for the construction of aircraft for the Red Army Air Force, and held All-Union glider competitions in Crimea.
March 17, 1923 - the Russian joint-stock company of the Voluntary Air Fleet - “Dobrolyot” was created with an authorized capital of 2 million rubles in gold. The main goal was the organization of air mail, passenger and cargo airlines, as well as the development of the domestic aviation industry.
September 3, 1923 - V.I. Lenin and N.K. Krupskaya contributed six personal chervonets in gold to Dobrolyot JSC for the purchase of the Junkers Ju-13 Pravda passenger aircraft.
January 23, 1927 - The Society for the Promotion of Defense, Aviation and Chemical Construction - OSOAVIAKHIM (from 1951 - DOSAAF USSR, from 1991 - ROSTO) was formed.
March 20, 1930 - on the basis of the aeromechanical faculty of Moscow Higher Technical University named after. Bauman, the Higher Aeromechanical School was formed (since August 29 - the Moscow Aviation Institute).
June 26, 1930 - near Voronezh, under the leadership of L.G. Minov, the first mass training of parachutists in the USSR for jumping from an airplane began. This day is considered the birthday of Soviet parachuting.
In November 1932 Commander of the Red Army Air Force Ya.I. Alksnis submitted to the Revolutionary Military Council (the highest military body of the USSR) a proposal from the Air Force to establish a new holiday - “Aviation Day”, “with the aim of further popularizing civil and military aviation among the masses”
The holiday was proposed to be held annually in August (“the best time according to weather conditions, after preparation in summer camps Air Force personnel") in the form of air parades, with a demonstration of the best examples of military and civil aviation, piloted by the best military and civilian pilots, as well as with the participation of outstanding athletes, aviators and parachutists.
Previously, there were no regular aviation holidays either in Tsarist Russia or in the USSR.
This proposal was considered by the Government and the Central Committee, after which on April 28, 1933, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted Resolution No. 859 “On the celebration of the Day of the Air Fleet of the USSR.”
Thus, since 1933, a tradition has arisen to celebrate USSR Air Fleet Day every year on August 18. This holiday was established both for military and civil aviators, as well as for the developers and creators of aircraft.
USSR Air Fleet Day was celebrated annually on August 18 until 1980, when by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated October 1, 1980 No. 3018-X “On holidays and memorable days“It was established that USSR Air Fleet Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in August.
Subsequently, aerial displays of new models of military and civil aircraft were held in Domodedovo (the last one in 1967).
In 1977, an aviation and sports festival of DOSAAF athletes dedicated to the sixtieth anniversary of the Great October Revolution took place in Tushino.
In the 70s and 80s, central air parades were not held.
However, the tradition of holding air holidays dedicated to the USSR Air Fleet Day has been preserved at the regional (local) level. Every year, air holidays were held in Zhukovsky (by LII test pilots), Monino, Kubinka and other aviation cities.
From 1955 to 1991, the celebration of USSR Air Fleet Day was opened with ceremonial meetings held by the heads of the Air Force of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Aviation Industry, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and DASAAF.
The first ceremonial meeting took place in 1955 in the green theater of the Park. Gorky (G.K. Zhukov participated), and the last one took place on August 16, 1991 in the Concert Hall. Tchaikovsky (almost all members of the future State Emergency Committee participated).
All ceremonial Meetings of representatives of Moscow workers and soldiers of the capital's garrison, dedicated to the Day of the USSR Air Fleet, were held according to the same scenario.
They were held on Friday (closest to Aviation Day) alternately at the Central Theater Soviet army, Column Hall of the House of Unions and in the Concert Hall. Tchaikovsky.
Official part was opened by a very representative presidium from among the heads of the Air Force and aviation industries, general and chief designers of aircraft, champion athletes, aviators, and cosmonauts of the USSR.
The main report was usually given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, sometimes by the Ministers of Aviation Industry and Civil Aviation. Then there were performances by production leaders from the aviation industry and champions and record holders of aviation sports. The official part lasted about 1.5 hours.
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Memorable dates
ELISEEV Sergey Pavlovich- retired colonel, candidate of historical sciences (Moscow. E-mail: [email protected])
About two dates for celebrating the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Day of the Air Fleet of the USSR
To the 100th anniversary of the creation of domestic aviation
On August 12, 2012, Russia will celebrate the centenary of the Air Force Armed Forces RF. What historical events a hundred years ago caused this? After all, it is known that the first military pilots appeared in Russia already in 1910, and a year later the first aviation units appeared. Why does Russian Air Force Day fall on last month summer, why was this date chosen? The answers to these questions are related to the history of the development of aviation in our country.
IN Soviet times From 1933 to 1972, August 181 was celebrated as USSR Air Fleet Day. The following was reported about its establishment in No. 6 of the magazine “Bulletin of the Air Fleet” for 1933:
“On the recommendation of the Chief of the Military Air Forces of the Red Army, Comrade Alksnis, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR initiated a petition to the Government to establish an Air Fleet Holiday Day.
On this occasion, a resolution was passed by the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, according to which August 18 was designated as the day of the annual holiday of the Air Fleet.
The holiday is timed to coincide with the end of the summer period of combat training of the Air Force, which makes it possible to combine the holiday with a number of competitions and competitions in aviation technology, aerobatics, fire and tactical training.
Air Fleet Day can also be used to widely popularize military and civil aviation among the working masses of the Soviet Union. At the massive aviation festival, in which the Red Army Air Force, the Civil Air Fleet, the Soviet aviation industry and Osoaviakhim should take part, achievements in the field of aviation technology and aviation construction will be demonstrated as a powerful means of socialist construction, the development of technology and the strengthening of the air defense of the Soviet Union”2.
The resolution itself was found in one of the collections of the Russian State Library3. Noteworthy is the brevity of the text and the absence of any references to the documents that served as the reason for issuing this resolution of April 28, 1933, No. 859.
After the publication of this message, the Air Force of the Red Army, the Civil Air Fleet of the USSR, the Society for Assistance to Defense, Aviation and Chemical Construction of the USSR, aviation industry enterprises and other institutions and institutions of the country began to prepare for the first celebration of Air Fleet Day. The most solemn and important event scheduled for August 18 was the holding of an aviation festival in Moscow, at the Central Airfield named after M.V. Frunze.
The first celebration of Air Fleet Day was held at a high organizational level. Muscovites, guests of the capital, and representatives of foreign countries gathered at the airfield and near it. During the celebration, samples of Soviet aviation technology, the skill and courage of aviators were shown. The air parade was attended by members of the Soviet government and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, headed by I.V. Stalin. From this day on, August 18 became a national holiday, however, despite the fact that the Day of the “entire” Air Fleet was declared, that is, all aviation of the USSR, including the aviation of the Navy, Civil Air Fleet, Osoaviakhim, etc., the Air Force of the Red Army and in number , and in terms of the variety of problems solved, they played a leading role in this holiday.
As the importance of other components of the USSR Air Fleet grew, USSR Civil Aviation Day (February 9), Navy Aviation Day, etc. appeared.
It would be logical to assume that the Air Force, called upon to carry out combat missions in land as well as naval theaters of war (long-range aviation), would want to have “their own” Day.
Responding to requests from military aviators, the President of the Russian Federation, by his decree No. 949 of August 29, 1997, declared the date August 12 as Air Force Day of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
However, not everyone knows why this particular date was chosen. After all, the first military pilots appeared in Russia in the summer of 1910, and the first aviation detachments in 1911. The first demonstration of the capabilities of aviation technology in the capital - the “first aviation week” - took place in St. Petersburg in April 1910, and already in May, flight training began for Russian aeronautical officers in the newly created Aviation Department of the Officer Aeronautical School in Gatchina. Since 1914, the aviation department has become the Gatchina military aviation school.
In November 1910, near Sevastopol, on the banks of the river. Kacha, under the patronage of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, a second aviation educational institution was created: the Sevastopol Aviation Officer School, but unlike Gatchina, it functioned on a voluntary basis. Therefore, aircraft for the Gatchina school were purchased abroad by the military department, and aircraft for the Sevastopol school were purchased there, but with voluntary donations from the population.
In 1911, the Main Engineering Directorate (since 1913 - the Main Military-Technical Directorate - GVTU) created the first two aviation squads at aeronautical units. True, flights in them began only in 1912. Thus, the first sprouts of aviation arose in the Aeronautical Service, which belonged to the engineering troops.
However, on July 30 (new style - August 12), 1912, by order of the Minister of War (with the approval of Nicholas II) No. 397, aviation detachments were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GU GS)4. This was a significant event, since aviation was officially recognized as an independent “Aviation Service”, performing reconnaissance and communications tasks in the troops, and independently of the Aeronautical Service.
As a result, from the experimental air squads attached to some aeronautical units, aviation became an independent structural entity with the corresponding position and staff. To manage aviation and aeronautical units, in the fall of 1912, the Aeronautical Department was formed at the Main General Staff, which had an aviation and aeronautical department. The general name of the department - “aeronautics” should not mislead readers, since the concept of “aeronautics” meant (until about 1920) “flying through the air” in general, regardless of which aircraft, heavier or lighter than air, it was carried out .
Soon, at the end of 1913, decentralization of the control of aviation detachments took place: they were subordinated technically to the GVTU, and organizationally (primarily in terms of recruitment and combat use) to the Main Directorate of the General Staff. In connection with this reorganization, some aviators (and some aviation historians, including modern ones) had the opinion that aviation was again in the engineering corps. In fact, according to the plans of the Russian General Staff, in the event of war, aviation detachments were supposed to go to the front and carry out combat reconnaissance and communications missions there, being operationally subordinate to the headquarters of the corps and armies. With the outbreak of the First World War, this is exactly what happened. Therefore, aviation has de facto become a branch of the ground forces.
But, despite this, the status of the Russian Air Force was still not strictly defined, which was one of the reasons for convening Aviation Congresses in the spring and summer of 1917, first soldiers’, and then general, with the participation of officers.
At the congresses it was recommended to celebrate Air Fleet Day on August 2, the Day of the Prophet Elijah. The Bolsheviks, having come to power, calling themselves “militant atheists”, began to oppose this date: it was not fitting for the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Air Force to celebrate its day on a religious holiday.
Therefore, in the twenties, “Aviation Day” began to be celebrated in July, most often timed to coincide with Bastille Day, that is, July 14.
After the first big show of aviation equipment, I.V. Stalin, and it happened on May 21, 1931, the newly appointed head of the Air Force Ya.I. Alksnis thanked the pilots for their excellent flights in front of the leaders of the party, country and army and for the first time called the pilots “Stalin’s falcons.” And in fact, from that time on I.V. Stalin personally took over patronage of Soviet aviation, which became the reason for defining it as “Stalinist”.
I.V. Stalin, realizing that a powerful Air Fleet is both the prestige of the country and the education of the younger generation, instructed Ya.I. Alksnis to study the issue of writing new history aviation, in which the leading and guiding role of the Bolshevik Party in its creation was to be shown. It goes without saying that this story should not have mentioned former chairman RVSR L.D. Trotsky and his role in the creation of Soviet military aviation. Following the instructions of I.V. Stalin, Ya.I. Alksnis created a special historical group led by one of the organizers of the Red Air Fleet M.P. Stroev. This group included former Chairman of the Bureau of Aviation and Aeronautics Commissioners A.V. Mozhaev, former member of the Management Board of the WF of the Republic N.D. Anoshchenko and other participants in the creation of the RKKVVF in 1917-1920.
As a result of the work of the said commission at the end of 1932 - beginning of 1933, several publications about the creation of Soviet military aviation in 1917-1918 appeared in the "Bulletin of the Air Fleet". In addition, in the June 1933 issue of the magazine, in the “Chronicle of the USSR” section, a message was published, the contents of which are given at the beginning of this article.
Some historical documents say that the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, headed by K.E. Voroshilov, head of the Red Army Air Force Ya.I. Alksnis and the Air Force leadership, explaining the choice of this date, proceeded from the fact that the second half of August is the most the right time to celebrate Air Fleet Day, since around this time the Air Force ends summer period training in camps at field airfields and after joint exercises with ground forces, they return to their permanent location, where a holiday is held with the participation of not only the military, but also civil authorities and the public.<…>
