Long-Range Aviation Day of the Air Force of the Russian Federation was established in 1999 by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force.
The day that marked the beginning of the development of long-range aviation (DA) in Russia can be called 1913, when the heavy four-engine bomber "Ilya Muromets", the legendary brainchild of aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky, made its maiden flight.
Exactly a year later, on December 23, 1914, by the Decree of Emperor Nicholas II, the world's first squadron of such aircraft was formed. This date is considered to be the day of the creation of Russian long-range (strategic) aviation.
The further fate of the "Muromtsev" squadron is not simple. Despite the fact that during the First World War bombers performed several hundred flights with the loss of only one Ilya Muromets, and in 1917 the squadron already included twenty bombers, in 1917 all aircraft were burned so as not to become prey to German troops, close approached the location of the squadron.
The decree of the Council of People's Commissars, adopted in 1918, approved the formation of the Northern Group of Ilya Muromets air ships - this is how a new stage in the development of long-range aviation began.
Later, the TB-3 bomber, designed under the direction of A.N. Tupolev, and then the DB-3 aircraft (after modernization - DB-3F, Il-4), designed at the S.V. Ilyushin.
During the Great Patriotic War, the long-range bomber aviation of the Red Army, consisting of five air corps, three air divisions and a separate air regiment (about 1500 aircraft and almost 1000 crews), entered into battle with the enemy from the first days of the war and participated in all major operations of the Soviet troops, performing special assignments. During the war years, DA crews performed more than 220 thousand sorties, and about 25 thousand DA soldiers and officers were awarded state awards, 269 became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
At present, long-range aviation, which is part of the strategic nuclear triad, along with submarines and missiles, is currently armed with strategic bombers Tu-160 (15 bombers), Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. The Tu-95MS missile carrier was developed over 50 years ago and is the only strategic bomber in the world to have turboprop engines. Tu-22M3 aircraft are part of naval long-range aviation.
Long-range aviation (DA) is an operational-strategic formation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, a strategic reserve of the Supreme High Command (VGK) and a component of Russia's strategic nuclear forces. One of the main tasks of long-range aviation in Russia is the defeat of enemy military targets at a distance of many thousands of kilometers from their home bases, as well as the conduct of operational and strategic aerial reconnaissance. And the personnel always fulfill the tasks assigned to them to maintain combat readiness at a high level.
On the Day of Long-Range Aviation of Russia
I wish you, hovering over the country:
Don't let the slanting rains scare you,
No headwind, no scorching heat;
May the firmament of the sky be soft for you,
Let the motors roar measuredly
Let it be only summer weather
And at home, let them always wait with victory!
Namely, the 37th Air Force is usually called long-range aviation. One of its main tasks today is the strategic containment of a potential enemy from the air. If the need arises, it will strike at the enemy's military-technical bases at long distances.
A bit of history
More than a hundred years ago, when no one had yet celebrated Long-Range Aviation Day (because the very concept of long-range aviation did not yet exist), an aviation engineer developed a new bomber. It was four-engine and the largest in the whole world. His test took place at the end of 1913.
"Ilya Muromets" - this is how some other similar series of aircraft began to be called, when a year later, on December 23, 1914, Nikolai II signed an order to create a squadron (first) of bombers. From that day the countdown of the world heavy bomber and long-range aviation of Russia began.
Therefore, when in modern times the question arose of what date to celebrate the Day of Long-Range Aviation, the answer was not long in coming. And in 1999, an order was issued by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief declaring December 23 a professional holiday for long-range aviation pilots. Since then, all military personnel of the 37th Air Force celebrate their professional holiday on this day.
Congratulations on the Long-Range Aviation Day
Of course, on a holiday you cannot do without congratulations. They sound in poetic form and in prose, they can be heard in songs and seen in dance performances. Congratulations are heard from loved ones and from completely unfamiliar people, from everyone who is not indifferent to this holiday.
1st congratulations. The sky for you is not just a blue space, but also a home. But the real home is, of course, on the ground. Know that there is always a family waiting for you: wives and mothers, fathers and children. Take care of yourself for them, always feel their support. Let impossible tasks not arise before you, luck always accompanies you on the path of life, and let dreams come true more often.
2nd congratulations. Long-Range Aviation Day is not just a professional holiday for you. This is an important date when you hear a lot of congratulations, wishes and thanks. Once you have chosen this difficult path for yourself. So may he always be successful! Let health and the iron bird not let you down at a crucial moment. May your family and friends always be happy!
3rd congratulations. You guard the sky over the country day and night, you sometimes do not know the rest, for you the order to protect the Motherland is always unquestioning for execution. You are the elite of the country's air force! Therefore, today glory to all long-range aviation pilots! May your difficult service bring you pleasure, may the flights be peaceful, and may your skills only improve each time. And even if you have to leave your home for a long time, always return to your wives and children, parents and friends! Good luck to you!
Centenary of long-range aviation in Russia
In 2014, the whole country celebrated the centenary of long-range aviation. On this day, they remembered the history of the foundation, the participation of bombers during the First and Second World Wars. Many pilots from TV screens and pages of newspapers themselves told people about their profession.
On Long-Range Aviation Day, a documentary film was shown, created for the anniversary. It traces all the way from the first "Ilya Muromets" to the modern Tu-160.
The medal “100 years of long-range aviation in Russia” was issued for the holiday.
Long-range aviation today
Today, long-range aviation performs important tasks in the fight against terrorism in Syria and Iran. It is armed with various types of aircraft. Among them are strategic missile carriers (supersonic Tu-160, which is the largest in the world, and long-range bombers (Tu-22M3) and fuel tankers (IL-78M).
Of course, not all countries like the power, which only grows every year. But they can only accept the situation as it is. And even more so, no one can forbid the citizens of the Russian Federation to celebrate their day of long-range aviation.
December 23 is the day of long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force, and every citizen should remember this. And although this day is a working day, it does not lose its significance. After all, military people do not know rest, especially if the security of the country is under threat.
This holiday is celebrated by those who served or are serving, who have tied their lot with the 37th Air Force of the Supreme Strategic Command. This military association is the air force elite, an important component of our state's nuclear strike force and its strategic reserve.
Long-range aviation plays a huge role in ensuring the defense capability and protecting Russia's borders from encroachments.
History
This date is associated with several important events not only for the Russian Empire, but for the whole world.
- Much time and effort was devoted to the design of a heavy bomber. The father of "Ilya Muromets", the largest four-engine aircraft in those days (great-grandfather of modern missile carriers), can be called the legendary Igor Sikorsky. In December 1913, its first test flight was made.
- A year later, the Military Council decided to form the first squadron of such aircraft. A decree signed by Emperor Nicholas II laid the foundation for the existence of heavy bomber aviation.
- The pioneers of long-range aviation served the glory of the Fatherland during the First World War. But they were burned in 1917 with the aim of excluding capture by the German troops that came close to their deployment.
- By a decree of the Council of People's Commissars in March 1918, the formation of the Northern Group of these ships was approved.
- Collectives led by A.N. Tupolev took part in the further development and rearmament (in the 30s). and Ilyushin S.V., who developed new aircraft vehicles.
The years of the Great Patriotic War confirmed the importance of such aircraft and their crews. Many soldiers and officers were awarded awards and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Traditions
Celebrations of this day are taking place with particular warmth at this time of trouble. At the state level, distinguished servicemen are awarded medals and orders for special services. They remember and honor those who gave their lives for a peaceful sky overhead.
The personnel are tasked with performing the most difficult and responsible tasks:
- maintain equipment in combat readiness and improve your professional level, taking into account modern achievements;
- conduct operational and strategic intelligence;
- destroy terrorist bases and various enemy military objects at distances of many thousands of kilometers from their bases at any time of the day:
- participate in air parades in honor of the day of aviation and victory.
Separate formations are sent to distant places and make fearless flights far from their homeland. They help civilians and legally elected governments by their presence to protect their constitutional rights and freedoms. Therefore, trips of honored artists with performances to such hot spots have become a tradition.
Festive concerts with the participation of young and eminent vocalists and creative groups are being held on radio and television. Congratulations from the country's leaders are sure to sound. Celebrations are also organized for family members.
The beginning of our long-range aviation was laid by the Ilya Muromets squadron. It was the world's first heavy bombers warhead. Nicholas II approved the decision to create it on December 23, 1914. During the First World War, the squadron performed four hundred sorties. Throughout history, the Germans managed to shoot down only one "Muromets".
After the February Revolution, the army collapsed. In September 1917, the planes had to be burned so that they would not get to the enemy. At that time, the squadron consisted of twenty aircraft.
The Bolsheviks also understood the importance of long-range aviation. In 1918 a group of three "Muromtsy" was formed. A qualitative breakthrough came with the commissioning of the TB-3 model designed by Tupolev. At the beginning of the 30s, several long-range aviation corps were created. The thirties were marked by the creation of strategic aviation. At that time, there were no such formations anywhere in the world.
During these years, there was a rapid development of aviation. Several design bureaus worked on the creation of fundamentally new models of heavy bombers. In parallel with this, organizational work was underway to form the structure of long-range aviation. At the beginning of World War II, there were about fifteen hundred aircraft and about a thousand crews on alert.
The role of long-range aviation was manifested from the first day of the war. On June 22, planes bombed the Germans near Suwalk and Przemysl. The next day - the enemy extinguished Danzig, Warsaw, Krakow and several other cities. On the night of August 11, 41, heavy aircraft bombed Berlin.
During the war, long-range aviation crews took part in all the most important operations. They made more than 220 thousand sorties, dropped two and a quarter million bombs of various calibers. Six servicemen became twice heroes of the Soviet Union, 269 people received the Hero's Star.
In 1946, the Long-Range Aviation of the Armed Forces was created. The basis for the creation was the 18th Air Force. The war almost completely worn out the aircraft fleet. In the late forties, it was decided to copy the American B-29. Tu-4 entered service in 1947, and since 1951 these aircraft have been on combat duty with nuclear weapons.
The main reorganization of long-range aviation took place in the 60s and 80s. At this time, a reform of management structures was carried out, new aircraft models were received. It was in the 60s that our pilots first began to fly "around the corner", the development of the Arctic began. Aviation complexes Tu-22M3, Tu-160, Tu-95MS could strike with cruise missiles from anywhere on any target.
The collapse of the USSR deprived the long-range aviation of the Ukrainian Tu-160 regiment and tankers. At the end of the 90s, a gradual restoration of the number and financing of strategic units begins. 2001 was marked by the first appearance of our giants over the North Pole in ten years.
The combat readiness of the crews has sharply increased. In 2003, two 160s and four 95s make a unique flight to the Indian Ocean. In the second half of 2007, regular flights to remote regions are resumed. Currently, areas of intensive shipping and economic activity of the country are being actively patrolled.
Long-range aviation never had easy times. But despite the problems, the military are doing their duty to ensure combat readiness. On December 23, pilots and employees of support units receive well-deserved congratulations and awards.
16 years ago - in 1999, on the basis of the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Anatoly Kornukov, the Day of Long-Range Aviation of Russia appears in the calendar of holidays and memorable dates. The official date of celebration of the Day of Long-Range Aviation is December 23, and this date was by no means taken from the ceiling. It was on December 23 of the distant 1914 that the Ilya Muromets air squadron was formed. The formation took place by decision of the Military Council of the Army.
About a year earlier, the four-engine giant (by the then standards) S-22 "Ilya Muromets" made test flights. This aircraft was developed in St. Petersburg by a department of the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works by a group of engineers led by Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky.
Ilya Muromets became the first bomber. Its characteristics at that time were more than impressive.
Wingspan: upper - 30.87 m, lower - 22 m; the weight of an empty aircraft is 3.8 tons, the maximum take-off weight is 5.1 tons, the flight duration is up to 4 hours, the flight range is up to 440 km, the take-off run is 450 m, the climb time of 1 km is about 9 minutes.
During the December tests of 1913, "Ilya Muromets" lifted a load of about 1.1 tons to a height of 1 km, thereby setting a new world record.
Subsequently, passenger versions of the Sikorsky aircraft began to be produced in Russia. And by the beginning of the First World War, 4 Ilya Muromets bombers were transferred to the Imperial Air Force.
Pilots of long-range bomber aviation showed themselves from the first days of the Great Patriotic War. Historical archives contain documents from which it is known that long-range bomber aviation fought the first battle approximately 8 hours after the Nazis crossed the borders of the Soviet Union. The documents say that the pilots struck at the accumulation of Nazi troops in the areas of Suwalki and Prasnysh. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that long-range bomber aircraft, about a month and a half after the start of the war, struck an air strike at the heart of Hitler's Reich - Berlin. Three groups of long-range bombers, formed from 22, 200 long-range bomber aviation regiments and 81 air divisions, took part in striking Berlin. From August 8 to early September, 90 sorties were made and 10 massive strikes were made on the German capital.
The bombing of Berlin came as a real shock to the Nazis, because just a few weeks after the start of the war, Goebbels, the main propagandist of Nazism, announced that Soviet aviation had been completely defeated. In addition, the loud statement of the commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe Goering was known, who said that "not a single bomb will ever fall on the capital of the Third Reich." Fell ... And not one ...
When the Soviet long-range bombers DB-3 of the Baltic Fleet Air Force, which took off from the island of Ezel (now the Estonian island of Saaremaa), first crossed the eastern German border, the representatives of the air defense forces could not even think that the Russians were flying to bomb them. The planes were taken for their own - "lost" German, and in one of the cases, with the help of searchlights, the Germans decided to help the pilots to land at one of the airfields. The Soviet pilots, taken for their own, for obvious reasons, refused from "help", which, in principle, did not arouse any special suspicions among the German military.
On the night of August 8, the first Soviet aerial bombs rained down on Berlin, which was flooded with the light of lanterns and became an ideal target. The industrial facilities of the Hitlerite capital flared up, bomb explosions were noted in the Stettin area. During the first minute, the enemy could not get out of the shock. When the bombs were already exploding in the capital, the Germans guessed to turn on the blackout.
At the final stage of the operation to inflict the first air strike on Berlin, radio operator Vasily Krotenko went on the air and uttered the historic words:
My place is Berlin! The task was completed. Back to base!
At about 4 am the Baltic Fleet bombers were already landing at their home airfield, having accomplished what seemed impossible at that time. Despite the fact that the blows did not cause significant damage, the psychological effect of this step was much more important. German newspapers the next day came out with articles that the planes of the British Royal Air Force had hit Berlin, which was very surprised in London. They were even more surprised (and this is putting it mildly) in Germany when they received confirmation that it was Russian aircraft that attacked Berlin from the air.
On the night of August 7-8, a group of aircraft from the Baltic Fleet made a reconnaissance flight to Germany and bombed the city of Berlin. 5 planes dropped their bombs over the center of Berlin, and the rest on the outskirts of the city. I would like to express my gratitude to the personnel of the aircraft that took part in the flight. I am entering with a petition to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for rewarding those who distinguished themselves. Give 2 thousand rubles to each crew member who participated in the flight. Henceforth, establish that each crew member who dropped bombs on Berlin should be given 2 thousand rubles. The order will be announced to the crews of the aircraft that took part in the first bombing of Berlin and to the entire personnel of the 81st Long-Range Air Division.
Five days later, on August 13, 1941, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the first four pilots who bombed the German capital were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The heroes were Colonel E.N. Preobrazhensky, Captain V.A. Grechishnikov, Captain M.N. Plotkin, Captain A.Ya. Efremov (navigator of the flagship crew).
On March 7, 1942, at that time already Major Mikhail (Meer) Nikolayevich Plotkin died, returning after completing a combat mission to lay minefields on the roadstead of Helsinki.
And today long-range aviation presents special surprises to Russia's “friends”. Thus, long-range and strategic aircraft are participating in a counter-terrorist operation, inflicting crushing blows on militant targets and positions in Syria. The Ministry of Defense presented footage of a massive strike by long-range aircraft (Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3) on ISIS infrastructure:
Today, long-range aviation is not only one of the most serious means of combating terrorist groups sponsored by third countries, it is one of the most important components of a nuclear deterrent. This is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the RF Armed Forces for solving strategic tasks.
Armed with long-range aviation are strategic missile carriers Tu-160, Tu-95MS, long-range bombers Tu-22M3, refueling aircraft Il-78 (M), special aircraft An-30B, transport aircraft An-12, An-26, helicopters Mi- 8 and Mi-26.
Long-range aircraft perform flights to patrol the air borders of Russia, appear in neutral waters over Northern Europe, off the eastern and western coasts of North America. In 2014, long-range aviation aircraft landed at airfields in Nicaragua and Venezuela. The range of work is really huge.
Voennoye Obozreniye congratulates pilots and veterans of long-range aviation on their professional holiday! Let the number of take-offs always equal the number of landings!