b) 9th " " " " " (Kursk)

c) 21st (Orel)

d) 22nd (Orel)

2

3

4

5. Ibid. - L.5, 71, 73.

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13 . Ibid.-P.261, 275.

14

15

Notes:

Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet of Ukraine

Dear readers! Issues "AH" 2"92, G93 introduced you to aviation U HP and Hetman P. Skoropadsky. Concluding the cycle, we post material about the Ukrainian Soviet Air Fleet 1917 - 1919, in the history of which there are still many "white spots". We express our gratitude Director of the Museum of Air Transport KNIGA P. I. Vlasov for assistance in the work.

Even before the October events of 1917, the Bolsheviks managed to find solid support among the personnel of many air units of the Russian army stationed in Ukraine. The proletarian origin of the majority of soldier-aviators made itself felt. And when news of the October 25 coup reached Ukraine, the confrontation between the revolutionary troops and units loyal to the Provisional Government reached its climax. On the side of the Bolsheviks were soldiers, and sometimes also some officers of the 3rd and 5th air fleets in Kyiv, the 1st air fleet in Odessa, a squadron of airships in Vinnitsa, the Sevastopol hydroaviation base and some other aviation formations. Among them were the most famous personalities: M. Efimov, K. Artseulov, A. Berbeko. These facts are known. It is also not news that the signal for an armed uprising on October 29 in Kyiv was the flight of an airplane with a red flag over the city. The historic flight was carried out on the Voisin, piloted by military pilot A. Egorov with mechanic N. Kipchuk on board.

During 1917-1920 The Bolsheviks repeatedly tried to establish their power in Ukraine. The first such campaign ended in April 1918, when their forces were driven out by the German-Austrian army, which appeared in our area after the conclusion of the Brest-Litovsk agreements. There is no need to talk about any regular military formations of the People's Secretariat, as the Soviet government of Ukraine was then called, during this period. But nevertheless, there are facts of their use of aviation. For example, the already mentioned A. Berbeko in January 1918 managed to organize the “First Socialist Air Squad” in Odessa and, on his only plane, take part in battles with the troops of the Central Rada, and later conduct several air battles with Austrian pilots.

Having reorganized their units under the Moscow protectorate in the so-called “neutral zone,” the Ukrainian Bolsheviks launched a new offensive in November 1918. Their forces consisted mainly of participants in a broad insurrectionary movement, who were driven out of the territory of Ukraine in the summer by the joint efforts of the occupation and hetman forces. This “army” already had some semblance of a military organization and was well equipped.

There is an opinion that the Bolshevik leaders underestimated or completely ignored aviation. This is far from true. The air fleet paid tribute to L.D. Trotsky, and in one of the documents of the People’s Commissariat of Military Affairs of Ukraine it was directly stated that aviation is one of the main auxiliary means, without which it is impossible to “create a great and truly powerful... Red Army.” This view was quite modern and was determined primarily by the technical capabilities of the aircraft of those years. Therefore, there is nothing unexpected in the fact that the People's Commissar of Military Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR V.I. Mezhlauk, by his order No. 8 of 02/03/1919, decided: “... to form the Directorate of the Red Air Fleet...”.

This document was signed on the eve of the entry of Soviet troops into Kyiv, and when the red banners were already flying on the streets of the ancient capital, the “chief” of the newly created department was appointed - former aircraft mechanic N. Vasiliev. His Directorate was entrusted with: “the organization and management of all aviation and aeronautical affairs in Ukraine.” This primarily meant “searching, registering and recording aviation and aeronautical property scattered throughout Ukraine.” Important tasks were also the formation of new air units, personnel training, ensuring the functioning of repair units, establishing the work of aviation enterprises, and organizing industry-specific research laboratories and stations. All structures associated with the Air Fleet were subordinate to the department, with the exception of combat units, which were placed at the direct disposal of the commanders of army formations. In total, Vasiliev’s farm turned out to be about one and a half dozen different objects, among which were workshops at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, aircraft parks, the Deka aircraft engine plant in Aleksandrovsk, and the Kiev Aviation School. The latter was a subject of special concern.

The fact is that the situation with the flight personnel in the Red Army

was critical. Vasilyev, in a memorandum sent in March 1919 to the People’s Commissariat of Military Affairs of Ukraine, noted: “The number of pilots capable of combat air activities who are now on the territory of the Russian and Ukrainian Republics (300-400) is far from insufficient... the retirement of pilots reaches 60%" and there is a real threat that "by the fall of this year the army risks being left without eyes."

Kyiv was perfect for organizing an aviation school. All the necessary infrastructure existed here, and most importantly, the city had large reserves of alcohol, which, in combination with ether, could replace the acutely scarce fuel for airplanes.

The opening of the school was prepared very carefully. It was supposed to be given 22 aircraft: 6 reconnaissance aircraft, 4 fighters, 8 training aircraft and 4 spares - six more aircraft than the entire Ukrainian Front had by June 1919! Its staffing list included 8 instructors and 2 heads of departments, who were supposed to simultaneously prepare 50 accounts. They even foresaw that in such a specific educational institution the “possibility of a large number of accidents” could not be excluded, and a special health insurance fund was founded to provide assistance to unlucky cadets.

The school officially opened on May 14. However, in July, the commission of the Higher Military Inspectorate noted that an aviation school was just about to open in Kyiv. If we take into account that at this time the offensive of Denikin’s Dobrarmiya was already in full swing and the situation in Kyiv was becoming threatening, then it seems extremely unlikely that it would be possible to graduate at least one set of pilots.

An extremely important task for the Directorate of the RKVF of Ukraine was the creation and maintenance of the functioning of an international communications squadron (sometimes you can see the name “special purpose squad”). There is a legend that the initiative to create this unit belonged to Lenin himself, for whom it was very important to establish connections with the newly formed Hungarian Soviet Republic (proclaimed on March 21, 1919) as soon as possible. It is unlikely that this will ever be documented, but the fact that the People’s Commissar of Military Affairs of Ukraine N.I. was responsible for the creation of the detachment. Podvoisky speaks for itself.

The task was very urgent. Having quickly received three aircraft (at least one of them was an Elfauge), the Directorate began recruiting personnel. The first pilots of the detachment were military pilots I. Baryshnikov, V. Korolkov and R. Piir. Other specialists were also selected in a short time. Proskurov was chosen for the main base of the detachment, and while this city was in the hands of Petliura’s troops, it was planned to be stationed in Vinnitsa.

The first overseas flight was carried out on April 12, 1919. On this day, the pilot of the Kyiv Aviation School V. Khodorovich with an important passenger, the Hungarian communist F. Gyorgy on board, took off from the Vinnitsa airfield at seven o’clock in the morning and headed for Budapest. A few hours later, he safely landed his Elfauge near the village of Palfalva, not far from his final destination. There were several holes in the planes as a result of fire from the ground to which the airplane was subjected while flying over territory occupied by UPR forces; not a drop of fuel remained in the tanks, but overall the flight could be considered quite successful. In Soviet literature there is rather scant information about the activities of this detachment. They make it possible to conclude that, starting from the 20th of April, a fairly reliable air bridge was established with “red Budapest”. This allowed the Hungarian pilot I. Dobos to deliver his People’s Commissar T. Samueli to Soviet territory at the end of May, who held negotiations with the governments of the RSFSR and the Ukrainian SSR,

Scout of the RKK VF of Ukraine "Farman-ХХХ" with a gondola from "Farman-ХХИ". Photo from the archive of M.B. Lyakhovetsky

Airplane "Voisin" at the Post-Volynsky airfield in Kyiv after the end of the civil war. Photo by TsGAKFD of Ukraine

Airplane "Anasal" in Kyiv. Fs

Scout LVG.C-V "Elfauge" in Kyiv. Photo from the archive of S.A. Popsuevich

However, archival data raises doubts about such great successes of the Proskurov detachment. Just two weeks after Dobosh’s flight, affairs in this formation caused such great concern that an inspection headed by the Commissioner of the RKKVFU Directorate N. Kolosov was sent there. She found that despite the presence in the detachment of the best aircraft, on which it is possible to “overcome significant distances, such flights are practically not carried out.” Not a single task was successfully completed by the detachment itself, and during the training flight Proskurov - Kozyatin, the pilot simply got lost and during a forced landing he broke his best airplane. Most of the planes are generally in disassembled condition. This makes it clear why the first flight was carried out by a non-staff pilot, and the Hungarians took it upon themselves to transport their emissary! What were the reasons for this situation? Obviously, once again everything was decided by the personnel. Kolosov, in “his report, indicated that “personnel, recruited without any filtering, most of them serving Hetman and Petlyura,” never found a common language with their commander and commissar. Kolosov’s conclusions were similar to a sentence: “The detachment cannot fulfill the work entrusted to him."

As already noted, field air units were not subordinate to Vasiliev’s Directorate. Today it is quite difficult to establish exactly how many such units there were, their deployment, what kind of personnel they had, what aircraft they were in service with. The documents cited in printed sources and the known historical literature on this period do not provide precise answers. Archival materials located in Ukraine are far from complete, and those stored in Russian archives, alas, are almost inaccessible to a Ukrainian researcher.

Summarizing the entire array of available data, we can present the following version. The first regular air detachments were formed on the territory of the “neutral zone” and, far from being in full strength, began to be transferred to Ukraine in February 1919. In order No. 14 of 02/04/1919 of the commander of the Ukrainian Front V.A. Antonov-Ovseenko we read: “I announce for information and leadership that the aviation and aeronautics of the front include the following aviation and aeronautics units of the front:

a) 24th reconnaissance aviation detachment (Konotop)

b) 9th " " " " " (Kursk)

c) 21st (Orel)

d) 22nd (Orel)

e) train-workshop No. 5 (Kursk) Four months later in information about the composition of combat units

On June 1, 1919, the Ukrfront had only two air squadrons listed - the same 21st and 24th. They included as many as 9 aircraft and 7 more vehicles for the troops of the “Crimean direction”.

The appearance of air units on the Southern Front in Donbass is noted later. At the end of June, the 8th Fighter Detachment was transferred here, which had 6 aircraft and was understaffed by a third (only 4 pilots and 72 ground crew). Later, the 22nd Fighter Squadron appeared here. This unit, having the same ratio of aircraft and pilots, had almost a full ground crew - 92 people.

In addition to these detachments, various sources mention very mysterious units, which, having appeared once or twice on the pages of certain studies, disappeared into historical obscurity: the 1st Air Detachment named after. Council of Workers, Red Army and Peasant Deputies of Odessa, 1st Odessa Fighter Detachment led by the already mentioned A. Berbeko, 50th Reconnaissance and 1st Artillery Air Squadrons.

It is worth dwelling on the very specific relationship with Moscow. Due to the limited volume, a journal article does not provide an opportunity to delve into all historical events, and our attention will only be drawn to events related to the main subject of the study.

By April, the Ukrfront troops achieved significant victories over the UPR army and Entente forces. However, at this time, General A.I. launched an offensive in the south. Denikin. He struck through the Donbass, which was defended by the rather weak Southern Front and the 1st Trans-Dnieper Division P.E. Dybenko (including the “separate brigade” of Father N.I. Makhno). Lenin's government constantly demanded that part of the liberated forces of the Ukrainian Front be transferred to a threatening area in the Donbass. However, obsessed with the idea of ​​​​bringing the proletarian revolution to Europe as quickly as possible, the Bolshevik leaders of the Ukrainian SSR were in no hurry to carry out the order of Moscow.

At this time, a delegation from the Field Aviation Directorate of the RSFSR, led by its chief Sergeev, arrived at Vasiliev’s Directorate. In mid-May, he reported to Trotsky: “What is happening now in Ukraine must be put an end to now, otherwise an organization of the Air Force will develop there, not coordinated with the Central Plan... Formal considerations cannot allow such absolute independence as is being pursued in Ukraine". The representative of Moscow drew special attention to the fact that “... by order of Comrade Podvoisky, it is forbidden to even give information about the aviation and aeronautical property available in Ukraine.”

After Lenin’s reprimand to Podvoisky and Antonov-Ovseenko, the required transfer of forces began. And in early June, after the famous decision of the Central Executive Committee of the RSFSR on the military-political union of Soviet republics, the Ukrainian Front was completely abolished. Vasiliev’s directorate was preserved, but by order of the People’s Commissar of the RSFSR it was “subordinated both in combat and economic terms to the Central Bodies of the Air Fleet Administration...”

It continued to properly perform its functions, paying special attention to providing aviation detachments with materiel - Denikin’s offensive required more and more forces. Desperate attempts were made to restore the work of Ukrainian airlines. And their potential was very significant. According to calculations by the RKKVFU Office, up to 14 aircraft and up to 20 engines for them could be repaired every month in the aircraft repair shops in Kiev and Kharkov alone; there were also good prospects for breathing life into the Anatra, Matias, and Deka plants. But the civil war has its own logic. It was not possible to solve the problem of replenishing the aircraft fleet with fully combat-ready aircraft, and the “red military pilots” had to carry out missions on “flying coffins.”

Despite this, as well as the chronic shortage of flight personnel, aviation was used very intensively by the Bolsheviks. Thus, in February, Berbeko’s detachment took part in battles with Romanian and French aircraft in the Tiraspol direction. The enemy had a significant advantage in strength, but we must give credit to the red pilots - they fought courageously. Berbeco himself once met in the air with six Romanian airplanes that were going to bomb Soviet troops, and forced them to turn back. At the same time, he managed to damage one airplane and force its pilot to land at the Reds' location. Soon this aircraft was repaired and put into combat operation. In July, aviators of the 21st and 24th detachments distinguished themselves in the Kiev direction. The commander of the 21st military pilot Kravtsov with his flight engineer (Pashkov) bombed the railway tracks and “two enemy cars with shells” at the Derezhnya station.

The actions of another pilot of the same unit, Tsivinsky, were so extraordinary that it is surprising that in Soviet times he did not end up in the pantheon of “heroes of the revolution.” During one of the reconnaissance flights over enemy territory (near Bar station), the engine of his airplane stalled. There was nothing else left to do but go to the forced one. “Having removed the instruments from the apparatus, the pilot, having passed the enemy’s front line, reported to his detachment and, taking motorists Comrades Maslyuzhenko, Lavrents, Petrov, Kruglyakova and Pavlov, went to rescue the plane. Having arrived at the position with the motorists, he was appointed military leader of the combat section and in the advanced chains with motorists, by his example he captivated the Red Army units, which resulted in the capture of Bar station.” Tsivinsky’s exploits did not end there. From July 13 to 16, he made three combat sorties along the routes: Kiev-Vasilkov-Obukhov-Trypillya-Kiev and Kiev-Trypillya-Obukhov-Rzhishchev-Vasilkov-Kiev, in which he dropped 11 pounds of bombs and 5 pounds of proclamations.

The named aviators were noted in the award order for the 12th Army. The commander of the 24th reconnaissance air detachment, military pilot Isakov, also ended up there, but not so much for his military merits as for his “conscious attitude.” A story similar to Tsivinsky’s misadventures happened to him in the air. He also managed to land safely far behind the front line, but then he was less fortunate - the plane was discovered and already fired upon on the ground. Then Isakov set fire to the car and disappeared into the nearby forest. Three days later he came to his unit, which probably surprised the command the most, because... desertion of former officers was quite common.

In August 1919, it became obvious that the Bolsheviks would again have to leave Ukraine. By that time, the total strength of the Red aviation group had reached 30-35 aircraft. Among them there were hopelessly outdated "Neuport-4" and fairly new German "Elfauge", French "Spada", domestic "Anade" and "Anasal", not to mention such common aircraft as "Farman-XX, -XXX" , "Voisin", "Neuport-17, -21, -23". Such a wide variety of types was explained by the lack of a unified supply base, and by the fact that the Bolsheviks, like no one else, used captured airplanes. In documents you can often find reports like: “An airplane landed near the Kurgan station. Two pilots with a machine gun and a working airplane were captured.” Naturally, after such an incident, the aircraft was put into service with the nearest air squadron. On August 30, the Bolsheviks left Kyiv. The administration of the RKKVF of Ukraine was evacuated to Moscow. There were only seven people left in it: Vasiliev, Kolosov, Vechfinsky, Lavrov, Metlin, Todosyev, Ulitin. They were instructed to “begin the disbandment of aviation units from Ukraine and distribute their property” among the units of the RSFSR air fleet.

Vasiliev’s Office was finally disbanded in December 1919 and did not resume its activities. In the further course of the civil war, the aviation forces of the Red Army in Ukraine were divided according to a combined arms scheme and were subordinate to a single command.

1 . TsGAVOV.- F.1122.-O.1.- D.9.- L.1.

2 . Civil war in Ukraine.- K.1967.- T.1.- P.601.

3 . TsGAVOV.-F.1122.-O.1.-D.9.-L.8.

4 . TsGAVOV.- F. 1122.-O.1.-D.9.- L.8. 5. Ibid. - L.5, 71, 73.

5. Ibid. - L.5, 71, 73.

6 . RGVA.- F.29.- 0.4.- D.232.- L.8.

7 . Civil war in Ukraine, - T. I. - P.604.

8 . TsGAVOV.- F.2.-O.1.- D.104.- L.63-68.

9 . Ibid – F.2.-O.1.- D.136.- L.3-9.

10 . RGVA.- F.29.- O.4.- D.232.- L.2.

11 . TsGAVOV.- F.1122.-O.1,-D.9.-L.52-61.

12 . Civil war in Ukraine.- T.2.- P.275.

13 . Ibid.-P.261, 275.

14 . TsGAVOV.- F.2.-O.1.- D.171.- L.33-34.

15 . RGVA.- F.29.- O.4.- D.232.-L.15.

Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet.

The Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF) is an auxiliary branch of the Red Army, formed during the Civil War. Main tasks: combating enemy aircraft, reconnaissance, air support for ground forces.
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF) was divided into aviation and aeronautics.

In December 1917, a special Directorate of the Air Fleet was created, transformed on May 24, 1918 into the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Force (Glavvozduhflot). At the same time, Moscow, Petrograd, Southern and other district air fleet departments were created. To manage the air force directly on the fronts of the Civil War, in September 1918, the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics of the Active Army (Aviadarm), as well as similar directorates at the headquarters of the fronts and armies, were created.

After the adoption of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars (SNK) on the organization of the Red Army on January 15 (28), 1918, the creation of volunteer air squads began, which, together with the Red Guards, revolutionary soldiers and sailors, participated in the struggle for the establishment of Soviet power in the country and the suppression of the first counter-revolutionary actions. With the transition in the summer of 1918 to the construction of a regular Red Army in the RKVF, the streamlining of the formation and combat use of units, the elimination of differences in their structure, and the development of unified states began. The first aviation research institutions were created: the Flying Laboratory (March 1918), the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute - TsAGI (December 1918), and a scientific experimental airfield (September 1920).

An aviation detachment of 6 aircraft and a single-station aeronautical detachment were adopted as the main organizational units in the RKKVF. 3-4 air squadrons were united into aviation divisions. In order to mass aviation in decisive areas of combat operations, temporary formations were created - aviation groups. The first 9 air squadrons of the new organization were sent to the Eastern Front in August 1918. By the end of the year, their number increased to 50. In 1918-1919. Fighter aviation for the air defense of Moscow, Petrograd, Tula, Kronstadt, and Saratov was organized.
In total, during the Civil War, the RKKVF had about 2.3 thousand aircraft, of which about 300 remained in service by the end of the war.

Personnel of the Airship Division. Sarapul. 1920

Planes and pilots of one of the RKKVF fighter squadrons.

By decision of the RVSR of March 25, 1920, the Supply Department of the RKKVF was formed. The Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics was transformed into the Air Fleet Headquarters, naval aviation (14 hydro detachments, 4 hydro divisions, about 80 aircraft) was merged with land aviation. In August 1921, the Supply Directorate and the Air Fleet Headquarters merged with the Main Air Force, which from that time became the single aviation management body of the Soviet Republic.

After the Civil War, the main tactical unit of Soviet aviation was the air squad. According to the peacetime standards introduced on September 12, 1922, the aviation detachment had 8 active and 2-4 spare aircraft. Three detachments were combined into a squadron, which was a military unit, and two squadrons into a squadron. There were also separate detachments and squadrons. All air units on the territory of the military district were subordinate to the assistant commander of the district for aviation. There were also centrally subordinate units that performed special functions.

All aviation was divided into army and corps. The first included fighter and assault squadrons and detachments, the second included reconnaissance squadrons. Bomber aviation was separated into an independent branch of the air force in 1924, when a new reorganization provided for the formation of light bomber and heavy bomber squadrons. According to the “schedule” of September 16, the primary unit of the Red Army Air Force was a flight of three aircraft. The fighter aviation detachment consisted of three units, and the reconnaissance and light bomber units consisted of two. The heavy bomber squad had three aircraft. In May 1925, aviation detachments of 6, 8 and 12 vehicles were introduced into the staff of rifle corps and cavalry divisions, intended for short-range reconnaissance and artillery maintenance.

The detachments were united into squadrons. The fighter squadron consisted of three detachments of three flights - 46 aircraft, of which 12 were spare.
The light bomber and reconnaissance squadrons each included three detachments and numbered 31 aircraft, including 12 spares.
The heavy bomber squadron had two detachments - a total of 6 aircraft; due to the lack of material, by the end of 1925 it was possible to organize one Heavy squadron, which actually consisted of one detachment and a “training cell”, equipped with various “imported” machines. Over 70% of the reconnaissance and bomber fleet at that time consisted of Fokker C-IV reconnaissance aircraft; "De Havilland HD.9" and its Soviet duplicate - R-1.
The fighters served about 300 aircraft, including 112 Fokker D.XI (FD-XI) fighters, about 30 Ansaldo A.1 "Ballila" aircraft, about 100 Martinsyde F.4 "Buzzard" fighters and 17 I- 2 (the main series of the fighter under the designation I-2bis was produced in the period 1926-1929).

R-1 reconnaissance aircraft.

I-2bis fighter.

On September 15, 1926, by resolution of the Revolutionary Military Council, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF) was renamed the Air Force of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA Air Force).

List of sources:
Soviet Encyclopedia, 1983. Civil war and military intervention in the USSR.
P.F.Berezin. Red aviation in the fight against the White Poles.

Table of contents:
1. Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet
2. Management of the RKKVF
3. Research institutions
4. Aircraft fleet and aviation industry of the republic
5. Awards

an auxiliary branch of the Red Army, formed during the Civil War. Main tasks: combating enemy aircraft, reconnaissance, air support for ground forces. Historically, the RKKVF was divided into aviation and aeronautics.

History of creation

As a result of the end of the First World War and the demobilization of the air fleet of the tsarist army, 33 air detachments were retained in the Soviet Republic, concentrated in the areas of Petrograd and Moscow.

The first Red Guard air squad was created at the Commandant airfield in Petrograd on October 28, 1917, to fight the troops of Kerensky and Krasnov. Subsequently, according to the instructions of the Petrograd and Moscow Military Revolutionary Committees, the formation of other air squads begins: “Socialist”, “Revolutionary”, “Red”.

Aviation in the Soviet Armed Forces began to form in 1918, organizationally it consisted of separate aviation detachments that were part of the district air fleet directorates, which in September 1918 were reorganized into front-line and army field directorates of aviation and aeronautics at the headquarters of fronts and combined arms armies. In June 1920, field directorates were reorganized into air fleet headquarters with direct subordination to front and army commanders. After the Civil War of 1917-1923, the air forces of the fronts became part of the military districts. In 1924, the aviation detachments of the air forces of the military districts were consolidated into homogeneous aviation squadrons, transformed into aviation brigades at the end of the 20s. In 1938-1939, the aviation of the military districts was transferred from a brigade to a regimental and divisional organization. The main tactical unit was the aviation regiment. Aviation of the Red Army, based on the main property of aviation - the ability to inflict fast and powerful air strikes on the enemy over long distances, inaccessible to other branches of the military. Aviation combat assets were aircraft armed with high-explosive, fragmentation and incendiary bombs, cannons and machine guns. Aviation at that time had high flight speed, the ability to easily overcome the enemy’s battle front and penetrate deep into his rear. Combat aviation was used to destroy enemy personnel and technical equipment; to destroy his aircraft and destroy important objects: railway junctions, military industry enterprises, communications centers, roads, etc. reconnaissance aircraft were intended to conduct aerial reconnaissance behind enemy lines. Auxiliary aviation was used to correct artillery fire, for communications and surveillance of the battlefield, for transporting sick and wounded people in need of urgent medical care to the rear, and for urgent transportation of military cargo. In addition, aviation was used to transport troops, weapons and other means of combat over long distances. The main unit of aviation was the aviation regiment. The regiment consisted of aviation squadrons. The air squadron consisted of flights.

February 25, 1941 resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR “On the reorganization of the aviation forces of the Red Army.”

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the aviation of military districts consisted of separate bomber, fighter, mixed aviation divisions and separate reconnaissance aviation regiments. In the fall of 1942, aviation regiments of all types of aviation had 32 aircraft; in the summer of 1943, the number of aircraft in the attack and fighter aviation regiments was increased to 40 aircraft.

Commanders Notable commanders

Cm. Chiefs

Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF)- an auxiliary branch of the Red Army, formed during the Civil War. Main tasks: combating enemy aircraft, reconnaissance, air support for ground forces. Historically, the RKKVF was divided into aviation and aeronautics.

History of creation

Personnel and training

During the Civil War

At the initial stage, the basis of the personnel of the RKKVF was made up of revolutionary-minded pilot officers, pilot soldiers, and engine mechanics who joined it. At the same time, pilot training began at the Moscow, Yegoryevsk (on the basis of the evacuated Gatchina) and Zaraisk schools, as well as at the Petrograd Aeronautics School. In 1919, a school of aviation mechanics was relocated to Moscow from Kyiv, a school of observation pilots was opened here (both were transferred to Petrograd in 1921), and a higher aerial photogrammetric school began operating (in 1920 it was transformed into a school of aviation special services). On Sept. 1919, on the initiative of N. E. Zhukovsky, the Moscow Aviation College was created - the country's first educational institution for the training of engineering and technical specialists. personnel for aviation (in 1920 it was transformed into the Institute of Engineers of the Red Air Fleet named after N. E. Zhukovsky). In total, during the war years, 292 specialists were trained for the RKKVF, including 155 pilots, 75 observer pilots, 62 aeronauts. Motor mechanics were trained at courses at front-line aircraft fleets. In 1919, by order of the RVSR, reserves of aviation specialists (27 permanent and 350 variable personnel) were created in the Moscow Military District, on the North Caucasus and Southern fronts to replenish the active units of the RKVF.

The creation of the RKKVF, which had a strong core of personnel, a unified recruitment and supply system, a stable and uniform organization, and centralized management, was completed in the spring of 1919. In August. this year, only in the active army there were 146 aviation units and institutions, including 4 field aviation and aeronautics departments of the fronts and 16 army departments, 67 air squadrons, a division of heavy airships, 3 special-purpose aviation units, and a special-purpose group. They were armed with about 350 aircraft. 28 aeronautical detachments and 5 aeronautical divisions were formed. The total number of personnel of the RKKV was 22,974 people, including 9,006 in land aviation, 5,190 in aeronautical units, and 8,778 in repair and supply departments. There were 2904 people in naval aviation. Subsequently, the combat strength of aviation was maintained at approximately the same level. Most units were assigned to combined arms armies. At the disposal of Gl. command was the airship division "Ilya Muromets" and 3-6 air squadrons.

Separate detachment of the RKKVF- the initial main unit of the RKKVF formation, which was a military unit with an independent economy. At the head of a separate detachment of the RKKVF was a Council consisting of a military leader and two military commissars. He had a small headquarters and an inspectorate.

• Floating air base "Amur" (68th separate river aviation detachment) RKKVF;

Aircraft fleet and aviation industry of the republic

During the Civil War

A particular difficulty in the construction of the RKKVF was equipping it with aircraft and various technical equipment. Initially, aircraft from the old army (over 1,300 aircraft of various brands) were used to create aviation detachments. Measures were taken to produce new aircraft. By October 1917, the Russian Empire had 18 aviation (11 aircraft, 5 engine, 2 propeller) and several mixed factories, but many of them ended up in the hands of the White Army and the interventionists. Therefore, the production of aircraft and engines was established only in Moscow (Dux, formerly F.E. Mosca, Icarus, aerotechnical) and Petrograd (Russian-Baltic, formerly V.A. Lebedeva and S.S. Shchetinkina) factories To manage these factories on Dec. 1918 The Main Directorate of United Aviation Plants (Glavkoavia) was formed as part of the Supreme Economic Council.

In 1918-20, the country's aviation industry produced over 650 aircraft; captured aircraft were also used (over 250 aircraft). In total, during the war years the RKKVF had about 2,300 aircraft, of which about 300 remained in service by the end of the war. The 2nd (June 1918), 3rd (March 1919) and 4th (June - July) played an important role in the construction of the RKKVF 1921) All-Russian congresses of aviation and aeronautics workers, at which issues of development of the aviation industry, science and technology, training of flight and technical personnel, improvement of the organizational structure of the RKKVF and methods of its combat use were discussed.

Awards

For high combat qualities, 219 pilots and pilot observers were awarded the Order of the Red Banner, 16 of them were awarded this award twice, and P. Kh. Mezheraup, Ya. N. Moiseev and E. M. Ukhin - three times. The 1st Fighter Aviation Division, 35th Reconnaissance Division, 51st Heavy Bomber Aviation Division and 9th Aeronautical Division were awarded Honorary Revolutionary Red Banners. On the combat operations of the RKKVF and its tasks in battles and operations, see Art. Military aviation, Aeronautics.

Literature

• Civil war and military intervention in the USSR. Encyclopedia. M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1983.
• Berezin P.F. Red aviation in the fight against the White Poles. - M.: Military Publishing House NKO USSR, 1940. - 88 p.

Links

• Photo album of pilot-observer F.S. Hot photographs of the early history of the Red Army Air Force: photographs of various types of aircraft, pilots and technicians, airfields, aerial photographs.

see also

Red Army and Red Navy Civil War
Red Guard | February 23 | History of the Red Army
Sites of the Veil Northern | Northeast | Western | Southern
Main fronts Eastern | Western | Caucasian | Caspian-Caucasian | Northern | Turkestan | Ukrainian | Southern | Southeast | Southwestern
Combined arms infantry and cavalry, labor armies Combined arms infantry: 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 10th Terek-Dagestan | Belarusian-Lithuanian | East Siberian | Donetsk | Western | Crimean Soviet Army | Red Army of the North Caucasus | Latvian | Tamanskaya | Turkestan | Ukrainian | Estonian | 1st Ukrainian | 2nd Ukrainian | 3rd Ukrainian Mounted armies: 1st | 2nd Labor armies: 1st Revolutionary | Ukrainian | Caucasian | Petrogradskaya | 2nd Special Railway | 2nd Revolutionary | Donetsk | Siberian Reserve armies
Armies of allied states and national formations Red Army of Azerbaijan | Red Army of Armenia | Red Army of Bukhara | Red Army of Georgia | Red Army of Khorezm | Red Ukrainian Galician Army | Ukrainian Soviet Army | People's Revolutionary Army of the Far Eastern Republic National formations:

On January 15 (28), 1918, V.I. Lenin signed a decree on the organization of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and therefore its component - the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Force (RKKVF).

On May 24, 1918, the Directorate of the Air Force was transformed into the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Force (Glavvozduhoflot), headed by a Council consisting of a chief and two commissars. Military specialist M.A. Solovov became the head of the Glavvozdukhoflot, soon replaced by A.S. Vorotnikov, and commissioners K.V. Akashev and A.V. Sergeev.

SOLOVOV Mikhail Alexandrovich

Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (05-07.1918)

Russian, Soviet military leader, mechanical engineer (1913), colonel (1917). In military service since 1899. Graduated from courses at the Naval Engineering School of Emperor Nicholas I (1910).

Served as part of the Naval Department in the positions of: junior mechanical engineer (1902-1905), etc. senior ship mechanic of the mine cruiser "Abrek" (1905-1906), ship mechanic of the yacht "Neva" (1906-1907).

Since June 1917 on the staff of the Directorate of the Military Air Fleet: acting. Head of the 8th (factory management) department, from October 11 - acting. Assistant Head of the Department for Technical and Economic Affairs. Since March 1918 in the Red Army. Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (05.24-07.17.1918). From July 1918 - head of the procurement department of the same department, later - as part of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh) of the Russian Republic.

Awards: Order of St. Anne, 3rd class. (1909), St. Stanislaus 2nd Art. (1912), St. Anna (1914), St. Vladimir 4th Art. (1915); medal “In memory of the 300th anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov” (1913), « In memory of the 200th anniversary of the Gangut victory" (1915); foreign orders and medals.

VOROTNIKOV Alexander Stepanovich

Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (07.1918-06.1919).

Russian (Soviet) military leader, military pilot, colonel (1917). In military service since September 1899. Graduated from the Chuguev Infantry Junker School (1902, 1st category), Aviation Officer School of the Air Fleet Department (1912). Served in the 121st Penza Infantry Regiment. Participant in the Russian-Japanese War (1904-1905): head of the “hunting team” (08-09.1904), cavalry “hunting team” (from 09.1904).

Since January 1912, as part of the Military Air Fleet: head of the team of lower ranks of the Aviation Officer School of the Air Fleet Department (02.1912-01.1913), officer of the 7th Aeronautical Company (01-04.1913), etc. head of the 1st detachment of the company (04-06.1913), head of the 9th corps aviation detachment (from 08.1913). Participated in organizing long-distance air flights in Russia.

During the First World War: commander of a corps aviation detachment (until 02.1915), 2nd aviation company (02.1915-10.1916), 2nd aviation division (10.1916-01.1918), assistant to the aviation inspector of the armies of the Western Front for technical matters (02-03.1918) , commander of the 3rd aviation division (03-05.1918). Called up for service in the Red Army. From May 30, 1918, he was the head of aviation of the Veil detachments of the western zone, and from July 5 - the head of the district department of the RKKVVF of the Moscow Military District. Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (07/17/1918-06/1919). Military pilot at the Main Directorate of the Chief of Supply of the RKKVVF (06-12.1919), technical inspector of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (12.1919-04.1920), assistant to the head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF for organizational and construction (05-09.1920), aviation assistant, chief technical inspector of the Main Directorate RKKVVF (09.1920-04.1921). Since April 1921, he was the head of the 1st Military School of Pilots of the Red Army and Air Force, and since December 1923, he was a permanent member of the tactical section of the Scientific Committee under the Directorate of the Red Army Air Force. Full-time teacher at the Higher School of Military Camouflage of the Red Army (1924). In December 1924 he was transferred to the Red Army reserve. In 1925-1926 worked in the Aviation Trust under the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet.

Awards: Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd class. with swords and bow (1905), St. Anne 4th Art. (1905), St. Vladimir 4th Art. with swords and bow (1905), St. Anne 3rd art. with swords and bow (1906), 2nd art. with swords (1906), St. Stanislaus 2nd Art. with swords (1906), St. George's weapon (1915); gold watch RVSR (1919).

Head of the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics at the Field Headquarters of the RVSR (09/22/1918 - 03/25/1920).

Soviet military leader, pilot. In military service since 1915. He graduated from courses for aviation mechanics and theoretical courses for pilots at the Petrograd Polytechnic Institute (1915), Sevastopol Aviation School (1916), and the Air Force Academy of the Red Army (1926).

During the First World War: private in the 171st reserve infantry battalion, then in the 1st aviation company (1915-1916), pilot in the 1st corps, then in the 7th Siberian air squadron (1916-1917), senior non-commissioned officer. He took part in the revolutionary movement in Russia. From August 1917, elected commander of the air squadron, from September 1917, member and then chairman of the Executive Bureau of the All-Russian Aviation Council, from January 1918, member of the All-Russian Collegium for the Management of the Air Fleet of the Republic, special commissioner of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR for the evacuation of aircraft equipment and property from the Northern areas.

During the Civil War in Russia: member of the Council and Commissioner of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (05-08.1918), Chief Commissioner of the RKKVVF at the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the Eastern Front and Chief of Aviation of the 5th Army (08-09.1918), Head of the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics under Polevoy headquarters of the RVSR (09.1918-03.1920), chief of staff of the Air Fleet (03.1920-02.1921), head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (09.1921-10.1922). He showed extraordinary organizational skills in the formation and construction of the Red Air Fleet, and personally participated in combat operations on the fronts of the Civil War.

Since 1926, in the reserve of the Red Army with secondment to the People's Commissariat for Foreign and Internal Trade. In 1926-1928. worked as a military attaché in France, and from 1928 in the USA, where he headed the aviation department of Soviet trade missions (Amtorg).

Since March 1933, head of transport aviation of the USSR and deputy head of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. Tragically died in a plane crash (1933). Author of numerous articles and a number of scientific works on the history of aviation.

Reward: Order of the Red Banner (1928).

The structure of the Red Air Fleet did not take shape right away. Ultimately, an aviation detachment consisting of 6 aircraft and 66 personnel was adopted as the main tactical and administrative unit. The first regular aviation detachments were created in August 1918 and sent to the Eastern Front.

The Soviet Republic, which found itself in a fiery ring of fronts in mid-1918, was turning into a military camp. All the armed forces at its disposal, including the Air Fleet, were sent to the fronts. The current situation required the creation of a body that would unite aviation units across the republic, organize and lead their combat operations. For this purpose, on September 22, 1918, the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics of the Army (Aviadarm) was established at the headquarters of the RVSR. It combined operational, administrative, technical and inspection functions in relation to all front-line units and institutions of the Air Fleet, was in charge of their formation, staffing and combat use, the development of tactics and operational art of the Air Fleet, the generalization and dissemination of combat experience, political and military education aviators. A large place in his work belonged to the issues of providing air squads with aircraft, fuel, and food.

The head of the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics throughout the entire period of its existence was military pilot A.V. Sergeev. Leading positions in the department were occupied by A. N. Lapchinsky, A. A. Zhuravlev, S. E. Stolyarsky, V. S. Gorshkov. The airdarm played an important role in the mobilization and effective use of air forces in the fight against internal and external counter-revolution. On March 25, 1920, based on the conclusions of a commission chaired by RVSR member K. X. Danishevsky, which studied the state and structure of the central bodies of the RKKVF, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic transformed the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics into the Air Fleet Headquarters.

AKASHEV Konstantin Vasilievich

Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (03.1920-02.1921).

Soviet military leader, designer, military pilot. He graduated from the Dvina Real School, the flight school at the Italian Aero Club (1911), the Higher School of Aeronautics and Mechanics (1914) and the military aviation school in France (1915). Professional revolutionary. Since the summer of 1909 in exile.

During the First World War, an ordinary volunteer pilot of the French aviation (1914-1915). Upon returning to Russia: designer and test pilot at an aircraft factory (Petrograd), commissar of the Mikhailovsky Artillery School (from 08.1917), member of the Bureau of Commissioners of Aviation and Aeronautics (from 11.1917).

During the Civil War in Russia: Chairman of the All-Russian Collegium for the Management of the Air Fleet of the Republic (01-05.1918). Under his leadership, personnel were recruited for the RKKVVF, and a lot of work was done to preserve the property and material assets of aviation units. From May 1918 - commissar, from July - military commissar of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF.

Remaining in his previous position, from August 1918 on the fronts of the Civil War: commander of the air fleet of the 5th Army of the Eastern Front, chief of aviation and aeronautics of the Southern Front. He headed a special-purpose air group created to fight the white cavalry corps operating in the rear of the troops of the Southern Front of the Red Army (08-09.1919). Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (03.1920-02.1921).

Since the spring of 1921, on a business trip abroad to organize orders and accept aircraft and aviation equipment. Participant of international aviation conferences in London and Rome, expert on the Air Fleet at the international Genoa conference (1922). Trade representative of the USSR in Italy, later - in senior positions at Aviatrest, at aircraft factories in Leningrad and Moscow, teacher at the Red Army Air Force Academy named after. prof. N.E. Zhukovsky. Unreasonably repressed (1931). Rehabilitated (1956, posthumously).

Chiefs of the RKKVVF, Red Army Air Force, commanders of the Space Forces Air Force

SERGEEV (PETROV) Andrey Vasilievich

Chief of Staff of the Air Fleet (03/25/1920-02/1921).
Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (09.1921-10.1922).

ZNAMENSKY Andrey Alexandrovich

Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (10.1922-04.1923).

Soviet military and statesman, diplomat. He studied at the Tomsk Technological Institute (1906-1908), graduated from the Faculty of Law of Moscow University (1915). He took an active part in revolutionary activities and was arrested twice. Member of the Moscow Committee of the RSDLP (b) (02-10.1917), deputy chairman of the RVC of the Blagushe-Lefortovo district of Moscow (11.1917). From December 1917, he was the head of the 1st communist detachment of the Red Guard of the Blagushe-Lefortovo region, which acted against the Ukrainian Central Rada and German interventionists in Belarus.

During the Civil War in Russia: member of the Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Moscow Soviet and member of the MK RCP (b) (1918-06.1919), member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 10th Army of the Southern - South-Eastern - Caucasian Front (07.1919-07.1920). Since June 1920, chairman of the executive committee of the Don Regional Council. Since August 1920, member of the Far Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) and at the same time, since November, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Far Eastern People's Republic. In leadership work in the Moscow City Council (1921-04.1922).

From October 1922 to April 1923 - Head of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF. One of the initiators of the creation of the Society of Friends of the Air Fleet (ODVF), member of its presidium. Representative of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) in the Bukhara SSR, representative of the USSR in Bukhara (09.1923-04.1925), representative of the NKID of the USSR in Central Asia (until 06.1928).

Since May 1929, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the USSR in Harbin, since May 1930 - Consul General of the USSR in Mukden (Shenyang) (China). In 1941, without bringing forward official charges, he was dismissed from service and enlisted in the reserve of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR.

ROSENGOLTZ Arkady Pavlovich

Head and Commissioner of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (since 1924 - Directorate of the Red Army Air Force) (04.1923-12.1924).

Soviet statesman and military leader. Graduated from the Kyiv Commercial Institute (1914). In military service since 1918. Until 1918, an active party worker (member of the RSDLP) from 1905), participant in the revolution (1905-1907), the February and October revolutions (1917). One of the leaders of the armed uprising in Moscow, a member of the Moscow Military Revolutionary Committee.

During the Civil War in Russia: member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (09.1918-07.1919), at the same time political commissar of the 5th Army of the Eastern Front (08-11.1918), later a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of this army (04-06.1919). Since December 1918, member of the RVS of the 8th Army of the Southern Front (12.1918-03.1919), 7th Army of the Northern (from 02.1919 - Western) Front (06-09.1919), 13th Army of the Southern Front (10-12.1919), Southern (08-12.1918) and Western (05-06.1920) fronts. In 1920, member of the Board of the People's Commissariat of Railways of the RSFSR, in 1921-1923. - People's Commissariat of Finance of the RSFSR.

Since the end of 1922, he was involved in the creation and development of the Civil Air Fleet of the USSR, establishing business relations with airlines of other countries. From April 1923 to December 1924, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, head and commissar of the Main Directorate of the RKKVVF (since 1924 Directorate of the Red Army Air Force) and at the same time chairman of the Civil Aviation Council of the USSR. Under his leadership, a plan for the development of the Red Army Air Force for the next three years was developed and then approved by the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. In 1925-1927 at diplomatic work in England. Since 1927, member of the board, deputy people's commissar of the workers' and peasants' inspection of the USSR (12.1928-10.1930). Deputy People's Commissar of Foreign and Internal Trade of the USSR (10-11.1930), People's Commissar of Foreign Trade of the USSR (from 11.1930). Since February 1934, candidate member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks.

In June 1937, he was relieved of his post, and in August he was appointed head of the Department of State Reserves under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. Unreasonably repressed (1938). Rehabilitated (1988, posthumously).

Awards: Order of the Red Banner.

In accordance with the decision of the Soviet government of April 15, 1924, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet was renamed the Military Air Forces of the Red Army (VVS RKKA), and the Main Directorate of the Air Fleet was renamed the Directorate of the Military Air Forces (UVVS), subordinate to the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR .

BARANOV Petr Ionovich

Chief of the Red Army Air Force (12/10/1924-06/1931).

Soviet military leader. In military service since 1915. Graduated from Chernyaevsky general education courses in St. Petersburg. Professional revolutionary. From March 1917, chairman of the regimental committee, from September - chairman of the front department of Rumcherod (Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of the Romanian Front, Black Sea Fleet and Odessa Military District), from December - chairman of the revolutionary committee of the Romanian Front.

During the Civil War in Russia: chairman of the Military Revolutionary Committee of the 8th Army (01-04/1918), commander of the 4th Donetsk Army (04-06/1918), chief of staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Forces of the South of Russia (06-09/1918), military commissar of the 4th headquarters army (since 09.1918). During the period 1919-1920. served in the following positions: member of the RVS of the 8th Army, Southern Army Group of the Eastern Front, Turkestan Front, 1st and 14th Armies.

In 1921, head of the political department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Crimea. In 1921-1922 member of the RVS of the Turkestan Front and acting commander of the troops of the Fergana region, in 1923 the head and commissar of the armored forces of the Red Army. From August 1923 - assistant to the head of the Main Directorate of the Air Fleet for political affairs, from October 1924 - deputy chief, from December - chief, from March 1925 - chief of the Red Army Air Force, at the same time in 1925-1931. member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR.

With his active participation, the restructuring of the Air Force was carried out in accordance with the military reform of 1924-1925, and decisions were implemented to mobilize command personnel from other branches of the military into the Air Force. Since June 1931, member of the Presidium of the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR and head of the All-Union Aviation Association, since January 1932, deputy people's commissar of heavy industry and head of the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry. Member of the USSR Central Executive Committee.

Tragically died in a plane crash (1933).

Awards: Order of Lenin, Red Banner; Military Red Order of the Khorezm People's Soviet Republic; Order of the Red Star 1st degree of the Bukhara People's Soviet Republic.

Commander 2nd rank ALKSNIS (ASTROV) Yakov Ivanovich

Chief of the Red Army Air Force (06.1931-11.1937).

Soviet military leader, commander of the 2nd rank (1936). In military service since March 1917. Graduated from the Odessa Military School of Ensigns (1917), the Military Academy of the Red Army (1924), and the Kachin Military Aviation School (1929).

During the First World War: officer of the 15th Siberian Reserve Regiment, ensign. After the October Revolution (1917) he worked in the Soviet authorities in Latvia, Bryansk.

During the Civil War in Russia: military commissar of the Oryol province, commissar of the 55th Infantry Division, assistant commander of the Oryol Military District (spring 1920-08.1921). In the period 1924-1926. assistant to the head of the organizational and mobilization department, head and commissar of the troop organization department of the Red Army Headquarters, head of the troop organization department of the Main Directorate of the Red Army. From August 1926, Deputy Head of the Air Force Directorate, from June 1931, Head of the Red Army Air Force and member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, and later of the Military Council of the NGOs of the USSR. From January to November 1937, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for the Air Force - Chief of the Red Army Air Force.

He did a lot of work to improve the organizational structure of the Air Force and equip it with new military equipment. One of the initiators of the development of activities OSOAVIAKHIM and for the training of pilots and parachutists.

Unreasonably repressed (1938). Rehabilitated (1956, posthumously).

Awards: Order of Lenin, Red Banner, Red Star; foreign order

Colonel General LOKTIONOV Alexander Dmitrievich

Chief of the Red Army Air Force (12.1937-11.1939).

Soviet military leader, colonel general (1940). In military service since 1914. He graduated from the Oranienbaum School of Warrant Officers (1916), Higher Academic Courses (1923) and advanced training courses for senior command personnel (1928).

In the First World War: company commander, battalion commander, warrant officer. After the February Revolution (1917) a member of the regimental committee, then assistant regiment commander.

During the Civil War in Russia: commander of a battalion, regiment, brigade. After the war, assistant commander, commander and military commissar of the 2nd Rifle Division (1923-11.1930), commander and commissar of the 4th Rifle Corps (11.1930-10.1933). In 1933 he was transferred to the Air Force and appointed assistant to the commander of the Belorussian, then Kharkov military districts for aviation (10.1933-08.1937). In August - December 1937 - commander of the troops of the Central Asian Military District. In December 1937 he was appointed head of the Red Army Air Force (until 11/1939). In 1938, he participated in organizing the non-stop flight of the Rodina aircraft on the Moscow-Far East route. From November 1939 to July 1940, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation. From July to December 1940, commander of the troops of the newly created Baltic (from August - special) military district.

Unreasonably repressed (1941). Rehabilitated (1955, posthumously).

Awards: 2 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of the Red Star; Medal "XX Years of the Red Army"

Lieutenant General of Aviation SMUSHKEVICH Yakov Vladimirovich

Chief of the Red Army Air Force (11.1939-08.1940).

Soviet military leader, twice Hero of the Soviet Union (21.6.1937, 17.11.1939), lieutenant general of aviation (1940). In military service since 1918. Graduated from the Kachin Military Pilot School (1931), advanced training courses for command personnel at the Military Academy of the Red Army named after. M.V. Frunze (1937).

During the Civil War in Russia: political instructor of a company, battalion, commissar of a rifle regiment. Since 1922, as part of the Red Army Air Force: political instructor of the squadron and commissar of the air group. Since November 1931, commander and commissar of the 201st air brigade.

From October 1936 to July 1937, he took part in the national revolutionary war of the Spanish people (1936-1939), senior military adviser on aviation to the command of the Republican forces, and led the organization of air defense in Madrid and military facilities in the Guadalajara region. From June 1937, Deputy Chief of the Red Army Air Force, from September 1939 - acting. Commander of the Air Force of the Kyiv Special Military District.

In May - August 1939, during the fighting with Japanese troops on the river. Khalkhin Gol (Mongolia) commanded the 1st Air Group. Chief of the Red Army Air Force (11/19/1939-08/15/1940).

From August 1940 - Inspector General of Aviation of the Red Army, from December 1940 - Assistant to the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army for Aviation.

Unreasonably repressed (1941). Rehabilitated (1954, posthumously).

Awards: 2 Orders of Lenin; 2 Gold Star medals; medal "XX Years of the Red Army"; foreign order

Lieutenant General of Aviation

Head of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force (08.1940-04.1941).

Soviet military leader, lieutenant general of aviation (1940), Hero of the Soviet Union (12/31/1936).

In military service since 1928. Graduated from the 2nd Military Theoretical Pilot School named after. OSOAVIAKHIM USSR (1930), 2nd military pilot school in Borisoglebsk (1931). Served in the following positions: (3rd aviation squadron of the 5th air brigade of the Ukrainian Military District): junior pilot (11.1931-07.1932), flight commander (07.1932-1933), commander of a fighter squadron (1933-09.1936); commander of the 65th fighter squadron of the 81st air brigade of the Ukrainian Military District (from 09.1936).

From November 1936 to February 1937, as a flight commander, he participated in the national revolutionary war of the Spanish people (1936-1939), shooting down 6 enemy aircraft. Upon returning to his homeland in February 1937, deputy. commander, since July, commander of a fighter squadron, since December - senior military adviser on the use of Soviet volunteer pilots in China, commanded Soviet military aviation there, and participated in air battles with the Japanese. Since March 1938, commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military Circle, since April - the Primorsky Group of Forces, OKDVA, Far Eastern Front, since September - the 1st Separate Red Banner Army. During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940) commander of the 9th Army Air Force.

From June 1940, Deputy Chief of the Red Army Air Force, from July - First Deputy, from August - Head of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force, from February 1941, at the same time, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation. While in high positions in the Air Force, he persistently worked on improving the quality of aircraft, increasing the professional skills of pilots, and attached great importance to the construction of new and reconstruction of old airfields. He was convinced that in the coming war, air supremacy would be won mainly through fighter aircraft battles over the front line.

In April 1941, he was removed from his posts and enrolled in studies at the Academy of the General Staff. Unreasonably repressed (1941). Rehabilitated (1954, posthumously).

Awards: 2 Orders of Lenin (twice 1936), Gold Star medal, 3 Orders of the Red Banner (1936, 1938, 1940); medal “XX Years of the Red Army” (1938).

Air Chief Marshal ZHIGAREV Pavel Fedorovich

Commander of the Space Forces Air Force (06.1941-04.1942).
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (09-1949-01/1957).

Soviet military leader, air chief marshal (1955). In military service since 1919. Graduated from the 4th Tver Cavalry School (1922), the Leningrad Military School of Observer Pilots (1927), and the Red Army Air Force Academy named after. prof. N.E. Zhukovsky (1932), postgraduate studies under her (1933), Kachin Military Aviation School (1934).

During the Civil War in Russia he served in the reserve cavalry regiment in Tver (1919-1920). After the war, he successively held positions: cavalry platoon commander, observer pilot, instructor and teacher at the pilot school, chief of staff of the Kachin Military Aviation School (1933-1934). In 1934-1936. commanded aviation units, from a separate squadron to an air brigade.

In 1937-1938 was on a business trip in China, leading a group of Soviet volunteer pilots. Since September 1938, head of the combat training department of the Red Army Air Force, since January 1939, commander of the Air Force of the 2nd Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army, since December 1940, first deputy, since April 1941, head of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force.

During the Great Patriotic War: Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army (from 06/29/1941). He initiated the creation of mobile aviation reserves of the Civil Code at the beginning of the war, took a direct part in planning and directing the combat operations of Soviet aviation in the Battle of Moscow (12.1941-04.1942). Since April 1942, commander of the Air Force of the Far Eastern Front.

During the Soviet-Japanese War (1945), commander of the 10th Air Army of the 2nd Far Eastern Front. First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (04.1946-1948), Commander of Long-Range Aviation - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (1948-08.1949).

From September 1949 to January 1957 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, from April 1953 at the same time deputy (from March 1955 - first deputy) Minister of Defense of the USSR. Head of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet. (01.1957-11.1959), head of the Military Command Academy of Air Defense (11.1959-1963).

Awards: 2 Orders of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov 1st class, Red Star; USSR medals.

Air Chief Marshal NOVIKOV Alexander Alexandrovich

Commander of the KA Air Force (04.1942-04.1946).

Soviet military leader, commander, twice Hero of the Soviet Union (04/17/1945, 09/08/1945), chief marshal of aviation (1944). In military service since 1919. Graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod infantry command courses (1920), the Shot courses (1922) and the Military Academy of the Red Army named after. M.V. Frunze (1930).

During the Civil War, he worked his way up from a Red Army soldier to assistant division intelligence chief. After the war, he successively held positions: company commander (1922-1923), battalion commander (1923-1927), head of the operational department of the rifle corps headquarters (1930-02.1931). Since February 1931, as part of the Red Army Air Force: chief of staff of the air brigade, since October 1935 - commander of the 42nd light bomber squadron, since 1938 - chief of staff of the Leningrad Military District Air Force. Participant in the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940): Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the North-Western Front. Since July 1940, commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

During the Great Patriotic War: commander of the Northern Air Force, from August 1941 - of the Leningrad Front and deputy commander-in-chief of the North-Western direction for aviation. From February 1942, First Deputy Commander of the Red Army Air Force, from April - Commander of the Air Force - Deputy (until May 1943) People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation. As a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters, he coordinated the combat operations of aviation on several fronts in the battles of Stalingrad and the Kursk Bulge, in operations to liberate the North Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, Poland, during the assault on Koenigsberg, in the Berlin operation and during the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

He introduced a lot of new things into the theory and practice of aviation. In April 1946, he was subjected to an unjustified arrest and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. In 1953 he was rehabilitated, the criminal case against him was dropped for lack of evidence of a crime, his military rank was restored and all awards were returned to him.

Since June 1953, Commander of Long-Range Aviation, at the same time Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (12.1954-03.1955). From March 1955 to January 1956 at the disposal of the USSR Minister of Defense. With his transfer to the reserve (1956), he became the head of the Higher Aviation School of the Civil Air Fleet in Leningrad, and at the same time headed the department, professor (1958).

Awards: 3 Orders of Lenin, 2 Gold Star medals, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, 3 Orders of Suvorov 1st class, Order of Kutuzov 1st class, Order of the Red Banner of Labor, 2 Orders of the Red Star; USSR medals; foreign orders and medals.