Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (abbr. Red Army): the predecessor of the modern Russian army. USSR Air Force (USSR Air Force): history of Soviet military aviation

Photos with airplanes. I took the captions and legends for the photographs from there.

Aircraft technicians of the Leningrad Front of the 1st Mine Torpedo Regiment of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet preparing the bomber for the next flight. 1941

Aircraft technicians of the Leningrad Front of the 1st Mine Torpedo Regiment of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet preparing the bomber for the next flight. 1941

Filming location: Leningrad region

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Muscovites on Sverdlov Square inspect a German plane shot down over the capital. 1941

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Muscovites on Sverdlov Square inspect a German plane shot down over the capital. 1941

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Air unit commander Korolev (left) congratulates Captain Savkin on the excellent performance of his combat mission. 1942

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Air unit commander Korolev (left) congratulates Captain Savkin on the excellent performance of his combat mission. 1942

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The soldiers are attacking a copse occupied by the Germans. In the foreground are the wreckage of a downed German plane. 1943

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The soldiers are attacking a copse occupied by the Germans. In the foreground are the wreckage of a downed German plane. 1943

Filming location: Leningrad Front

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Assembling combat aircraft in the workshop of one of the defense plants. 1942

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Assembling combat aircraft in the workshop of one of the defense plants. 1942

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Professor Predchetensky A.M. examines combat vehicles, collected at the expense of workers of the Ivanovo region. October 7, 1944

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Professor Predchetensky A.M. inspects combat vehicles collected at the expense of the workers of the Ivanovo region. October 7, 1944

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Exterior view of the workshop of the N-sky aviation plant. 1943

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Exterior view of the workshop of the N-sky aviation plant. 1943

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Interior view of the aircraft assembly shop at an aircraft factory. March 1943

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Interior view of the aircraft assembly shop at an aircraft factory. March 1943

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Suspension of test bombs to the aircraft at the aircraft manufacturing plant No. 18 named after Order of Lenin. Voroshilov. 1942

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Suspension of test bombs to the aircraft at the aircraft manufacturing plant No. 18 named after Order of Lenin. Voroshilov. 1942

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Participant of the All-Union Socialist Competition, student of a vocational school, Komsomol member A. Fedchenkova, finishing the armored glass of the pilot’s cockpit. 1942

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Participant of the All-Union Socialist Competition, student of a vocational school, Komsomol member A. Fedchenkova, finishing the armored glass of the pilot’s cockpit. 1942

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Aerologist-sounder of the Tbilisi airport Krasnikova E. with instruments after a high-altitude flight. 02 February 1945

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Aerologist-sounder of Tbilisi airport Krasnikova E.U. instruments after a high-altitude flight. 02 February 1945

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R.L. Carmen in a group near an airplane on one of the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. 1941

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One of the squadron's aircraft, built with funds from the staff of the State Academic Maly Theater of the USSR, at the airfield before being sent to the front. June 1944

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One of the squadron's aircraft, built with funds from the staff of the State Academic Maly Theater of the USSR, at the airfield before being sent to the front. June 1944

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Artists of the State Jazz Orchestra under the direction of L. Utesov inspect the “Jolly Fellows” fighter aircraft, purchased with funds from the musical group. 1944

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Artists of the State Jazz Orchestra under the direction of L. Utesov inspect the “Jolly Fellows” fighter aircraft, purchased with funds from the musical group. 1944

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Honored Artist of the RSFSR L.O. Utesov speaks at a rally on the occasion of the transfer to representatives of the Red Army command of aircraft built at the expense of the State Jazz Orchestra. 1944

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Honored Artist of the RSFSR L.O. Utesov speaks at a rally on the occasion of the transfer to representatives of the Red Army command of aircraft built at the expense of the State Jazz Orchestra. 1944

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The Gorky Worker fighter squadron, built at the expense of the workers of the Gorky region, at the airfield. 1944

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The Gorky Worker fighter squadron, built at the expense of the workers of the Gorky region, at the airfield. 1944

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YAK-9 fighter, built at the expense of collective farmer F.P. Holovaty. 1944

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YAK-9 fighter, built at the expense of collective farmer F.P. Holovaty. 1944

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F.P. Golovaty and Guard Major B.I. Eremin near the 2nd plane, purchased with F.P.’s personal funds. Golovaty and handed over to the Soviet pilot. June 1944

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F.P. Golovaty and Guard Major B.I. Eremin near the 2nd plane, purchased with F.P.’s personal funds. Golovaty and handed over to the Soviet pilot. June 1944

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Guard Major B.N. Eremin in the cockpit of an airplane built at the expense of F.P. Holovaty. January 1943

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Guard Major B.N. Eremin in the cockpit of an airplane built at the expense of F.P. Holovaty. January 1943

Location: Stalingrad Front

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Komsomol members of the Yaroslavl region at the airfield transmit Soviet pilots a squadron of aircraft built with funds raised by the youth of the region. 1942

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Komsomol members of the Yaroslavl region at the airfield hand over to Soviet pilots a squadron of aircraft built with funds raised by the youth of the region. 1942

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Member of the Krasny Luch agricultural association A.M. Sarskov and Hero Soviet Union, Major F.N. Orlov near the plane built with the personal savings of A.M. Sarskova. July 10, 1944

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Member of the Krasny Luch agricultural association A.M. Sarskov and Hero of the Soviet Union, Major F.N. Orlov near the plane built with the personal savings of A.M. Sarskova. July 10, 1944

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Guard Lieutenant I.S. Pashayev near the plane, built at the expense of the workers of Kyiv. September 13, 1944

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Guard Lieutenant I.S. Pashayev near the plane, built at the expense of the workers of Kyiv. September 13, 1944

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Hero of the Soviet Union, Aviation Major General V.I. Shevchenko thanks the representative of collective farmers of the Ivanovo region E.P. Limonov for the planes built at the expense of the region's workers. October 10, 1944

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Attack aviation pilot G. Parshin thanks Evgenia Petrovna and Praskovya Vasilievna Barinov for the plane built with their personal savings. June 3, 1944

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Attack aviation pilot G. Parshin thanks Evgenia Petrovna and Praskovya Vasilievna Barinov for the plane built with their personal savings. June 3, 1944

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A squadron of “Chapayevtsy” aircraft, built at the expense of the workers of Chapaevsk, and transferred to the 1st Belorussian Front, at the airfield. September 12, 1944

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A squadron of “Chapayevtsy” aircraft, built at the expense of the workers of Chapaevsk, and transferred to the 1st Belorussian Front, at the airfield. September 12, 1944

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Aircraft of the "Moscow" squadron, built at the expense of the workers of the Kyiv district of Moscow, at the airfield. October 16, 1944

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Aircraft of the "Moscow" squadron, built at the expense of the workers of the Kyiv district of Moscow, at the airfield. October 16, 1944

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A squadron of fighters built with funds raised by Komsomol members of Novosibirsk. 1942

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A squadron of fighters built with funds raised by Komsomol members of Novosibirsk. 1942

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A squadron of fighters built with funds raised by the youth of the Khabarovsk Territory. 1942

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A squadron of fighters built with funds raised by the youth of the Khabarovsk Territory. 1942

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Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant General Ryazanov, Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev and Colonel General S.K. The Goryunovs inspect the planes built at the expense of the workers of Znamensk. 1944

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Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain I.N. Kozhedub in the cockpit of an airplane built at the expense of collective farmer V.V. Koneva. June 1944

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Hero of the Soviet Union, Captain I.N. Kozhedub in the cockpit of an airplane built at the expense of collective farmer V.V. Koneva. June 1944

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Collective farmer of the agricultural cooperative “Gudok” K.S. Shumkova talks with Guard Lieutenant Colonel N.G. Sobolev, who received the Krasnoyarsk Komsomolets plane, built with her personal savings. 1943

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Loading ammunition onto transport aircraft for shipment to the front. March 1943

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Loading ammunition onto transport aircraft for shipment to the front. March 1943

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Loading ammunition at the airfield. 1944

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Loading ammunition at the airfield. 1944

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Fighter aircraft pilots N.F. Murashov, A.G. Shirmanov and technician N.P. Starostin for the release of the Battle Leaflet. July 1941

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Fighter aircraft pilots N.F. Murashov, A.G. Shirmanov and technician N.P. Starostin for the release of the Battle Leaflet. July 1941

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Junior Sergeant A.V. Smirnov, senior sergeant G.M. Ter-Abramov and military commissar S.I. Yakovlev loading leaflets onto the plane. 1942

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Junior Sergeant A.V. Smirnov, senior sergeant G.M. Ter-Abramov and military commissar S.I. Yakovlev loading leaflets onto the plane. 1942

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Commander of the Air Force Black navy ON THE. Ostryakov (left), military commissar of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force, brigade commissar N.V. Kuzenko and the head of the flight inspection, Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel N.A. Naumov (right) at the airfield near the plane. 1942

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Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force N.A. Ostryakov (left), military commissar of the Black Sea Fleet Air Force, brigade commissar N.V. Kuzenko and the head of the flight inspection, Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel N.A. Naumov (right) at the airfield near the plane. 1942

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Captain I.I. Saprykin (left) assigns a combat mission to a fighter flight at the Kherson Lighthouse airfield. 1942

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Captain I.I. Saprykin (left) assigns a combat mission to a fighter flight at the Kherson Lighthouse airfield. 1942

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Fighter pilot, captain V.I. Balashov tells his combat friends about his experience in air combat. August 1942

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Fighter pilot, captain V.I. Balashov tells his combat friends about his experience in air combat. August 1942

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The flight commander of the guard squadron, Captain V.I. Balashov, explains the combat flight course to the torpedo bomber navigator Nikolai Samoilovich Umansky. 1943

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Captain I.E. Korzunov at the damaged aircraft. In the background is the main Soviet long-range aviation aircraft - DB3F (IL-4). 1941

Captain I.E. Korzunov at the damaged aircraft. In the background is the main Soviet long-range aviation aircraft - DB3F (IL-4). 1941

GARF, F.10140. Op.5. D.6. L.14

A German fighter "Messerschmidt" made an emergency landing. 1942

A German fighter "Messerschmidt" made an emergency landing. 1942

GARF, F.10140. Op.5. D 7. L.10

An American aircraft in service with one of the flying units of the Northern Marine Fleet. 1942

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An American aircraft in service with one of the flying units of the Northern Marine Fleet. 1942

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Naval aviation bombers at the airfield. October 1942

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Naval aviation bombers at the airfield. October 1942

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Suspension of a torpedo on a torpedo bomber at the airfield of a mine-torpedo air regiment. 1943

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Suspension of a torpedo on a torpedo bomber at the airfield of a mine-torpedo air regiment. 1943

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Returning from a combat flight to the naval reconnaissance seaplane base. June 1943

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Returning from a combat flight to the naval reconnaissance seaplane base. June 1943

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Hurricane fighters at the field airfield of one of the air units. 1942

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Hurricane fighters at the field airfield of one of the air units. 1942

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The commander of the torpedo bomber of the Northern Fleet Air Force, which sank four transports and one enemy patrol ship, Guard Captain Bolashev V.P. talks with crew members: navigator, guard captain Nikolai Samoilovich Umansky, gunner, sergeant V.A. Emelyanenko and gunner-radio operator M.M. Biryukov - at the plane. 1943

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Soviet fighter pilot Maksimovich V.P. learning to drive an English Hurricane fighter

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Soviet fighter pilot Maksimovich V.P. learning to drive an English Hurricane fighter

under the leadership of the English pilot Vocevis Paul. 1941

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English fighter pilot Sergeant Howe, who fought on the Northern Front,

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English fighter pilot Sergeant Howe, who fought on the Northern Front,

awarded the Order of Lenin, near his plane. 1941

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Captain Druzenkov P.I. introduces a group of pilots to “Fighting France”

(squadron "Normandie-Niemen") with the route of the upcoming combat flight. 1942

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French pilots of the military unit of Fighting France "Normandy" leave the airfield after completing a combat mission. 1943

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French pilots of the military unit of Fighting France "Normandy" leave the airfield after completing a combat mission. 1943

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Major A.F.Matisov. talks with the pilots of the Fighting France "Normandy", operating as part of the air force of the Red Army. 1943

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Major A.F.Matisov. talks with the pilots of the Fighting France "Normandy", operating as part of the air force of the Red Army. 1943

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A group of aces “Normandy” from a part of Fighting France is developing a plan for the next flight. 1945

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A group of aces “Normandy” from a part of Fighting France is developing a plan for the next flight. 1945

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The crew of the American "Flying Fortress" bomber, upon returning from a combat mission, talks with Soviet pilots. 1944

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The crew of the American "Flying Fortress" bomber, upon returning from a combat mission, talks with Soviet pilots. 1944

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Senior Lieutenant N.I. Dobrovolsky (left) and captain A.G. Machnev - medal-bearing pilots of the attack aviation unit, who distinguished themselves in battles in the Oryol direction at the field airfield near the aircraft. 1943

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Filming location: Oryol-Kursk direction

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Soviet attack aircraft in the sky near Berlin. 1945

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Soviet attack aircraft in the sky near Berlin. 1945

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One of ten gliders captured by Yugoslav partisans at one of the German airfields near Belgrade. 1944

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One of ten gliders captured by Yugoslav partisans at one of the German airfields near Belgrade. 1944

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A rally at one of the airfields near Berlin before the departure of the Victory Banner to Moscow for the Victory Parade. 1945

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A rally at one of the airfields near Berlin before the departure of the Victory Banner to Moscow for the Victory Parade. 1945

Location: 1st Belorussian Front

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Soldiers carry the Victory Banner through the Central Moscow airfield on the day of its arrival in Moscow from Berlin. June 20, 1945

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Soldiers carry the Victory Banner through the Central Moscow airfield on the day of its arrival in Moscow from Berlin. June 20, 1945

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The crew of flight commander M. Khazov before departure at the airfield. 1945

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The crew of flight commander M. Khazov before departure at the airfield. 1945

Filming location: 2nd Far Eastern Front

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Female crew of “listeners”. 1945

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Female crew of “listeners”. 1945

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Military photojournalist V. Rudny with the crew of the Catalina aircraft. The year of filming is unknown

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Military photojournalist V. Rudny with the crew of the Catalina aircraft. The year of filming is unknown

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The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was the name of the Ground Forces of the young Soviet state in 1918-1922 and until 1946. The Red Army was created almost out of nothing. Its prototype was the detachments of the Red Guards, which were formed following the February coup of 1917, and parts of the tsarist army that went over to the side of the revolutionaries. Despite everything, she was able to become a formidable force and won during the civil war.

The guarantee of success in the construction of the Red Army was the use of the combat experience of old pre-revolutionary army personnel. So-called military experts, namely officers and generals who served “the Tsar and the Fatherland,” began to be enlisted en masse into the ranks of the Red Army. Their total number during the civil war in the Red Army was up to fifty thousand people.

Beginning of the formation of the Red Army

In January 1918, the decree of the Council of People's Commissars “On the Red Army” was published, which noted that all citizens of the new Republic at least eighteen years of age could join its ranks. The date of publication of this resolution can be considered the beginning of the formation of the Red Army.

Organizational structure, composition of the Red Army

At first, the main unit of the Red Army was separate units, which were military units with independent farms. The heads of the detachments were the Soviets, which included one military leader and two military commissars. They had small headquarters and inspectorates.

When combat experience was gained with the involvement of military experts, full-fledged units, units, formations (brigades, divisions, corps), institutions and establishments began to be formed in the ranks of the Red Army.

Organizationally, the Red Army corresponded to its class characteristics and military needs of the beginning of the last century. The structure of the combined arms formations of the Red Army consisted of:

Rifle Corps, which had two to four divisions;
Divisions, which included three rifle regiments, an artillery regiment and a technical unit;
A regiment that had three battalions, an artillery battalion and technical units;
Cavalry Corps with two cavalry divisions;
Cavalry division with 4-6 regiments, artillery, armored units, technical units.

Red Army uniform

The Red Guards did not have any established rules of dress. It was distinguished only by a red armband or a red ribbon on its headdress, and individual units were distinguished by Red Guard breastplates. At the beginning of the formation of the Red Army, they were allowed to wear the old uniform without insignia or a random uniform, as well as civilian clothes.

British and American-made French jackets have been very popular since 1919. Commanders, commissars and political workers had their own preferences; they could be seen in leather caps and jackets. Cavalrymen preferred hussar trousers (chakchirs) and dolmans, as well as uhlan jackets.

In the early Red Army, officers were rejected as “relics of tsarism.” The use of this word was banned and it was replaced by “commander”. At the same time, shoulder straps and military ranks were abolished. Their names were replaced by positions, in particular, “division commanders” or “comoral commanders”.

In January 1919, a table describing the insignia was introduced; it established eleven insignia for command personnel from the squad commander to the front commander. The report card determined the wearing of badges, the material for which was red instrument cloth, on the left sleeve.

The presence of a red star as a symbol of the Red Army

The first official emblem indicating that a soldier belonged to the Red Army was introduced in 1918 and was a wreath of laurel and oak branches. A red star was placed inside the wreath, as well as a plow and a hammer in the center. In the same year, headdresses began to be decorated with cockade badges with a red enamel five-pointed star with a plow and a hammer in the center.

Composition of the workers' and peasants' red army

Rifle troops of the Red Army

Rifle troops were considered the main branch of the military, the main backbone of the Red Army. In 1920, it was the rifle regiments that made up the largest number of Red Army soldiers; later, separate rifle corps of the Red Army were organized. They included: rifle battalions, regimental artillery, small units (signals, engineers and others), and the headquarters of the Red Army regiment. Rifle battalions included rifle and machine gun companies, battalion artillery and the headquarters of the Red Army battalion. Rifle companies included rifle and machine gun platoons. The rifle platoon included squads. The squad was considered the smallest organizational unit in the rifle troops. The squad was armed with rifles, light machine guns, hand grenades and a grenade launcher.

Artillery of the Red Army

The Red Army also included artillery regiments. They included artillery divisions and the headquarters of the Red Army regiment. The artillery division included batteries and division control. There are platoons in the battery. The platoon consisted of 4 guns. It is also known about the breakthrough artillery corps. They were part of the artillery, part of the reserves led by the Supreme High Command.

Red Army Cavalry

The main units in the cavalry were cavalry regiments. The regiments included saber and machine gun squadrons, regimental artillery, technical units and the headquarters of the Red Army cavalry. Saber and machine gun squadrons included platoons. Platoons were built from sections. Cavalry units began to organize together with the Red Army in 1918. From the disbanded units of the former army, only three cavalry regiments were accepted into the Red Army.

Armored troops of the Red Army

Red Army tanks manufactured at KhPZ

Since the 1920s, the Soviet Union began producing its own tanks. At the same time, the concept for the combat use of troops was laid down. Later, the Red Army charter specifically noted combat use tanks, as well as their interaction with infantry. In particular, the second part of the charter approved the most important conditions success:

The sudden appearance of tanks together with attacking infantry, simultaneous and massive use over a wide area in order to disperse the enemy’s artillery and other anti-armor weapons;
The use of echeloning of tanks in depth with the synchronous formation of a reserve from among them, which will allow developing attacks to great depths;
close interaction of tanks with infantry, which secures the points they occupy.

Two configurations for using tanks in battle were envisaged:

To directly support the infantry;
Being an advanced echelon operating without fire and visual communication with it.

The armored forces had tank units and formations, as well as units armed with armored vehicles. The main tactical units were tank battalions. They included tank companies. Tank companies included tank platoons. The tank platoon had five tanks. The armored car company included platoons. The platoon included three to five armored vehicles.

The first tank brigade was created in 1935 as a reserve of the Commander-in-Chief, and already in 1940, on its basis, a tank division of the Red Army was formed. The same connections were included in mechanized corps.

Air Force (RKKA Air Force)

The Red Army Air Force was formed in 1918. They included separate aviation detachments and were in the district air fleet departments. Later they were reorganized, and they became front-line and army field aviation and aeronautics departments at front-line and combined-arms army headquarters. Such reforms occurred constantly.

Since 1938-1939, aviation in military districts was transferred from brigade to regimental and divisional organizational structures. The main tactical units were aviation regiments consisting of 60 aircraft. The activities of the Red Army Air Force were based on inflicting fast and powerful air strikes on the enemy at long distances, inaccessible to other types of troops. The aircraft were armed with high-explosive, fragmentation and incendiary bombs, cannons and machine guns.

The main units of the Air Force were air regiments. The regiments included air squadrons. The air squadron included flights. There were 4-5 aircraft in the flights.

Chemical Troops of the Red Army

The formation of chemical troops in the Red Army began in 1918. In the fall of the same year, the Republican Revolutionary Military Council issued Order No. 220, according to which the Chemical Service of the Red Army was created. By the 1920s, all rifle and cavalry divisions and brigades acquired chemical units. Since 1923, rifle regiments began to be supplemented with anti-gas teams. Thus, chemical units could be encountered in all branches of the military.

Throughout the Great Patriotic War chemical forces had:

Technical teams (to install smoke screens, as well as to camouflage large or important objects);
Brigades, battalions and companies for chemical protection;
Flamethrower battalions and companies;
Bases;
Warehouses, etc.

Red Army Signal Troops

The mention of the first units and communications units in the Red Army dates back to 1918, when they were formed. In October 1919, the Signal Troops were given the right to become independent special forces. In 1941, a new position was introduced - Chief of the Signal Corps.

Automotive troops of the Red Army

The Automobile Troops of the Red Army were an integral part of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They were formed back in the Civil War.

Railway troops of the Red Army

The railway troops of the Red Army were also an integral part of the rear of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They also formed during the Civil War. It was mainly the Railway Troops who laid communication routes and built bridges.

Road troops of the Red Army

The Road Troops of the Red Army were also an integral part of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They also formed during the Civil War.

By 1943, the Road Troops had:

294 separate road battalions;
22 military highway departments, which had 110 road commandant areas;
7 military road departments, in which there were 40 road detachments;
194 horse-drawn transport companies;
Repair bases;
Bases for the production of bridge and road devices;
Educational and other institutions.

Military training system, training of the Red Army

Military education in the Red Army, as a rule, was divided into three levels. The basis of higher military education consisted of a well-developed network of higher military schools. All students there bore the title of cadets. The duration of training ranged from four to five years. Graduates mostly received the military ranks of lieutenants or junior lieutenants, which corresponded to the first positions of “platoon commanders”.

During peacetime, the training program at military schools provided for obtaining higher education. But during wartime it was reduced to secondary special education. The same thing happened with the timing of training. They were rapidly reduced, and then short-term six-month command courses were organized.

A feature of military education in the Soviet Union was the presence of a system in which there were military academies. Studying at such an academy provided higher military education, while the academies of Western states trained junior officers.

Red Army Service: personnel

Each Red Army unit appointed a political commissar, or so-called political leaders (political instructors), who had almost unlimited powers; this was reflected in the Charter of the Red Army. In those years, political commissars could easily cancel, at their own discretion, orders from unit and unit commanders that they did not like. Such measures were presented as necessary.

Weapons and military equipment of the Red Army

The formation of the Red Army corresponded to general trends in military-technical development around the world, including:

Formed tank forces and air forces;
Mechanization of infantry units and their reorganization as motorized rifle troops;
Disbanded cavalry;
Appearing nuclear weapons.

The total number of the Red Army in different periods

Official statistics present the following data on the total number of the Red Army at different times:

From April to September 1918 - almost 200,000 soldiers;
In September 1919 - 3,000,000 soldiers;
In the fall of 1920 - 5,500,000 soldiers;
In January 1925 - 562,000 soldiers;
In March 1932 - more than 600,000 soldiers;
In January 1937 - more than 1,500,000 soldiers;
In February 1939 - more than 1,900,000 soldiers;
In September 1939 - more than 5,000,000 soldiers;
In June 1940 - more than 4,000,000 soldiers;
In June 1941 - more than 5,000,000 soldiers;
In July 1941 - more than 10,000,000 soldiers;
Summer 1942 - more than 11,000,000 soldiers;
In January 1945 - more than 11,300,000 soldiers;
In February 1946, more than 5,000,000 military personnel.

Red Army losses

There are different data on the human losses of the USSR in the Second World War. The official figures for Red Army losses have changed many times.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, irrecoverable losses in battles on the territory of the Soviet-German front amounted to more than 8,800,000 Red Army soldiers and their commanders. Such information came from declassified sources in 1993, according to data obtained during search operations, as well as from archival data.

Repressions in the Red Army

Some historians believe that if there had not been pre-war repressions against commanding staff Red Army, it is possible that history, including the Great Patriotic War, could have turned out differently.

During the 1937-1938s, the following were executed from the command staff of the Red Army and the Navy:

Brigade commanders and equivalents from 887 - 478;
Division commanders and equivalents from 352 - 293;
Komkor and equivalent units – 115;
Marshals and army commanders – 46.

In addition, many commanders simply died in prison, unable to withstand torture, many of them committed suicide.

Subsequently, each military district was subject to a change of 2-3 or more commanders, mainly due to arrests. Their deputies were repressed many times more. On average, 75% of the highest military echelons had little (up to a year) experience in their positions, and the lower echelons had even less experience.

On the results of the repressions, the German military attaché, General E. Kestring, made a report to Berlin in August 1938, which stated approximately the following.

Due to the elimination of many senior officers who had perfected their professionalism over decades of practical and theoretical studies, the Red Army was paralyzed in its operational capabilities.

The lack of experienced command personnel had a negative impact on the training of troops. There was a fear of making decisions, which also had a negative impact.

Thus, due to the mass repressions of 1937-1939, the Red Army approached 1941 completely unprepared. She had to go through the “school of hard knocks” directly during combat operations. However, acquiring such experience cost millions human lives.

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Organizational structure and place of attack aviation in the Red Army Air Force

During the interwar period, the organizational structure of aviation units continuously developed, the composition of the Red Army Air Force and the place of various types of aviation in it were clarified.

By the mid-20s, in the process of transferring the air fleet to a peaceful position, the consolidation of aviation units took place. The aviation units that existed before the military reform of 1924 were consolidated into three-detachment squadrons. The aviation squadron became the main military unit of the Soviet Air Force, remaining so until the end of the 1930s. It consisted of 18 aircraft and 367 personnel. The aviation squadron was subordinate to the head of the air force of the military district and was the main organizational and tactical unit in the Red Army Air Force (KA).

Military aviation received a new name in accordance with the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on April 15, 1924, when the Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet (RKKVF) was transformed into the Air Force of the Red Army, and the Main Directorate of the Air Fleet was transformed into the Directorate of the Air Force.

A year later, a decision was made to create five attack aviation squadrons of 27–30 aircraft each, which marked the beginning of the organizational formation in the Soviet Union of attack aircraft designed to destroy small and mobile ground targets from low altitudes. The formation of these squadrons began in 1926, which should be considered the year of the creation of Soviet attack aviation.

In the same 1926, a decree of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR was issued, all aviation units located in the same garrison were organizationally united into an aviation brigade. However, this step did not pursue far-reaching goals - simply the creation of brigades facilitated support tasks. At the same time, a regrouping of aviation forces took place - units of the same clan affiliation were collected in the garrison. All this made it possible to reduce the range of spare parts and more accurately determine the required sizes of consumables and fuel. Subsequently, this led to the implementation of the idea of creating homogeneous bomber, fighter and attack aviation brigades.

At that time, the aviation brigade consisted of a headquarters, three squadrons, units and support units. The staffing and property sheets of the brigades were established, according to which the bomber and attack aviation brigades were to have 50 aircraft each, and the fighter brigade - 100. On the basis of the air brigades, it was planned to create ShMAS - schools for the training of junior aviation specialists and junior command personnel of the Air Force (according to one per military district), separate training detachments intended for retraining pilots who had long breaks in flight work, and training grounds. Thus, the brigade became a full-fledged operational-tactical formation of the Red Army Air Force.

In the fall of 1926, in accordance with the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, a new organization of rear services was introduced in the Air Force. Logistics units were removed from aviation squadrons and detachments, and on their basis larger formations were created - air fleets intended for logistical support of flight units. The air fleets were entrusted with the task of supplying aviation units and formations with all types of provisions, repairing aviation equipment, preparing, maintaining and protecting airfields. The aviation fleet, as an independent combat unit, included technical and economic services, an airfield, a training ground, a weather station, a workshop, garages, communications and air defense facilities, and other services and units. Depending on the volume of work in servicing combat aviation units, aircraft fleets were divided into three categories. It was planned to involve second-class aircraft fleets in providing attack aircraft.

With the increase in the power of the aviation industry and the improvement of the combat aviation fleet, the ratio of types of aviation within the Air Force gradually changed.

Difficulties associated with the restoration of the country's economy, the budget deficit and other factors, both objective and subjective, made adjustments to the process of organizational building. Thus, the planned prospects for creating homogeneous aviation formations had to be postponed until the second half of the 1930s. In 1931, of the 13 aviation brigades available in the Air Force, 9 were mixed, consisting of squadrons of various types of aviation (fighter, bomber, reconnaissance and attack).

The practice of organizing combat training in mixed aviation brigades has made it possible to identify a number of strengths and weaknesses in formations of this type. This experience of military development was useful later, during the formation of mixed formations in the air armies of the fronts in the summer of 1942, when the forces of attack aviation were still not enough to create homogeneous formations of attack aircraft.

The growth of the combat strength of attack aviation was carried out through the formation of new units and an increase in the regular number of combat aircraft in aviation units and formations. Headquarters were created in the attack aviation squadrons, to which all special services (weapons, aerial photography, communications and air navigation) were subordinate. At the same time, the transport capabilities of the aviation rear were strengthened in order to ensure the combat activities of aviation in isolation from railway and waterways messages. It should be noted that the needs of the aviation rear for vehicles, despite the efforts made, far exceeded the available capabilities. This shortcoming remained relevant in the 1940s.

In 1933, the Red Army Air Force had 77 aviation brigades, including 24 heavy bomber brigades, 14 fighter brigades and 10 attack brigades.

Even during the development and implementation of the military reform of 1924–1925 in the Soviet Union, a course was taken to build a three-service structure of the armed forces. By the beginning of the 1930s, the necessary prerequisites were created for the implementation of these plans; on March 23, 1932, at a meeting of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, the provisions developed by a commission consisting of prominent military figures - A.N. Egorova, Ya.I. Alksnis and A.Ya. Lapina. Based on the results of the discussion, a resolution was adopted “On the fundamentals of the organization of the Red Army Air Force,” which indicated that the changes that had occurred in the Air Force were transferring them from auxiliary weapons, which they essentially occupied until now, to the role of an independent branch of the military. The same decree determined the division of the Air Force in accordance with strategic and operational-tactical purposes into tactical, operational and strategic aviation. At the same time, it was planned to divide it according to affiliation into military, army and front-line, regardless of the type of aviation. Moreover, only heavy bomber aircraft were considered as a means of the High Command.

Not everything was certain with the types of aviation, especially bomber aviation, which was divided into long-range or short-range, heavy, medium or light. In documents of that time there are also references to cruising aviation. The struggle of opinions gave rise to frequent clarifications and changes in the composition, organizational structure and subordination of the Air Force.

An important step in organizational building was taken in 1938. At that time, based on the experience of combat operations in Spain and China, aviation regiments began to be formed as aviation units. The Bomber Aviation Regiment consisted of five squadrons, which became new structure units of 12 aircraft. The fighter and attack aviation regiment consisted of four aviation squadrons of 15 aircraft each. The bomber aviation squadron had four, and the fighter and attack aviation squadron had five aviation units. The flights of all types of aviation consisted of three aircraft.

The new structure significantly strengthened the aviation unit and its subunits and increased their capabilities to carry out combat missions. With this organizational structure, the aviation units entered the war, maintaining it until August 1941.

On January 1, 1941, the Red Army Air Force had 249 aviation regiments of various types of aviation; by June 1, another 17 air regiments were formed.

If we talk about the number of aircraft in combat units of the Red Army, then on January 1, 1940 it was:

Aviation units of all types of aviation were consolidated into aviation formations. In July 1940, a new type of formation was created - an aviation division. The first aviation divisions were reorganized from aviation brigades, and subsequently the formation of many new formations began at the same time. If in 1930 the Air Force consisted of 17 brigades, then by June 1941 there were 79 aviation divisions and 5 aviation brigades.

Moreover, two types of aviation divisions were created: mixed - for manning the air forces of armies and homogeneous (fighter or bomber divisions) - in front-line aviation groups and DBA of the High Command.

Long-range bomber aviation formations of the High Command accounted for 13.5%, military district air forces (front-line aviation group) - 40.5%, and army air forces (army aviation) - 43.7%. Individual military aviation units that were part of the rifle corps accounted for 2.3% of the entire Red Army Air Force.

At the same time, the attack aviation units were not reduced to homogeneous formations. The assault aviation regiments, one at a time, were part of the mixed aviation division, along with a bomber and two fighter aviation regiments. In the front-line aviation group, as well as in the formations, there were no central subordination of attack aviation units.

This situation arose not only because the attack aircraft fleet was the smallest, but also based on the purpose of the attack aircraft. It was a "battlefield aircraft" and, therefore, its place was as part of the "tactical" aircraft operating over the battlefield. In a number of documents, army aviation is called tactical, the front group is called operational, and those subordinate to the High Command are called strategic aviation.

During limited-scale combat operations on the Karelian Isthmus in the harsh winter of 1939/40, Soviet pilots had to deal with weak Finnish aviation. After the end of the war, in the final report to the Main Military Council of the Red Army dated March 19, 1940, the head of the Red Army Air Force Ya.I. Smushkevich wrote: “The need to subdivide the Air Force into army aviation, specifically designed to interact with ground forces, and operational aviation, acting in the interests of aviation in war, has been proven with complete certainty.” The Air Force chief further states: “Army aviation should include reconnaissance aircraft, short-range bombers and some fighters, that is, those types of aircraft that are most adapted to interact with ground forces.”

However, the attempted division of front aviation subsequently aggravated the difficult situation into which it found itself during the war. But the idea itself of allocating part of the forces to combined arms armies in order to achieve close tactical interaction with the troops deserves close attention. At the same time, of course, the dispersal of attack aviation forces separate shelves(one regiment per army) was unacceptable.

On the eve of the war, the organizational structure of the aviation rear, intended to support all types of aviation, changed. By the end of the 1930s, when aviation parks could no longer cope with the increasingly complex tasks facing them, they were reorganized into air bases, each of which was assigned to one aviation unit. Being part of an aviation division, the air base could support 8-10 aviation squadrons of fighter and attack aircraft of 15 aircraft, located at 8-10 airfields.

Combat practice, especially the experience of the war with Finland in 1939–1940, showed that such a structure significantly reduces the maneuverability of both flight and rear units.

To eliminate this shortcoming, in accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, from April 1941, parts of the aviation rear - the air base - began to be withdrawn from the air formations. The aviation rear began to be organized on a territorial basis. In military districts, aviation basing areas (RAB) began to be created, which, being aviation rear units, developed the territory assigned to them in terms of airfields and organized logistical support for aviation units and formations of any type and type of aviation.

The RAB included air bases, and the latter included airfield service battalions (ASB) at the rate of one battalion per regiment and one base per division. In addition to the air bases, the air base area included an airfield engineering battalion and a mobile railway aviation workshop.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, this reorganization was not completed.

With the outbreak of World War II in Europe, the pace of deployment of the Red Army Air Force increased sharply. By the end of 1941, it was planned to create 106 air regiments equipped new technology, deploy 25 divisional directorates. Almost all divisional directorates in the summer of 1941 were in the process of formation and were understaffed.

The plan for 1941 provided for the re-equipment of all 96 fighter regiments, 62 of the 79 bomber regiments, 8 of the 10 reconnaissance and 11 existing attack aviation regiments with new aircraft. By June 22, it was possible to rearm only 8 fighter and 1 bomber aviation regiments, which was about 5% of the plan.

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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). On military service since 1899. Graduated from courses at the Marine 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 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 Russo-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 inspector of army aviation Western Front technical department (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 High school 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. Graduated from courses for aviation mechanics and theoretical courses pilots at Petrogradsky Polytechnic Institute(1915), Sevastopol Aviation School (1916), Red Army Air Force Academy (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. Participated in revolutionary movement in Russia. From August 1917, elected commander of the air squadron, from September 1917, member, 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 evacuation aviation technology and property from the Northern region.

During Civil War in Russia: member of the Council and commissar 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 Eastern Front and chief of aviation of the 5th Army (08-09.1918), head of the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics at the Field 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 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. Aviadarm played important role in mobilization and effective use aviation 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. Graduated from the Dvina Real School, a flight school at the Italian Aero Club (1911), higher school aeronautics and mechanics (1914) and a 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, head of aviation and aeronautics 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). Took an active part in revolutionary activities, 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 foreign trade USSR (since 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 Revolutionary Military Council of the 8th Army, Southern group armies 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 Odessa military school ensigns (1917), Military Academy Red Army (1924), 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 rifle division, assistant to the 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.

Did a lot of work to improve organizational structure Air Force, equipping them 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).

First world war: commander of a company, battalion, warrant officer. After February Revolution(1917) 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 medals " Golden Star"; 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, improving the professional skills of pilots, and gave great importance 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 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 Northwestern 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 Kursk Bulge, in liberation operations North Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, Poland, during the storming of 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 terminated for lack of evidence of a crime, and he was reinstated military rank and all rewards were returned.

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.

Since March 1932, in accordance with the strategic and operational-tactical purpose of the Red Army Air Force (Workers' and Peasants' Red Army), it was divided into military, army and front-line aviation. In November 1940, the aviation of the High Command, or long-range bomber aviation (LBA), was separated separately.

The aviation of the High Command was intended to carry out independent air operations to carry out bombing attacks on targets deep behind enemy lines and consisted of air corps and separate divisions. Its names were successively changed from AGK to ADD (long-range aviation) from March 1942, and then to the 18th Air Army from December 1944 until the end of the war.

Military aviation consisted of separate squadrons, one for each rifle, mechanized and cavalry corps. The squadrons were armed with light aircraft for reconnaissance, communications and artillery fire adjustment. Probably, at the beginning of the war, the squadrons were withdrawn from the corps, but in April 1943 they began to appear again, when an aviation communications link - 3 aircraft - was included in the mechanized corps. Since the end of January 1943, the aviation communications regiment (on Po-2 aircraft) was part of the tank army, although sometimes, however, it was not a regiment, but an air squadron.

Army aviation consisted of separate mixed aviation formations (air divisions), which were part of combined arms armies, as a rule, one air formation per army.

In May 1942, with the formation of the air armies, which united the air forces of the fronts and the air forces of the armies, one mixed air regiment remained in the combined arms army. In November of the same year it was replaced by a regiment of light aircraft for aerial reconnaissance and communications. In the first half of 1943, the mixed air regiment was replaced by a communications squadron consisting of 12 Po-2 aircraft.

Front-line aviation was part of military districts, consisted of units and formations of various types of aviation and operated in accordance with the plans of the district (front). Existed until November 1942.

Aircraft were also available educational establishments Air Force, Navy, Civil Air Fleet, Osoaviakhim flying clubs, NKVD and border troops.

In accordance with the tasks, flight tactical data and weapons, military aviation was divided into fighter, bomber, attack and reconnaissance. By the beginning of the war, bomber aviation was represented by short-range (front-line) and long-range bomber aviation.

Since October 1941, with the advent of night light bomber regiments, front-line bomber aviation began to be divided into day and night.

Link. Primary unit of the Red Army Air Force. For all branches of military aviation, a flight consisted of three aircraft, but in September-November 1942, fighter aviation switched to a flight of two pairs, i.e., four aircraft. By the end of 1943, a four-aircraft flight was introduced into attack aviation.

Squadron. The main tactical unit of Russian aviation until 1922. The number of aircraft in a detachment varied and depended on the type of aviation. From September 16, 1924, the fighter aviation detachment consisted of three flights (9 aircraft), and the reconnaissance light bomber unit consisted of two flights (6 aircraft). The heavy bomber squad had 3 aircraft. In May 1925, aviation detachments of 6, 8 and 12 aircraft were introduced into the staff of the rifle corps, intended for short-range reconnaissance and artillery maintenance. With the transition to a regimental organization, aviation detachments remained in military transport aviation and naval aviation.

Squadron. From September 16, 1924, the squadron consisted of two or three detachments. A fighter squadron consists of three detachments of three flights each. In total, the squadron had 46 aircraft, of which 12 were spare.

The light bomber and reconnaissance squadrons each included three detachments of two flights and consisted of 31 aircraft, including 12 spares. The heavy bomber squadron consisted of two detachments of 3 aircraft each. There are 6 planes in total.

In 1938, a decision was made to change the structure and number of squadron aircraft.

The bomber aviation squadron consisted of four flights of 3 aircraft (12 aircraft). The assault squadron consists of three combat flights and one reserve (12 aircraft). The fighter squadron consisted of 15 aircraft and consisted of five flights.

The experience of war and heavy losses necessitated new changes. On August 10, 1941, by order of the commander of the Air Force, squadrons in attack, bomber and fighter aviation were assigned 10 aircraft each (three flights and the commander’s aircraft). Ten days later, on August 20, a new order followed for units receiving new types of aircraft “like Il-2, Pe-2, Yak-1, etc.” The squadron consisted of 9 aircraft, i.e. three full flights.

In mid-1943, fighter aviation returned to a squadron of 10 aircraft, two flights and a pair (a commander and his wingman).

At the end of 1943, fighter and attack aircraft squadrons switched to a three-echelon structure and consisted of 12 aircraft. The bomber squadron consisted of 10 aircraft, three flights and the aircraft of the squadron commander. The communications squadron consisted of four flights of 12 aircraft.

Air Regiment. In the USSR, aviation regiments were first formed in 1938. The status of the air regiment is a military unit.

The short-range bomber regiment consisted of five squadrons and two aircraft under regimental control (62 combat aircraft), the long-range bomber regiment consisted of three to four squadrons and two aircraft under regimental control (38-42 combat aircraft). The fighter regiment included four to five squadrons and two regiment control aircraft (63-77 combat aircraft). The assault air regiment consisted of five squadrons and was armed with 61 combat, 5 training and 1 communications aircraft.

In the battles in July-August 1941. there were problems in management in regiments and divisions big amount aircraft, and the bulkiness of these units and formations made it difficult for the aircraft to disperse at airfields and made it easier for the enemy to destroy them on the ground. On August 10-12, a new organization of short-range bomber, attack and fighter air regiments was adopted.

The short-range bomber regiment now consisted of three mixed squadrons - two bomber squadrons, one fighter squadron and 2 bombers under regimental control, for a total of 32 aircraft.

The assault air regiment was also mixed and consisted of 33 aircraft (two squadrons of Il-2 aircraft, a flight of Su-2 aircraft, one squadron of fighters). The fighter regiment was to consist of three squadrons and two regimental control aircraft, for a total of 32 aircraft.

Due to large losses and difficulties in replenishing the aircraft fleet, especially with new types of aircraft, the organization was again revised. From August 20, 1941, the aviation regiments, which received new types of aircraft (Pe-2, Il-2, Yak-1, etc.), and later most other regiments, began to be formed homogeneously, consisting of two squadrons and two aircraft in control of the regiment, a total of 20 aircraft.

By the spring of 1943, many aviation regiments consisted of three squadrons. The fighter regiment consisted of three squadrons of 9 aircraft each and 4-5 aircraft under regimental control, for a total of 31-32 aircraft.

In mid-1943, the fighter regiment consisted of 34 aircraft, consisting of three squadrons of 10 fighters each and 4 aircraft under regimental control.

At the end of 1943, the bomber regiments consisted of three squadrons and two aircraft under regimental control (32 combat aircraft). The assault air regiment consisted of three squadrons and four aircraft under regimental control (40 combat aircraft), the fighter air regiment consisted of three squadrons and 4 aircraft under regimental control (40 combat aircraft). In addition, each air regiment had 1 communications aircraft and 1 dual control aircraft (where there was a need for such an aircraft). In the Navy aviation, mixed air regiments met in both 1942 and 1943.

Air brigade. The main tactical unit of the Red Army Air Force until 1938-1940. The first air brigades began to be formed in 1927 and consisted of three or four squadrons. There were bomber, attack, and fighter air brigades. Abolished in 1938-1940. In connection with the transition to a regimental organization, they remained in the Navy and training units. The Navy air brigades consisted of two air regiments.

Air group. Temporary formation under a single command. On July 21, 1941, the creation of full-time reserve aviation groups (RAGs) began, which were subordinate to the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command and were intended to solve independent tasks and to help the front air forces. The air group consisted of four to five air regiments (60-100 aircraft).

In the fall of 1941, temporary (not regular) aviation reserve groups were created from front-line aviation units and newly formed air regiments. From March to May 1942, ten attack aviation groups (SAG) were created with a mixed composition of three to eight air regiments, including heavy bomber ones.

The air groups operated until the beginning of June 1942 and later as units of naval hydroaviation and transport aviation.

Air Division. The first ones were formed in the second half of 1940, the Air Force command tried to take into account the “alien” experience of the Second World War in Europe and “their” war with Finland. The division became the main tactical formation of the Red Army Air Force. As a rule, an air division consisted of three or four regiments, in some five or six air regiments, and numbered up to 350 aircraft. There were homogeneous (bomber, fighter) and mixed (fighter-assault and fighter-bomber) air divisions during the war; until about 1943 there were mixed divisions consisting of assault and bomber regiments. In July 1941, it was considered expedient to gradually move to the organization of two regiments, but at the same time air divisions of three, four and five air regiments were encountered.

In May-June 1942, attack air divisions were created, consisting of two to four attack air regiments (numbering up to 80 aircraft), and night short-range bomber air divisions. At the end of 1943, most air divisions switched to a three-regiment structure (from 100 to 120 aircraft).

Air Corps. The formation of aviation corps began in the USSR back in 1933, when the union of two to four long-range bomber aviation brigades received DBA corps. In November 1940, the DBA corps included two air divisions. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, one long-range escort fighter air division was formed in each DBA corps. In June-August 1941, the DBA corps were disbanded, and on April 30, 1943 they were organized again. They included two air divisions. In August-September 1942, the formation of the reserve air corps of the Supreme High Command began. Homogeneous and mixed air corps of two or more divisions were created. The corps consisted of from 120 to 270 aircraft. The mixed air corps included two fighter and one attack or bomber air divisions. Subsequently, the organization of mixed air corps was abandoned, and some of the existing ones were transferred to homogeneous ones. In 1941, the formation of air defense fighter aviation corps began, consisting of two or three fighter air divisions.

Army. In January 1936, on the basis of aviation brigades of heavy bombers stationed in the European part of the USSR, a special purpose aviation army (AON-1) was created. March 15, 1937 On Far East AON-2 was formed. Later, AON-3 was formed in the North Caucasus Military District. At first, the staffing structure and composition of AON were unequal. Only in April 1937 was a unified organization established, which included two heavy bomber brigades, one light bomber brigade and one fighter aviation brigade.

They were subordinated directly to the High Command. On November 5, 1940, shortly after the war by Finland, the AON were abolished as they had not justified themselves in a combat situation.

On May 5, 1942, by order of the NKO of the USSR, the 1st Air Army was created, uniting the army and front-line aviation of the Western Front, the army included two fighter air divisions (four fighter air regiments each), two mixed air divisions (each had two fighter air regiments, two attack and one bomber wing), a training wing, a long-range reconnaissance squadron, communications squadrons and a night short-range bomber wing.

During 1942, all other air forces of the active fronts were reorganized into air armies. (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Air Armies). In December 1944, the ADD units were consolidated into the air army, which received the designation 18 VA.

On July 1, 1942, the formation of two fighter and one bomber aviation armies began. It was assumed that each would include three to five air divisions and have 200-300 aircraft. In practice, only the 1st Fighter Aviation Army was created and took part in hostilities.

Serious shortcomings in the organizational structure of the aviation army and the practice of combat operations have shown that it is inappropriate to have an air and aviation army as part of one front. The choice was made in favor of the air army as the highest form of operational unification. Instead of aviation armies, reserve and strike aviation groups, it was decided to create aviation corps and separate aviation divisions of the RVGK (Reserve of the Supreme High Command).