Aeroflot Day: date, history, traditions. When is Air Force Day celebrated, history of military aviation, Russian Air Force

Russian aviation has repeatedly proved its courage in battles, defending our Motherland from the enemy. As a sign of respect for the exploits of military pilots, in memory of those who died in the performance of their duty and the formation of an honorable image of military service among the civilian population, including young people, it is customary in Russia to celebrate Air Force Day every year.

Air force day: honor and heroism above the clouds

The Russian Air Force is assigned such tasks as reconnaissance of enemy groupings, transportation of material resources, manpower and equipment, landing, support for ground forces, warning of an attack, protection from air strikes of its forces and important military-economic regions of the country, and also striking at the military-economic regions of the enemy and his military groupings. As you can see, the Air Force plays one of the key roles in protecting the Russian Federation from enemy invasion.

Moreover, today the presence of a powerful air force in the country is considered an excellent deterrent in the eyes of a potential enemy. After all, with the development of weapons systems, one combat unit of the Air Force is capable of unexpectedly inflicting significant damage on enemy troops, destroying all plans for an attack even at the initial stage. In addition, army aviation ensures the mobility of the armed forces, which makes it possible to ensure the formation of a decisive superiority in equipment and manpower in a specific direction.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans relied on the tactics of a lightning war, which was supposed to bring a quick victory over the Soviet troops. One of the main points was strikes on airfields. The location of military airfields for the Germans was not a mystery, since long before the start of the war, intelligence (including air intelligence) provided data on Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe maps. Having received a directive from the center, the command of the Western, Kiev special, Odessa, Leningrad and Baltic special military districts failed to timely transfer aviation to alternate airfields, which in large numbers were not prepared, and the camouflage of the main positions left much to be desired. Thus, on the first day of the war, the Germans managed to destroy about 1200 aircraft, which ensured complete air supremacy for Nazi Germany.

Experienced aces of the Luftwaffe on aircraft that were superior in technical characteristics to the Soviet ones shot down our pilots. Including the training of the flight personnel of the USSR Air Force was often erroneous. After all, officers were taught that the battle should be fought at high altitude, and the Germans sometimes acted even at the lowest possible heights. But over time, ours learned to beat the Fritz, both on the ground and in the air. Glorious are the feats of hero pilots: Kozhedub, Pokryshkin, Amet-Khan Sultan, Gastello, Rechkalov, Evstigneev and many others, whose name inspired fear in the enemy. With their heroic actions, they formed the tradition of the air forces of our country: resilience, courage, duty (the motto of one of the flying units of Russia).

* To combat the German aces, a special flight unit was created in the USSR, into which talented fighter pilots who won many victories in air battles were recruited. The 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was created in 1942. During the war years, the pilots of this military unit shot down 558 enemy planes, which is the third indicator in the Soviet Union. 28 Heroes of the Soviet Union fought in this regiment, four of which were twice Heroes.

Glorious are the exploits of the pilots who fought far from their homeland, fulfilling orders and international duty. In the mountains of Afghanistan, over the Korean Peninsula, in the skies of Spain, our pilots, risking their lives, often saved the lives of soldiers and officers of ground forces. This clearly shows that oath, duty, honor are sacred concepts that live in the hearts of Russian pilots from generation to generation.

Air Force Day proves how much the role of military aviation is highly valued in Russia. On this day, they remember and honor the pilots who did not return from combat sorties, those whose names are forever inscribed in the history of the Great Victory with golden letters of glory and courage, those who participated in other armed conflicts, fulfilling their international duty in the heavenly heights. It is also customary to congratulate those who have ever served in the air force, or now wear epaulettes with the Air Force emblem.

When is Air Force Day celebrated?

To honor the pilots and everyone associated with army aviation at the state level, there is a holiday Air Force Day, the date of celebration of which by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 29, 1997 No. 949 is set as August 12. The year of foundation of the Air Force in modern Russia is 1992. In 2006, in connection with the signing of the Decree of the President of Russia "On the Establishment of Professional Holidays and Memorable Days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation", the celebration of the Air Force Day was postponed to the same day as the day of the Russian Air Force, to the third Sunday in August.

The history of the celebration of Air Force Day

The history of the formation of the Air Force dates back to the distant 1910, when the Russian Empire purchased aircraft from France. Then two flying schools were founded in Gatchina and Sevastopol, which were under the patronage of Prince Alexander Mikhailovich. Later, with his active participation in Sevastopol, an officer school for aviation was created. But at that time, aircraft were considered an integral part of the engineering troops.

August 12, 1912 is considered the date of birth of military aviation in Russia. It was on this day that Nicholas II signed a decree on the creation of the first aviation unit in the Russian Empire. We are talking about the order of July 12, 1912 No. 397 of the Minister of War Sukhomlinov V.A. about the fact that all affairs of aviation and aeronautics are transferred to the jurisdiction of the aeronautical part of the General Staff. In 1913, the aviation unit was disbanded.

Already in 1918, the Bolsheviks created the workers' and peasants' Red Air Fleet. In 1933, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR approved August 18 as the date for celebrating the All-Union Aviation Day, timed to coincide with the outstanding achievements of the Soviet aviation industry, flight technicians and flight personnel of the Red Army Air Force. Thus, for the first time in the history of the country, a date was set at the state level to celebrate such an event as Air Force Day.

In 1980, the celebration of the Army Aviation Day was moved to the third Sunday of August by the relevant Decree of the Supreme Presidium of the USSR. In 1992, already in the Russian Federation, an appropriate legal document was adopted, by which the date of the celebration of the day of military aviation remained unchanged. In 1997, Air Force Day was established.

Given the historical realities, for military pilots, the new date for the celebration was August 12 until 2006, when the corresponding Presidential Decree was signed. To date, a professional holiday for all those involved in military aviation is the third Sunday of the last summer month.

In 2012, on August 11-12, a large-scale celebration of the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Russian Air Force took place. On this day, a grandiose air show took place in Zhukovsky near Moscow, with the participation of foreign and rare models of equipment (including biplanes from the First World War). In addition, aerobatic teams from Poland, France, Great Britain, Turkey, Latvia, Finland and Italy also took part. The day ended with a grand fireworks display. On the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Air Force, a commemorative medal was issued.

How Russia celebrates Air Force Day, video:

Celebrations on Air Force Day in Russian cities

In Russian cities, the holiday of military aviation is widely celebrated where the Air Force units are deployed. All comers are admitted to the bases, military equipment is shown. Some lucky ones manage to sit at the controls of a combat aircraft or at the controls of a simulator. Aviation shows are held in large cities, in which a group of Russian aces "Russian Knights", "Rus" takes part. On TV on this day they show the Soviet cinema "Heavenly slug" and "Only old men go to battle" and films about military pilots of various production (including the United States). Flowers and wreaths are laid at the graves of pilots. Of course, in small towns and villages where the remains of dead pilots are buried, flowers are laid only on May 9th. In cities where there are sports aviation clubs, small performances of paratroopers and gliders are held.

Air Force Day Balashov

In the city where the Balashov Training Aviation Center is located, on the day of the Air Force, a solemn parade of cadets is held on Yubileinaya Square. After the solemn rally, the formation of cadets passes through the central square. Not only heads of local self-government bodies come to congratulate the personnel of the center, but also members of the “Combat Brotherhood” (societies of city officers).

Air Force Day Moscow

In the capital of the Russian Federation, at the Monino airfield, a parade is held on this day with the participation of all the complexes that are in service with the Air Force. Concerts and competitions are held in Monino, where the prize is a round-trip ticket to any city in Russia by plane. At the same time, special-purpose equipment and transport aviation are demonstrated. In squares and parks, everyone involved in the holiday gathers.

Air Force Day Saint Petersburg

In the village of Nikolskoye, on the third Sunday of August, events are held annually dedicated to Air Force Day. The program usually includes: demonstration jumps, landing accuracy competitions among paratroopers, demonstration aerobatics on sports aircraft, creative teams and artists entertain the public. In addition, a soldier's kitchen is open for everyone.

Air Force Day Kaliningrad

In the westernmost city of Rossi, celebrations also take place on this date. Usually, under the patronage of the command of the Western Military District, an exhibition of both military and civilian flight equipment is organized.

Air Force Day Volgograd

In the hero city, the doors of the Stalingrad Battle Museum are open for everyone. Often there are air shows or an exhibition of combat aircraft. And every year there is a concert on the Volzhan embankment.

Air Force Day Yekaterinburg

Grandiose air shows are held every year at the Uktus airfield, where a large variety of military aviation equipment is presented, ranging from front-line bombers to giant helicopters of the Mi family. City Day in Yekaterinburg is celebrated on the third Saturday of August, which allows you to combine two holidays into one, making it really interesting.

Air Force Day Krasnoyarsk

In Krasnoyarsk, the local aviation club puts on a show. Demonstration skydiving is a tribute to tradition, but flying on a sightseeing Boeing is a novelty. Also, entertainment venues and extreme rides are installed at the airfield.

Air Force Day Irkutsk

Usually all celebrations take place at the city's international airport. In the public garden named after Kirov, a rally and a solemn formation of the personnel of military units and the Irkutsk Higher Military Aviation Engineering School (IVVAIU) are taking place. After laying wreaths at the Eternal Flame, IVVAIU hosts an open day, where everyone can get acquainted with the models of equipment at the training airfield.

Air Force Day Rostov-on-Don

A lot of servicemen from parts of Rostov-on-Don took part in armed conflicts in the North Caucasus, including pilots. In addition, Rostov-on-Don is a large city where the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District is located. Accordingly, the festivities are held here on a wide scale: air shows, demonstration performances (including the landing of troops from helicopters, imitation of a battle) and concerts to the attention of Rostovites.

Air Force Day Vladivostok

The local air force day is notable for the fact that naval aviation takes part in the holiday.

How the Air Force Day is celebrated in Khabarovsk, an interesting video:

Air Force Day in Russia is celebrated on August 12. This date has become a festive day of the calendar since May 31, 2006, it was then that the corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This day is considered their holiday not only by pilots of military aviation, but also by many people involved in aviation. These include aircraft designers, dispatchers, navigators, mechanics and many others, without whose participation the work of domestic aviation is not possible.

Air Force Day (VKS) in 2017 what date: the holiday was celebrated on different days

The date of August 12 was appointed by the President of the Russian Federation not by chance. It was on August 12, 1912, by decree of the last Russian autocrat, that the first military aviation unit was formed. She was subordinate to the then General Staff. Somewhat later, with the development of civil and military aircraft construction, the aviation part expanded to the Imperial Air Fleet. The traditions of that time are honored and kept in the air force to this day.

In 1917, after the revolution, the imperial aviation ceased to exist. The reason for this was the lack of pilots, and the deplorable state of the technology itself. In 1918, the workers' and peasants' Red Air Fleet was created from the remaining equipment. With its development, in 1933, Aviation Day was appointed in honor of the first Soviet aviators, later renamed the Day of the USSR Air Fleet. August 18 was the date of the holiday for many years. This day is traditionally celebrated today by all Air Force veterans. It became the second, but already unofficial holiday.

Officially, the celebration of August 12 acquired its status with the presidential decree of May 31, 2006 "On the establishment of professional holidays and memorable days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."

In connection with the change of the name in 2015 from the air force to the military space, the name of the holiday has also changed. Now it is officially called VKS Day.

The holiday of civil aviators, according to the tradition laid back in the USSR, is celebrated on the third Sunday of August. This year, civilian pilots will celebrate their professional holiday on August 20, almost a week after their military counterparts.

Air Force Day (VKS) in 2017 what date: celebration in Kubinka

Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region will be able to take part in the celebration of the Air Force Day. In Kubinka, in the Patriot military-patriotic amusement park, a grandiose air show will be arranged.

The air show will feature modern advanced aircraft and helicopters of the Russian army. As well as historical restored equipment, which took part in the battles of both world wars.

At the celebration of the main holiday of military aviation, the best aerobatics teams in Russia will show their skills.

On the territory of the Patriot Park it will be possible to see the exhibited samples of domestic and foreign aircraft construction. Try to manage aviation equipment on the simulators and simulators presented here.

Every year on August 12, our country celebrates Air Force Day. Such a tradition appeared in Russia quite recently: in 2006, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree on the establishment of holidays and memorial days in the Armed Forces.

• history of the holiday
• Traditions
• Air Force Day in the USSR
• Air Force Day today

history of the holiday

Despite the fact that Air Force Memorial Days in Russia have been held only since 2006, the roots of the celebration go back as far as 1912. According to some sources, then on August 12, the All-Russian Emperor issued a decree on the founding of the air fleet. However, no official confirmation of this fact was found.
But another document was found - Sukhomlinov's decree on the creation of an aeronautical unit under the command of Shishkevich. Moreover, that decree was issued on July 30, 1912 according to the Julian calendar.

Interesting!
Initially, air units were not designed as combat units. Then the aircraft were used exclusively for reconnaissance. This industry received its growth a little later.

Traditions

The annual celebration of Air Force Day always includes the same attributes:
excursions to military bases;
military aircraft parades;
awards;
holiday concerts.

Air Force Day in the USSR

The Military Council of the USSR established the celebration of the Day of the Air Fleet. August 18 annually. It was believed that this celebration helped to popularize civil and military aviation among the working people.
In addition, it made it possible to combine the celebration with various competitions and competitions.
Honoring aviation continued from 1933 to 1972.

Air Force Day today

Today, Air Force Day is celebrated on August 12 in every corner of our country.
On this day, not only pilots are saluted. There are a lot of people working in aviation today. Among them are employees, and developers, and repairmen, and dispatchers. This is an incomplete list of those who make up the aviation of Russia.

Films are shown in their honor, various sporting events are held, as they were many years ago, they pay tribute to the memory of the pilots who gave their lives defending our Motherland.
We sincerely congratulate everyone who is related to this wonderful industry. Happy upcoming holiday!

The starting point in the creation of military aviation in Russia is considered to be August 12 (July 30, old style) 1912, when an order was signed according to which all issues of organizing military aeronautics and aviation were concentrated in the Aeronautical part of the Main Directorate of the General Staff.

The first aircraft suitable for military use appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1910, the Russian War Ministry began to acquire aircraft and train military pilots. By August 1914, there were already 263 aircraft in Russian military aviation.

During the First World War (1914-1918) there was a quantitative and qualitative development of aviation technology, which increased its role in combat. The military aviation of Russia turned from an auxiliary means of reconnaissance and communications into an independent branch of the ground forces, which included reconnaissance, fighter and bomber aviation. At the final stage of the war, the air forces took part in all major front-line and army operations and had a significant impact on the nature of hostilities.

The Soviet Air Force was created together with the Red Army. In the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs on January 2, 1918 (December 20, 1917, old style), the All-Russian Collegium for the Management of the Air Fleet of the Republic was established, which was entrusted with the leadership of the formation of aviation units, central and local directorates of the Air Fleet, the preservation and preservation of aviation property, training aviation personnel, organization of logistics.

In the same year, the transition to the construction of a regular air force began. On May 24, the Main Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Force was formed, and in September, the Field Directorate of Aviation and Aeronautics of the Army in the Field. By November 1918, the Soviet Air Force had 38, and by December 1920, 83 squadrons (including 18 naval ones). In total, during the years of the Civil War, up to 350 Soviet aircraft operated simultaneously on the fronts.

After its completion, aviation enterprises were restored and partially expanded in a short time, the production of aircraft of domestic designs was launched. In 1924-1933, I-2, I-3, I-4, I-5 fighters, R-1 and R-3 reconnaissance aircraft, TB-1 and TB-3 heavy bombers entered service.

The organizational structure of the Air Force was improved. The Red Air Force in 1924 was transformed into the Air Force of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), which in 1932 received the status of an independent branch of the military and consisted of military aviation (as part of combined arms corps), army aviation (as part of combined arms armies) and front-line (Air Force of military districts). In 1933, heavy bomber aviation became the means of the High Command. In 1938, Soviet naval aviation was withdrawn from the Air Force and became one of the branches of the fleet.

During this period, the combat strength of the Air Force was represented almost exclusively by fourth-generation aircraft (Tu-22M3, Su-24M/MR, Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29 and MiG-31).

The collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 and the events that followed it markedly weakened the Air Force. A significant part of the aviation group (about 35%) remained on the territory of the former Soviet republics (more than 3,400 aircraft, including 2,500 combat aircraft). Also, on their territories, the airfield network most prepared for basing military aviation remained, which, in comparison with the USSR, was almost halved in the Russian Federation (primarily in the Western strategic direction). The level of flight and combat training of Air Force pilots has sharply decreased.

In 1992, Russia began building the Air Force as an integral part of its own Armed Forces. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 16, 1997 "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure", by January 1, 1999, a new branch of the Armed Forces was formed - the Air Force, in which two independent types of Armed Forces: Air Force and Air Defense Troops (Air Defense).

In 2003, army aviation was transferred to the Air Force, in 2005-2006 - part of the military air defense formations and units equipped with S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the new-generation S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the Air Force.

In 2009-2010, serious changes took place in the organizational structure of the Air Force: a transition was made to a two-level (brigade-battalion) command and control system.

Starting from 1935, air parades dedicated to the Day of the USSR Air Force were held in Tushino (Moscow) on weekends, that is, they were not strictly tied to the day of August 18, and sometimes were postponed to another day or even canceled due to weather conditions. Even during the Great Patriotic War, the country celebrated the Day of the USSR Air Fleet, but air parades were not held.

In the period from 1947 to 1961, Air Force Day was celebrated, as a rule, on one of the Sundays in July and was accompanied by an air parade in Tushino. Since 1962, the holiday was celebrated without annual air parades (excluding 1967 and 1977) on August 18, and since 1972 - on the third Sunday of August.

However, the tradition of holding air festivals dedicated to the Day of the USSR Air Force has been preserved at the regional (local) level. Every year, air festivals were held in Zhukovsky, Monino, Kubinka and other cities of aviation.

As the importance of the components of the USSR Air Fleet grew, the USSR Civil Aviation Day appeared (February 9, since 2013 - Civil Aviation Worker Day), Navy Aviation Day (July 17), etc. In 1997, in response to requests from military aviators, the President of the Russian Federation established By its decree, the Day of the Air Force, but the festive events dedicated to it are held on the Day of the Russian Air Force (the third Sunday of August).

Since 2015, based on the maintenance of the historical traditions of the Air Force and the continuity after its reorganization, the Aerospace Forces.

(Additional

Every year in Russia Air Force Day is celebrated on August 12. This date is relevant and upon request, what date will this professional holiday be in 2017. On the holiday, congratulations are received by representatives of military aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, as well as radio engineering troops, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, and do not forget about the space troops.

It should be noted that representatives of the aerospace defense together with the Air Force will celebrate Air Force Day in 2017 as their professional holiday only for the second year in a row. Because, the unification took place only in 2015 and the combined troops began to be called VKS. So, for two years in a row this holiday has been correctly called the Day of the Aerospace Forces, although, of course, the people on the twelfth day of August are known precisely as the Day of the Air Force.

This holiday on August 12 has its roots in 1912. It was then that Decree No. 397 was issued by the Russian Military Department on the topic of putting into effect the Staff of the aeronautical unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff. It was then that the official countdown of military aviation in our country began. So, on August 12, 2017, we must not forget to congratulate everyone who is somehow connected or was connected with the Air Force.

Important! August 12 is not always a day off, and here it should be recalled that festive events are usually postponed to the third Sunday of the last summer month. This year it falls on August 20, when the Russian Air Force Day will be celebrated.

Imperial Air Force

Modern historians agree that during its existence from 1910 to 1917, the Imperial Air Force was one of the best in the world. The first aerodynamic institute was opened in 1904 near Moscow; under the leadership of Zhukovsky, professional pilots began to be trained there.

In all spheres of life in Russia, the October Revolution of 1918 made its own strong and very noticeable adjustments even for modern citizens of the country. It was in this year that the Soviet air force was founded, the first serious test for which was the Spanish civil war of 1936-1939, then the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939 brought huge losses to this branch of the military.

Then, of course, the Great Patriotic War happened. In June 1941, at the very beginning of the war, the Air Force suffered huge losses, destroyed and captured the opponents about two thousand aircraft, while the Nazis at that time lost only about three dozen of their fighters. After the end of the war, the government of the USSR thought about how to improve the Air Force, carried out a serious and deep modernization, new pieces of equipment began to be introduced, which numbered in the tens of thousands. By the early 1990s, the country's air force had at its disposal one of the most powerful air bases in the world.

Separation of the Air Force after the collapse of the USSR

When the USSR collapsed, it was necessary to decide how to divide the huge base between 14 new independent republics. As a result, 40% of aviation equipment and 65% of pilots went to Russia. Since that moment, the Russian Federation has been the only country in the post-Soviet space that has long-range strategic aviation.

Russian Air Force Day date 2017 is celebrated on August 12, it is necessary to congratulate the representatives of all branches of the military that were mentioned in this material. The Russian Federation today has a strong Air Force and, if necessary, can give a serious rebuff to any invader. Not only equipment is distinguished by professionalism, but also Russian pilots, who are still undergoing serious training and are among the most professionally trained in the world.