16th Air Army

16th Air Army - 16th LA -
Association badge for veterans of the 16th Air Army
active	August 8, 1942 to August 11, 2009
Country	Soviet Union Russian Federation
Armed forces	Soviet Army , Russian Armed Forces
Armed forces	Soviet Air Force , Russian Air Force
Insinuation	WGT
Stationing place	Wünsdorf ( location )
Calls	Second World War
Awards	Guard Association Order of the Red Banner
commander
last in command	Aleksandr Belevich
Important commanders	SI Rudenko
insignia
Air Army	XXXX

The 16th Air Army ( Russian 16-ая воздушная армия ) of the Soviet Air Force was a large unit of the Soviet Army . It was erected during the Second World War and was stationed in the GDR as part of the GSSD during the Cold War .

history

Medal for the 70th anniversary of the 16th Air Army

Second World War

The 16th Air Army was formed on August 8, 1942 on the basis of units and units of the 8th Air Army (220th Fighter Division and 228th Attack Division). At the end of August / beginning of September the 283rd fighter division and the 291st mixed aviation division from the reserves at headquarters were added. The initial inventory on September 4 was 152 aircraft of the types Jak-1 , LaGG-3 , Il-2 and Pe-2 . By the time the first missions began, their number was increased to 300.

The first missions took place from September 4, 1942. In the stock of the Stalingrad , the Don , the Central , the Belarusian and finally the 1st Belarusian front , she took part in the Battle of Stalingrad (1942/1943), the Battle of Kursk In 1943, he took part in the reconquest of the Ukraine east of the Dnepr and eastern Belarus, in the promotion of the Dnepr, the Bagration operation , the Vistula-Oder operation , the East Pomerania - and the Berlin operation . By the summer of 1944, the number of aircraft had increased tenfold compared to the initial inventory. In the spring of 1945, the 16th Air Army consisted of about 28 air divisions and five independent air regiments with a total of 3,033 aircraft. Specifically, there were 1,548 fighters and 687 attack aircraft , 533 day and 151 night bombers and 114 reconnaissance aircraft . The commanders were Major General P. S. Stepanow (August – September 1942) and Major General S. I. Rudenko (October 1942 – May 1945; promoted to Lieutenant General in January 1943 and Colonel General in May 1945).

By the end of the war, around 290,000 sorties had been flown, during which around 3,700 tanks and armored vehicles, 10,000 guns and grenade launchers, 40,000 motor vehicles and 766 aircraft were destroyed on the ground or severely damaged. In around 6,000 air battles, 5,175 enemy aircraft were shot down. 200 members were named Heroes of the Soviet Union , three twice and one pilot - Iwan Koschedub as a member of the 176th Fighter Pilot Regiment and the most successful Allied fighter pilot - was three times Hero of the Soviet Union. A third of the air regiments were appointed guard units .

Cold War

IL-28R reconnaissance aircraft of the 16th Air Army in Welzow (1956)

The 16th Air Army took over some partially destroyed airfields from the Wehrmacht , including Finow , Wittstock and Werneuchen, and restored them for their own purposes, others such as Groß-Dölln / Templin , Allstedt and Cochstedt were new buildings. From the end of the 1940s, the air bases were continuously expanded due to the more space taking up jet aircraft, including through extended runways. From August 1949 to April 1968 the association was called the 24th Air Army. The cover name was WIMPEL . The 16th Air Army formed the largest operational unit within the Soviet Union's air force and had the most modern weapons systems in the Soviet Union. When the Warsaw Pact collapsed, its inventory included 842 aircraft and 743 helicopters stationed at 30 airports. The units of the 16th Air Army were withdrawn from Germany from 1991 to 1994 after the collapse of the Soviet Union and integrated into the armed forces of Russia , Belarus and the Ukraine or dissolved.

Associations of the 16th Air Army (status: end of 1977)

Monument with MiG-17 and the inscription Glory of Soviet Aviation on Grossenhain Airfield

Damgarten Wittstock Finow Larz Gross Dolln Neuruppin Merseburg Falkenberg Altenburg Zerbst Koethen Jueterbog Grossenhain fire Finsterwalde Welzow Sperenberg Allstedt Werneuchen Parchim Wittenberg

Deployment of the 16th Air Army in 1977

The 16th Air Army was stationed in the GDR in 1977 and was equipped with MiG-21 , MiG-23 , MiG-25 , MiG-27 , Su-7 and Su-17 aircraft. The staff of the air army was at Wünsdorf .

The following units were subordinate to the Air Army: (The list only includes those units whose weapon systems were intended to be used as carriers for nuclear weapons. Therefore, there is no claim to completeness, since units with aircraft and helicopters with transport, liaison, reconnaissance, target display and radio electronic tasks were not mentioned according to the source)

• 931. Independent Guards Reconnaissance Air Regiment directly subordinate to Werneuchen
• 61st Air Guard Corps near Wittenberg
  • 6th Guard Fighter Division near Merseburg
    • 31st Guards Fighter Regiment near Falkenberg
    • 85th Guards Fighter Regiment near Merseburg
    • 296th Fighter Regiment near Altenburg
  • 126th Fighter Division near Zerbst
    • 35th fighter regiment near Zerbst
    • 73rd Guards Fighter Regiment near Koethen
    • 833th fighter regiment near Jueterbog
  • 105th Fighter Bombing Division near Grossenhain
    • 116th Guards Hunting Bomb Regiment near Brand / Briesen (district of Halbe )
    • 497th Fighter Bombing Regiment near Grossenhain
    • 559th Fighter Bombing Regiment near Finsterwalde

• 71st Air Guard Corps near Wittstock / Dosse
  • 16th Guard Fighter Aviation Division near Damgarten
    • 33rd fighter regiment near Wittstock
    • 773rd fighter regiment near Damgarten
    • 787th fighter regiment near Finow
  • 125th Jad Bomb Aviation Division near Rechlin
    • 19th Guards Bombing Regiment near Lärz
    • 20th Guard Hunting Bomb Regiment near Groß Dölln
    • 730th Fighter Bombing Regiment near Neuruppin

Associations of the 16th Air Army (status: end of 1982)

MiG-27K of the 559th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Finsterwalde

This list does not include helicopter squadrons and regiments of the Soviet land forces. A distinction is not made between individual versions of the aircraft and helicopters listed. The total number of 908 aircraft and helicopters continued to grow. a. of 411 fighters, 264 fighter and front bomb planes, 117 reconnaissance planes and helicopters as well as those for radio electronic combat and command, 116 training planes, 19 transport and liaison aircraft, 22 target display aircraft and some transport and liaison helicopters. Aviation units with fighter and fighter-bomb planes had 51 to 56 single and double-seaters in each regiment. The major association with the designation “16. Luftarmee "operated as" Air Force of the Soviet Armed Forces in Germany "from the beginning to the end of the eighties and is retained here for the sake of clarity.

• 71st Fighter Corps in Wittstock , consisting of:
  • 16th Guards Fighter Division in Damgarten
    • 33rd fighter regiment in Wittstock with MiG-23
    • 773rd fighter regiment in Damgarten with MiG-21
    • 787th fighter regiment in Finow with MiG-23 and MiG-25
  • 125th Fighter Bombing Division in Rechlin
    • 19th Guards Bombing Regiment in Lärz with Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27
    • 20th Guard Hunting Bomb Regiment in Groß Dölln with Sukhoi Su-17
    • 730th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Neuruppin with Su-17

• The following three aviation divisions were directly subordinate to the headquarters of the 16th Air Army:
  • 6th Guard Fighter Division in Merseburg
    • 31st Guards Fighter Regiment in Falkenberg with MiG-23
    • 85th Guards Fighter Regiment in Merseburg with MiG-23
    • 296th Fighter Bomb Pilot Regiment in Altenburg with MiG-21
  • 126th Fighter Division in Zerbst
    • 35th fighter regiment in Zerbst
    • 73rd Guards Fighter Regiment in Koethen with MiG-23
    • 833th fighter regiment in Jüterbog with MiG-23
  • 105th Fighter Bombing Division in Grossenhain
    • 116th Guards Bomb Pilot Regiment on fire with Su-24
    • 497th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Grossenhain with Su-17
    • 559th Fighter Bomb Pilot Regiment in Finsterwalde with MiG-27

The following independent associations were directly subordinate to the staff of the Air Army:

• Reconnaissance flight associations
  • 11. Independent reconnaissance regiment in Neu-Welzow with Jak-28
  • 39. Independent reconnaissance flight department in Sperenberg with Il-20
  • 294th Independent reconnaissance regiment in Allstedt with Su-17
  • 931st Independent Guards Reconnaissance Regiment in Werneuchen with MiG-25 and Jak-28
• Transport and liaison associations
  • 226th Independent Mixed Air Regiment in Sperenberg with An-12 , An-24 , An-26 , Tu-134 and Mi-8
• Training associations
  • Independent target towing squadron in Damgarten with Il-28
  • Independent target tug squadron in Parchim with Il-28
• Associations for radio electronic combat
  • 292nd Independent helicopter squadron in Allstedt with Mi-8

Associations of the 16th Air Army (as of early 1989)

MiG-29 of the 16th Air Army approaching Eberswalde Finow airfield

The following units were subordinate to the Air Army (the list also includes units that were relocated to the Soviet Union as part of a disarmament initiative in July 1989 or dissolved by the end of 1990. Individual units converted from MiG-23 to MiG-29 in 1989 or transferred selected ones Aircraft types such as MiG-23M / ML / MLD, MiG-25PD / BM , Jak-28PP and Su-24MP still or withdrew to the Soviet Union. According to the source, two-seat combat aircraft versions of a main type for training purposes are not mentioned):

• 71st Fighter Corps in Wittstock ( Lage ), consisting of:
  • 16th Guard Fighter Aviation Division in Damgarten ( Lage )
    • 33rd fighter regiment in Wittstock ( Lage ) with MiG-29
    • 773rd Fighter Regiment in Damgarten ( Lage ) with MiG-23MLD
    • 787th fighter regiment in Finow ( Lage ) with MiG-23M and MiG-25PD
  • 125th Fighter Bombing Division in Rechlin
    • 19th Guards Bombing Regiment in Lärz ( Lage ) with MiG-27K (around 1989 replacement of aircraft with the 559th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Finsterwalde )
    • 20th Guards Bombing Regiment in Groß Dölln ( Lage ) with Su-17M-3 (around 1990 exchange of aircraft with the 730th Bombing Regiment in Neuruppin )
    • 730th Fighter Bomb Pilot Regiment in Neuruppin ( Lage ) with Su-17M-4 (around 1990 replacement of aircraft with the 20th Guard Bomb Pilot Regiment in Groß Dölln)
• 61st Air Guard Corps in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, consisting of:
  • 6th mixed guards flying division in Merseburg (determination of the division not certain)
    • 31st Guards Fighter Regiment in Falkenberg with MiG-29S
    • 85th Guard Fighter Regiment in Merseburg with MiG-29
    • 296th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Altenburg with MiG-27D (moved to Großenhain in July 1989 , instead the 968th Fighter Regiment with MiG-29 coming from Ross (Belarus) newly stationed in Altenburg)
  • 126th Fighter Division in Zerbst
    • 35th fighter regiment in Zerbst
    • 73rd Guards Fighter Regiment in Koethen with MiG-23ML
    • 833th Fighter Regiment in Jüterbog with MiG-23MLD
  • 105th Mixed Aviation Division in Grossenhain (determination of the division not confirmed)
    • 116th Guard Bomb Pilot Regiment on fire with Su-24M (moved to Ross in the Soviet Union in July 1989 , instead the 911th Fighter Bomb Pilot Regiment with MiG-27K from Lida (Belarus) arriving in the Soviet Union on fire again stationed)
    • 497th Bombing Regiment in Großenhain with Su-24 (moved to Lida in the Soviet Union in July 1989, instead the 296th Fighter Bombing Regiment with MiG-27D coming from Altenburg is newly stationed in Großenhain)
    • 559th Fighter Bombing Regiment in Finsterwalde with MiG-27D (around 1989 replacement of the aircraft with the 19th Guard Fighter Bombing Regiment in Lärz)

Independent associations

The following independent associations were directly subordinate to the staff of the Air Army:

• Reconnaissance flight associations
  • 11th independent reconnaissance regiment in Neu-Welzow with Su-24MR and Su-24MP
  • 39. Independent reconnaissance flight department in Sperenberg with Il-20
  • 294th Independent Reconnaissance Regiment in Allstedt with Su-17M-4R
  • 931st Independent Guard Reconnaissance Regiment in Werneuchen with MiG-25RB (various sub-versions), MiG-25BM and Jak-28PP
• Telecommunications associations
  • 118th News Brigade (Wünsdorf)
  • 119th News Brigade (Leipzig)
  • 132nd Intelligence Brigade (Treuenbrietzen)
• Attack flight associations
  • 357th Independent Attack Regiment in Brandis with Su-25 and L-39C Albatros
  • 368th Independent Attack Regiment in Tutow with Su-25 and L-39C Albatros
• Transport and liaison associations
  • 226th Independent Mixed Air Regiment in Sperenberg with An-12 , An-24 , An-26 , Tu-134 and Mi-8
• Training associations
  • 65th Independent target tow pilot squadron in Damgarten with MiG-23M, Su-25BM and L-39C Albatros
• Associations for radio electronic combat
  • 292nd Independent helicopter squadron in Cochstedt with Mi-8 (various sub-versions) and Mi-9

Most of the Soviet helicopter forces stationed in the GDR were subordinate to the army aviation forces and were therefore not part of the 16th Air Army.

Commander

The following officers were appointed to command the 16th Air Army :

1. Stepanow, Pawel Stepanowitsch (1942) - Lieutenant General der Flieger (GenLtn der Flieger), temporarily entrusted with the leadership
2. Rudenko, Sergei Ignatjewitsch (1942–1947) - Colonel General of the Aviators (Colonel General of the Aviators)
3. Agalzow, Filipp Alexandrowitsch (1947–1949) - GenLt der Flieger
4. Sabaluev, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich (1949–1950) - Major General of the Aviators (GenMaj the Aviators)
5. Vershinin, Konstantin Andrejewitsch (1950–1951) - GenLt the aviator
6. Podgorny, Ivan Dmitrievich (1951–1954) - GenLt the aviator
7. Loginow, Evgeni Fjodorowitsch (1954–1956) - GenLt der Flieger
8. Simin, Georgi Wassiljewitsch (1956–1960) - GenLt the aviator
9. Pstygo, Iwan Iwanowitsch (1960–1967) - GenLt the aviator
10. Katritsch, Alexei Nikolajewitsch (1967–1973) - GenLt der Flieger
11. Babajew, Alexander Ivanovich (1973–1978) - GenLt the aviator
12. Korotschkin, Vladimir Fyodorowitsch (1978–1983) - GenLt der Flieger
13. Gorjainow, Alexei Semjonowitsch (1983–1987) - GenLt der Flieger
14. Shaposhnikov, Yevgeny Ivanovich (1987–1988) - GenLt der Flieger
15. Tarassenko, Anatoli Fjodorowitsch (1988–1993) - GenLt der Flieger
16. Kasatschkin, Boris Iwanowitsch (1993–1998) - GenLt the aviator
17. Retunski, Valeri Alexandrowitsch (1998-2007) - GenLt the aviator
18. Belewitsch, Alexander Michailowitsch (2007–2009) - GenMaj the aviator

Web links

Commons : 16th Air Army  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

• Состав соединений и частей 16-й воздушной армии. Retrieved August 21, 2018 (Russian, composition and units of the 16th Air Army). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Richard Lakowski: Seelow 1945. The decisive battle on the Oder. Mittler, Hamburg 2011 (8th edition), ISBN 978-3-8132-0934-1 , p. 199.
2. ^ Lutz Freundt: Soviet Air Force Germany 1945-1994. Airfields (part 2) and units. Volume 2. Edition Freundt Eigenverlag, Diepholz, 1998. ISBN 3-00-002665-7 . P. 28.
3. ^ Stefan Büttner: Soviet atomic bombs in Europe , Flieger Revue extra , 22nd issue, 2008, pp. 30–53.
4. ↑ Günter Lippert: The GSTD - Four decades of Soviet troops in Germany , Soldier and Technology, Nov. 1986, p 624th
5. ↑ Stefan Büttner / Martin Ebert: How the Kremlin gave up the GDR , Flieger Revue extra, 24th issue, 2009, pp. 6–31.
6. ^ Soviet troops in Germany 1945 to 1994, memorial album, Moscow edition, «Junge Garde» publishing house, 1994; ISBN 5-235-02221-1 , page 22.
7. ^ Frank Tausche / Stephan counters: 50 years on the front line: The 16th Air Army. In: Flieger Revue 8/1994. P. 15.

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