Russian Air Force Day

A stamp in honor of Air Fleet Day in 1939.
A stamp in honor of Air Fleet Day in 1948.

Russian Air Force Day (Russian: День Военно-воздушных сил, romanized: Den Voyenno-vozdushnykh) is a professional military holiday of Russia celebrated on 12 August to honor the active and reserve personnel, as well as veterans of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

History

Air Fleet Day (Russian: День Воздушного Флота, romanized: Den Vozdushnogo Flota), also known as the Air Forces Day or Soviet Aviation Day[1] was established in 1933[2] and was celebrated on the third Sunday of August.[3][4][5] The first aviation exhibition was held on 18 August 1933,[1][6] at the initiative of Yakov Alksnis at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome.[7] Future air parades were held at Tushino Airfield, where they remained for decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million people,[7][8]

Soviet Air Force Day was enshrined by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 1 October 1980. On 28 September 1992, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia fixed this date as Russian Air Force Day.[9] The modern holiday was introduced to the Russian Armed Forces by President Vladimir Putin on 31 May 2006.[10][11][12] The date was chosen based on the fact that 12 August 1912 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Imperial Russian Air Service,[13][14][15] which was formerly part of the Engineer Corps.[16] 12 August is today considered to be the birthday of Russian military aviation.[17]

Celebrations

Festive events dedicated to the holiday are held annually.[18][19] Air shows are commonly held at Zhukovsky Airport. Solemn events are held at the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans.[20] The 2012 Air Force Day celebrations marked the centennial of Russian military aviation, being attended by President Vladimir Putin.[21]

Gallery

  • Su-34s flying over Zhukovsky in 2012.
    Su-34s flying over Zhukovsky in 2012.
  • Members of Russian military bands on Air Force Day in 2020.
    Members of Russian military bands on Air Force Day in 2020.
  • Vladimir Putin with Air Force veterans after the flypast.
    Vladimir Putin with Air Force veterans after the flypast.
  • A flypast with the number "100" to honor the centennial of the Russian Air Force.
    A flypast with the number "100" to honor the centennial of the Russian Air Force.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Pre-history of MAKS - provides the complete information on Russian and Soviet air shows.
  2. ^ Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decree 859 of 28.04.1933
  3. ^ Petrone, Karen (2000). Life has become more joyous, comrades: Celebrations in the time of Stalin. ISBN 978-0-253-33768-9.
  4. ^ "Airmen celebrate their professional holiday". Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Russian Life magazine". Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  6. ^ Curiously, the August 17, 1933, was the date of the first launch of Soviet rocket - GIRD-09. Albrecht, Ulrich; Nikutta, Randolph (October 1993). The Soviet armaments industry. ISBN 978-3-7186-5313-3.
  7. ^ a b Everett-Heath, John (1983-05-10). Soviet helicopters: Design, development and tactics. ISBN 978-0-7106-0259-6.
  8. ^ Higham, Robin D. S; Greenwood, John T; Hardesty, Von (1998). Russian aviation and air power in the twentieth century. ISBN 978-0-7146-4784-5.
  9. ^ InfoPravo — Постановление президиума Верховного Совета Российской Федерации от 28.09.1992 № 3564-1 Об установлении праздника День Воздушного флота России.
  10. ^ Армия России | На службе Отечеству — Праздничные дни в ВС России.
  11. ^ Decree 3564-1 of September 28, 1992: "The establishment of the Russian Air Fleet Day" (Russian: Об установлении праздника День Воздушного флота России)
  12. ^ Decree 949 of 29 August 1997: "On establishing the Day of the Air Force" (Russian: Об установлении Дня Военно-воздушных сил) and a revision 549 of 31 May 2006.
  13. ^ "12 августа в России отмечается 108-я годовщина со дня образования ВВС".
  14. ^ "Day of Air Fleet of Russia celebrating in 2021 at 15 august - Russian holidays".
  15. ^ "Россия отмечает День Военно-воздушных сил — Российская газета".
  16. ^ Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201–208
  17. ^ 12 августа — День Военно-воздушных сил (День ВВС) России — ОРУЖИЕ РОССИИ Информационное агентство
  18. ^ "Когда и как отмечают День военно-воздушных сил России в 2020 году". 12 August 2020.
  19. ^ УКАЗ Президента РФ от 29.08.97 N 949 (ред. от 31.05.2006) «ОБ УСТАНОВЛЕНИИ ДНЯ ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫХ СИЛ»
  20. ^ "В Московском Доме ветеранов войн и Вооруженных Сил прошли торжественные мероприятия, посвященные Дню ВВС : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации".
  21. ^ "Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force".
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