95th Fighter Aviation Division

The 95th Fighter Aviation Division (95th IAD) was a fighter aviation division of the Soviet Air Forces. The division was originally formed in 1949 as the 95th Mixed Aviation Division and became a fighter aviation division in 1954. It was disbanded in 1988 and was based in Shchuchyn from 1960. [1]

95th Mixed Aviation Division (1949–1954)
95th Fighter Aviation Division (1954–1988)
Active1949–1988
Country Soviet Union
BranchSoviet Air Forces
TypeAviation division
Garrison/HQShchuchyn

History

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The 95th Mixed Aviation Division was formed in July 1949 in Markovo, part of the 29th Air Army. It was composed of the 214th Guards Transport Aviation Regiment and the 911th Fighter Aviation Regiment. In December 1953, the division was transferred west to Byaroza and became a fighter aviation division in 1954. It was subordinated to the 26th Air Army. In 1955, it included the 911th, 940th and the 968th Fighter Aviation Regiments.[1] Between 1957 and 1959, future cosmonaut Dmitri Zaikin served as a chief pilot in the division.[2]

The division relocated to Shchuchyn in 1960. Its 911th and 940th Fighter Aviation Regiments were transferred and replaced by the 927th (ru:927-й истребительный авиационный полк) at Bereza and 979th Fighter Aviation Regiments. In April 1980, the division became part of the Belorussian Military District VVS after the 26th Air Army was renamed. Elements of the 927th and 979th Fighter Aviation Regiments fought in the Soviet-Afghan War.[3][4] The division was disbanded in June 1988. [1]

The 927th Fighter Aviation Regiment became part of the Belarus Air Force after the collapse of the Soviet Union.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Holm, Michael. "95th Fighter Aviation Division". ww2.dk. Retrieved 17 Jan 2016.
  2. ^ Burgess, Colin; Hall, Rex (2009-03-27). The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team: Their Lives and Legacies. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9780387848242.
  3. ^ "95я истребительная дивизия" [95th Fighter Aviation Division]. scucin-avia.narod.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  4. ^ "Авиация БВО в небе Афганистана | Во славу Родины – Свежий выпуск" [Belarusian Military District Aviation over Afghanistan]. vsr.mil.by (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  5. ^ "927-Й ЦЕНТР ПОДГОТОВКИ И ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ БЕСПИЛОТНЫХ АВИАЦИОННЫХ КОМПЛЕКСОВ | Во славу Родины – Свежий выпуск" [927th Centre for Preparation and Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems]. vsr.mil.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-01-18.