940th Fighter Aviation Regiment
| 940th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (1960–1988) 940th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1942–1960) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1988 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union
|
| Branch | Soviet Air Force |
| Type | Aviation Regiment |
| Garrison/HQ | Postavy |
| Engagements | Korean War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lev Schukin |
| Aircraft flown | |
| MiG-27 | |
The 940th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (940th IBAP/APIB since 1976) was an aviation regiment of the Soviet Air Force. It was formed in 1942 in the Soviet Far East and fought in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. During the last months of the Korean War, the regiment was relocated to China, but did not fight in combat due to the end of the war. After the end of the latter it was transferred to Belarus, where it served for the remainder of the Cold War, being converted into a fighter-bomber regiment in 1960.
The 940th Fighter Aviation Regiment (IAP) was formed on 5 August 1942 at the 3rd Rail Siding airfield in Chita Oblast from the personnel of the 24th Reserve Aviation Regiment and 541st Short-Range Bomber Aviation Regiment, equipped with the then-obsolete Polikarpov I-16 fighter. The regiment was part of the 245th Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Force of the Transbaikal Front. Ten days after its formation, the 245th became part of the 12th Air Army in the same front. On 5 December, the regimental commander led a detachment transferring to the Eastern Front, where it became part of the 160th Fighter Aviation Regiment. The 245th transferred to the 9th Air Army on 8 July 1943. In November, the division became part of the 12th Air Army again, and a month later, the regiment received newer Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters.
On 14 April 1945, Colonel Pavel Dolzhenko took command of the regiment, which he led until 25 January 1947. From August 1945, the regiment was based in Mongolia. On 8 August, it had 38 Yak-9s and fought in the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria, which began the next day. During the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, which ended on 3 September, the regiment flew 256 sorties, 59 of which provided air cover from ground troops, 4 to escort transport planes, 67 reconnaissance, and 126 against Japanese airfields. The 940th did not see air combat, and lost a Yak-9 and a Yakovlev Yak-7V in operational accidents.
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