Engels-2

Engels-2
Энгельс-2
Saratov, Russia in Russia
Engels-2 Location of Engels-2
Coordinates	51°28′52″N 046°12′38″E / 51.48111°N 46.21056°E / 51.48111; 46.21056Coordinates: 51°28′52″N 046°12′38″E / 51.48111°N 46.21056°E / 51.48111; 46.21056
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Russian Air Force
Condition	Operational
Site history
Built	1952 (1952)
Built by	Soviet Armed Forces
In use	1954 - Current
Garrison information
Garrison	184th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: none, ICAO: XWSG
Elevation	37 metres (121 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 04/22 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) Concrete

Engels Air Force Base (also given as Engels-2 or Engel's) is a strategic military airbase in Russia located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Saratov. Engels is a major bomber operations base, and is Russia's sole operating location for the Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers. The base contains a 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) runway and about 10 large revetments. It is named after the nearby Engels City, which in its turn is named after the Communist philosopher, Friedrich Engels.

In 1930, the construction of a military pilots school began 1.5 km from the town of Engels, in a vacant lot. The 14th School of Pilots was activated at Engels on December 15, 1930. Around 10,000 people worked on the site. On February 16, 1932 the first airplane, a Polikarpov U-2 used the site. Reportedly that same day the school was renamed the Engels School of Pilots. By 1936 the Engels military aviation school was one of the best flight schools in the country. Students flew Polikarpov U-2, Polikarpov R-5 and CSS aircraft. Prior to the Second World War the school trained several thousand pilots. Many of them fought in the Spanish Civil War, participated in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol and the Soviet-Finnish War (1939–1940). For participation in the fighting seven pupils were named Heroes of the Soviet Union.

At the beginning of the Second World War the school had in service Polikarpov U-2, ANT-40, Pe-2, and others aircraft. During the war years the Engels Flying School sent to the front 14 regiments. Among them were three women's regiments (including the Night Witches), in which served Major Marina Raskova. 190 pupils of the school were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for combat exploits.