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Vozdvizhenka (air base)

Vozdvizhenka
Russian Air Force roundel 2010-2013.svg
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Russian Air Force
Location Vozdvizhenka, Primorsky Krai
Built Unknown
In use april 1933–present
Elevation AMSL 135 ft / 41 m
Coordinates 43°54′44″N 131°55′04″E / 43.91222°N 131.91778°E / 43.91222; 131.91778Coordinates: 43°54′44″N 131°55′04″E / 43.91222°N 131.91778°E / 43.91222; 131.91778
Map
Vozdvizhenka is located in Primorsky Krai
Vozdvizhenka
Vozdvizhenka
Location in Primorsky Krai
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 9,840 3,000 Asphalt

Vozdvizhenka is an air base in Primorsky Krai located close to the village of Vozdvizhenka. This base was dedicated to Pacific heavy long-range bomber fleet, housing the 444th Berlin Order of Kutuzov 3rd degree and Alexander Nevsky Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, part of the 326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, 37th Air Army.

A declassified CIA document from 1969 showed this was the only base east of the Urals that had the Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder aircraft. Later in the 1970s onward the regiment consisted of supersonic long-range Tu-22M3 bombers.

The 444th Regiment was disbanded in 2009, with some aircraft transferred to the Belaya air base, and others dismantled (removed engines, equipment, and with holes cut in the fuselage). The aircraft carcasses are awaiting final metal cutting. Currently based at the airfield is the aviation commandant of Khurba airbase and the 322 Aircraft Repair Factory (322 ARZ).

On Saturday, April 18, 1942, Captain York's B-25 (serial number 40-2242) landed here after participating in the Doolittle Raid. In doing so, it became the only one of 16 launched B-25s that did not crash or was ditched. The aircraft was confiscated and its crew was interned and interviewed by the commander of the base at that time, Col. Kovalev. They were moved from the base the next morning.

Stationed at the airbase were:

Piotr Butowski writes that the 444th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment was stationed in North Korea (Holm says Khanko-2 (Hamsung), North Korea, 9.1945 - 7.1948) until its return to Pozdeevka, Amur Oblast, where it was stationed from July 1948 - 1953. In 1953 the 444th Regiment moved to Vozdvizhenka. It operated Tupolev Tu-4s from September 1951 to 1957 (exact dates Holm), and from that time until 1991-92 Tupolev Tu-16 variants. The Tu-16K was in service from 1975.

As of 1991 444th TBAP was part of the 55th Heavy Bomber Air Division, 30th Air Army, with Tu-16K aircraft in service.


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