The Soviet Air Forces (Russian: Военно-Воздушные Силы Союза Советских Социалистических Республик, tr.Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily Soyuza Sovetskih Sotsialisticheskih Respublik, VVS SSSR; literally "Military Air Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics"; initialism VVS, sometimes referred to as the "Red Air Force", were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces were formed from components of the Imperial Russian Air Service in 1917, and faced their greatest test during World War II. The groups were also involved in the Korean War, and dissolved along with the Soviet Union itself in 1991–92. Former Soviet Air Forces' assets were subsequently divided into several air forces of former Soviet republics, including the new Russian Air Force. The "March of the Pilots" was its marching song.
The Ukrainian Air Force is the air force of Ukraine and one of the six branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The main inventory of the air force still consists of Soviet-made aircraft, but pilots are training to fly the F-16.
The Russian Air Force is a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the latter being formed on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. The modern VVS was originally established on 7 May 1992 following Boris Yeltsin's creation of the Ministry of Defence. However, the Russian Federation's air force can trace its lineage and traditions back to the Imperial Russian Air Service (1912–1917) and the Soviet Air Forces (1918–1991).
Migalovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 10 km west of Tver. It is a large military airlift base. It currently houses all of Russia's remaining Antonov An-22 fleet. It is an Ilyushin Il-76 base, with some Antonov An-12 aircraft stored.
Chelyabinsk Shagol is a military airfield of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.
The 5th Army of VVS and PVO was the Russian Air Force's smallest Air Army, with the headquarters located in Yekaterinburg. Its zone of responsibility was the Volga-Ural Military District, on the border between Europe and Asia.
There existed an evolved system of military education in the Soviet Union that covered a wide range of ages. The Soviet Armed Forces had many tri-service educational opportunities as well as educational institutions for the Ground Forces, the Air Forces, and the Navy. The Soviet Border Troops, the KGB and the Internal Troops also maintained service academies.
The Forces of central subordination of the Russian Air Force report directly to the Headquarters of the Air Force. This listing is believed to be as of August 2008.
Baherove Air Base is an air base in Baherove, Crimea. It is located 3 km northwest of Baherove village, and 14 km northwest of Kerch. The airfield is an "out-of-class" airport, which can accommodate aircraft of all types. The airfield was abandoned in 1996.
The Chelyabinsk Military Aviation Institute of Navigators is a Russian Aerospace Forces school, located in Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport. The previous name's translation was the Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation Red Banner Navigation School named after the 50th anniversary of the Komsomol (CHVVAKUSH) (Russian: Челябинское высшее военное авиационное краснознамённое училище штурманов им 50-летия ВЛКСМ, ЧВВАКУШ).
The Zhukovsky – Gagarin Air Force Academy is a Russian military institution of higher education run by the Russian Aerospace Forces. The full name is Russian Air Force Military Educational and Scientific Center Air Force Academy Professor N.E. Zhukovsky and Major Y.A. Gagarin based in Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast in southern Russia.
The 17th Air Army was an Air army of the Red Air Force and Soviet Air Forces from 1942.
The 8th Separate Army of the Air Defence Forces was a Soviet military formation established in 1960. Army headquarters was in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR.
Ivan Alekseyevich Vorobyov was an Il-2 pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
The Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University is a state university administered by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and is located in the city of Kharkiv. The university is named in honor of the Soviet and Ukrainian military pilot Ivan Kozhedub.
The Syzran Higher Military Aviation School is a military academy of the Russian Aerospace Forces, responsible for training airmen of the Russian Armed Forces. It is a branch of the Zhukovsky – Gagarin Air Force Academy.
Mikhail Tikhonovich Stepanishchev was a Soviet ground-attack pilot and navigator during World War II who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
The 712th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment is a fighter aviation regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Part of the 21st Mixed Aviation Division of the 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army, the regiment is based at Kansk air base and flies the Mikoyan MiG-31BM.
Aleksandr Ivanovich Pomazunov was a Soviet military aviation navigator. He participated in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, and the Second World War. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1945, and had the rank of Guard Major.
The I. S. Polbin Orenburg Red Banner Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots was a flight training school of the Soviet Air Force, located in the city of Orenburg. One of the oldest flight schools in the air force, the school was established in Moscow in 1921, and moved to Orenburg in 1927. The school was disbanded in 1993.
