1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps
The 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps ( '1st Gv shak' ) was a military formation of the Red Air Force during the Second World War, and the Soviet Air Force until 1949. It was then renamed the 60th Guards Assault Aviation Corps, and active until 1956.[1] Its primary aircraft was the Ilyushin Il-2 'Sturmovik'.
In the Battle of Kursk (Operation Citadel), General V. Ryazanov became a master in the use of attack aircraft en masse, developing and improving the tactics of Il-2 operations in co-ordination with infantry, artillery and armored troops. Il-2s at Kursk used the "circle of death" tactic: up to eight Sturmoviks formed a defensive circle, each plane protecting the one ahead with its forward machine guns, while individual Il-2s took turns leaving the circle, attacking a target, and rejoining the circle.[2] Ryazanov was later awarded the Gold Star of Hero of Soviet Union twice, and the 1st Assault Aircraft Corps under his command became the first unit to be awarded the honorific title of Guards.[3] In 1943, one loss corresponded to 26 Sturmovik sorties. About half of those lost were shot down by fighters, the rest falling to anti-aircraft fire.[3]
Designations
- 1st Assault Air Corps
- 1st Kirovograd Assault Air Corps (1942-44)
- 1st Guards Assault Air Corps Kirovograd [4]
- 1st Guards Assault Kirovograd-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov Air Corps (1944-49)
- 60th Guards Assault Aviation Corps (1949-56)
Creation
The 1st Assault Aviation Corps was formed by an NKO Order from on the 2nd Fighter Aviation Army [5] The order establishing the corps said:
- 1. Establish and keep in reserve of the Supreme Command: b) 1st Assault Aviation Corps as part: Office of the Air Shtat № 015/281, 121st Communications Battalion Shtat 015/215, 292nd, 290th and 266th Assault Aviation Divisions, each composed of three assault and one Fighter Wing 32 aircraft each.
- 1st Assault Aviation Corps stationed in Yurkino district, Dmitrov.
- 3. As part of the fighter and assault regiments have three squadrons, consisting of two units with 4 aircraft and two aircraft commander and Military Commissioner Squadron. The shelf management positions have 2 aircraft designed to regiment commander and the military commissar of the regiment.
- 4. 1st and 2nd Fighter and the 1st Bomber Air Army - disband. Personnel and property used to staff the formed air corps.
- 5. Air Corps to include in the army ....
- 11. Assign: - The commander of the 1st Assault Aviation Corps Air Force Major General Vasily Georgyevich Ryazanov, commander of the 290th Assault Aviation Division Lieutenant Colonel Mironenko PI, commander of the 263rd Bomber Aviation Division Colonel Dobysh FI, commander of the 266th Assault Aviation Division Lieutenant Colonel Radyakina FG [6]
Part of the 'Operational Army'
The 1st Assault Aviation Corps was part of the 'operational army on the front line October 17, 1942 to February 5, 1944, just 477 days.
References
- ↑ Holm, Michael (2015). "1st Guards Bomber Aviation Division". Soviet Armed Forces 1945-91. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ↑ Ralph Wetterhan (May 2015). "Kursk". Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- 1 2 Gordon 2008, p. 296.
- ↑ NGO Order number 016 of February 5, 1944
- ↑ NKO Order number 00196 of September 10, 1942
- ↑ NKO Order number 00196 of September 10, 1942