Russian Air Force Day

Russian Air Force Day (Russian: День Военно-воздушных сил, romanized: Den Voyenno-vozdushnykh) is a professional military holiday of Russia celebrated on 12 August to honor the active and reserve personnel, as well as veterans of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

A stamp in honor of Air Fleet Day in 1939.
A stamp in honor of Air Fleet Day in 1948.

History

Air Fleet Day (Russian: День Воздушного Флота, romanized: Den Vozdushnogo Flota), also known as the Air Forces Day or Soviet Aviation Day[1] was established in 1933[2] and was celebrated on the third Sunday of August.[3][4][5] The first aviation exhibition was held on 18 August 1933,[1][6] at the initiative of Yakov Alksnis at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome.[7] Future air parades were held at Tushino Airfield, where they remained for decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million people,[7][8]

Soviet Air Force Day was enshrined by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 1 October 1980. On 28 September 1992, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia fixed this date as Russian Air Force Day.[9] The modern holiday was introduced to the Russian Armed Forces by President Vladimir Putin on 31 May 2006.[10][11][12] The date was chosen based on the fact that 12 August 1912 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Imperial Russian Air Service,[13][14][15] which was formerly part of the Engineer Corps.[16] 12 August is today considered to be the birthday of Russian military aviation.[17]

Celebrations
See also: Soviet air show

Festive events dedicated to the holiday are held annually.[18][19] Air shows are commonly held at Zhukovsky Airport. Solemn events are held at the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans.[20] The 2012 Air Force Day celebrations marked the centennial of Russian military aviation, being attended by President Vladimir Putin.[21]

  • Su-34's flying over Zhukovsky in 2012.
    Su-34's flying over Zhukovsky in 2012.
  • Members of Russian military bands on Air Force Day in 2020.
    Members of Russian military bands on Air Force Day in 2020.
  • Vladimir Putin with Air Force veterans after the flypast.
    Vladimir Putin with Air Force veterans after the flypast.
  • A flypast with the number "100" to honor the centennial of the Russian Air Force.
    A flypast with the number "100" to honor the centennial of the Russian Air Force.

See also

References
  1. Pre-history of MAKS - provides the complete information on Russian and Soviet air shows.
  2. Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decree 859 of 28.04.1933
  3. Petrone, Karen (2000). Life has become more joyous, comrades: Celebrations in the time of Stalin. ISBN 978-0-253-33768-9.
  4. "Airmen celebrate their professional holiday". Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. "Russian Life magazine". Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  6. Curiously, the August 17, 1933, was the date of the first launch of Soviet rocket - GIRD-09. Albrecht, Ulrich; Nikutta, Randolph (October 1993). The Soviet armaments industry. ISBN 978-3-7186-5313-3.
  7. Everett-Heath, John (1983-05-10). Soviet helicopters: Design, development and tactics. ISBN 978-0-7106-0259-6.
  8. Higham, Robin D. S; Greenwood, John T; Hardesty, Von (1998). Russian aviation and air power in the twentieth century. ISBN 978-0-7146-4784-5.
  9. InfoPravo — Постановление президиума Верховного Совета Российской Федерации от 28.09.1992 № 3564-1 Об установлении праздника День Воздушного флота России.
  10. Армия России | На службе Отечеству — Праздничные дни в ВС России.
  11. Decree 3564-1 of September 28, 1992: "The establishment of the Russian Air Fleet Day" (Russian: Об установлении праздника День Воздушного флота России)
  12. Decree 949 of 29 August 1997: "On establishing the Day of the Air Force" (Russian: Об установлении Дня Военно-воздушных сил) and a revision 549 of 31 May 2006.
  13. "12 августа в России отмечается 108-я годовщина со дня образования ВВС".
  14. "Day of Air Fleet of Russia celebrating in 2021 at 15 august - Russian holidays".
  15. "Россия отмечает День Военно-воздушных сил — Российская газета".
  16. Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201–208
  17. 12 августа — День Военно-воздушных сил (День ВВС) России — ОРУЖИЕ РОССИИ Информационное агентство
  18. "Когда и как отмечают День военно-воздушных сил России в 2020 году". 12 August 2020.
  19. УКАЗ Президента РФ от 29.08.97 N 949 (ред. от 31.05.2006) «ОБ УСТАНОВЛЕНИИ ДНЯ ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫХ СИЛ»
  20. "В Московском Доме ветеранов войн и Вооруженных Сил прошли торжественные мероприятия, посвященные Дню ВВС : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации".
  21. "Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force".
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