SOVIET AEROSPACE ALMANAC 1986 Information for this Soviet Significant Dates in Soviet History Aerospace Almanac was com- piled by the staff of AIR FORCE 1917-February Revolution. Nicholas ll 1942-The Battle of Stalingrad is fought Magazine from a variety of open abdicates (March 15). October Revo- (November to February 1943). sources. Since the Soviets pub- lution. Bolsheviks seize power (No- 1943-The Battle of Kursk is fought (July vember 7-8). 5-August 23). lish relatively little data about 1918-Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ends Rus- 1945-Berlin falls to Soviet troops (May their armed forces, some details sia's participation in World War I 2). Germany surrenders to the Allies are necessarily estimates. (March 3). Russian Civil War begins. (May 8). The Soviet Union declares Fighting lasts until 1920 in western war on Japan (August 8). Japan sur- We especially acknowledge the regions of the country and until 1922 renders to the Allies (September 2). assistance of the US Air Force's in far eastern regions. 1948-The Soviets begin the Berlin 1921-Russo-Polish War. A naval mutiny Blockade (April 1 through Septem- Directorate of Soviet Affairs, Bol- at Kronshtadt/Petrograd is put down ber 1949). ling AFB, D. C. We would also like by the Red Army (March 7-18). 1949-The Soviets explode an atomic to thank William and Harriet Fast 1922-Union of Soviet Socialist Repub- bomb (August 29). lics is established (December 30). 1953-The Soviets explode a hydrogen Scott for their review of this mate- 1936-The Soviet Union aids the Repub- bomb (August 12). rial. licans during the Spanish Civil War 1955-The Warsaw Pact organization is -THE EDITORS (through 1939). established (May 14). 1937-Stalin initiates his Great Purges of 1956-Soviet forces crush the Hun- the Soviet military. The purges con- garian uprising (November 4). tinue through 1938. 1957-The Soviet Union announces its 1939-Soviet forces battle Japanese first successful ICBM test (August forces at Khalkhin Gol in Outer 26). The first Sputnik earth-orbiting Mongolia (May-August). The Sovi- satellite is launched by the Soviets Top Soviet Aces of ets sign a nonaggression pact with (October 4). Nazi Germany (August 23). Hitler's 1960-An American U-2 is shot down World War II invasion of Poland begins World War over the USSR (May 1). A rift begins II (September 1). The Soviets join the to develop between the USSR and Men Solo Victories Germans in the invasion of Poland the People's Republic of China (ap- Kozhedub, I. N. 62 (September 17). War breaks out be- proximate). Pokryshkin, A. I. tween the Soviet Union and Finland 1961-The Soviets begin construction of 59 on November 30 and lasts into the Berlin Wall (August 13). Gulaev, N. D. 57 March 1940. 1962-The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs Rechkalov, G. A. 56 1940-The independent Baltic republics (October 22-November 2). Yevstigneyev, K. A. 56 of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are 1968-Soviet forces invade Czechoslo- Vorozheykin, A. V. 52 occupied by the Soviets and are vakia (August 20-21). Glinka, D. B. 50 incorporated into the USSR 1969-The USSR clashes with China (July-August). along the Sino-Soviet border. Wornen 1941-The Soviets and Japanese con- 1972-The US and the USSR sign the clude a treaty of neutrality (April 13). SALT I accord (May 22). Yamschikova, 0. 17 Germany invades the Soviet Union 1979-The US and the USSR initial the Litvyak, L. 12 (June 22). German forces push to the SALT ll accord (June 18). The Soviets Budanova, K. 10 gates of Moscow, but are turned invade Afghanistan (December 25). back by the Soviets (September 1983-Soviet fighters down KAL 007, a More than 800 Soviet aviators claimed sixteen 30-December 5). The US approves civilian South Korean airliner that or more victories in the "Great Patriotic War" Many of these-including Gulaev. Rechkalov. Lend-Lease to the USSR (Novem- had strayed into Soviet airspace and Yevstigneyev-are additionally credited ber). (September 1). with shared victories in "group flights."
AIR FORCE Magazine March 1986 65 Flags of the Armed Forces
The Ground Forces The Air Forces The Navy Sukhoputnyye Voyska (SV) Voyenno-Vozdushnyye Sily Voyenno-Morskoy Flot (VMF) (VVS)
The Military Uniform Official and Military Holidays
Soviet uniforms can vary widely, depending on the rank. Official Holidays of the USSR
service, and position of the wearer as well as the season, (Workers are given time off on these days) occasion, and environment. The following distinctions are applicable to a Soviet equivalent of a USAF officer's Class-A January 1 New Year's Day uniform. March 8 International Women's Day • The color of the collar tabs indicates the branch of May 1 & 2 International Workers' service. The hatband of the billed cap will be the same color Solidarity Days as the collar tabs. Some examples: light blue = aviation and airborne; red = combined arms; black = rocket, artillery, May 9 Victory Day armor, and most technical (chemical, etc.) troops; royal October 7 Constitution Day of the blue = KGB (except Border Guards); and green = KGB USSR Border Guards. November 7 & 8 Anniversary of the Great • The branch emblem on the tab indicates the individual's October Socialist specialty. Some examples: propeller and wings = aviation, Revolution parachute = airborne, wreath and star = motorized rifle, crossed barrels = rocket and artillery, and tank = armor. Key Military Days of the USSR • Shoulder boards indicate grade (see chart on adjacent page). (Time off from work is not normally given, but celebrations are held) • The right side of the blouse will display qualifications and classification badges, including aviator wings and elite February 23 Soviet Army and Navy Day unit designations. April 12 World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day Second Sunday of April Troops of Air Defense Day May 28 Border Troops Day A Typical Day for a Soviet Conscript First Sunday after July 22 Navy Day Third Sunday of August USSR Air Force Day 0600-0609 Reveille (Aviation Day) Tank Forces Day 0610-0630 Exercise (tidying up) Second Sunday of 0630-0650 Barracks time September Soviet Militia Day 0650-0720 Political information (morning November 10 Rocket and Artillery inspection) November 19 Forces Day 0725-0755 Breakfast 0800-1400 Training periods (six fifty-minute periods with ten-minute breaks between) 1400-1440 Dinner 1440-1510 After dinner time Soviet Active Military Population 1510-1530 Maintenance: personal, weapon, and (As of July 1. 1985) equipment Ground Forces 1,991,000 1530-1830 Political education work (Monday and Air Forces 453,000 Thursday) 434,000 Equipment maintenance (Tuesday and Naval Forces Air Defense 371,000 Friday) Strategic Attack (includes Strategic Rocket 410,000 Sports (Wednesday and Saturday) Forces and strategic elements of the Air 1830-1940 Self-preparation or homework Forces and Navy) 1940-2010 Supper Command/General Support 1,471,000 2010-2040 Personal time Security Forces (KGB/MVD) 570,000 2040-2155 Evening walk and checkup 2200 Taps Total 5,700,000
66 AIR FORCE Magazine / March 1986 Comparative Grades and Insignia
Glavnyi Marshal Aviatsii General-Polkovnik Aviatsii General-Leytenant Aviatsii General of the Air Force Lieutenant General Major General
General-Mayor Aviatsii Podpolkovnik Brigadier General Lieutenant Colonel
Starshiy Leytenant Mladshiy Leytenant 1st Lieutenant 2d Lieutenant
Starshiy Praporshchik Starshiy Serzhant Senior Warrant Officer Senior Master Sergeant
AIR FORCE Magazine March 1986 67
THE SOVIET MILITARY EXPERIENCE
Age
6 Begin formal educationa
7 Join youth groupsb
15 Begin military trainingc