14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division

The 14th Guards Fighter Kirovograd-Budapest Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Aviation Division was formed in the Moscow Region in December 1942, as the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division . Until mid-March 1943, the division was in the reserve of the Supreme High Command Headquarters, and then it was included in the 2nd Air Army of the Voronezh Front as part of the 4th Fighter Aviation Corps . As part of the 4th Fighter Aviation Corps (in July 1944 converted to the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps ), it operated until the end of the war. Until July 5, 1943, the division, in cooperation with other aviation units of the 2nd Air Army, participated in the military operations to gain air supremacy in the Kursk region, covered the troops of the 6th and 7th Guards armies , airfields of the air army, accompanied air units of 1- of the first bomber and 1st assault aviation corps when they struck the enemy troops and conducted aerial reconnaissance. During this time, it made 1764 sorties, conducted 106 air battles, in which 61 enemy planes were shot down.

On July 5, 1943, the division covered the troops of the Voronezh Front in a defensive battle in the Belgorod-Kursk direction. During fierce air battles, she shot down 100 enemy aircraft. On July 18, the 4th Air Army (in which it operated until the end of the war) of the Steppe Front was transferred to the 4th Fighter Aviation Corps. In July-August 1943 she participated in the Belgorod-Kharkov offensive operation , during which she accompanied parts of the 1st bomber aviation corps, covered the troops of the 7th Guards. and 69th army. In September 1943 - January 1944, during the battle of the Dnieper and the offensive of Soviet troops on Right-Bank Ukraine, the division continued to conduct combat operations in cooperation with the 1st Bomber Aviation Corps, covering the 5th and 7th Guards, 5th Guards. tank, 53rd and 57th armies. During the fighting, fighter pilots of the division showed examples of courage, courage and high skill. October 2, 1943 a group of 4 fighters under the command of the Communist Art. Lieutenant K. A. Evstigneev boldly entered the battle with 4, then with 8 fighters and 12 enemy bombers. In both air battles, Soviet pilots won. Evstigneev personally shot down 2 fascist aircraft. For the difference in the battles during the capture of troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front of the city ​​of Kirovograd, the division was awarded the honorary name "Kirovograd" (January 8, 1944). At the end of Jan. - Feb. 1944, it covered the troops of the front attack group during the encirclement and destruction of the Nazi troops in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky area.

In the Uman-Botoshanskoy operation she covered the battle formations of the advancing troops and the crossing of the Southern Bug , Dniester and Prut rivers , accompanied units of the 2nd Guards. Bomber and 1st Guards. assault aviation corps, as well as transport aviation. From March 1943 until July 1944, the division destroyed over 500 enemy aircraft in air battles. For the courage, steadfastness, discipline, organization and heroism of the personnel, it was transformed into the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division (July 2, 1944).

In July - August 1944, during the preparation and conduct of the Iasi-Chisinau operation, the division covered the troops of the 7th Guards, 27th, 52nd and 6th Guards Tank Armies. For the exemplary performance of command assignments in the capture of front troops. Rymnikul-Serat and Fokshany , shown at the same time valor and courage the division was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree (September 15, 1944). In Debrecen and Budapest operations she covered the combat orders of troops of the 6th Guards. tank, 7th Guards. and the −53th Army, the horse-mechanized group of Lieutenant General I. A. Pliev and the Budapest Group of Forces, Lieutenant General I. M. Managarov , accompanied units of the 218th Bomber Aviation Division. For high flying skills, courage and heroism of the personnel during the defeat of the Nazi forces on the territory of Hungary, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (November 14, 1944) and awarded the honorary name Budapest (April 5, 1945). Subsequently, the division participated in the Vienna operation and completed its combat path in May 1945 with participation in the Prague operation .

By the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the KA on January 10, 1949, the 14th Guards Kirovograd-Budapest Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 2nd class, the fighter aviation division was renumbered and became the 92nd Guards Kirovograd-Budapest Red Banner Order of Suvorov fighter aviation division .

As part of the army ^[1] :

• from July 2, 1944 to May 11, 1945, a total of 314 days.

• Iasi-Chisinau operation from August 20, 1944 to August 29, 1944.
• The Belgrade operation from September 28, 1944 to October 20, 1944.
• Debrecen operation from October 6, 1944 to October 28, 1944.
• The Budapest operation from October 29, 1944 to February 13, 1945.
• The Western Carpathian operation from January 12, 1945 to February 18, 1945.
• The Balaton operation from March 6, 1945 to March 15, 1945.
• Bratislava-Brnovsk offensive operation from March 25, 1943 to May 5, 1945.
• Prague operation from May 6, 1945 to May 11, 1945.

Over the entire period of its existence, the combat composition of the division has not undergone changes, it included regiments ^[3] :

• By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 29, 1944, the 14th Guards "Kirovograd" fighter aviation division was awarded the Order of Suvorov, II Class.
• By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 14, 1944, the 14th Guards "Kirovograd" Order of Suvorov, II degree, the fighter aviation division was awarded the Order of the "Red Banner of War."
• By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 14, 1944, the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky II Class.
• By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 17, 1945, the 178th Guards Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, II degree, fighter aviation regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Battle.
• By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the 177th Guards "Debrecen" fighter aviation regiment was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class.
• By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the 179th Guards Transylvanian Fighter Aviation Regiment was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class.

• By order of the NCO No. 064 of April 5, 1945, on the basis of the Order of the Supreme Aviation Commission No. 277 of February 13, 1945, the 14th Guards “Kirovograd” Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 2nd class, fighter aviation division was awarded the honorary name “Budapest”.
• By order of the NCO No. 0366 of November 4, 1944, on the basis of the Order of the Supreme Aviation Command No. 199 of October 20, 1944, the 177th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was awarded the honorary name "Debrecen".
• By order of the NCO No. 0368 of November 11, 1944, on the basis of the Order of the Supreme Aviation Command No. 204 of October 25, 1944, the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was given the honorary name Transylvanian.

Thanks to the Supreme Commander of the Division:

• For the mastery of the cities of Iasi, Tirgu Frumos and Ungheni ^[4]
• For the mastery of the cities of Debrecen ^[5]
• For the mastery of the city of Budapest ^[6]
• For the capture of Esztergom, Nesmey, Felsche-Gall, Tata, and also occupied more than 200 other settlements ^[7]
• For the capture of the cities of Komarno, Nove Zamky, Surany, Komyatice, Vrabla - strong strongholds of the German defense in the Bratislava direction ^[8]
• For the mastery of the cities of Trnava, Hlohovec, Senec - important road junctions and strongholds of the German defense covering the approaches to Bratislava ^[9]
• For the mastery of the important industrial center and the main city of Slovakia, Bratislava - a major communications hub and a powerful stronghold of the German defense on the Danube ^[10]
• For the mastery of the cities of Malacki, Brook, Previdza, Banovce ^[11]
• For the mastery of the city of Brno ^[12]
• For the capture of the cities of Jaromerice and Znojmo and on the territory of Austria by the cities of Gollabrunn and Stockerau - important communication centers and strong strongholds of the German defense ^[13]

During the war years, about 1,200 division soldiers were awarded orders and medals, 19 pilots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and K. A. Evstigneev was awarded this high rank twice. Among the pilots of the division who received the title Hero of the Soviet Union was I.N. Kozhedub , subsequently three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

Heroes of the Soviet Union

•    Evstigneev Kirill Alekseevich , guard captain, squadron commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on February 23, 1945 was awarded the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 4039
•   Boris Zhigulenkov , Guard Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Squadron Commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on October 26, 1944 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star was not awarded in connection with the death
•   Bryzgalov Pavel Aleksandrovich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Squadron Commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 4977
•   Ryazantsev Alexei Fedorovich , Major Guard, navigator of the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on February 23, 1945 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 5450
•   Blinov Aleksey Pavlovich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Squadron Commander of the 177th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on February 23, 1948 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 8308
•   Guess Alexei Dmitrievich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, Link Leader of the 177th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 6911
•   Dyachkov Alexander Alekseevich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, pilot of the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star was not awarded in connection with the death.
•   Kononenko Nikita Nikiforovich , guard captain, navigator of the 179th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 5450
•   Konstantin Savelievich Maltsev , guard captain, squadron commander of the 177th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 8964
•   Mudretsov Valentin Fedorovich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, Deputy Squadron Commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 6901
•   Mukhin Anatoly Fedorovich , Guard Senior Lieutenant, link commander of the 177th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 8992
•   Sereda Igor Emelyanovich , guard lieutenant, link commander of the 178th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Corps of the 5th Air Army on May 15, 1946 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Gold Star No. 6666

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1. List of operations of the armed forces of the USSR in World War II
2. Heroes of World War II
3. Air force
4. The Luftwaffe, 1933-45
5. World War II Aviators
6. “The Liberation of Cities: A Guide to the Liberation of Cities during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945” / M. L. Dudarenko, Yu. G. Pereshny, V. T. Eliseev and others. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1985. - 598 p. Electronic version
7. 14 guards Iad Vladimir Savonchik