2nd Guards Assault Aviation Division

• 228th assault aviation division ;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Division;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv Division;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Division;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Red Banner Division;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Division;
• 2nd Guards Assault Aviation, Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin; Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Division;
• 114th Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Division ;
• 161st Guards Fighter Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Air Defense Division ;
• Military Unit (Field Mail) 42053.

• Formed in May 1942 as the 228th Assault Air Division in the city of Valuyki ^[1] .
• On May 29, 1992, the understaffed IL-2 aircraft and personnel began to carry out combat missions as part of the Air Force (June 8, 8th Air Army ) of the Southwestern Front supported its troops in repelling the advance of enemy tank and motorized formations in Kupyansk and Valuyko-Rossoshansk directions.
• From July 17, participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, during which September 13 was transferred to the 16th Air Army (in its composition operated until the end of the war). During the defensive battle and the counteroffensive of Soviet troops near Stalingrad, it made about 3 thousand sorties, destroyed and disabled hundreds of tanks, guns and aircraft, thousands of soldiers and officers of the enemy.
• By September 4, 1942 it became part of the 16th VA . By this time, the air division had 688, 694 and 783 caps, later 285 caps entered.
• The 228th Assault Aviation Division for shown examples of courage and heroism under Stalingrad by the Order of the NPO ^[2] was renamed on March 18, 1943 into the 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Division.
• In July - August 1943 she took part in a defensive battle near Kursk and in the Oryol offensive operation, and then in the Chernihiv-Pripyat offensive operation. For the differences in the battles during the crossing of the Desna River front by the troops and the liberation of the city of Chernigov on September 21 on the same day, by the order of the NCO No. 128 of 03/18/43, it was awarded the honorary name "Chernihiv" .
• For military differences in the battles during the crossing of the Desna River and for the liberation of the city of Chernigov, on September 21, 1943, the division was given the name Chernigov ^[3] .
• For military operations in the Gomel-Rechitsa offensive operation and during the liberation of the city of Rechitsa on November 18, 1943, the division received the name Rechitsa ^[3] .
• In January - February 1944, she participated in the Kalinkovich-Mozyr and Rogachev-Zhlobin offensive operations. For exemplary performance of combat missions, the command was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (January 15, 1944).
• High military skill, courage and courage was shown by the personnel of the division in the Belarussian offensive operation in carrying out the tasks of air support for the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front during the breakthrough of the strongly fortified enemy defenses in the Bobruisk direction and the defeat of his encircled group in the Bobruisk area. In the subsequent part of the division, they successfully attacked the enemy when the front forces liberated the cities of Zhlobin, Slutsk, Baranovichi, Brest, Lublin, Demblin, Lukov (Lukow) and Siedlec (Siedlce). For military distinctions in the Belarusian operation, the division was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree (July 2, 1944).
• In the Warsaw-Poznan offensive operation, it supported the formations of the 8th Guards and 61st Armies in breaking through the enemy’s defensive lines and in capturing the city and fortress of Poznan (February 23, 1944).
• The combat path ended in the Berlin offensive operation. For exemplary actions and valor of personnel during the assault by Soviet troops, Berlin was awarded the Order of Lenin (June 11, 1945).
• In total, during the war years, from May 1942, the division made more than 18 thousand sorties, destroyed and suppressed a large number of military equipment and manpower of the enemy.

Participation in operations and battles

• Air operation of the Red Army Air Force to destroy German aircraft at airfields in May 1943 - from May 6, 1943 to May 8, 1943.
• Battle of Kursk
  • Oryol operation "Kutuzov" - from July 12, 1943 to August 18, 1943.
• Battle of the Dnieper :
  • Chernihiv-Pripyat operation - from August 26, 1943 to September 30, 1943.
• Gomel-Rechitsa offensive operation - from November 10, 1943 to November 30, 1943.
• Kalinkovich-Mozyr offensive operation - from January 8, 1944 to January 30, 1944.
• Rogachev-Zhlobin offensive operation - from February 21, 1944 to February 26, 1944.
• Belarusian strategic offensive operation (Operation Bagration) :
  • Bobruisk offensive operation - from June 24, 1944 to June 29, 1944.
  • Minsk offensive operation - from June 29, 1944 to July 4, 1944.
  • Lublin-Brest offensive operation - from July 18, 1944 to August 2, 1944.
• Serotsk offensive operation - from August 30, 1944 to November 2, 1944.
• Wisla Oder Strategic Offensive
  • Warsaw-Poznan offensive operation - from January 14, 1945 to February 3, 1945.
• The fighting to maintain and expand the bridgehead in the Kustrin region was from February 3, 1945 to March 30, 1945.
• East Pomeranian strategic offensive operation
  • Arnswalde-Kolberg offensive operation - from March 1, 1945 to March 18, 1945.
  • Altdam offensive operation - from March 18, 1945 to April 4, 1945.
• Berlin Strategic Offensive
  • The Zeelovo-Berlin offensive operation - from April 16, 1945 to May 2, 1945.
  • Brandenburg-Rathenov offensive operation - from May 3, 1945 to May 8, 1945.

Post-war period

After the war, the division carried out tasks to protect the western borders as part of the Group of Soviet occupation forces in Germany. In 1945, the regiments of the division were re-equipped with IL-10 aircraft. In connection with the reduction of the Air Force in April 1947, the 78th Guards Assault Aviation Volga Red Banner Regiment was disbanded, part of the personnel went to staff other regiments of the division.

In February 1949, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the division and its regiments were renamed. The division became known as the 141st Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin; Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Division ^[4] .

In connection with the reduction of attack aircraft in the summer of 1956, the division’s regiments were re-equipped with MiG-15 aircraft and the division was transferred to the country's air defense forces with relocation to the Stalin airfield ( Donetsk ). The division was renamed and became known as the 161st Guards Fighter Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin; Red Banner Order of Suvorov Air Defense Division . In October 1956, in connection with the reformation of the country's air defense system, the division was disbanded as part of the Kiev Air Defense Army along with regiments. The 725th Guards Fighter Aviation Baranavichy Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Air Defense Regiment was merged with the 393rd Fighter Aviation Regiment Air Defense, was named the 393rd Guards Fighter Aviation Baranovichi Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Air Defense Regiment , and then was relocated to the airport.

The division was commanded by:

• Colonel Stepichev, Vasily Vasilievich (May - October 1942);
•   Lieutenant Colonel , Colonel , Major General of Aviation Georgy Osarovich Komarov : from October 1942 to July 2, 1945 ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]} .
• Colonel Kalinin Pavel Alexandrovich , period of office: from July 3, 1945 to February 1946 ^[5] .
• Colonel Podolsky Alexey Ilyich , period of office: from February 1946 to February 1947.
• Colonel , Major General of Aviation ^[9] Saprykin Valentin Filippovich ^[5] , period of office: from November 1947 to December 1949.

Over the entire period of its existence, the combat composition of the division has not undergone changes:

• As part of the Air Force (from June 9, 1942, the 8th Air Army) of the South-Western Front.
• From September 13, 1942 until the end of the war she was transferred to the 16th Air Army

• The 57th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment for courage and heroism by order of the People’s Commissar of Defense on May 4, 1943 was awarded the honorary name "Donskoy" ^[10] .
• The 78th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment for courage and heroism by order of the People’s Commissar of Defense on May 4, 1943 was awarded the honorary name Volzhsky ^[10] .
• The 2nd Guards Assault Air Division for the differences in the battles during the crossing of the Desna River and the liberation of the city of Chernigov on September 21 by the order of the Supreme Commander on September 21, 1943 was awarded the honorary name "Chernigov" ^[11] .
• The 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Division for honors in the battles during the liberation of the city of Rechitsa on November 17, 1943 by the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on November 18, 1943, was awarded the honorary name Rechitskaya ^[12] .
• The 79th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment for excellent military operations during the capture of the cities of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on January 14, 1944 and Order of the People’s Defense Commissioner No. 07 of January 15, 1944 was given the honorary name "Mozyr" ^[13]
• The 59th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment for mastering the capture of the city of Baranavichy and the Baranavichy fortified area by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on July 8, 1944 and Order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 0225 of July 27, 1944 was given the honorary name "Baranovichi" ^[14] .

• The 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Division was awarded the Order of the "Red Banner of War" by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 15, 1944.
• The 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Red Banner Division was awarded the Order of Suvorov II Degree by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 2, 1944.
• The 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Chernihiv-Rechitsa Red Banner Order of the Suvorov Division was awarded the Order of Lenin by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 11, 1945.
• The 58th Guards Assault Aviation Don Regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 2, 1943.
• The 58th Guards Assault Aviation Donskoy Red Banner Regiment was awarded the Order of Suvorov of the 3rd Degree by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 23, 1945.
• The 59th Guards Assault Aviation Baranavichy Regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 2, 1943.
• By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the 59th Guards Assault Aviation Baranovichi Red Banner Regiment was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 3rd Class.
• The 78th Guards Assault Aviation Volga Regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 2, 1943.
• The 79th Guards Assault Aviation Mozyr Regiment was awarded the Order of the Alexander Nevsky by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
• The 79th Guards Assault Aviation Mozyr Order of the Alexander Nevsky Regiment was awarded the Order of Suvorov of the III degree by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions, more than 2 thousand of her soldiers were awarded orders and medals, and 32 of them were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including glorified guards pilots Lieutenant Colonels A. G. Nakonechnikov and M. G. Sklyarov, majors V. M. Golubev, G.I. Kopaev and V.F. Khokhlachev, captains A. A. Bondar and A. I. Kadomtsev, senior lieutenant Yu. N. Zykov, lieutenants I. F. Bibishev , A. S. Cherezov and division commander Guard Major General Aviation Komarov, George Osipovich .

Thanks to the Supreme Commander:

• In contrast to the breakthrough of a heavily fortified enemy defense line in the Sevsk region, rapid attack and capture of the cities of Sevsk, Glukhov and Rylsk , entry into Northern Ukraine ^[15] ;
• For the difference in the battles during the crossing of the Desna River and for the capture of the city of Chernihiv ^[16] ;
• For the difference in the battles for the seizure of the city of Rechitsa - a major communications center and an important stronghold of the German defense on the right bank of the middle reaches of the Dnieper ^[17]
• For breaking the German defenses in the Bobruisk direction, southwest of the city of Zhlobin and north of the city of Rogachev ^[18] ;
• For the mastery of the city of Bobruisk ^[19] ;
• For mastery of the city of Baranavichy and Baranavichy fortified area ^[14] ;
• For breaking the enemy’s defense in the area of ​​the city of Kovel ^[20] ;
• For the capture of the regional center of Belarus, the city and the fortress of Brest ( Brest-Litovsk ) - an operationally important railway junction and a powerful fortified area of ​​German defense in Warsaw ^[21] ;
• For the capture of the Prague fortress - a suburb of Warsaw and an important stronghold of the German defense on the eastern bank of the Vistula ^[22] ;
• For the capture of the city of Warsaw - the most important strategic hub of the German defense on the Vistula River ^[23] ;
• For the capture of the cities of Lodz , Kutno , Tomaszow (Tomaszow), Gostynin and Lęczyca ^[24]
• For the mastery of the city and the fortress of Poznan - a strategically important hub of the German defense in the Berlin direction ^[25] ;
• For the mastery of the cities of Frankfurt an der Oder , Wandlitz, Oranienburg , Birkenwerder , Gennigsdorf, Pankov , Friedrichsfelde, Karlshorst , Kepenik and the entry into the capital of Germany, the city of Berlin ^[26] ;
• For the difference in the battles to complete the encirclement of Berlin and for the capture of the cities of Nauen, Elstahl, Rohrbek, Marquardt ^[27] ;
• In contrast to the battles during the capture of the cities Rathenov , Spandau , Potsdam - important road junctions and powerful strongholds of the German defense in Central Germany ^[28] ;
• For the difference in the battles during the assault and the capture of the city of Brandenburg - the center of the Brandenburg province and a powerful stronghold of the German defense in Central Germany ^[29] ;
• Unlike in the battles during the defeat of the Berlin group of German troops, the capture of the capital of Germany by the city of Berlin - the center of German imperialism and the center of German aggression ^[30] .

• 16th air army
• 228th Assault Aviation Division
• List of operations of the armed forces of the USSR in World War II

• Prev Ch. ed. Commission N.V. Ogarkov. Soviet Military Encyclopedia: [In 8 volumes] V.8. = "Chernihiv-Rechitsa Assault Aviation Division." - Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1980 .-- S. 687 p.
• M. L. Dudarenko , Yu. G. Pereshnov , V. T. Eliseev et al. Liberation of cities: A guide to the liberation of cities during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 / under the general. ed. Army General S.P. Ivanov. - Institute of Military History of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. - M: Military Publishing House, 1985 .-- 598 p. - (Reference). - 50,000 copies.
• Team of authors. List No. 6 of the cavalry, tank, airborne divisions and directorates of artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, mortar, aviation and fighter divisions that were part of the army during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 / Pokrovsky. - The Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Military Scientific Directorate of the General Staff. - Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1956. - T. Appendix to the Directive of the General Staff of 1956 No. 168780. - 77 p.
• Prussakov G.K., Vasiliev A.A., Ivanov I.I., Luchkin F.S., Komarov G.O. 16th aerial. Military historical essay on the combat route of the 16th Air Army (1942-1945) .. - Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1973. - 170 p.
• B. Growl , M. Morozov. Guard aviation divisions, corps, squadrons 1941-45 // World of Aviation: Aviation-historical journal, technical review .. - M. , 2003. - Issue. 32 . - No. 3 . - S. 25-28 . Archived March 5, 2016.
• Battle of Stalingrad. Chronicle, facts, people .: in 2 book. - M .: OLMA-PRESS, 2002. - Book. one.
• Perov V.I., Rastrenin O.V. Assault aircraft of the Red Army. - M.: Publisher A. S. Akchurin, 2003. - Volume 1. Severe school.

• 228th Assault Aviation Division 2nd Guards Assault Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Aviation Division
• M. Holm. 2nd Guards Assault Chernihiv-Rechitsa Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Aviation Division