Galenki (air base) explained

Galenki
Ensign:Flag of the Russian Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:90px
Native Name:Галёнки
Location:Galyonki, Primorsky Krai
Country:Russia
Type:Air Base
Pushpin Map:Russia Primorsky Krai#Russia
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Primorsky Krai
Pushpin Label:Galenki
Ownership:Ministry of Defence
Operator:Russian Air Force
Used:1952 -
Icao:XHIG
Elevation:24m (79feet)
R1-Number:02/20
R1-Length:2500m (8,200feet)
R1-Surface:Concrete

Galenki (Russian: Галёнки) is a former Russian Air Force base in Primorsky Krai, Russia.[1]

From January 5, 1942 to October 1945, the 582nd Fighter Aviation Regiment (582 IAP) was based at the aerodrome, taking part in the Soviet-Japanese war with Lavochkin La-5 aircraft.[2]

Beginning in September 1950, the 18th independent Guards Assault Aviation Regiment.Vitebsk was stationed at Galenki, armed initially with Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (ASCC: Fagot) jets, but upgrading in the 1950s and 1960s to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (ASCC: Fresco) and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO: Fishbed). In 1982, the fighter aviation regiment was transformed into an aviation regiment of fighter-bombers.[3]

In May 1989, the regiment re-equipped the MiG-27K and MiG-27D, then in March 1993, the regiment received Sukhoi Su-25 (ASCC: Frogfoot) airplanes and was transformed into an assault aircraft unit.

On December 1, 2009, the regiment and airfield support units were transformed into the 6983rd Guards Aviation Base of the first category (military unit 62231). At the end of 2010, the headquarters of the 6983rd was transferred to the Khurba-2 garrison. The air attack aircraft unit was relocated to Chernigovka in Primorsky Krai, where it merged with the remnants of the local 187th Assault Air Regiment.

According to Google Maps satellite maps for 2017, at the Galenki airfield, a radar dome was built in the middle of the main taxiway, so the use of the airfield for its intended purpose seems deeply doubtful.

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20170122220338/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/document/cia-rdp99t01396r000300240001-4 NEW AND CHANGE TARGETS MISSION 1031 8-18 APRIL 1966
  2. Web site: 582nd Fighter Aviation Regiment. Soviet Armed Forces 1945-1991. 4 December 2022.
  3. Web site: 18th Guards Vitebskiy twice Red Banner order of Suvorov Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment. Soviet Armed Forces 1945-1991. 4 December 2022.