79th order of the Red Star Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment

79-й тяжелый бомбардировочный ордена Красной Звезды авиационный полк

Military Unit: 62266

Activated 31.8.39 in Kirov, Sakhalin, as the 79th Mixed Aviation Regiment.

8.8.44 renamed 79th Bomber Aviation Regiment.

10.56 transferred to the Long Range Aviation (DA).

1957 renamed 79th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.

1.3.60 the 3rd squadron was united with the 3rd squadron, from the 40th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, to activate 251st Heavy Aviation Squadron of tanker aircraft - and a new 3rd squadron was formed from disbanded remnants from Soltsy, Pskov Oblast.

In 12.69 the 251st Heavy Aviation Squadron for tanker aircraft was absorbed back again.

Bases:

• Burevestnik, Iturup Island, 1945 - 1949 [44 55 12N, 147 37 20E]

• Sokol, Sakhalin, 1949 - 1953 [47 15 41N, 142 45 55E]

• Ukrainka, Amur Oblast, 1953 - today [51 10 13N, 128 26 38E]

Aircraft:

• SB, 1939-1945

• I-15, 1939-1944

• I-16, 1939-1944

• Pe-2, 1945-1953

• Il-28, 1953-1957

• M-4, 1957-1970's

• Tu-16, 1959-1960 (3rd squadron only)

• 3M, 1960's-1985

• Tu-95K-22, 1984-1993

• Tu-95MS, 1993-today

Inventory:

• 1963: 23+ 3M

• 1.1.91: 46 Tu-95K-22 and 15 Tu-95K (START treaty data exchange) - total includes the 40th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.

• 2000 - total including 182th Guards TBAP: 21 Tu-95MS-16 and 27 Tu-95MS-6 [START treaty data exchange]

Subordinated:

• 73rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, 1957 - 1998

• 326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, 1998 - today