304th independent Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment

304-й отдельный гвардейский дальний разведывательный авиационный полк

Military Unit: 39186; from 7.71: 42881

Activated 1.10.61 in Nikolaevka, Promorskiy Kray, as the 867th Maritime Torpedo Aviation Regiment.

21.12.61 renamed 867th Guards Maritime Torpedo Aviation Regiment (Guards title from the disbanded 567th Guards Maritime Torpedo Aviation Regiment).

18.8.65 renamed 867th independent Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.

15.7.71 renamed 304th independent Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.

From 1976 to 1979 the regiment used two forward airfields in Somalia: Hargeisa (09 30 52N, 44 05 03E) and Dafet (02 40 13N, 44 47 38), and from 1979 began using Tashkent, Tashkent Oblast (41 18 46N, 69 23 33E) for overflights through Iran.

4.79 to 9.79 and 1.80 to 4.80 four Tu-95RTS were forward deployed to Danang, Vietnam (16 02 34N, 108 11 58), and from 4.80 to 12.82 used Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam (12 00 12N, 109 13 10E). From 12.82 the four aircraft were absorbed by the 169th Guards Mixed Aviation Regiment.

A third squadron was formed in 1.12.86, from the 134th Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron.

Disbanded 1.12.93.

Bases:

• Nikolaevka, Primorskiy Kray, 1.10.61 - 4.9.65 [43 05 11N, 133 11 32E]
• Khorol, Primorskiy Kray, 4.9.65 - 1.12.93 [44 27 02N, 132 07 24E]

Aircraft:

• Il-28T, 1960-1965
• Tu-95RTS, 1965-1993 (22 delivered 1956-1969)
• Tu-16R/RM, 1986-1993 [3rd AE only]

Subordination:

• 3rd Maritime Missile Aviation Division, 1.10.61 - 8.65
• Pacific Fleet, 8.65 - 1.93