979th Volkovyskskiy Red Banner order of Suvorov Fighter Aviation Regiment

979-й истребительный Волковыскский Краснознаменный ордена Суворова авиационный полк

Military Unit: 40476

Activated 3.8.42 as the 926th "A" Fighter Aviation Regiment.

21.8.42 renamed 979th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

1977 temporarily based at Ross, Grodno Oblast [53 18 15N, 24 22 02E].

In May 1986 a strengthened ad-hoc squadron, was assembled with 16 MiG-23ML and 2 MIG-23UB (mainly from 2nd and 3rd AE), for deployment to Afghanistan. The squadron flew to Mary, Mary Oblast [37 37 23N, 61 53 45E], on 19.5.86, and continued on to Kandahar, Afghanistan [31 30 26N, 65 51 01E], (it's operating base) on 31.5.86.

The tour of duty ended in May 1987, and the pilots returned home 23/24.5.87 without their aircraft. In the meantime, the regiment had been ordered to assemble personnel for a second strengthened ad-hoc squadron, which flew to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in Il-76 transports, arriving in May 1987 (combat missions resumed 27.5.87).

In August 1987 the squadron exchanged it's MiG-23ML for MiG-23MLD from the 190th Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Tour of duty ended for the second team in June 1988, and the pilots returned home 21.6.88.

The regiment was disbanded 1.7.89 - some personnel went to the 378th independent Assault Aviation Regiment.

Bases:

• Anklam, East Germany, 5.45 - 8.45 [53 49 59N, 13 40 06E]
• Elblag, Poland, 8.45 - 5.48 [54 08 28N, 19 25 20E]
• Brzheg, Poland, 5.48 - 2.52 [50 50 13N, 17 24 54E]
• Kobrin, Brest Oblast, 10.52 - 1960 [52 14 19N, 24 20 51E]
• Schuchin, Grodno Oblast, 1960 - 7.89 [53 35 53N, 24 45 56E]

Aircraft:

• LaGG-3, 8.42-1943
• La-5, 5.44-1945
• La-7, 1945-1950
• MiG-15, 1950-1953
• MiG-17, 1953-1959
• MiG-19S, 1958-1976
• MiG-23S, 1974-1978
• MiG-23ML, 1977-1988

Subordination:

• 229th Fighter Aviation Division, 5.44 - 1960
• 95th Fighter Aviation Division, 1960 - 6.88
• 26th Air Army, 6.88 - 7.89