24th Air Army


The 24th Air Army was an Air army of the Soviet Air Forces, active from 1980, and probably inactivated in 1992. Its headquarters was located at Vinnitsa.

First formation (1949–1968)

From 1949 to 1968, the 16th Air Army in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany was designated the 24th Air Army.

2nd Separate Heavy Bomber Aviation Corps 1960–1980

2nd Separate Heavy Bomber Aviation Corps was established in August 1960 at Vinnitsa from elements of HQ 43rd Air Army of the Soviet [Long Range Aviation|Long Range Aviation].
Units in 1961:
Units in 1978:
  • 199th Separate Guards Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment with Tu-22R
  • 13th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division
  • 15th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division
  • 106th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division

    24th Air Army from 1980

Redesignated 24th Air Army VGK ON on 1 August 1980. Soviet tactical aviation armies were subordinated to the military districts and the army groups abroad. Directly subordinated to the Air Force High Command were six air armies:
  • Three air armies of the High Command with Strategic Purpose - 30th, 37th and 46th for the strategic bomber force.
  • One air army of the High Command for the Military Air Transport Aviation - 61st for the strategic airlift assets.
  • Two air armies of the High Command with Operational Purpose - 4th and 24th. In peacetime these two air armies were directly subordinated to the Air Force High Command. In case of war they were to transfer - the 4th under the High Command of Western Strategic Direction and the 24th under the High Command of the Southwestern Strategic Direction.
The 138th Fighter Aviation Division joined the 24th Air Army VGK in 1980.
At the dissolution of the Soviet Union this Army had forces in Belarus and Ukraine. In Ukraine forces consisted of the 32nd Bomber Aviation Division, at Starokonstantinov, the 56th Bomber Aviation Division at Cherlyany, and the 138th Fighter Aviation Division at Mirgorod. In Ukraine in 1991-92, this Army had available over 140 Su-24 Fencer, over 35 Yak-28 electronic warfare aircraft, and 40 MiG-27 Floggers and 40 Su-27 Flankers for strike escort.

1990

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union the army appears to have been inactivated. The city of Vinnitsa later became the headquarters of the Ukrainian Air Force.