In the foreseeable future, our city will once again emphasize its status as the place where the Airborne Forces were created.
Recently, the Voronezh City Hall published a tender for design and survey work for the construction of a unique museum of the Airborne Forces. This object is planned to be located in the Victory Park in the Northern microdistrict of the city. In this place there is already a monument "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces." Every year, veterans of this branch of the army gather around him and chant their signature “No one but us.” The Museum of the Airborne Forces should emphasize the status of the capital of the Black Earth region, as the Motherland of the Airborne Forces. After all, it was in the sky above our city 89 years ago that one of the strongest military branches on the planet was born.
In honor of the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, our publication would like to tell you about how the Airborne Forces were created in the sky near Voronezh. AT modern world The Airborne Forces are still one of the most powerful paramilitary formations. Russian paratroopers are the glory, honor and irresistible power of our Motherland.
The project of the future Museum of the Airborne Forces in Voronezh
We must start with the fact that with the emergence of aviation in the USSR, the idea of a rapid airlift of troops also arose. In those 20s of the XX century, aircraft for these purposes were quite unpretentious. They could land and take off from any more or less horizontal platform. However, then it was more about rescuing pilots, and not a whole group of troops.
However, the history of the Russian Armed Forces knows how in 1928 Leonid Grigorievich Minov spoke at a meeting of the Air Force of the Soviet Union. He touched upon the role of parachutes in aviation. That speech greatly interested the leadership of the country. Minov was sent to the United States of America, so that there he could study the state of parachuting.
Leonid Minov
And so, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin decides on a demonstration jump in the sky over Voronezh. Our city for these goals was not chosen by chance. In the late 1920s, we had the largest aviation hub in the Union. The 11th air brigade of heavy bombers of the Moscow Military District of the Red Army Air Force was based in Voronezh.
Leonid Minov was appointed leader of the demonstration jump. The young pilot Yakov Moshkovsky was appointed his assistant. So, on July 26, 1930, the first jump in the history of mankind took place in front of the flight crew of the aviation brigade.
Heavy bombers at the Voronezh airfield
Here is what Leonid Grigorievich Minov then recalled:
My jump was really successful. I landed lightly, not far from the audience, I even stood on my feet. Met with applause. A girl who came from somewhere handed a bouquet of field daisies, - Leonid Minov told reporters.
Since then, July 26 is considered the birthday of the Airborne Forces. And, since the heavenly patron of this kind of troops is Elijah the prophet, the paratroopers celebrate their holiday every August 2.
Vasily Filippovich Margelov, General of the USSR Army, played a significant role in the development of the Airborne Forces. For every paratrooper, this is a very, very significant figure. It was this commander who was the first to understand that in modern operations deep behind enemy lines, only highly mobile and ready for wide maneuver soldiers could operate. As a result, under more than 20 years of leadership by Margelov (in 1954-1959 and 1961-1979), the USSR Airborne Forces became one of the most effective in the country's Armed Forces. Service in this type of troops has become the most prestigious. The photo with Vasily Filippovich in the demobilization album was valued by the paratroopers above all else.
Vasily Margelov
In the future Museum of the Airborne Forces in Voronezh, in addition to the building itself, it is also planned to install a monument to Vasily Margelov. The institution itself is planned to be semicircular. Its exposition will be built on the basis of a combination of traditional showcases and multimedia equipment. They will house the personal of General Margelov, as well as the diaries of Major Moshkovsky mentioned above. The museum wants to create an interactive table. It will contain the history and characteristics of each exhibit. And for thematic lessons, conferences and film screenings, a multimedia zone with projection equipment will be equipped.
That is, soon Voronezh should become a Mecca for everyone who has the right to say every August 2: "No one but us."
Ilya Ershov
The monument is located in the Kominternovsky district of the city of Voronezh, the Severny microdistrict, at the intersection of General Lizyukov Street and 60 Army Street in the Victory Park near the Arena shopping and entertainment complex. The monument is a sculptural composition consisting of two bronze figures:
paratrooper dressed in military uniform 30s of the last century, and a teenager standing next to him, holding a model aircraft in his hand.
Above the figures is a steel structure, almost 10 meters high, in the form of an open parachute. The pedestal is made of polished granite slabs, on which the name "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces" and the flag of the Airborne Forces are engraved.
The monument "" personifies Military duty, courage and continuity of generations.
The project of the monument was developed by a creative team led by a Voronezh sculptor, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia Petrikhin Vladimir Nazarovich.
This is one of the modern (comparatively "young") monuments of Voronezh.
Opening of the monument
Initially, the monument was planned to be opened on August 1, 2010 for the 80th anniversary of the Airborne Forces, but the solemn event had to be postponed for a month due to emergency caused by fires in the summer of 2010.
The official opening of the monument "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces" took place September 4, 2010. The solemn part was turned into a whole holiday with the laying of flowers at the foot of the sculpture, the march of the guard of honor, demonstration performances of paratroopers, after which a festive concert took place.
The history of the emergence of the Airborne Forces and the monument "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces"
The date of birth of the Airborne Forces is considered to be August 2, 1930. On this day, during the pilot exercises of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District on the outskirts of the city of Voronezh, the first landing in world history took place.
In Voronezh, the historic landing site of the first landing occupies the territory of the Victory Park near the Arena shopping center. In the 1930s, there was land free from plowing, 2 kilometers from the airfield, not far from the Klochkovo farm. This event marked the beginning of the formation of units of the Airborne Forces and thus, the Kominternovsky district of the city of Voronezh became the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.
In our time, the field where the first paratroopers landed has turned into a residential building built up with multi-storey buildings. Severny microdistrict, and the wasteland near the Academy of Arts, on which the monument was erected, turned into a large park, named Victory Park.
In 1997, a memorial sign was erected at the landing site - a granite stone and a memorial plaque with the inscription: "HERE ON AUGUST 2, 1930, THE FIRST AIRDRESSING IN THE USSR IN THE NUMBER OF TWELVE PEOPLE WAS MADE HERE". And later, on September 4, 2010, the monument "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces" was erected.
Photos of the monument Voronezh - Motherland of the Airborne Forces
Video from the opening of the monument Voronezh - Motherland of the Airborne Forces
Years of creation:
The monument was erected in the Northern microdistrict of Voronezh at the landing site of the first landing formation in the USSR
Description of the monument:
For the first time, the landing of military paratroopers and the release of cargo with weapons and ammunition for paratroopers took place near Voronezh on August 2, 1930. Now this day is annually celebrated as the birthday of the Russian airborne troops, and Voronezh is rightfully considered the birthplace of Airborne.
The first monument to the paratroopers was erected on this site on August 2, 1997. This is a red granite block, on the front surface of which a metal plate was fixed with the words: “HERE ON AUGUST 2, 1930, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE USSR, AN AIRBOARD IN THE NUMBER OF TWELVE PEOPLE WAS LANDED”
In our time, the field where the first paratroopers landed has turned into a residential microdistrict built up with multi-storey buildings, and the wasteland near the Academy of Arts, on which the first monument was erected, has turned into a large park called Victory Park.
On September 4, 2010, the grand opening of the monument "Voronezh - the Motherland of the Airborne Forces" took place in Victory Park. It is a sculptural composition consisting of two bronze figures - a paratrooper dressed in a military uniform of the 30s of the last century, and next to him is a teenager holding a model of an aircraft in his hand. Above them rose a parachute dome, a steel structure nine meters high. The pedestal of the monument is made of polished granite.
The Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation is a separate branch of the Russian armed forces, located in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. At the moment, this position is held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.
The purpose of the airborne troops is operations behind enemy lines, carrying out deep raids, capturing important enemy facilities, bridgeheads, disrupting enemy communications and enemy control, and conducting sabotage in his rear. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as effective tool offensive war. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use landing - both parachute and landing.
The airborne troops are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, in order to get into this branch of the troops, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, it concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: the paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.
The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, further development This type of troops was swift: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. The USSR Airborne Forces played an important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. The paratroopers actively participated in Afghan war. The Russian airborne troops were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.
The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue panel with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center is an image of an open golden parachute and two planes of the same color. The flag was officially approved in 2004.
In addition to the flag, there is also the emblem of this type of troops. This is a flaming golden-colored grenada with two wings. There is also a medium and large airborne emblem. The middle emblem depicts a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head and a shield with George the Victorious in the center. In one paw, the eagle holds a sword, and in the other, a flaming grenada of the Airborne Forces. On the large emblem, grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. In its upper part is a double-headed eagle.
In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: "No one but us." The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.
The professional holiday of the paratroopers is the Day of the Airborne Forces. It is celebrated on August 2nd. On this day in 1930, the first parachute landing of a unit was made to perform a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The airborne troops of Russia are armed with both conventional types military equipment, and samples designed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of its tasks.
It is difficult to name the exact number of the Russian Airborne Forces, this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data obtained from Russian Ministry defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.
The history of the creation of the Airborne Forces
The birthplace of the Airborne Forces is Soviet Union. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. First, a small detachment appeared, which was part of an ordinary rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.
However, the first use of paratroopers in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was parachuted there, which made it possible to unblock the settlement as soon as possible.
Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created, in 1933 their number reached 29 units. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the rear of the enemy and carry out sabotage.
It should be noted that the development of the landing troops in the Soviet Union was very rapid and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 30s, the country experienced a real parachute boom, skydiving towers were in almost every stadium.
During the exercises of the Kyiv military district in 1935, a mass parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian military district. Foreign military observers invited to the exercises were amazed at the scale of the landings and the skill of the Soviet paratroopers.
Before the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand fighters. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country, after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of five more airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, the paratrooper units were withdrawn from the command of the fronts. Each airborne corps was a very formidable force: in addition to the well-trained personnel, he was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.
In addition to the landing corps, the Red Army also included mobile landing brigades (five units), spare regiments of the Airborne Forces (five units) and educational establishments who trained paratroopers.
The Airborne Forces made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial - the most difficult - period of the war. Despite the fact that the airborne troops are intended for offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patch holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to release of the surrounded Soviet troops. Because of this practice, the paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.
Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counteroffensive. The 4th Corps of the Airborne Forces was parachuted in the winter of 1942 during the Vyazemsky landing operation. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. In its course, 4,000 fighters were parachuted by landing.
In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate guards airborne army, and in December of the same year - to the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions have become ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, the paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military career on the Elbe.
In 1946, the landing units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.
In 1956, Soviet paratroopers participated in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played a key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.
After the end of the war, the world entered the era of confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. Emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, automobile transport. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 1970s, large-capacity wide-body transport aircraft were created, which made it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the military transport aviation of the USSR was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the personnel of the Airborne Forces in one sortie.
At the end of the 60s, a new type of units that were part of the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (DShCH). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but they were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans prepared by Soviet strategists in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict, it was planned to “break” the enemy defenses with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.
In the mid-1980s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.
In 1979, the war in Afghanistan began, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla struggle, of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. The delivery of personnel to the place of military operations took place with the help of armored vehicles or vehicles, landing by landing method from helicopters was less often used.
The paratroopers were often used to guard the numerous outposts and roadblocks scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed missions more suited to motorized rifle units.
It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, parts of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.
After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only by 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.
In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th regiment was created. special purpose Airborne Forces (the so-called special forces of the Airborne Forces).
The 1990s became a serious test for the Russian landing troops (as well as for the entire army, by the way). The number of the Airborne Forces was seriously reduced, some units were disbanded, the paratroopers became subordinate ground forces. Army aviation was transferred to the Air Force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the Airborne Forces.
Airborne troops of the Russian Federation took part in both Chechen campaigns, in 2008, the paratroopers were involved in the Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises, they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).
The structure and composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation
Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command and control structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.
Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:
- Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
- Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
- Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.
At the moment, the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation include four divisions, as well as separate brigades and shelves. Airborne troops, composition:
- 76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
- 98th Guards airborne division, located in Ivanovo.
- 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
- 106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.
Regiments and brigades of the Airborne Forces:
- 11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, stationed in the city of Ulan-Ude.
- 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade (Moscow).
- 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
- 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Based in Ulyanovsk.
- 83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location - Ussuriysk.
- 38th Separate Guards Communications Regiment of the Airborne Forces. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.
In 2013, the creation of the 345th air assault brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to a later date (2017 or 2020). There is information that in 2020 an airborne assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, and in the future, a regiment of the 7th airborne assault division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed on its basis.
In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main of them and the most famous is the Ryazan Higher Airborne command school, which also trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. Also, the structure of this type of troops includes two Suvorov schools (in Tula and Ulyanovsk), Omsk cadet corps and 242nd Training Center located in Omsk.
Armament and equipment of the Russian Airborne Forces
The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and samples that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured back in Soviet period, but there are also more modern samples created already in modern times.
The most popular models of airborne armored vehicles at present are the airborne combat vehicles BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units). Both of these vehicles were produced back in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. This is openly stated even by representatives of senior management. Russian army., which was adopted in 2004. However, its production is slow, today there are 30 BMP-4s and 12 BMP-4Ms in service.
Also, the airborne units are armed with a small number of BTR-82A and BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers (12 pieces), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 pieces). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM "Shell", but so far its production is moving very slowly: today in combat units there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) "Shells".
The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different anti-tank systems: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".
The Russian Airborne Forces are also armed with self-propelled and towed artillery: Nona self-propelled guns (250 pieces and several hundred more units in storage), D-30 howitzer (150 units), and Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and "Tray" (150 units).
The air defense means of the Airborne Forces consist of portable missile systems (various modifications of the Needles and Willow), as well as the Strela short-range air defense system. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS "Verba", which was only recently put into service and now it has been put into trial operation in only a few units of the RF Armed Forces, including the 98th Airborne Division.
The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft guns BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft guns ZU-23-2.
AT last years the Airborne Forces began to receive new models of automotive equipment, of which the Tiger armored car, the A-1 Snowmobile all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.
The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense systems "Barnaul", automated command and control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Flight-K".
The Airborne Forces are armed with a wide range of small arms, among which there are both Soviet models and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, the PMM, and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries of the more advanced AK-74M to the troops have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the Russian-made Val Orlan-10 silent assault rifle. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
In the city of the first landing, it took decades to perpetuate the memory of this event. And a block prepared by an aviation veteran for the grave went to the foundation stone in the Northern District [photo]
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However, nothing surprising. There have always been big problems with perpetuating the memory of the first group landing in Voronezh. This topic seems to be enchanted. About this "Komsomolskaya Pravda" told local historian Vladimir Yeletskikh. In the mid-80s, he collected materials for the Airborne Forces Museum, planned in Voronezh DOSAAF, which was never destined to open ...
Why Voronezh became the birthplace of the Airborne Forces
Our city was chosen for that legendary landing operation not by chance. In the late 1920s, the largest military air hub was located on the southwestern outskirts of Voronezh. The special 11th air brigade of heavy bombers of the Moscow Military District of the Red Army Air Force was based here.
In June 1930, the air brigade suffered a heavy loss - a TB-1 aircraft crashed during a test flight near Saratov. Brigade commander Alexander Osadchy and six crew members were killed (their graves are in the Orlyonok park. - ed.). One of the reasons for the death of the flight crew, the commission recognized the inability of the crew members to use parachutes.
And then on July 3, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Baranov issued order No. 0476 on holding the first parachute jumping training camp in Voronezh. And to raise the morale of the demoralized air brigade and teach pilots to parachute, they sent Leonid Minov, a highly qualified specialist, a parachute ace who studied in America. He fulfilled his task brilliantly - 12 people successfully landed in two groups on August 2, 1930 at the demonstration exercises of the Moscow Military District.
Getting the authorities of Voronezh to perpetuate that memorable event turned out to be much more difficult and time-consuming than in the distant 1930s to teach people to overcome their fear of heights.
The city did not need parachute relics
The idea to open a museum of the Airborne Forces in our city was born by the veterans of the local DOSAAF flying club. And local historian Vladimir Yeletskikh undertook to actively help them. The collection of materials for the museum lasted several years - and not only in Voronezh, but also in the capital. Together with the former polar explorer Stanislav Austriavskiy, who was about to become the director of the museum, Yeletskikh, armed with a heavy reel-to-reel tape recorder, visited the home of the widow of the legendary skydiver Leonid Minov. We recorded valuable memories of her and her friends, collected photographs. And they received a truly royal proposal from the parachutist's wife.
The apartment kept the aura of Leonid Grigorievich. Everywhere there were commemorative photographs, diplomas, medals, tokens - a real museum of parachuting in miniature, - Vladimir Leonidovich recalls. - Seeing our admiration, the hostess admitted that her husband punished her: “If they decide to arrange a parachuting museum in Voronezh, you will give everything you ask! But in order for my office to be completely preserved - let everyone know how Minov lived. And she added: “Do not hesitate, I will give everything together with the cabinet, if you promise to put it as it is!” This would be a very valuable acquisition for Voronezh ...
However, it was not necessary to accept such a gift, like many others already prepared in the capital. The trip was framed by native Voronezh.
When we arrived at the director of the Central Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics Stepanov, he was furious. It turned out that at that time a petition came from the Voronezh Regional Council of DOSAAF refusing to accept the exhibits collected for the future of our museum. For a banal reason - lack of funds, premises and staff. Evgeny Nikolaevich was simply indignant then: “For three years we have been collecting a collection for you, we have spent so much effort and money ... 13 boxes of rarities, including the first Kotelnikovsky parachute! And to refuse it is just some kind of savagery! I am offended by Voronezh. I will give half of the exhibits to Ryazan, the second - to Kharkov, everything will come in handy there!
Installation memorial plaque and a stone in honor of the paratroopers was punched for more than 10 years
The long-playing epic of "kicking off" accompanied the installation of a commemorative plaque (it was opened in 1996) and a foundation stone (in 1997) in honor of the paratroopers in Voronezh. The Council of Veterans of the flying club, headed by Vasily Nikiforov, has been breaking through them for more than ten years.
How many documents had to be collected then, how much nerves had to be spent to open a memorial plaque at the former headquarters of the 11th air brigade at Cosmonauts, 60! - said Vladimir Leonidovich. - The officials were distrustful of the historical accuracy of that order of the 1930s to conduct training jumps in Voronezh. There were so many notorious excuses that “the order was lost, that maybe the first group jumps were not in Voronezh” ... So it was I who brought the number of that order on that memorable trip to Moscow in the mid-80s. A copy of it was shown to me by Leonid Minov's biographer Igor Glushkov. And this played a role.
The initiative of aviation veterans to install a memorial stone was also not immediately realized.
There were many obstacles. Firstly, they could not decide on a place for a long time, - Yeletskikh recalls. - The landing party landed at the Klochkovo farm, now it is the Teplichnoy region. But I offered a place at the Academy of Arts - there is a large park, and at this place the airfield field once ended, which means that parachutists jumped here then and put their parachutes in flight. The place was liked by the veterans of the flying club. Then problems with financing surfaced - the architects proposed too large and costly projects, there was simply nowhere to get such millions during the Yeltsin devastation. And then, having heard about this, the honored pilot and participant in the war, Vladimir Nikitin, told me: “If this is the only thing, I am ready to give my tombstone for a memorial sign!” The block was bought by the administration of the Kominternovsky district from a veteran for a ridiculous amount, and in 1997 the stone was finally placed ... By the way, after the installation of the monument "Voronezh - the birthplace of the Airborne Forces", the paratroopers, remembering the ordeals associated with the foundation stone, expressed a desire to save it. And the block was simply moved. Now she lies on the lawn in front of the Northern Lights skating rink, ten meters from the new monument.
