Russian Air Force Day () is a professional military holiday of Russia celebrated on 12 August to honor the active and reserve personnel, as well as veterans of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
History Air Fleet Day (), also known as the Air Forces Day or Soviet Aviation DayPre-history of MAKS - provides the complete information on Russian and Soviet air shows. was established in 1933Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decree 859 of 28.04.1933 and was celebrated on the third Sunday of August. The first aviation exhibition was held on 18 August 1933,Curiously, the August 17, 1933, was the date of the first launch of Soviet rocket - GIRD-09. at the initiative of Yakov Alksnis at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome. Future air parades were held at Tushino Airfield, where they remained for decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million people,
Soviet Air Force Day was enshrined by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 1 October 1980. On 28 September 1992, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia fixed this date as Russian Air Force Day.InfoPravo — Постановление президиума Верховного Совета Российской Федерации от 28.09.1992 № 3564-1 Об установлении праздника День Воздушного флота России. The modern holiday was introduced to the Russian Armed Forces by President Vladimir Putin on 31 May 2006.Армия России | На службе Отечеству — Праздничные дни в ВС России.Decree 3564-1 of September 28, 1992: "The establishment of the Russian Air Fleet Day" ()Decree 949 of 29 August 1997: "On establishing the Day of the Air Force" () and a revision 549 of 31 May 2006. The date was chosen based on the fact that 12 August 1912 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Imperial Russian Air Service, which was formerly part of the Engineer Corps.Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201–208 12 August is today considered to be the birthday of Russian military aviation.12 августа — День Военно-воздушных сил (День ВВС) России — ОРУЖИЕ РОССИИ Информационное агентство
Celebrations
Festive events dedicated to the holiday are held annually.УКАЗ Президента РФ от 29.08.97 N 949 (ред. от 31.05.2006) «ОБ УСТАНОВЛЕНИИ ДНЯ ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫХ СИЛ» Air shows are commonly held at Zhukovsky Airport. Solemn events are held at the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans. The 2012 Air Force Day celebrations marked the centennial of Russian military aviation, being attended by President Vladimir Putin.
Gallery
See also Navy Day (Russia) Defender of the Fatherland Day Paratroopers' Day Cosmonautics Day
References