The Imperial Russian Air Service () was an air force founded in 1912 for Imperial Russia."12 августа 1912 года приказом по военному ведомству вопросы воздухоплавания и авиации были изъяты из ведения Главного инженерного управления и переданы специально созданному органу: в воздухоплавательную часть Генерального штаба. Эта дата считается днём образования военной авиации России"12 августа 1912 года // "Щит и меч", No. 29 (1333) от 9 августа 2012 года, стр.8 The Air Service operated for five years and only saw combat in World War I before being reorganized and renamed in 1917 following the Russian Revolution.
With the onset of the Russian Civil War, some former IRAS pilots joined Alexander Kolchak on the White Russian side, but the White movement never created an official air force. Most of what remained of the former Imperial Russian Air Service was reformed into the subsequent Soviet Air Forces.
History
Background The origins of Russian aviation go back to theoretical projects of the 1880s by pioneer Russian scientists such as Nikolai Kibalchich and Alexander Mozhaysky. During the 1890s aviation innovation was further advanced by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
In 1902–1903 during military maneuvers in the Kiev Military District, the Imperial Russian Army used several aerostats for reconnaissance and coordination of artillery fire. The Aeronautical company () was under the command of Colonel A.M. Kovanko."я вошёл в кабинет начальника штаба Киевского военного округа генерала Сухомлинова... Он встретил меня, кавалериста, приветливо, как собрата по оружию.- А вас тут уже давно поджидают с нетерпением, - сказал он. - Вы получаете на маневрах специальное назначение, к сожалению, не по вашей конной специальности. Дело в том, что мы испытываем впервые применение к военному делу воздушных шаров. Техника их удовлетворительна, но опыта наблюдений с них за за полем боя ещё нет....я нагнал воздухоплавательную роту на биваке... полковник Кованько встретил меня"А.А. Игнатьев. Пятьдесят лет в строю. том I (кн. 1–3). М., "Правда", 1989. стр.163–167
In 1904 Nikolai Zhukovsky established the world's first Aerodynamic Institute () in Kuchino near Moscow.Авиация // Большая Российская Энциклопедия / редколл., предс. Ю.С. Осипов. том 1. М., Научное издательство "Большая Российская Энциклопедия", 2005. стр.79–82 One aeronautical battalion (учебный Восточно-Сибирский воздухоплавательный батальон) with 4 aerostats took part in the Russo-Japanese War.Воздухоплавательные и авиационные части // В. Н. Шунков, А. Г. Мерников, А. А. Спектор. Русская армия в Первой мировой войне 1914–1918. М., АСТ, 2014. стр.26–30
In 1908, the Russian Aeroclub () was established.
In 1910, the Imperial Russian Army sent several officers to France for training as pilots. Later in the same year the Imperial Russian Army purchased a number of French and British aeroplanes and began training its first military pilots.Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201–208 the first aviation school was opened in the summer of 1910 in GatchinaР. М. Португальский. Первые и впервые. М., ДОСААФ, 1988. стр.128–132 the second aviation school was opened in the autumn of 1910 in Sevastopol (in 1912 this school was moved to Kacha)
Also in 1910, one biplane was built in Saint Petersburg which was intended to be used by the Army as a reconnaissance aircraft, but the aircraft lost in a competition against the French Farman III in 1911, and never entered service
On 12 August 1912 the Imperial Russian Air Service, formerly part of the Engineer Corps, became a separate branch of the army.
During the First Balkan War there was a Russian air unit in the Bulgarian Army which was composed of 10 civil volunteers (4 pilots and 6 technicians) and commanded by S. SchetininМихаил Жирохов. Болгарская авиация в Первой Балканской войне // "Уголок неба"
In 1913 Igor Sikorsky built the first four-engine biplane, the Russky Vityaz, and his famous bomber aircraft, the Ilya Muromets. The same year Dmitry Grigorovich built several "M-type" flying boats for the Imperial Russian Navy."Осенью 1913 года на заводе Щетинина построили первую летающую лодку инженера Д.П. Григоровича - М-1, затем М-2, М-3, М-4"А.В. Лосик, А.Н. Щерба. Особенности развития военной промышленности Санкт-Петербурга в 1900–1914 // "Военно-исторический журнал", No. 3, март 2013. стр. 42–47
In 1914 Polish aviator Jan Nagórski conducted the first ever flights in the Arctic looking for the lost expedition of polar explorer Georgy Sedov.
World War I At the beginning of World War I, Russia's air service had the largest air fleet in the Entente, followed by France (263 aeroplanes against 156 respectivelyHistory of light aviation of the French Army 1794–2008, Lavauzelle, Collection of History, Memory and Patrimony, Général André Martini, 2005, Paris, pages 36,42, Р. Эрнест Дюпюи, Тревор Н. Дюпюи. Всемирная история войн (в 4-х тт.). книга 3 (1800–1925). СПб., М., «Полигон — АСТ», 1998. стр.696 and 14 airshipsР. Эрнест Дюпюи, Тревор Н. Дюпюи. Всемирная история войн (в 4-х тт.). книга 3 (1800–1925). СПб., М., «Полигон — АСТ», 1998. стр.694).
After the war began, aviators were rearmed with 7.63mm Mauser C96, because German semi-automatic pistols were more effective weapons than standard 7.62mm Nagant revolvers.К-96: легенда продолжается // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", № 12 (153), декабрь 2009. стр.32–39 At least a few aviators were armed with carbines.Российская армейская авиация в I мировой войне / "Уголок неба" (October 2004)
Initially, Russia used aircraft only for reconnaissance and coordination of artillery fire. Later, several aeroplanes were armed with steel flechettes to attack ground targets (columns of enemy infantry and cavalry, campsites, etc.).В. Андреев. Прерванный полёт. Русская авиация в Первой мировой войне // журнал "Родина", No. 8–9, 1993. стр.70 Later, aeroplanes were armed with air-dropped bombs.
On 8 September 1914, the Russian pilot Pyotr Nesterov performed the first aerial ramming aircraft attack in the history of aviationГеннадий Петров. Русские витязи // журнал "Российская Федерация сегодня", No. 13–14, июль 2014. стр.62–66Alan Durkota, et al., The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots & Aircraft of World War One (Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press, 1995), pp. 203–204 Later, Lt. Vyacheslav Tkachov became the very first Russian pilot who shot down an enemy aircraft with a handgun. He attacked a German "Albatros" and shot the enemy pilot.Игорь Софронов. Личность: Русский сокол // журнал "Братишка", август 2012
In December 1914 a squadron of 10 Ilya Muromets bombers was formed and used against the German and Austro-Hungarian armies.
17 January 1915 – The Ministry of War of the Russian Empire issued an order to arm aeroplanes with 7.62mm Madsen light machine guns and 7.71mm Lewis light machine gunsСемен Федосеев. Российская карьера ружья-пулемёта "Мадсен" (часть III) // журнал "Мастер-ружьё", No. 6 (159), июнь 2010. стр.42–51
In March 1915 naval aviation was established. The Imperial Russian Navy received two vessels and six seaplanes (one armed steamship "Император Николай I" which was converted into a seaplane carrier for five M-5 seaplanes and one cruiser "Алмаз" which was rebuilt with a place for one seaplane). The naval aviation section was not merged into the IRAS and became a part of Black Sea FleetАвиация // Большая Советская Энциклопедия. / редколл., гл. ред. Б. А. Введенский. 2-е изд. том 1. М., Государственное научное издательство «Большая Советская энциклопедия», 1949. стр.90–111
On 31 March 1915 the Russian pilot Alexander Kazakov successfully performed the second ramming attack, using a Morane-Saulnier G as his piloted projectile.
Summer 1915 – petrol bombs (glass bottles containing a flammable mixture of gasoline and mazut) were used by pilots to attack ground targetsЮ.А. Бахурин. Бестиарий Великой войны: Неизвестные военно-технические проекты Российской империи // журнал "Родина", № 8, 2014. стр.42–46
In 1915 the Imperial Russian Air Service became a separate branch of the army directly under the command of the Stavka (commander-in-chief's HQ).
In 1916 the size and force of naval aviation was increased, the Black Sea Fleet had two seaplane carriers ("Император Николай I" and "Император Александр I") and fourteen M-9 seaplanes
During World War I, 269 Russian aviators were awarded the St. George military decorations (St George Sword, Order of St. George or Cross of St. George), 5 aviators were awarded the Chevalier's National Order of the Legion of Honour, 2 aviators were awarded the Military Cross, 2 aviators were awarded the Order of the White Eagle and many others were awarded medals.М.С. Нешкин. Выдающиеся русские авиаторы в годы Первой мировой войны 1914–1918 годов (по материалам Российского государственного военно-исторического архива) // Последняя война Российской империи. Россия накануне, в ходе и после Первой мировой войны по документам российских и зарубежных архивов. Сборник материалов Международной научной конференции (Москва, 7–8 сентября 2004 года). М., "Наука", 2006. стр.283–287 26 aviators became flying aces of Russian Empire. The most successful Russian flying ace and fighter pilot was Alexander Kazakov, who shot down 20 enemy aeroplanes.Norman Franks, et al., Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. (Oxford, Grub Street, 1997) p. 208
However, the war was not going well for Russia and following significant setbacks on the Eastern front, and the economic collapse in the rear, military aircraft production fell far behind Russia's rival Germany.
After the February Revolution of 1917 the Imperial Russian Air Service was reformed. Following the October Revolution of 1917, the Russian Air Service was dissolved.С. Кляцкин. Строительство Красной Армии в 1918 году // журнал "Вопросы истории", No. 2, февраль 1948. стр.49–69
more than 1300 aeroplanes became a basis of Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet.Авиация военная // Гражданская война и военная интервенция в СССР. Энциклопедия / редколл., гл. ред. С. С. Хромов. — 2-е изд. — М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1987. стр.20–21 More than two-thirds of these aeroplanes were foreign-made. More than 50% of all aeroplanes were "Nieuports", more than 15% of all aeroplanes were "Farmans" and about 9% of all aeroplanes were "Voisins"."Свыше 2/3 самолётного парка составляли иностранные машины, преимущественно французские, в меньшем количестве английских, германских и американских марок. Свыше 50% парка приходилось на самолёты "Ньюпор"... свыше 15% всех самолётов занимали разведчики и бомбардировщики типа "Фарман"... около 9% парка составляли самолёты типа "Вуазен" различных модификаций... около 4% составляли устаревшие тихоходные машины марок "Моран" и "Блерио". Характерными особенностями самолётного парка являлась его разнотипность (свыше 30 образцов машин), техническое несовершенство и изношенность материальной части"Самолёт боевой // Гражданская война и военная интервенция в СССР. Энциклопедия / редколл., гл. ред. С. С. Хромов. — 2-е изд. — М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1987. стр.528–529 Only 300–350 of these aeroplanes were used during Russian Civil War because of the lack of spare parts and maintenance problems. Kolchak's white army received 65 aeroplanes and about 70 pilots. Also, former members of Imperial Russian Air Service joined Denikin's white army. After the start of the North Russia Intervention several former pilots of Imperial Russian Air Service joined the white forces in North Russia.
219 pilots who fought in Red Army during Russian Civil War were awarded Order of the Red Banner (16 of them were awarded twice). Almost all of them were former pilots of IRAS.