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 Long Range Aviation.
Units in 1961:
Units in 1978:
Redesignated 24th Air Army VGK 1 August 1980. The army was subordinated to the South-Western 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.