Command Structure of the Soviet Air Forces, 1918-1941
From OnAirpower.org
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[edit] Pre-Revolution Imperial Russian Air Force Organization
Just prior to the October Revolution, the Russian Imperial air forces were split across three main organizations[1]:
- Directorate of the Military Air Fleet (Uvoflot or UVVF), subordinate to the Minister of War and responsible for non-combat, non-naval functions including command of the interior military district air forces, training, supply, and procurement
- Directorate of Naval Aviation, responsible for all naval aviation
- Field Directorate for Aviation and Aeronautics (PUAiV), responsible for all combat operations at the front. This organization was formed in April, 1917 and replaced the Chancellery of the Field Inspector General of Aviation (Aviakantsa), which had similar responsibilities
[edit] Transitional Revolutionary Organizations
The first new body to be created for the oversight of aviation matters after the collapse of the Russian Imperial government during the February Revolution was the All-Russia Council on Aviation (Aviasovet), in September, 1917. The Council was elected by the First All-Russia Aviation Congress and approved by the Minister of War, Maj. Gen. Verkhovsky. Its multi-party composition and the fact that it was led by a member of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party rather than a Bolshevik doomed it to a short life and dissolution after the October Revolution[1].
Immediately after the October Revolution at least two different groups of revolutionaries sprang up independently with the intent of taking control of the air forces for the Bolsheviks. The self-styled "Petrograd Bureau of Commissars for Aviation and Aeronautics" was formed on October 28th (three days after the October Uprising) by E. I. Akhmatovich, S. E. Andreev, K. V. Akashev, M. D. Ermolaev, and A. V. Mozhaev, with Mozhaev selected as its Chairman. It took up residence in Room #73 at the Petrograd Bolshevik Headquarters in the former Smolny Institute. The "Aviasovet" group was formed by Andrei Sergeev, P. S. Dubenskii, Z. Ya. Landau, Yakov Konkin, N. V. Vasilev, and V. S. Gorshkov. The two groups initially vied for power, but by mid-November had united after the Chairman of the Petrograd Military-Revolutionary Committee threatened to dissolve both groups[1].
[edit] Summary
The various names used for the main Soviet air forces over the period 1918-1941 are listed below[2]. The procurement and supply function of the air forces was an independent organization on and off during this period (see the notes for additional details). For information on the different commanders of the air forces over the years, see Soviet Air Force Commanders.
| From | Name | Russian Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 20, 1917 | All-Russia Collegium for Direction of the Air Forces of the Old Army | Всероссийская коллегия для руководства Управлением военного воздушного флота старой армии | Formed by Order No. 4 (December 20, 1917) of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs (Narkomvoen)[3]. Initially led by chairman Constantine Akashev |
| May 24, 1918 | Main Directorate of the Worker's and Peasant's Red Air Fleet (Glavvozdukhflot) | Главное управление Рабоче-Крестьянского Красного Воздушного Флота (Главвоздухфлот) | The "All-Russia Collegium..." was renamed according to Order No. 385 of the Narkomvoen, and to be headed by a Council (Soviet) consisting of a Chief and two Commissars; subordinated to the All-Russia General Headquarters (Vseroglavshtab) for operational matters, and to the Central Supply Directorate (TsUS) for supply matters. From September, 1921 subordination for supply matters switched to the High Commander for Supply. By Order No. 11/4 of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR) on September 22, 1918, the air forces were subordinated to the newly-formed Field Directorate for Aviation and Aeronautics, which was in turn subordinated to the RVSR Headquarters. By Order No. 447/78 of the RVSR on March 25, 1920, the air forces were directly subordinated to the RVSR, under the operational control of the Supreme Commander (Glavkom) of the RVSR; as part of the same order, the air force's Supply Directorate was made into a separate organization. The Supply Directorate was once again incorporated into the air forces by Order No. 1875 of the RVSR on September 2, 1921.[3]. |
| March 28, 1924 | Directorate of the USSR Air Forces | Управление ВВС СССР | By Order No. 446/96 of the RVSR on March 28, 1924, the air forces (Glavvozdukhflot) were renamed to the Directorate of the USSR Air Forces, subordinated to the Revolutionary Military Council (RVS)[3]. |
| January 1, 1925 | Directorate of the Worker's and Peasant's Red Army Air Forces | Управление ВВС РККА | |
| November 19, 1939 | Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Forces | Главное управление Военно-воздушных сил Красной армии (ГУ ВВС КА) | |
| June 21, 1940 | Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Forces | Главное управление ВВС Красной Армии |
[edit] Sources
- Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Forces (in Russian)
