Wrocław 2011-02-02
3 Air Base in Wrocław-Strachowice.
1999 – 2010
Address; 3 Air Base, ul. Graniczna 13, 54-516 Wrocław.
After the liquidation of the 11th PLM in 1999, Strachowice Airport was transformed into the 3rd Air Base. This was closely related to the accession of the Republic of Poland to NATO structures and the introduction of a new structure of Military Aviation and the lack of prospects for a larger number of new combat aircraft.
3 The Air Base was established to operate on the basis of the Ordinance of the Minister of National Defense No. Pf-26/Org. of March 4, 1999, Order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces No. 029/Org. of March 17, 1999, the Order of the Commander of the WLOP No. Pf 63 of April 15, 1999 and the Order of the Commander of the 3rd KOP No. Pf-28 of May 10, 1999. The date of establishment of the 3rd BLot was May 15, 1999, although the full operation of the unit began at the beginning of 2000.
The 3rd Air Base began operating on January 1, 2000 as JW. The 3030th Base took over some of the tasks of the disbanded 11th Fighter Aviation Regiment, the 1st security battalion from Mierzęcice and the Administration and Economic Department (WAG) of the 3rd Air Defense Corps.
The 3rd Air Base was a Military Unit secured financially and economically by the 2nd Military Economic Department in Wrocław. The 3rd Air Base continued the aviation traditions of the 11th Fighter Aviation Regiment and its patron Colonel pil. Bolesław Orliński.
Of the air units in Strachowice, only the 3rd Aviation Transport and Liaison Squadron operated, performing flights mainly using helicopters.
Photo description: 2010. Main facilities of the 3rd Air Base. Graniczna Street and the main gate. In the center there is a barracks and staff complex. The MiG-21 MF nb 8007 monument-plane is marked in the circle. It was the 69th MiG-21 MF nb 8007 aircraft No. 968007, which was delivered to Poland in 1973. The aircraft was used in the 11th PLM in Strachowice. The aircraft ended service in 1994. It was set up as an exhibit.
Since the first decade of the 21st century was associated with a large involvement of the Polish Army in foreign missions, Strachowice Airport became an important point from which Polish soldiers set out on foreign missions. It was mainly from Strachowice Airport that planes with soldiers and equipment departed; CASA C-295 M, C-130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Antonov An-124.
Despite a short period of time, already in 2007, there were further organizational changes. Pursuant to the decision of the Minister of National Defense on the disbandment of the command of the 2nd and 3rd Air Defense Corps and the change of subordination of some organizational units of the Air Force on April 27, 2007, the 3rd Air Base was transferred under direct subordination to the command of the 3rd Transport Aviation Brigade Powidz and on January 1, 2009, under the command of the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing Powidz.
Further reduction of the defense potential of the Republic of Poland, carried out by the liberal government of the Civic Platform of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the Ministry of National Defense (Minister Bogdan Klich) led to the liquidation of another Polish Military Airport. Although, fortunately, Strachowice Airport began to function only as a Civil Airport. What we wrote about below. By the end of June 2010, the 3rd BLot was disbanded, and on July 1, 2010, the Airport Service Command was established in its place, which was subordinated to the 8th Transport Aviation Base in Balice. It was already the epitaph of the Military Aviation in Strachowice.
On June 17, 2010, a solemn appeal was held in connection with the dismantling of the 3rd Air Base. The ceremonial roll call was attended by invited guests, including the commander of the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing, Brig. drink Tadeusz Mikutel, the last commander of the 3rd Air Defense Corps, Brig. retired Zbigniew Janos, the last commander of the 11th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Col. rez. pil. Zbigniew Martynowicz, former commander of the 3rd Air Base Col. Bogusław Ochap, commander of the 8th Transport Aviation Base Col. pil. Mirosław Jemielniak, commander of the 13th transport aviation squadron, Lt. Col. Pil. Dariusz Janiszek, commander of the 14th transport aviation squadron, Lt. Col. Pil. Mieczysław Gaudyn and representatives of other units and institutions cooperating with the base. After submitting a report to the Commander of the 3rd SLTr by the Base Commander, Col. Mirosław Molik about the readiness of the units for the solemn appeal, the welcome of the invited guests took place and the flag of the Air Force was hoisted on the mast. Then, excerpts from the orders on the dismantling of the base and the distinctions of military personnel and employees were read out. The ceremony ended with a parade of subdivisions, after which the invited guests went to the Hall of Tradition of the base to make commemorative entries in the Memorial Book. The commander of the base honored the invited guests with diplomas and commemorative medals.
At the same time, the 3rd Transport and Liaison Aviation Squadron – JW 3242 (1999 – 2010) was disbanded. Helicopters and planes were transferred to other military units. The unit used primarily PZL An-2 aircraft and helicopters: Mi-2 and Mi-8.
Military epitaph.
There is no doubt that the presence of the Polish Army in Strachowice has come to an end. In the autumn of 2010, AMW put up the last plots for sale, together with the railway siding. The area is built up with numerous buildings, which in principle are not suitable for adaptation, only for demolition. But the area itself is attractive for the hotel, warehouse and retail industries.
The only military unit that remained in Strachowice is the 3rd Radio Engineering Brigade.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman