Gdynia 2008-01-16
34th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Babie Doły.
1952–1995.
History of the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
On September 21, 1950, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Viktor Cherokov (Muscovite) presented the Minister of National Defense with proposals for the reorganization of the naval forces, which also took into account the development of naval aviation within the Navy. In February 1951, the Navy Command’s organizational plan for 1951-1952 was approved. The decision was made to form the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment, based on the fighter squadron of the 30th Naval Aviation Regiment. On January 29, 1952, the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment – Military Unit No. 3651 – was formed on the basis of the fighter squadron of the 30th Naval Aviation Regiment, with a duty number of 6/100. This was based on Order No. 095/Org. of the Ministry of National Defense of December 10, 1951, and Order No. 066/Org. of the Commander of the Navy of December 31, 1951. It was determined that the new Regiment, by September 1, 1952, would consist of two squadrons with a personnel strength of 64 officers, 101 non-commissioned officers, 9 enlisted men, and 1 contract civilian employee. The unit was directly subordinated to the Commander of Naval Aviation. Throughout its existence, the Regiment was stationed at the military airport in Gdynia-Babie Doły. Regimental Day was celebrated on May 15. The Regiment achieved combat readiness on February 1, 1952. Initially, the Regiment was equipped with Yak-9P fighter aircraft, but was quickly re-equipped with turbojet-powered MiG-15 aircraft. Subsequently, license-built Lim-1, Lim-2, Lim-5, and Lim-5 P aircraft were introduced. The Lim-5 P aircraft, a copy of the Soviet MiG-17 PF fighter, were equipped with the RP-5 radar station.
1962.
The 34th Air Defense Regiment, although a unit of the Polish Navy, was integrated into the Polish air defense system. Therefore, in 1962, the 34th Air Defense Regiment of the Polish Navy was separated from the Naval Aviation and incorporated into the National Air Defense Forces. The regiment was incorporated into the 2nd Air Defense Corps, covering the Polish Military District.
The 2nd Air Defense Corps had its headquarters in Bydgoszcz and consisted of: – 11th Air Defense Regiment in Debrzno, – 25th Air Defense Regiment in Pruszcz Gdański, – 26th Air Defense Regiment in Zegrze Pomorskie, – 28th Air Defense Regiment in Słupsk, and – 34th Air Defense Regiment in Babie Doły. Additionally: – 19th Towing Squadron in Słupsk, – 43rd Liaison Squadron in Bydgoszcz, – 129th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Szczecin, – 136th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Bydgoszcz, – 2nd Radio Battalion in Grudziądz, – 8th Radio Battalion in Słupsk, – 9th Radio Battalion in Choszczno.
1965.
The 34th Air Defense Aviation Regiment, as one of the important regiments of the WOPK, was equipped with the latest types of fighter aircraft in Poland. In the mid-1960s, it received MiG-21 PFM fighters, supplemented by several MiG-21 PF aircraft.
In the following years, the 34th Air Force Regiment received MiG-21 M fighters, and in the period 1972-1975, MiG-21 MF fighters.
1972.
In 1972, the 34th Air Force Regiment was named “Heroes of Kępa Oksywska” based on the Ministry of National Defense’s naming order of May 4, 1972.
From 1968, the 2nd Air Defense Corps had under its command: – 26th Air Force Regiment – Zegrze Pomorskie, – 28th Air Force Regiment – Słupsk, – 34th Air Force Regiment – Babie Doły, – 19th Air Force Regiment – Siemirowice, – 43rd Liaison and Transport Aviation Squadron. In the 1970s and 1980s, three fighter regiments, part of the 2nd National Air Defense Corps, based in Bydgoszcz, were tasked with air defense of Poland’s eastern coast. The western coast was defended by three Soviet fighter regiments of the Northern Army Group in Poland. The air border on the Polish Coast was so heavily defended because it was the external border of the Warsaw Pact.
In the 1970s, the 34th PLM served as the Polish cosmonaut Mirosław Hermaszewski, who was promoted to the rank of general.
1980.
At the end of the 1970s, a decision was made to reinforce the fighter regiments of the 2nd Air Defense Corps with new equipment. In 1978, the 28th Air Defense Regiment (PLM) in Słupsk-Redzikowo was re-equipped with MiG-23 MF fighters. The MiG-23 MF aircraft were unsuccessful and were only used by the 28th Air Defense Regiment. The two remaining regiments were re-equipped with MiG-21 bis aircraft. During 1980-1981, MiG-21 bis fighters were purchased from CCCP for the remaining two regiments of the 2nd Air Defense Corps. They entered service with the 34th Air Force Regiment in Gdynia-Babie Doły (the first “8604” on March 3, 1980) and the 26th Air Force Regiment in Zegrze Pomorskie (the last “9709” on December 4, 1981). Simultaneously with the MiG-21 bis, a second batch of MiG-21 UM combat trainer aircraft was purchased from CCCP. The first of them (“9229”) was delivered to the 34th Air Force Regiment on January 18, 1980.
MiG-21 bis aircraft delivered to the 34th Air Force Regiment:
LP MiG-21 No. Date Remarksbis On 4 February 1980, Soviet pilots brought the first 10 machines to Poland. They entered service on 6 March 1980. In the years 1980-1981 we received 72 (71) units of the MiG-21 bis version. 1 bis 0701 / 75080701 1980 Used in 34 PLM (13/04/1989 accident ?). 2 bis 0786 / 75080786 1980 Used in 34 PLM (26/01/1981 accident ?). 3 bis 0889 / 75080889 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 4 bis 1311 / 75081311 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 5 bis 1507 / 75081507 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 6 bis 7811 / 75087811 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 7 bis 8102 / 75088102 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 8 bis 8259 / 75088259 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 9 bis 8604 / 75088604 4.02.1980 First brought to Poland. Started flights on 6.03.1980. 10 bis 8645 / 75078645 1980 Used in 34 PLM (5.08.1992 accident ?). 11 bis 8706 / 75088706 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 12 bis 8759 / 75088759 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 13 bis 8801 / 75088801 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 14 bis 8918 / 75088918 1980 Used in 34 PLM (25.02.1994 accident ?). 15 bis 8971 / 75088971 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 16 bis 9027 / 75089027 1980 Used in 34 PLM (17.06.1982 accident?). 17 bis 9095 / 75089095 1980 Used in 34 PLM (16.06.1988 accident? Gdynia-Babie Doły Lieutenant Wojciech Kucharski). 18 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 19 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 20 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 21 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 22 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 23 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 24 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 25 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 26 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 27 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 28 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 29 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 30 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 31 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 32 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 33 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 34 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 35 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły. 36 bis 1980 In 34 PLM Babie Doły.
During its service life, five MiG-21 bis aircraft were lost in air crashes. Most of these aircraft crashed during landing.
In mid-1999, six MiG-21 bis aircraft and one MiG-21 UM were sold to Uganda. In 2000, 47 (50) MiG-21 bis aircraft remained in service.
1990
On July 1, 1990, the Polish Air Force merged with the Polish Air Defense Force. The newly created branch of the armed forces was named the Polish Air and Air Defense Forces.
As a result of the signing of the European CFE-1 disarmament agreements, Poland was entitled to possess 460 combat aircraft. Poland had more combat aircraft. According to the agreement, beyond this limit, Poland could possess 30 naval combat aircraft in a shore-based (land-based) unit. Therefore, it was decided to transfer one of the air regiments from the Polish Air Force to the Polish Navy. Initially, it was intended to be a fighter-bomber regiment, but ultimately the 34th Air Force Regiment in Gdynia-Babie Doły was chosen, due to both the airport’s location and its tradition. The 34th Regiment was transferred to the Polish Navy on January 21, 1991. This transferred Poland’s most modern MiG-21 bis fighter aircraft (not including nine MiG-29s) to the naval aviation service.
In 1991, the 34th Regiment lost its “Heroes of Kępa Oksywska” name. This loss resulted from the decision not to name Polish Army units after collective heroes.
In 1994, the 34th Polish Navy Fighter Aviation Regiment in Gdynia-Babie Doły consisted of, among others: – 1st Fighter Squadron – 2nd Fighter Squadron – Technical Squadron – Communications and Flight Insurance Battalion – Supply Battalion – 6th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery – 18th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery.
By the end of 1994, the regiment had 39 aircraft in its service (including 38 jet-powered): – 28 MiG-21 bis fighter aircraft – 6 MiG-2l UM combat trainer aircraft. – 4 PZL Mielec TS-11 Iskra bis D trainer aircraft – 1 PZL Mielec An-2T transport aircraft (this aircraft is permanently assigned to the 18th Rescue and Layoff Squadron).
The 34th Regiment’s most important mission was to participate in Poland’s air defense system. In a potential war, all of the regiment’s aircraft were to perform missions within this system. Only then did the Regiment’s tasks include reconnaissance (using Saturn reconnaissance pods) and combating enemy vessels using bombs, unguided missiles, and on-board guns. The 34th Regiment was not equipped with guided anti-ship missiles, as they were not used in the entire Polish Air Force.
1995
On January 1, 1995, the 34th PLM officially and ceremonially disbanded in Babie Doły.
The 34th PLM emblem depicts a stylized silhouette of an eagle stretched across a blue square, with white and red corners. The lower right corner of the emblem is red, bearing the letters “PLM” in white. The emblem was designed in 1987 by two officers of the regiment – pilot Captain Wiesław Krawczyk and Captain Romuald Buczyłko of the flight insurance company. Because unit numbers were secret at the time, they decided to conceal the regiment’s number in the emblem’s design. The regiment’s number was masked within the eagle’s silhouette: the number “3” is formed by the curve starting under the bird’s beak, and the number “4” is formed by the back of the leg with its claws. This resulted in the unit’s full name (“34 PLM”) being incorporated into the emblem. The emblem was painted using stencils on the front of the aircraft’s fuselage, either before or after the tactical number.
Gdynia Airport – Babie Doły.
The airport is located in the northernmost district of Gdynia, Babie Doły, right on the seafront. The airport is known under three names: Oksywie, Kosakowo, or Babie-Doły. The latter is the most well-known in the military community. The airport has coordinates of 54.34 N 18.31 E and lies at an elevation of 44 meters above sea level. The airport is one of the few military airports with two runways. The main runway, measuring 2,500 m x 60 m and with a 13/31 orientation, a rare feature in Poland, has a concrete surface. The second runway, measuring 1,800 m x 60 m, oriented almost exactly east-west, has an asphalt surface. The airport has always been used exclusively by the military. The airport is, and has always been, a base for at least two air units. Aircraft shelters and hangars have been built on the airport grounds. In 1950, it became the headquarters of the Navy’s aviation division. It remains so to this day (2008). It is from here that Navy rescue helicopters launch into action – even in the worst weather, they provide aid to those in distress at sea.
Aircraft used in the 34th Aircraft Regiment:
Aircraft – Yak-9 P; – MiG-15 / Lim-1; – Lim-2; – Lim-5 / 5 P; – MiG-21 PFM; – MiG-21 M / MF; – MiG-21 bis.
Trainer aircraft in the 34th Aircraft Regiment: – UJak-9; – SB Lim-2 / UTMiG-15; – TS-8 Bies; – TS-11 Iskra; – MiG-21 U / UM.
Commanders of the 34th Aircraft Regiment:
The first commander of the regiment was Navy Captain Konstanty Jankowski, who assumed the position on January 29, 1952. The last was 2nd Lt. Cdr. Stanisław Felner. On January 1, 1995, he handed over the command duties to 2nd Lt. Cdr. Zenon Chojnacki, commander of the 1st Puck Air Squadron of the Polish Navy, newly formed on the basis of the disbanded regiment. The 1st dlMW became part of the simultaneously formed Polish Navy Aviation Brigade.
Commanders: – Captain Marek Pilot Konstanty Jankowski (from January 29, 1952). – Captain Marek Pilot Bohdan Pałuczak (from March 13, 1952). – Captain Marek Pilot Romuald Rozmysłowicz (from December 31, 1952). – Captain Marek Pilot Bronisław Siwy (from October 30, 1955). – Lt. Col. Pilot Stefan Zalejski. Lt. Col. Pilot Jerzy Rakowski (from February 10, 1969). – Lt. Col. Pilot Henryk Dańko (from January 23, 1971). – Lt. Col. Mieczysław Grabka (temporarily acting commander – acting commander). – Col. Marian Gniady. – Lt. Col. Pilot Bolesław Sobania (from February 14, 1981). – Lt. Col. Jerzy Pacześniak (from 5 June 1981). – Lt. Col. Pilot Mieczysław Walentynowicz. – Maj. Pilot Andrzej Skalski. – Col. Pilot Wojciech Górski. – 2nd Lt. Cdr. Dipl. Pilot Stanisław Felner.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman