Sochaczew 2008-01-15
21st Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, in Ławica and Sochaczew.
21st Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
21st Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
21st Tactical Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
21st Tactical and Artillery Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
21st Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, in Sochaczew and Powidz.
1951 – 1986
History of the 21st Polish Reconnaissance Regiment.
The Polish Army has always placed great importance on air reconnaissance. In the initial period, after the end of World War II, reconnaissance aircraft were Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers, and from 1949, Tupolev Tu-2 bombers. However, the need for pure reconnaissance aircraft, no longer only capable of performing their missions by visual observation but also by using photographic and other equipment, was urgent.
Based on Order No. 0036/Org. By order of the Ministry of National Defense on April 7, 1951, the formation of the 21st Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment, as Military Unit 1295, began. The regiment was organized at Ławica-Poznań Airport on the basis of the Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron. In May 1954, the regiment was relocated to Bielice Airport near Sochaczew.
Based on Order No. 0310/Org. of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army of December 18, 1954, the unit was renamed the 21st Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. However, the following year, based on Order No. 0260/Org. of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army of November 29, 1955, the name was changed to the 21st Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. This was due to the fact that the Regiment was not subordinate to any division or corps, but rather directly to the General Staff of the Polish Army. This arrangement did not last long, as in 1957, the Regiment was subordinated to the Commander of Operational Aviation. In 1959, the Regiment received a standard funded by the State Council. By 1960, the Regiment had four squadrons: two close reconnaissance squadrons and two long reconnaissance squadrons. The former were equipped with Lim-2 aircraft, while the latter were equipped with Il-28 and Il-28R aircraft. On July 7, 1960, the regiment received its first Lim-5R aircraft, no. 1C-1712, equipped with an AFA-39 camera. In July 1960, during the Victory of Grunwald celebrations, the regiment paraded four Lim-2 aircraft, providing escort for an Il-28 bomber from Powidz.
In 1963, further changes took place. On April 13, 1963, the unit was reorganized and renamed the 21st Tactical Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. This was based on Order No. 030/Org. of the Air Force Commander-in-Chief of April 12, 1963. These changes were related to the establishment of another reconnaissance unit at the Sochaczew airport, the 32nd Artillery Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
New Lim-6 bis R aircraft, 1964.
At the beginning of 1964, the 21st PLRT began introducing new aviation technology in the form of modern Lim-6 bis R attack and reconnaissance aircraft. These aircraft were part of the third production series. In this series, some aircraft were built as attack aircraft, and others as attack and reconnaissance aircraft, and these aircraft were delivered to the 21st PLRT.
On January 6, 1964, three Lim-6 bis aircraft, no. 105, were accepted in Sochaczew; 1J 06-01 / 601, 1J 06-02 / 602, 1J 06-04 / 604. On 16 January 1964, the regiment adopted 7 Lim-6 bis R no.; 1J 06-05 / 605, 1J 06-06 / 606, 1J 06-07 / 607, 1J 06-08 / 608, 1J 06-09 / 609, 1J 06-11 / 611, 1J 06-14 / 614. On 6 March 1964, the regiment adopted 2 Lim-6 bis R no.; 1J 06-37 / 637, 1J 06-38 / 638. On March 13, 1964, another two Lim-6 bis R aircraft were received; 1J 06-35 / 635, 1J 06-36 / 636. In total, the Regiment received 14 attack-reconnaissance aircraft. At the beginning of the 1970s, the 21st Polish Airborne Troops Regiment received at least three additional Lim-6 MR attack-reconnaissance aircraft; 1D 01-01 / 101, 1D 05-23 / 523, 1D 06-18 / 618. These were Lim-5 P aircraft converted to Lim-6 bis standard at LZR-2 in Bydgoszcz.
Further changes in the Regiment. In April 1968, organizational changes took place once again. The Regiment was reformed and renamed the 21st Tactical Reconnaissance and Artillery Aviation Regiment. This was done pursuant to Order No. 015/Org. of the Air Force Commander dated April 16, 1968. In January 1969, the Regiment was relocated to the Powidz Airport. In 1982, the unit was reformed again and renamed the 21st Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
Disbandment of the Regiment. 1986.
Pursuant to Order No. 017/Org. of the Air Force Commander dated October 3, 1986, the Regiment was disbanded by December 31, 1986. However, based on this Regiment, the 3rd Squadron was formed within the 7th Bomber-Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment.
Regiment Commanders:
Major pilot Andriej Dubovoj (1951-1955). Colonel pilot Aleksander Milart (1955-1963). Lieutenant Colonel pilot Michał Polech (1963-1967). Lieutenant Colonel pilot Leopold Pacek (1967-1971). Lieutenant Colonel pilot Adam Mąkosa (1971-1975). Colonel pilot Zbigniew Jędrzejewski (1975-1979). Lieutenant Colonel pilot Wiktor Frankiewicz (1979-1983). Lieutenant Colonel pilot Janusz Konieczny (1983-1986). Captain-Navigator Andrzej Pająk (1986).
Aircraft used by the 21st PLRT:
Il-28, Il-28 R, Lim-1, Lim-2, Lim-5, Lim-5 R, Lim-6 bis R.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman