Słupsk 2024-08-23
28th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Słupsk. Redzikowo housing estate and aircraft.
Geographic coordinates: 54.470N 17.101E. Elevation 60 m (196.85 ft).
An important memento of the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment is the exhibition of fighter aircraft located on the premises of the housing estate in Redzikowo near Słupsk. The 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Słupsk-Redzikowo operated in the period 1952–2000, i.e. for almost 50 years. It was one of three units in Poland that operated MiG-19 fighter aircraft, and the only one that operated MiG-23 fighter aircraft.
The Redzikowo housing estate is located in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the Słupsk County, in the Redzikowo commune. The town is located on the S6 Expressway. The former Słupsk-Redzikowo military airport, currently the American Anti-Missile Defense Base, is directly adjacent to the town. The history of the creation of Redzikowo-Osiedle is linked to the military unit existing here, the 28th PLM. During its existence (1952-2000), the Regiment belonged to the first-line hunting units, whose main task was to defend the area of Poland from the north, from the Baltic Sea.
Redzikowo is located 3 km from Słupsk. The name of the housing estate is a direct transfer of the name from the neighboring village. The village was first mentioned in 1288, in a document of the Duke of Gdańsk Mściwoj II, when he transferred the village to the Order of the Norbertine Sisters. Later, the village was a noble property. These areas were ruled by the Dukes of Pomerania; the Gryfita family. Later, these areas began to be taken over by Germans, and the Republic of Poland lost its influence. In 1916, the Germans built the first airport here, and then an aviation school. In 1939, the Germans started the Second World War, as a result of which they lost a significant part of their territory. The great ones of this world decided that Pomerania would be included in the borders of Poland.
Since 1950, construction of a large military airport next to Słupsk has begun. The 28th PLM was designated as the host of the airport. Construction of an officer housing estate began at the airport. In the period 1975-1993, the airport in Słupsk also served as a passenger airport. Passenger traffic was mainly handled by Antonov An-24 aircraft. The residents of the estate were mainly officers and non-commissioned officers serving in the Regiment, who lived here with their families. In 2006, about 1,200 people lived in the settlement. In 2009, a Water Park was created in Redzikowo, which, in addition to a complex of swimming pools and slides, also includes a bowling alley, a gym and a rehabilitation center. The town also has a school and the “Orlik 2012” sports fields complex. Recently, the neighboring areas have been the site of new single-family houses in terraced or semi-detached buildings.
Airplanes at an outdoor exhibition.
The presented aircraft are maintained in very good condition. All of them, except for the TS-11 Iskra aircraft, have side numbers, which represent the year they were introduced into service in the 28th PLM. In order, they stand: PZL WSK Lim-5 nb 1952. MiG-19 nb 1958. MiG-21 PF nb 1973. MiG-23 nb 1979. TS-11 Iskra nb 1702. The exhibition is complemented by boards with: Description of the PZL WSK Lim-5 aircraft. History of the 28th PLM. Description of the MiG-19 aircraft. List of MiG-19 pilots. Description of the MiG-23 aircraft. List of MiG-23 pilots. Description of the MiG-21 aircraft. In the central point of the exhibition is a monument commemorating the pilots who died while serving in the defense of Polish Sky, serving in the ranks of the 28th PLM.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman