326th Tarnopolsky Order of Kutuzov Heavy Bomber Air Division (326 TBAD) is an Aviation Division of the Long Range Aviation of Russia. It was previously part of the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command. It was originally formed as the 326th Night Bomber Aviation Division, formed at Yegoryevsk in Moscow Oblast on 10 October 1943.[1] On 23 June 1944, it was renamed the 326th Bomber Aviation Division.
326th Night Bomber Aviation Division (1943–1944) 326th Bomber Aviation Division (1944–1951) | |
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Active | 1943–present |
Country | ![]() ![]() |
Branch | Soviet Air Force (1943–1991) Russian Air Force (1992–present) |
Type | Bomber Aviation division |
Role | Strategic bombing |
Garrison/HQ | Ukrainka |
Engagements | World War II
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Decorations | ![]() |
Battle honours | Tarnopol |
In 1945, it had three regiments of Tupolev Tu-2 bombers. 12th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment was briefly part of the division in 1959–60 at Ostrov, Pskov Oblast, while flying Tu-16s.
Components in 1990 according to Michael Holm:[1]
Headquarters were located at:[1]
From 1987 to 1991, Dzhokhar Dudayev, who later became a president of the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, was the commander of the division.
In 1991, the division was part of the 30th Air Army. In the division were:
The division's dispersal airfields included Ugolny Airport near Anadyr, Magadan Airport, and Tiksi.[2]
The command of the division was at the Ukrainka airbase in the Far East.
The composition of the division included:
In 2007–2009, the 444th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment was disbanded.
As of 2020, the division was reported based at Ukrainka with one element reportedly operating Tu-22M3 bombers from the Belaya air base as part of Russian Long Range Aviation.[3]
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Airborne divisions |
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Artillery divisions |
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Aviation divisions | |||||
Motor Rifle |
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Rocket divisions (ballistic missiles) |
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Other |
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Airborne divisions |
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Machine gun artillery divisions |
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Tank divisions |
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Motorized rifle divisions |
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Rocket divisions |
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Aviation divisions |
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Air defense divisions |
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Missile defense divisions | 9th Missile Defense Division |
Operational purpose divisions |
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Naval divisions |
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