16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division


The 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division was an Aviation Division of the Soviet Air Forces, active from 1942 to 1998. Originally activated in 1942 as the 258th Fighter Aviation Division from the Air Forces of the 14th Army, then the 258th Mixed Aviation Division 27.2.43; redesignated in accordance with NKO Decree No. 264 as the 1st Guards Composite Aviation Division от 24.08.43; redesignated 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division 11 November 1944.

World War II

Regiments active with the division during the war included:
From 1945 to 1949, the regiments of the division included the 19th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, and 152nd Fighter Aviation Regiment. 152 IAP disbanded during this period and was replaced by 773 IAP. From its formation from the 258th Aviation Division, to February 1945, it was attached to 14th Army. It was then reassigned to the Belomorsky Military District until 1953. Thereafter it joined the 16th Air Army as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Its headquarters was at Damgarten from October 1953 for many years. As a fighter formation in Germany it appears that it would have faced the NATO air forces in Allied Air Forces Central Europe had any conflict broken out.

Organisation 1960

Two regiments were converted to Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiments in 1961, and were replaced by two Fighter Aviation Regiments, from the 125th Fighter Aviation Division.

Structure in the GDR in 1990

The division remained as part of Group of Soviet Forces in Germany until October 1993.

Composition 1995 in the North Caucasus

It was finally disbanded after serving several years with 4th Air Army in May 1998 while at Millerovo in the North Caucasus Military District.