16th Air Army

16th Red Banner Air Army – XXXX –
Memorial badge 16th Air Army
Active	1942–2009
Country	Soviet Union Russia
Branch	Soviet Air Force Russian Air Force
Part of	Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
Engagements	World War II
Decorations	Red Banner
Commanders
Notable commanders	Aleksandr Belevits

The 16th Red Banner Air Army (Russian: 16-я воздушная Краснознамённая армия) was the most important formation of the Special Purpose Command. Initially formed during the Second World War as a part of the Soviet Air Force, it was from c.2002–2009 the tactical air force component of the Moscow Military District, headquartered at Kubinka. The 16th Air Army took part in the Battle of Berlin with 28 Aviation divisions and 7 Separate aviation regiments, and was located in East Germany until 1994.

The army was formed on August 10, 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad on the basis of military units and organizations of the 8th Air Army (220th Fighter division and 228 Attack aircraft division), and included the 228th and 291st Assault aviation divisions and two separate aviation regiments. The end of August / beginning of September came the 283rd Fighter division and the 291st Mixed aviation division from the reserve of the Stavka added. The starting inventory stood on 4 September to 152 aircraft types Yak-1, LaGG-3, IL-2 and Pe-2. Until the beginning of the first jobs whose number has been increased to 300. It took part in Operation Uranus as part of the Don Front in November–December 1942, being commanded by Sergei Rudenko.

It was involved in the Battle of Kursk, and was part of the First Belorussian Front for the liberation of Belarus, the Lublin-Brest Offensive, and the assault on Berlin. For a long period after the war, the army was stationed with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG), headquartered at Zossen-Wünsdorf. In 1949, it was renamed to 24th Air Army, but was reformed as the 16th Air Army in 1968.