Myrhorod Air Base

History

In May 1944 the airfield was provided to the United States Army Air Forces as a heavy bomber staging field. It was used by the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces for shuttle bombing missions during June through September 1944 (Operation Frantic).

Myrhorod was designated as USAAF Station 561 for security purposes and was referred to as Station 561 in all messages and written correspondence. Myrhorod was one of three Ukraine installations operated by Headquarters, Eastern Command, United States Strategic Air Forces. The others were nearby Poltava, where USAAF Eastern Command Headquarters was located, and Pyriatyn.

Aircraft would land at the field from either Great Britain or Southern Italy after attacking Axis targets in Eastern Europe. The aircraft would refuel and rearm at the airport, then attack other targets on return missions to Southern Italy.

Shuttle bombing operations under Operation Frantic ended in September 1944, and the Americans consolidated operations at Poltava for the remainder of the war.

On the night of 21 June 1944, the field was targeted by a massive German strike force. Unable to find Myrhorod, this force augmented the bombers attacking Poltava. The next night, however, the Germans bombed Myrhorod. By then, flyable aircraft had been evacuated from the field, and the losses were confined to fuel and ammunition stores.

After the war, the airfield was rebuilt and used as a Soviet Air Forces base. Dispersal hardstands were attached to each end of a new single runway, expanded for jet aircraft use, along with a large aircraft parking ramp, with at least six hangars.

The 831st Fighter Aviation Regiment (138th Fighter Aviation Division) arrived at the base in 1977, transferred from Boryspil in Kyiv Oblast.

After 1991 end of Soviet era

On January 13, 1992, the regiment took the oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people. Today it is the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the unit has always been and remains one of the most capable units of the Air Force.

After 2014 and Feb 2022 invasion by Russia

In April 2022, Russian attacks against the base destroyed an ammunition depot and damaged the runway and a fuel depot.

On the morning of 10 June 2023, Russia attacked the airfield using Iskander-M missiles. A Su-27 was damaged, likely beyond repair.

On 1 July 2024, the air base was again struck with Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Several Russian military bloggers said that two Su-27s were destroyed and four damaged as a result of the strike, while the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that five Su-27s were destroyed and two were damaged. Ukraine confirmed equipment losses, without precising their number. It is unknown how many of the aircraft were in operational status.

Aircraft

According to Google Earth imagery, as of 20 March 2020:

• 27 Sukhoi Su-27
• 4 L-39 Albatros

References

• Anderson, Barry, (1985), United States Air Forces Stations, Air Force Historical Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

References

1. {{GCM. MXR
2. {{ASN. MXR
3. "Ukraine Air Force". Dutch Aviation Society.
4. Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/iap/831iap.htm 831st Fighter Aviation Regiment], accessed December 2012.
5. (2020). "Суди загальної юрисдикції та Конституційний Суд України: питання взаємодії". Право України.
6. (9 April 2022). "Russian forces destroy ammunition depot at Ukrainian air base, Interfax reports". Reuters.
7. (11 June 2024). "The Military Watch".
8. Terajima, Asami. (10 June 2023). "Governor: Military airfield in Poltava Oblast suffers damage due to Russia's overnight airstrike".
9. (1 July 2024). "The Ukrainian Air Force Parked Six Su-27 Fighters In The Open 100 Miles From The Front Line. A Russian Missile Destroyed Two Of Them.". Forbes.
10. (2 July 2024). "Multiple Ukraine Fighter Jets Destroyed in Strike on Airfield: Moscow".