Poznań 2019-06-17
31 Tactical Air Base in Krzesiny.
2001-...
Until 2000, the 3rd Regiment of Fighter Air Force stationed at Krzesiny Airport, which operated MiG-21 planes. In 1999, the 17th Air Squadron from the Ławica Airport was incorporated into the Pułk. On January 1, 2001, the 3rd Regiment was transformed into the 31st Air Base (JW. 1156) and the 3rd Tactical Aviation Squadron "Poznań". In 2006, the Krzesiny Airport was relayed from the Powidz Airport.
In 2003, Poland signed a contract to acquire 48 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft. The Polish Army decided that three squadrons would be created from these planes: 3. Squadron in Krzesiny, 6th Squadron in Powidz and 10th Squadron in Łask. Finally, in Krzesiny, the 3rd Squadron and the 6th Squadron were located. The Powidz airport was intended for transport aviation.
In 2008, the 31st Air Base was transformed into the 31st Tactical Air Base and included in it the 3rd Squadron and the 6th Squadron. These changes were made on the basis of the decision of the Minister of National Defense No. PF - / Org / SSG / ZoiU P-1 of January 11, 2008 and the order of the Air Force Commander No. Z-10 of January 21, 2008 and the order of the commander of the 2nd Tactical Aviation Brigade No. Z-6 dated January 24, 2008.
Lockheed Martin F-16 planes were delivered to Poland from November 2006. Airplanes were provided with a direct flight from the USA to Europe (USAF base in Germany), using air refueling. After the last technical inspection, the planes were rebuffed to the Krzesiny Airport. Initially, Polish pilots were training in the USA.
Traditions of the 31st Air Base: 2nd Wielkopolska Air Squadron (1919 - 1920), 4th Wielkopolska Air Squadrons (1919 - 1920), 13rd Fighter Squadron (1920 - 1925), 15th Fighter Squadron (1920 - 1925), 111st Fighter Squadron (1925 - 1928), 112nd Fighter Squadron (1925 - 1928), 131st and 132nd Fighter Squadron from the composition of the 3rd Air Regiment (1928 - 1939), 2nd "Cracow-Poznański" Hunting Squadron (Polish Air Force in France, 1940), 302nd Mammal Squadron (Polish Air Force in Great Britain, 1940 - 1947), 62th Regiment of Fighter Aircraft (1954 - 1995), 3rd Regiment of Fighter Air Force "Poznań" (1995 - 2000), 3rd Air Force Tactical Squadron (2000 - 2008), 6th Regiment of Fighter Air Force Bombowego (1982 - 1998), 6th Tactical Aviation Squadron (2000 - 2008), 31st Air Base (2000 - 2008).
The 31st base festival is celebrated on 4 September. In 2011, the department's identification badge was introduced. In 2012, the branch received a standard.
Commanders of the 31st Tactical Air Base: Col. pil. Rościsław Stepaniuk (April 1, 2008 - April 8, 2010), Col. pil. Cezary Wiśniewski (April 8, 2010 - October 16, 2011), Col. pil. Jacek Pszczoła (October 16, 2011 - June 19, 2015), Col. pil. Grzegorz Ślusarz (June 19, 2015 - June 16, 2017), Col. pil. Rafał Zadencki (June 16, 2017 - ...).
2017
31 Air Base (31st Tactical Air Base) is a very important center for meetings, exercises, rallies and visits for our allies from NATO and friendly countries. Such meetings in Krzesiny take place several times a year.
On October 25-27, 2017 another training and methodology course took place. This course took place under the name ZLOT 2017. The course was attended by the leading aviation team of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. In the first part, there were exams of pilot and combat skills, which were carried out during flights at the 21st Central Aviation Area in Nadarzyce. In the second part, in the objects belonging to the 31st Poznań-Krzesiny Tactical Air Base, a test of specialist knowledge took place. Knowledge about operational procedures, navigation, communication and operation was assessed. At the same time, methodical training was conducted. In the last part, a briefing of exchange of experiences, remarks and proposals of changes was carried out.
The participants of the course were representatives of the Ministry of Defense, General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Command of the RSZ, Operational Command SZ, MONO Inspectorate for Flight Safety, Civil Aviation Office, Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, Support Inspectorate, ITWL, WIML, WSOSP, military aviation plants, Center Air Operations - Aviation Component Command, Air Traffic Service Headquarters SZRP, Head of Hydrometeorological Service SZRP, Doctrine and Training Center SZ.
For the Polish Air Force headquarters, the course was a summary of the previous training and determination of the further course of training at the air divisions.
Festival Base
On 2017-09-02, the feast of the 2nd Wing of the Tactical Air Force and the 31st Tactical Air Base took place. The event took place at the 32nd Tactical Air Base. The day of the holiday is traditionally September 4. The event began with a mass celebrated in one of the hangars. Then there was a solemn appeal. The event was closed and invited to enter the invitation.
Allied exercises
31 Air Base is a place where USAF planes are often based. This time, in September 2017, in Krzesiny there were American F-16 planes from West Germany from the base in Spangdahlem. Usually, USAF airplanes stay in Krzesiny as part of the Aviation Detachment program. The component consisted usually of 4-8 aircraft. Exercise time is usually a two-week period. These exercises were an opportunity to exchange experiences, cooperation and joint performance of tasks in aviation training.
2018
In 2018, allied exercises under the code name Tiger Meet 2018 took place at the 31st Tactical Air Base. The exercises took place from May 14-24, 2018. The main organizer was the Ministry of National Defense.
The pilots participated in the exercises: from FRG (using Eurofighter 2000 and Tornado), France (Rafale), Czech Republic and Hungary (JAS-39 Grippen), Austria (Saab 1050), Belgium (F-16), Switzerland (F -18), Spain (Eurofighter 2000), Greece (F-16), Italy (Eurofighter 2000), the Netherlands (F-16) and Poland (F-16). The exercises were supervised by a Boeing E-3A Sentry (AWACS) aircraft with the support of Learjet UC-35A. Pilots from the Czech Republic, France, Great Britain and Italy also took part in maneuvers using helicopters. In total, 80 aircraft participated in the exercise.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman