PROSKUROV GUARDS AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATION CENTRE
REWARDED WITH THE RED BANNER, KUTUZOV AND ALEXANDER NEVSKY ORDERS NAMED AFTER AIR FORCE MARSHAL IVAN KOZHEDUB

In January 1938, in the Gorelovo settlement near Leningrad, the 19th separate fighter regiment of "free hunters" emerged on the basis of the 58th and 70th fighter squadrons and 33rd reconnaissance squadron, which were part of the 54th light air brigade.

During the Great Patriotic War the regiment fought all the way from Leningrad to Berlin. Ivan Kozhedub, thrice Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Force Marshal served in this regiment. The ADC is now bearing his name.

On 11 April 1940 issued a Decree under which the regiment received the Order of the Red Banner for excellent performance of missions assigned by the Higher Command in the course of battles in the Karelian Isthmus.

On 3 April 1944 the Supreme Command-in-Chief issued an order under which the regiment was honourably named the Proskurov regiment for heroism and courage displayed in battles for the town of Proskurov.

On 9 August 1944 the USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium issued a Decree under which the regiment received the Order of Alexander Nevsky for the exemplary fulfilment of missions assigned by the Higher Command to break German defences west of Koval and for heroism and courage displayed in the battles.

On 19 August 1944 as evidence of courage demonstrated in battles fought for their Motherland fortitude, discipline, organisation and heroism, the 19th fighter regiment was transformed into the 176th Guards fighter regiment.

On 23 October 1944 the Guards Banner was handed over to the regiment.

On 2 March 1945 the USSR Supreme Soviet Presidium issued a Decree, under which the regiment received the Order of Kutuzov (third degree). After the end of the war the 176th fighter regiment joined the 324th fighter division of the Moscow Air Defence District.

Since 1948 the regiment takes part in airshows and parades, flying new jets.

In 1952 the regiment changes its location from Tyoply Stan to Kubinka. Soon, its pilots, for the first time in the world, demonstrated encounter aerobatics of the two groups of MiG-19 fighters. The regiment's pilots performed formation flights of four, six and nine MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters.

In 1961 the pilots of this regiment were assigned the honorable task of escorting Yuri Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut, returning to Moscow after completion of his space mission. Since that time it has become the regiment's honourable duty to escort VIP's planes. In routine service, along with performing operational missions, the regiment that received a new designation, 234th fighter regiment, have got a new task - to conduct combat aircraft demonstrations to Russian and foreign governmental and military delegations both on the ground and in the air.

In July 1983 the 234th fighter regiment became the first air regiment of the Soviet Air Force that received Mikoyan MiG-29 fourth-generation fighters in its inventory.

In July 1986 regiment's pilot demonstrated MiG-29 fighters abroad for the first time. They performed 'good will' visit in six MiG-29s to Kuoppio-Rissala AFB in Finland.

On 15 January 1989 the USSR Minister of Defence issued a Directive under which the 234th Guards fighter regiment was transformed into the 237th mixed air regiment (demonstration). Such modern aircraft as Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 fourth-generation fighters, Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft as well as Sukhoi Su-24 frontline bombers and Su-17 fighter-bombers were in the inventory of the regiment at that time.

In 1991 three aerobatic teams performing formation and solo demonstration flights in modern combat aircraft were organised in Kubinka, namely Russian Knights (Russkiye Vityazi in Russian) flying Su-27 fighters, Swifts (Strizhi) flying MiG-29 fighters and Sky Goosars (Nebesnyye Gusary) flying Su-25 attack aircraft.

On 13 January 1992 the regiment was transformed into the 237th Proskurov Guards Aircraft Demonstration Centre rewarded with the Red Banner, Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Orders.

On 10 August 1993 the Centre was named after Air Force Marshal Ivan Kozhedub.

Nowadays the Centre incorporates two aerobatic teams: Russian Knights (on Su-27 fighters) and Swifts (on MiG-29 fighters).