A correspondent from Turmush decided to explore their history.
According to information from the city hall, the first airplane, the bomber "Il-28," was installed on May 9, 1975, at the intersection of Ibraimov and Lenin streets, while the second was erected in 2003 at the entrance to the city.
The department reports that both airplanes are recognized as monuments of architecture and urban planning and have local significance. Their maintenance is managed by the Tokmok City Municipal Property Management.
Zamira Shokonova, the director of the Tokmok City Historical Museum, shared that the "Il-28" was in service during the last years of the Great Patriotic War.
"This airplane was ready for flights during wartime, but it is not known for sure whether it was used in combat. On May 9, 1975, it became a monument in honor of the 30th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in memory of the pilots who died in 1941-1945. The second airplane was installed in 2003 in honor of the Tokmok Aviation Regiment," she explained.
Shokonova also noted that the first flight of the "Il-28" took place at the Frunze Military Pilots School.
"In the Turkestan Military District, the 716th Combined Aviation Regiment was established based on the Odessa Pilot School. In 1958, due to the expansion of operations, an aviation squadron was organized in Tokmok, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Georgy Tikhonovich Komarov. The first landing of the 'Il-28' in Tokmok occurred in late April 1958 with a crew of three pilots. In 1959, experienced pilots from other countries began arriving in Tokmok, and mansard houses were built for them, forming the 'Military Town.' This area retains its name to this day," she said.
The museum director also mentioned that Salizhan Sharipov served in the Tokmok Aviation Regiment from 1987 to 1990.
"For a successful flight into space on February 23, 1999, he was awarded the title of 'Hero of Kyrgyzstan' by the decision of Askar Akayev. Previously, he received the titles of 'Hero' of Russia and Uzbekistan. It is known that he went into space twice, one of which lasted more than six months," she added.
According to Shokonova, cadets from more than 20 countries are trained in the Tokmok Aviation Regiment. The regiment performed complex operations, including round-the-clock flights in challenging weather conditions. The Tokmok garrison was considered one of the best and was awarded the Lenin Jubilee Honorary Badge. The 716th Aviation Regiment also participated in operations during the Batken events of 1999-2001.
She reported that in February 1995, in accordance with an agreement between the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, 10 airplanes were handed over to the Uzbek side. After that, the Tokmok Aviation Squadron was reduced to an aviation commandant's office and then transformed into an aviation storage base. In May 1999, the last airplane took off from the airfield, and in 2002, the Tokmok Air Force Regiment ceased its activities.
Shokonova also shared an interesting fact about the airplane installed near the buildings of the Kyrgyz National Guard in Bishkek.
"The story of this airplane is as follows: one foreign cadet, who almost crashed on the territory of Tokmok, was from a royal family of an African country. He was performing dangerous maneuvers, and unable to handle the situation, he ejected, leaving the airplane to fly without a pilot for another 23 minutes. Fortunately, it landed in Tokmok without damage," she said.
Shokonova also noted that the presidents of Egypt and Afghanistan flew on the "Il-28" installed in Tokmok.
Currently, karting championships are held on the territory of the former Tokmok military airfield.
In Tokmok, there are 5 monuments and 3 memorial plaques, most of which are installed in memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War.
Note:
The Il-28 is one of the first serial Soviet jet aircraft, serving as a front-line bomber and a carrier of tactical nuclear weapons. In the mid-1950s, it became the main strike force of the front-line aviation of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries, noted for its high reliability and ease of operation. This aircraft participated in several local conflicts. For the development of the Il-28, designer S.V. Ilyushin and his team were awarded the Stalin Prize. It also became the world's first jet twin-engine aircraft with afterburners (the first prototype did not have afterburners).
