Military aviation
I WW1, I Wars of Independence, Independence of the Baltic States, II WW2, IV Soviet Occupation, Restored Independence

Located in Riga, Pardaugava, Spilve meadows near Ilguciems.

Spilve is famous in the history of military heritage for the large-scale battle of Spilve in the 18th century. and Spilve Airport. Beginning in the 20th century, it was used to test aircraft, but in World War I it became a witness to the history of Latvian aviation.

In World War I, Spilve meadows were used for the needs of the Russian Air Force in the fight against the German Army. With the establishment of Latvia, the airfield became the most important base of the national air force and a place for pilot training. The previous names of the airport were "Spilve Airport" or "Riga Airport", later "Riga Central Airport". It was the main airport in Latvia until the opening of Riga Airport in 1975.

It is possible that Spilve Airport near Riga and the dream of reaching for the stars have contributed to the impressive achievements of many Latvian pilots. Perhaps, however, the beginning of Latvian aviation is much older and can be found in Priekule, where a Latvian blacksmith Zviedris made a flight from the church tower with a homemade device.

Today, Spilve Airport is still open. You can see the airport building built in 1954, which embodies the style of Soviet classicism or "Stalin's Empire".

Sources:

Irbītis, K. Latvian Aviation and Its Pioneers. Riga: Science, 2004.

Brūvelis, E. History of Latvian Aviation: 1919-1940. Riga: Science, 2003.

Official website of the State Agency "Civil Aviation Agency". Available: https://www.caa.gov.lv/lv/latvijas-aviacijas-vesture-isuma [accessed 22.02.2021].

The Riga Air Museum is located in Skulte village, Marupe municipality, in the territory of Riga Airport, next to the aircraft observation area. It is a privately made tourist attraction that opened in 1997. It has taken more than 50 years to create this collection. Aviation equipment has been gathered from Latvia, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and the USA. It is one of the largest and most valuable collections in Europe. The idea of a Latvian Aviation Museum was conceived at least 80 years ago. The history of Latvian aviation dates back to the time when the world's first aircraft were being developed. Latvian pilots were among those who participated in achieving many world records. After World War I and the Latvian War of Independence the Latvian Army started to form an air force, and there was a need to preserve historical evidence. In the 1930s, there was an opportunity to start work on creating a museum. It already had acquired some particularly valuable historical items in its collection. World War II thwarted this project and the collection was lost. Nowadays there are about 40 aircraft objects, mainly manufactured in the Soviet Union. And the exposition gives an insight into the history of Soviet aviation.

Located in Mārupe region, Skulte village, near Riga International Airport.

Skulte was one of the typical villages that was created for Soviet military personnel. There was an aviation unit that bombed the cities of Berlin and other places in 1941, as well as took part in the occupation of the Baltic States. In 1978, an environmental facility, the IL-28, was installed there to highlight the merits of Soviet Army pilots in World War II.

After the war, the Soviet Union continued its active armaments policy. IL-28 was the first, most produced Soviet jet bomber. The first RDS-4 atomic bomb ("Tatiana") was dropped from a plane of the same model in 1953 to test the army's ability to attack after a nuclear explosion. The aircraft had various modifications. In tests, it reached a speed of 906 km / h, carrying several tons of heavy cargo and flying 2,445 km. It was run by a crew of 3 people.

The plane is not only a witness to the military heritage, but also a symbol of ideology. In 2010, marking the victory of the Soviet army over Germany, the plane was rebuilt. There have also been several unsuccessful attempts to dismantle it as an object glorifying the occupation regime in Latvia.

Today you can see a plane, as well as get an idea of a village built for Soviet military personnel.

The Aviation Museum “Sky Zoo” is located in Smārde parish, Tukums municipality, in the territory of Jūrmala Airport that was once the Tukums Military Airfield. The exhibit includes aircrafts YAK-40, AN-2, SU22M4, PZL TS-11 Iskra and a helicopter MI-24. Tour of the airfield includes hangars, caponiers and engineering equipment. The airfield was used by both the German and Soviet armies. During the Soviet occupation it was one of the most important military airfields in the territory of Latvia. The fighters stationed there were intended to attack enemy ships and bomb coastal fortifications. On the night of 9 November 1975, a battle alarm was received at the Tukums airfield – there was enemy warship in the territorial waters of the Soviet Union (in the Gulf of Riga), and it had to be destroyed. Several planes took off from Tukums. However, it turned out that it was the Soviet naval warship ‘Storozhevoi’ (Guardian) on which an armed mutiny against the existing Soviet regime took place. When the planes reached the warship, the battle was still ongoing. Later the rebel leader Valery Sablin, a Soviet naval officer, was wounded and the mutiny ended. He was sentenced to death for treason. This was one of the most dramatic events showing the discontent with the regime and marking the approach of its collapse.

Located in the territory of Vecgulbene manor - in the historical center.

In the interwar period, the garrison of the Latvian Army was located in Gulbene, where the 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment Battalion was stationed. Aerodromes are especially important in places where important railway and road junctions have been established. In 1937, a newly established unit of the Aviation Regiment was stationed in Gulbene, which became the 6th Division of the Latgale Division Scouts, increasing the number of army units near the eastern border of Latvia.

The conservatory building is visible.

Vaiņode airfield still has 16 Soviet-era aircraft hangars and an 1800 m section of the once 2500 m long runway. The airfield can only be visited with a previous booking. Vaiņode airfield was established during the Latvian independence as one of the cradles of Latvian aviation and was later one of the largest military airfields in the Baltic States. In 1916, two hangars for German Army airships were built. Airships were used to gather intelligence and bomb the positions of the Russian Army. Later the city of Riga bought the airship hangars and used their roof structures to build the pavilions of the Riga Central Market. In May 1940, the 31st Fast Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Red Army moved to Vaiņode, and the construction of a standardized concrete slab runway began. At the end of the summer of 1944 the partially completed airfield was used by various German aviation units, however, at the end of World War II, the same airfield was used by the Red Army aviation units fighting the German Army group called ‘Kurzeme’. After World War II the Soviet Air Forces were stationed in Vaiņode until 1992.

The museum exposition (the only museum dedicated to the Kurzeme fortress) tells richly and engagingly about the course of warfare in the Kurzeme fortress and the future fates of Latvian soldiers. On the other hand, in the open-air exhibition, you can walk around and see the restored wartime trenches, bunkers and heavy military equipment.

Working hours:

Monday - Tuesday - closed

Wednesday - Saturday - 10:00 - 17:00

Sunday - 10:00 - 15:00

It is advisable to contact in advance by phone 29442311.

It is located in the southeast of Riga, in Rumbula, between Maskavas Street and the Daugava River.

In Rumbula there was an air base of the Soviet Army Air Force and a civilian airport next to Riga's main airport in Spilvė. Both airports existed until the opening of the "Riga" airport. Before the Second World War and the occupation of Latvia, the airfield of the Aviation Regiment of the Latvian Army was located in Rumbula.

After World War 2, the Soviet Union began producing jet-powered aircraft, which required longer and smoother runways. Old airfields were expanded and new airfields were built. The changeable weather conditions of the Baltic and the short flight time of the first jet planes were the reason to build many reserve airfields. The noise of the jet planes caused dissatisfaction among the residents of Riga, because the military airfield was too close to residential areas and could create dangerous situations. In 1973, it was closed and the Lielvārde airfield was built in its place, to which fighter planes were transferred. Shortly before the closure, there was an international scandal. A US Air Force officer who was one of the military attachés in Moscow was beaten there. He was allegedly attacked by 14 - 20 airport employees, who suspected that the airport was being photographed.

Today, you can see the abandoned airfield area.

Zvārde landfill is located in Zvārde municipality, Saldus region. It is a former military aviation training ground of the USSR, covering more than 24 000 hectares.

The territory of the former airfield is home to several sites: the Officers' Kurgan, the ruins of the Zvārde and Ķērkliņi churches, the Rīteļi cemetery, the former army base "Lapsas", and others. Until the Second World War, the site of the observation tower was home to the "Vairogi" house. During the construction of the polygon, what was left of the farm - walls, the remains of the apple orchard, and part of the ruins of the Veczvārde manor - was piled together to form a mound and the observation tower was built on it. It was used as an observation point for coordinating the army's training manoeuvres. This place is popularly known as Kurgan. The mound overlooks the former training ground and the wooded areas of Zvārde Nature Park and Nature Reserve. A good place for bird watching. The surroundings of Kurgāns are not landscaped.

The ruins of the Ķerkliņu Church are located about 5 kilometres north-west of Kokmuiža, near the Ķerkliņu Lake. The church was built in 1641 by Heinrich von Dönhoff (Derkarth), the owner of the Ķerkliņi manor. The original wooden church was replaced by a stone building, under which tombs were built for the dead of the Dönhof and later Kleist families. The tombs were already destroyed during the 1905 riots, but in 1949 the coffins were moved from the tombs to the church. The church was an example of the Kurzeme Baroque style - its carvings were made by the Kuldīga - Liepāja woodcarvers. Although the owners of the manor and the church were at various times plagued by financial problems, the church underwent several reconstructions during its existence. It also suffered during the First World War, after which the parish rebuilt the stonework in 1929 and added an organ in 1934. Unfortunately, the church was damaged during the Second World War and much of it was lost, so it is to be commended that before the church was rebuilt in 1933, many unique pieces of Baroque sculpture were photographed, inventoried and even ended up in the archives of the Monuments Board. With the establishment of the landfill and the eviction of the inhabitants, the church was never restored. Today, the church walls and tower are visible.

The landfill's service base is located approximately 2 kilometres east of Striķu Manor, on the Saldus-Auce road. The former Soviet Military Aviation Target Range (military unit No 15439) in Zvārde is located south of Saldus. The territory of the airfield is home to several sights - the ruins of Zvārde and Ķerkliņi churches, the ruined Rīteļi cemetery, the observation post of the airfield, the so-called "Officers' Kurgan" and the former airfield personnel base and shooting range "Lapsas".

The Zvārde air target range required a unit of approximately one company to service the air target range - to install targets, repair damage, guard the air target range and coordinate air flights. It was based on the site of the house called "Lapsas" until the Second World War. With the construction of the airfield, barracks, transport sheds, a flight control tower and a firing range for training personnel were built.

After Latvia regained its independence, the Zvārde Defence Forces Training Centre operated here, but since 2007 the site has been owned by the municipality and leased by several hunting collectives. The former barracks house an exhibition on the history of Zvārde parish.

The "Officers' Kurgan" is located less than a kilometre from the ruins of Zvārde Church. The Kurgan is made of the ruins and remains of the surrounding houses and manor house, which have been bulldozed together. An observation tower was built on the kurgan. According to the inscription, the present tower was built in 1981. The tower was used to record bomb hits. The training bombs had a reduced explosive content, so their hits had to be watched more carefully. Unexploded bombs were neutralized immediately, but not all could be found.

 The remains of the tower can be seen here today - the brick walls. As the barrage is relatively high, you can even see the Lithuanian oil refinery in Mažeikiai on a clear day.

Located in Valka parish, driving on the road Valka - Rūjiena (P22) 4 kilometers, to the right, following the signs.

Pēteris Radziņš was born on May 2, 1880 in Lugavis Parish, Jaunvīndedze. Studied at Lugaži Parish School, Valka City School and Valka Nelson Real School. Joined the Russian army as a volunteer. In the autumn of 1919, he returned to Latvia and on October 27 was appointed Chief of Staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, assuming this position at a time when the Bermontians were threatening Riga. As the chief of staff, he has led all the battles of Riga, Zemgale and Latgale. Promoted to General on February 5, 1920.

Today, a memorial stone dedicated to General Pēteris Radziņš (1880 - 1930) can be seen near the family house.

On November 11, 2017, a memorial plaque to Pēteris Radziņš was unveiled in Riga, at the corner of the Daugava gate.

Video: Memorial event of General P. Radziņš in Riga Brothers Cemetery in 2019

Video: On May 2, 2019, on the 139th birthday of General Pēteris Radziņš, a commemoration event took place on the embankment of November 11, near the Presidential Palace, covering the memorial plaque to the guard of honor and those interested.

The exposition of Valka Local History Museum “Valka - the cradle of Latvia's independence” also reflects the life and work of General Pēteris Radziņš.
In addition to the traditional ways of displaying the collection, the exhibition uses interactive multimedia solutions. Information and annotations translated into Estonian and English.

Asub Riia kesklinnas, Riia rahvusvahelise bussijaama vastas, Riia raudteejaama lähedal.

Riia keskturg on Läti suurim turg, mis tunnistati kunagi Euroopa parimaks ja moodsaimaks turuks. Selle säravaks sümboliks on 20. saj. 1920. aastatel ehitatud turupaviljonid, mida kasutati algselt militaarotstarbel.

Esimese maailmasõja ajal rajas Saksa armee Kuramaale Vaiņode lennujaama, kus asus alaliselt mitu õhulaeva. Need olid pikliku kujuga õhupallid, mis olid täidetud gaasiga ja mis olid suletud reisijate ja lasti vedamiseks. Juhtimist tagas sisepõlemis- ehk elektrimootor ja korpuses olev tiib. Õhulaevad olid mõeldud luureks või vaenlase pommitamiseks, näiteks rünnates Roņi saarel asuvat Vene sõjaväe vesilennukite lennuvälja. Angaare nimetatakse teatavasti Walhallaks ja Waltheriks.

Pärast Läti Vabadussõda angaarid demonteeriti ja neid kasutati Riia Keskturu angaaride ehitamiseks, plaanides need jätta algsesse mõõtu. Hiljem otsustati kasutada ainult angaaride ülemisi osi.

Täna saab näha Saksa sõjaväe õhulaevade angaari metallkonstruktsioone. Turg pakub meeldivat viisi maailma lennunduse päritolu tundmaõppimiseks. Reisiavaldus: +37167358157; gints.aksiks@rct.lv.

Pärast seda, kui 1953. aastal rajati selles piirkonnas NSVLi kaitseministeeriumi palvel lennuväli, asusid Zvārde kirik, Ķerkliņi kirik ja Rīteļi kalmistu tegelikult lennuvälja keskel - kunstliku lennuvälja kõrval koos juurdepääsuteede ja kaitsepositsioonidega, mida nõukogude piloodid kasutasid sihtmärgina. Lennukid lendasid siia Lätis ja mujal Nõukogude Liidus asuvatelt lennuväljadelt. Vähem kui 40 aastaga lagunesid kirik, kalmistu, endine mõisahoone ja kümned ümbritsevad hooned. Tänapäeval hooldab seda paika Salduse Martin Lutheri kirik. Ümbritsev ala on ikka veel saastunud lõhkemata lahingumoonaga ja teede ääres võib olla ohtlik kõndida.

Barbaarsus saavutas haripunkti 1988. aastal, kui Rīteļi kalmistu koos haudade ja mälestusmärkidega buldooseriti.

21. juulil 1990 toimus Salduses üks esimesi aktsioone, kus Läti elanikkond nõudis NSV Liidu armee lahkumist Zvārde territooriumilt, ning seejärel läksid inimesed Rīteļi kalmistule. Meeleavaldusel osalejad lubati prügimäele, kus nad koristasid veidi kalmistut ja kaevasid valgeid riste.

Prügilat kasutati kuni 1992. aastani ja veel 1992. aasta märtsis kukkus Lielvārdest startiv lennuk teadmata põhjustel prügilasse. Läti kaitsevägi alustas 1993. aasta mais, pärast Vene armee väljaviimist, ala demineerimist.  2008. aastal paigaldasid Zvārde elanikud Rīteļi kalmistule mälestuskivi "Andke meile andeks, et me ei...".

See asub Preiļi 1. algkooli ruumides.

Näitus "Jāzeps Baško - lennujuht" on loodud 2014. aastal ja on pühendatud silmapaistva kohaliku mehe, lenduri, eskadrilli "Iļja Muromec" komandöri, Läti õhuväe korraldaja, kindral Jāzeps Baško ja 100. sünniaastapäevale. I maailmasõja aastapäev. Muuseumi kogu väljapanek on kujundatud kujundusobjektina - lennuki "Ilja Muromec" 6-kordselt vähendatud mudelina, mille kohta leiab infot tekstide ja piltidena. Näitust rikastavad Läti sõjamuuseumi kogude hoiused ja värskelt hangitud informatsioon Läti riiklikust ajalooarhiivist, Spilve lennundusmuuseumist ning üksikisikute eraarhiivide materjalid.

Kohustuslik eelnev registreerimine tel T. 65322731, T. 25640398. Võimalik on ekskursioon inglise ja vene keeles. Ajaloo- ja tarbekunstimuuseumist saab minna näitusele "Jāzeps Baško – lennujuht".

Šiaulių miesto dalyje, vadinamoje Zokniais, nuo tarpukario laikų veikė aerodromas, vėliau tapęs oro uostu.

1931 m. Zokniuose nuspręsta įkurti aerodromą, lygūs laukai ir žvyruotas gruntas puikiai tiko lėktuvams. Birželio 1 d. iš Kauno į Zoknius perkelta 3-oji ir 4-oji žvalgybos eskadrilės, kurioms priklausė lėktuvai LVG C.VI ir Albatros C.XV. Buvo pastatyti angarai, štabo pastatas ir kareivinės, o pirmuoju bazės viršininku tapo majoras Leonardas Peseckas.

Augant Lietuvos karo aviacijos pajėgumams, Zoknių aerodromas plėtėsi: čia buvo pastatyti nauji angarai, lėktuvų remonto dirbtuvės, įkurtas poligonas bombų mėtymui netoli Šilėnų. 1937 m. į Zoknius buvo perkelta 5-oji eskadrilė su naikintuvais „Letov Š-20“ ir FIAT C.R.20, o 1938 m. šiuos senus naikintuvus pakeitė modernūs Gloster Gladiator, pasižymėję puikiais rezultatais Suomijos–SSRS (Žiemos) kare.

1936 m., vykdant S. Raštikio kariuomenės reformas, karo aviacija buvo decentralizuota, o Zoknių aerodromas tapo viena iš pagrindinių šalies karinių bazių. Karo aviacijos pajėgos čia plėtėsi, įsteigtos aviacinės dirbtuvės, kurios prisidėjo prie lėktuvų priežiūros ir remonto, o vėliau jose dirbo žymūs konstruktoriai, kaip Bronius Oškinis. Zoknių aerodromas tapo strateginiu tašku, kurio svarba augo dėl šalia esančių branduolinių ginklų dislokacijos sovietmečiu.

2005 m., reikalaujant miesto verslininkams, buvo įsteigta Šiaulių miesto savivaldybės įmonė „Šiaulių oro uostas“. Lietuvai tapus NATO nare prasidėjo ir aerodromo pakilimo takų remontas: 2005 m. atlikta atsarginio kilimo ir tūpimo tako rekonstrukcija. Lėšas skyrė NATO.

Pagrindinio kilimo ir tūpimo tako rekonstrukcija oficialiai baigta 2006 m. spalio 26 d. iškilmingu tako atidarymu. Rekonstruoto aerodromo apskraidymą ir sertifikavimą atlikę specialistai pripažino jį geriausiu visoje Rytų Europoje.