Pajuosčio

55°43'47"N 024°27'34"E

runway: 13/31 - 2000x40m - concrete

Pajuosčio airfield (Lith.: Pajuosčio aerodromas, also known as Pajuosčio Air Base, Panevezys Air Base or Паневежис авиабазы, ICAO: EYPP) is an airfield 130 kilometers north-northwest of Vilnius.
The airfield was built following a go-ahead by the Lithuanian government in 1936 and was completed on 27 June 1939. It was a military air base, which had 6 and 8 Squadrons assigned (ANBO-IVM and ANBO-41 reconnaissance aircraft).


ANBO IVM aircraft lined up at Pajuosčio airfield in 1937 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


ANBO-41 overfying the airfield during 6 Squadron's second anniversary in 1939 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


Ca. 1940 map of the airfield when still under Lithuanian control (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).

After Lithuania was invaded and occupied by the Soviet union in 1940, the airbase became home to Soviet Air Force. The 9th Fast Bomber Regiment (SB-2 bombers), 238 fighter wing (I-253 'Chaika') and the 1st Heavy Bomber regiment (TB-3 bombers) became the new residents. The Soviets expanded the airfield into 1941.
In the summer of 1941 the airfield (and Lithuania) were attacked and taken over again, this time by the Germans. The Germans too used and expanded the airfield, building amongst others a concrete runway.
The Germans were driven out again by the Soviets in July 1944.


The abandoned wreck of a Soviet TB-3 Bomber after the German Wehrmacht became the airfields' new management (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


One of at least 6 Soviet Polikarpov I-153 'Chaikas' (without wings) that were abandoned at the airfield in 1941 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


An abandoned Soviet SB-2 bomber in front of the burnt out station building in 1941 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).

Many of the airfields historic buildings had been destroyed or blown up during the fighting, including the airfields main building. The Soviets soon repaired critical parts of the air base and flew A-20 Boston (Havoc) torpedobombers from it against the Germans. They were tasked with disrupting German shipping in the Baltic.
Soon they were covered by Yak-9 fighters of a colocated fighter regiment.


Ground crews prepare a Soviet Douglas A-20 for its anti-shipping role in 1944 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


Bostons taxying for takeoff at Pajuosčio airfield (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).

After World War II the Soviets annexed Lithuania and began using the airbase. The Soviet 128 Red Guards Leningrad Bomber Aviation Regiment was stationed at the base with Il-28 'Beagle' bombers. The Regiment later transformed into 128 Red Guards Leningrad Military Transport Aviation Regiment (128-й гвардейский Ленинградский Краснознаменный военно-транспортный авиационный полк) in the 1960s, flying An-12 and Il-76M cargo aircraft. Aircraft known to have been used at the base also were Aero L-29 'Delphin' and MiG-15UTI 'Midget' trainers. MiG-23 'Flogger' and Su-25 'Frogfoot' fighters have also been observed operating from the base though, as did Mi-8 'Hip" Helicopters. After Lithuanian independence in 1990 the Regiments were withdrawn in 1992, the transport regiment going to Orenburg.


Michail-Makovej posing in front of an Il-28 'Beagle' bomber in the 1960s (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


A lot of activity on the platform at the base, presumably in the early 1980s (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).

On 21 June 1993 the entire airfield was handed to the Lithuanian air force, who stationed a transport squadron and a fighter squadron at the base. Designated the 2nd Air Force Aviation Base it transferred its flying units (flying L-39 trainers and An-12 transports) to the 1st Air Force Aviation Base in 2000. A helicopter squadron left the air base in 2007, leaving the base without a mission.
Although still millitary property it is now closed for operations.


Overview of the airfield shot in about 2000 (Google Earth)


The abandoned runway in 2010 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).


The air traffic control tower of the airfield in 2010 (My Camo Stories, in Lithuanian).