Location
Lat 48°6'32"N Long 114°33'52"E. North of Choybalsan (Sanbeisu, Bayan Tumen). Located 300km (180 miles) from Khalkhin Gol area. Also known as "Bayantümen"," Bayan Tumen" or "Bain Tumen" until 1941, when the city and airfield was renamed Choybalsan East Airfield.

Construction
Built by Soviet Union during the early 1930s. Operational by at least 1936. Possibly, this airfield had two runways: east and west. One of the first commandants at the airfield was Z. Bor.

Wartime History
During the Battle of Khalkhin Gol / Nomonhan Incident this airfield was code named "Leningrad".

On May 23, the 22nd iap arrived at the airfield with 28 x I-16 type 10 and 35 x I-15bis led by Major Glazykina. These aircraft were not camouflaged and were simply painted in light gray color. On May 27, a detachment of sixteen aircraft moved forward to Hamar-Daba Airfield.

During May 1939, the 100th sabr operating SB-2 bombers was based at this airfield.

Japanese Missions over Bain-Tumen
June 24 - 27, 1939

During early July, Chaykas arrived at the airfield for conversion and mock dogfights.

Units based at Baintumen Airfield
22nd iap (I-16, I-15) May 23, 1939 led by Major Glazykina
100th sabr (SB-2) May 1939
56th iap
150th iap (29 x SB-2 in three eskadrily, 17 x R-5 in two eskadrily) May - September 1939

After the battle, the Mongolian Air Force reequipped with I-15s, in a group under the command of M. Zaisanov, who was later commander of the entire Mongolian Air Force.

This base remained an active airfield during World War II, and was again used during the Russian and Mongolian "August Storm"

At the end of the war, during the night of September 13, 1945 at "Leningrad" airbase, [consumption of] war-booty alcoholic spirits led to poisoning of 56 personnel. On September 14 8 officers, 8 sergeants and 4 privates died. The remainder are undergoing recovery in hospital.

Today
This airfield is still in use to this day.

References
Japan Against Russia In The Sky of Nomonhan page 9, 45
Aviation and Politics In Mongolia: 1921-1947 by Denys Voaden, page 477, 480
19 September 1945 Malinovskii to Vasilevskii via Denys Voaden
Thanks to Dr. Denys Voaden for additional information

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024