Air Force Service Patches
of the Afghanistan War and Late Cold War
 (1979-1991)
  

  

Air Force Uniform Patches

This section covers the patches that were worn by members of the Soviet Air Force (and paratrooper forces) during the Afghanistan War and in the final years of the Soviet Union.  They generally followed the reforms of the early seventies until the overall reforms of 1988 when the Ministry of Defense instituted the final uniform reforms of the Soviet period.  Samples of these various patches can be seen in this section.

Back to Patches, Badges, and
Insignia of the late Soviet Union
Late Period Soviet Air Force Patches

 

 

Air Force Service Patch

Development of the air force patch introduced in 1969 began early in 1967 at the order of Minister of Defense A.A. Grechko.  The designer of the patches was the artist of the Technical Committee of the Clothing Supply Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, a man named A.B. Zhuk.  Originally the patches were to be embroidered, but this was considered to expensive.  Instead the patches were to be made of thermally molded plastic on a cloth background.

Air Force

Officially the patch was adopted throughout the army on 26 July 1969 by Ministry of Defense Order 190.  All conscripts, extended servicemen, warrant officers, and officer cadets were to wear the patches.  Order number 191 defined that the patch was to be worn on the left sleeve of parade tunics and overcoats 12 centimeters from the top point of the sleeve. (1)

 

 

Wound Stripes

These small 40mm long stripes were awarded to those who had suffered wounds in action.  They came in two variants: Red for light wounds and Yellow for serious wounds. (2)

 

Light Wound Stripe Heavy Wound Stripe

First Wound

Coming Soon!!
Second Wound

Third Wound

Coming Soon!!

 

 

Final Soviet Length of Service Chevrons (1988)

On March 4, 1988 the Soviet Ministry of Defense issued Prikaz No 250.  This order stated that length of service chevrons for re-engaged servicemen would now be identical to those used by praporchiks since 1971.  These would continue to be made of thermally molded plastic on fabric.  The gold lace versions were phased out.  Like the army praporchik chevrons, these were worn on the left sleeve 16mm above the lower cuff edge on both the tunic and the greatcoat. (1)
Parade Uniform Service Uniform
Coming Soon!! Coming Soon!!
Ten Years of Service Ten Years of Service
Coming Soon!! Coming Soon!!
Five Years of Service Five Years of Service
Coming Soon!!

Four Years of Service Four Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
Three Years of Service Three Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
Two Years of Service Two Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
One Year of Service One Year of Service

 

 

    

Officer Cadet Stripes (1988)

These patches were originally established by Ministry of Defense Order #190 on 26 June 1969.  This order decreed that all students of military schools would wear stripes to denote how many years of study they had completed.  These stripes were sewn on the left sleeve of the tunic and greatcoat one centimeter below the branch of service insignia.

On 4 March 1988 new regulations were issued by Ministry of Defense Order #250.  This order decreed (among other things) that chevrons instead of stripes would be worn by pilot and aircrew cadets.  They would be from one to five of these stripes depending on the year of class completed.  Each would be 6mm wide on yellow thermally molded plastic.  Above these would be sewn a winged star.  They would be worn 16mm from the lower cuff edge of the greatcoat and tunic.

All air force and paratrooper stripes remained the same as before.  They were still composed of  thermally molded plastic on light blue felt.  Members of the Medical academy could acquire up to six of these stripes, but most other branches could only attain four.  Unofficially men called these stripes 'kursovki'.
 

Air Force and VDV Chevrons

Chevrons for Pilots and Aircrew Cadets

 

6 Years

(Coming Soon!!)

5 Years

5 Years

(Coming Soon!!)

4 Years

4 Years

(Coming Soon!!)

3 Years

3 Years


 

(Coming Soon!!)

2 Years

2 Years

(Coming Soon!!)

1 Year

1 Year

 

 

Conscript Length of Service Stripes (1974)

These yellow service stripes were introduced in 1974 to show the number of years a conscript soldier had served.  Each stripe denoted one year of service and were worn 20 centimeters from the high shoulder point of the right sleeve of the greatcoat.  They measured 80mm by 10mm and were made of thermally molded plastic and cloth.  These stripes were abolished in 1982 in a move against 'unofficial regulations'. (1)
  
Second Year of Conscript Service

Coming Soon!!
First Year of Conscript Service

Coming Soon!!

 

 

Length of Service Chevrons for Warrant Officers (1971)

In 1971 the Soviet Defense Ministry created the rank of Praporchik (Warrant Officer) for the Soviet Air Force in an effort to develop a class of skilled extended servicemen.  It was decreed that these warrant officers would wear length of service chevrons to show how long they had served.  These were worn on the left sleeve 16mm above the lower cuff edge on both the tunic and the greatcoat. (1)
Parade Uniform Service Uniform
Coming Soon!! Coming Soon!!
Ten Years of Service Ten Years of Service
Coming Soon!! Coming Soon!!
Five Years of Service Five Years of Service
Coming Soon!!

Four Years of Service Four Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
Three Years of Service Three Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
Two Years of Service Two Years of Service
Coming Soon!!
One Year of Service One Year of Service

 

 

Officer Cadet Stripes (1969)

These patches were established by Ministry of Defense Order #190 on 26 June 1969.  This order decreed that all students of military schools would wear stripes to denote how many years of study they had completed.  These stripes were sewn on the left sleeve of the tunic and greatcoat one centimeter below the branch of service insignia. (1)

All army stripes were thermally molded plastic on blue felt.  They measure 1 cm wide and 7 cm long.  Members of the Medical academy could acquire up to six of these stripes, but most other branches could only attain four.  Unofficially men called these stripes 'kursovki'.

3 Years

6 Years

2 Years

5 Years

1 Year

4 Years

 

 

Works Cited

(1) Stepanov, A., Нарукавных Знаки Вооруженных Сил СССР.  1920-1991 (1), Moscow: Zeughaus, 1999. Print.

(2) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, ВОЕННАЯ ОДЕЖДА ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР И РОССИИ (1917-1990), Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999. Print.