Poduzhemye (air base)
| Poduzhemye | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kem, Karelia in Russia | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Type | Air Base | ||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||
| Operator | Russian Air Force | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
| Coordinates | 64°55′6″N 034°15′54″E / 64.91833°N 34.26500°E | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1944 | ||||||
| In use | 1944 - 1994 | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: XLPU | ||||||
| Elevation | 48 metres (157 ft) AMSL | ||||||
| |||||||
Poduzhemye (also Kem/Uzhmana or Uzhmana) is a former air base in Karelia, Russia located 16 km west of Kem.
The 265th Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived at the base from Riga-Rumbula in Latvia in 1953, when it was flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15s (NATO: Fagot). It transitioned to Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17s (NATO: Fresco) in 1954 and Sukhoi Su-15 (NATO: Flagon) in 1969. It was subordinated to the 113th Fighter Aviation Division from 13.6.55 - 1960, the 5th Air Defence Division, 1961 - 4.80, the Air Forces of the Leningrad Military District, 4.80 - 3.86, and then the 23rd Air Defence Division, 3.86 - 1994. It also flew Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO: Flanker) aircraft. The regiment was disbanded in 1994.
Aircraft from this base forced down Korean Air Flight 902, a Boeing 707, in 1978. Google high-res imagery shows that the base is abandoned and is in neglected condition. There is a noteworthy 45 x 25 m hangar north of the airfield.