Air Force Service Patches
of the Soviet Superpower
 (1960-1978)

   

Army Uniform Patches

The Soviet Air Force, like the army, had used a variety of insignia to designate the branch or length of service of its soldiers.  During the late 1960's the Ministry of Defense chose to adopt the distinctive sleeve patches that characterized the late Soviet era.

Yet, while the most obvious, they were not the only patches that were used during this time.  Wound stripes of one sort or another had been used since the Tsarist era, and continued to serve during the Cold War.  Length of service and school stripes were also used during this era.  Samples of these various patches can be seen in this section.  The selection of patches, stripes, and chevrons we have to view are listed below in order of their establishment.

Back to Badges, Patches, and Awards
of the Soviet Superpower

 

 

Military Specialty Patches (1969)

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.

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) (2).

   

 

Officer Cadet School 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 air force and paratrooper stripes were 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'.

 

3 Years

6 Years

2 Years  5 Years


 
 
1 Year 4 Years

 

 

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!!

 

 

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

 

 

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.