Mirgorod Airport

Mirgorod Airport
IATA: MXR – ICAO: Mirgorod Airport Mirgorod Airport (Ukraine)
Summary
Airport type		Soviet Air Forces, now Ukrainian Air Force
Location		Mirgorod, Ukraine
Coordinates		49°55′53″N 033°38′30″E / 49.93139°N 33.64167°E / 49.93139; 33.64167Coordinates: 49°55′53″N 033°38′30″E / 49.93139°N 33.64167°E / 49.93139; 33.64167
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
06/23	8,250	2,500	Concrete

Mirgorod Airport (ICAO: MXR) is an airfield located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) Southeast of Mirgorod, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine. The date the airfield was constructed is not known.^{[citation needed]}

During World War II, the airport was provided to the United States Army Air Forces during the summer of 1944 as a heavy bomber airfield, used by the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces for shuttle bombing missions (Operation Frantic).

Mirgorod was designated as USAAF Station 561 for security purposes and was referred to as Station 561 in all messages and written correspondence. Mirgorod was one of three Ukraine installations operated by Headquarters, Eastern Command, United States Strategic Air Forces.

Aircraft would fly into the airfield from either Great Britain or Southern Italy after attacking enemy targets in Eastern Europe. The aircraft would refuel and rearm at the airport, then attack enemy targets on return missions to Southern Italy.

Operation Frantic ended in September 1944, and the Americans returned to their home bases.

After the war, the airfield was rebuilt and was used as a Soviet Air Defence Forces base. Dispersal hardstands were built attached to each end of a new single runway, expanded for jet aircraft use, along with a large aircraft parking ramp, with at least six hangars.

Today it is home to the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, Air Command Centre, Ukrainian Air Force.

References

World War II portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Anderson, Barry, (1985), United States Air Forces Stations, Air Force Historical Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.