Edward Baranauskas

The Lithuanian Air Force Base: Preserving Freedom

Ed Baranauskas stands in front of a helicopter with Lithuanian Air Force markings.

I had the opportunity to visit two Lithuanian Army bases in 1996, and had the pleasure of getting acquainted with Major Arunas Alonderis and Dr. Nijole Janulaitiene, both of whom are stationed at the Army’s main headquarters in Vilnius. When I visited Lithuania this past summer, Major Alonderis made it possible for me to visit the Lithuanian Air Force base not far from Panevezys, one of two such military installations in Lithuania.

Everything worked out fine. I was visiting my relatives in Panevezys, and called Lt. Col. Kaminskas, the base commander, as Major Alonderis had instructed me. He invited me to come, and said that a tour of the base would be arranged. I was elated. Aviation has been in my blood since the flight of my childhood heroes, Darius and Girenas. I served with the Marines in World War II as an aircraft mechanic, and later with the airlines in New York. I was anxious to see the progress made by the Lithuanian Air Force since the Soviets left Lithuania and its air bases.

After arriving at the base, the sentry told us that we were given permission to drive to the Administration Building where Lt. Col. Kaminskas was waiting for us. After our introductions, Saulius Ramanauskas, our guide, invited us to his office. He gave us a brief history of the field and its primary function; and he was more than happy to answer any of our questions.

Air Force bases in Lithuania, unlike those in the United States, are not named after any prominent person in history or a military hero. Perhaps, this could change in the future. This base, located near Panevezys at a place called Pajuostis, is named Lietuvos Kariniu Oro Pajegu Antroji Aviacijos Baze – translated, it is the Lithuanian Air Force Second Air Base.

Every nation has an insignia painted on the fuselage and wings of its military aircraft for purposes of identification. Lithuania has one of its own, and it is what some Lithuanians call "Jogailos Kryzius" or Jogaila’s Cross*.

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Notice the Lithuanian insignias on the tail and the left underside of the left wing

When the decision was made to construct an air base at Pajuostis in the early 1930s, the exact location of the main runway had to be made first. Technicians collected data for quite some time to determine the most favorable wind direction, and it was decided that only one runway would be needed because very rarely were there any crosswinds. Work on the project was started in 1935, and when it was completed in January of 1939, two air reconnaissance squadrons were stationed here.

After the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, many improvements were made to the air base. With the collapse of the Empire, it became apparent that Lithuania would regain it, but the question arose as to its future use. The Lithuanian government decided to operate Pajuostis as an air force base. On March 9, 1993, Lt. Col. Juozas Rutkevicius became its first commanding officer with the first military aircraft arriving shortly thereafter from nearby Siauliai. The withdrawal of all Soviet forces was completed almost six months later on August 31, but before leaving, they took everything possible leaving all buildings in terrible condition.

Major Algirdas Arlauskas was the base’s second commanding officer, and Lt. Col. Arturas Kaminskas succeeded four years later.

The runway at present is 2,000 meters long (about 6,500 feet), and 60 meters wide (about 197 feet), of which the center is 40 meters concrete with 10 meters of paved asphalt on each side. Plans are being made to extend the runway another 500 meters (about 1,650 feet). The airport is 576 hectares in size, or about 1,423 acres. To get a better idea of how this compares in relation to other airports, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, as an example, has 1,200 acres. (Note: This is where Darius and Girenas began their attempted non-stop flight to Kaunas in 1933.)

All present Lithuanian Air Force pilots are graduates of the former USSR higher aviation school. The squadron tasks vary, such as paratrooper and cargo drops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, reconnaissance, and working in close cooperation with the police by helping them in many ways. Six helicopters were given to Lithuania as a gift from Poland; five of them are based here while the sixth was transferred to Kaunas.

The squadron is ready to fly day or night. When night flights are planned, readily movable lights are temporarily used to illuminate the runway until a permanent lighting system, which is now being planned, is installed. Denmark is giving a big helping hand in upgrading the airfield.

All flight plans are submitted to air traffic controllers in Vilnius for approval: stating the time, altitude, and routes. In addition to training flights, the squadron has transported NATO peacekeepers to Bosnia, including "BALBAT" (Baltic Battalions) forces from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Since English is the language of NATO, classes are held in English. Some pilots go elsewhere to learn, even to Canada. Knowledge of English is mandatory if one wants to advance in rank. This must be quite a change for everyone involved; it seems to me, from the Soviet days when everybody had to learn Russian.

I was surprised to learn that an American Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo transport recently landed at this field.

After our discussion period ended, Saulius escorted us outside where I had the pleasure of meeting two Air Force officers, Viktoras Krivobokas and Juozas Petrulaitis. The color of their uniforms was royal blue, somewhat similar to the United States Air Force. Lt. Col. Kaminskas then drove the other two officers and me in his vehicle to where the airplanes and helicopters were parked. My relatives followed us in their car, together with Saulius Ramanauskas. I was then introduced to another pilot, Olegas Zaborskij, who was dressed in a much darker blue uniform. He and Saulius were our guides to see the airplanes and the rest of the base complex. The colonel and the other officers then left.

Saulius Ramanauskas, Edward Baranauskas, Lt. Col. Arturas Kaminskas (Base Commander), and pilot Olegas Zaborskij stand in front of an AN-26 troop transport aircraft.

When I think of the years gone by, I never thought I would ever live to see the day Lithuania regain her independence, let alone having her own air force. But, here I was, walking into the cabin of an AN-26 transport plane, going into the cockpit, and climbing into the pilot’s seat. All instructions were in Russian, as far as I noticed.

The nearby building was not a barracks, as I had at first thought, but a school to train mechanics in maintenance, and to sharpen the flying skills of pilots using an enclosed cockpit similar, I thought, to our Link trainer. I was surprised to learn that all military personnel do not live on the base, but in their own apartments elsewhere, as there is no housing available for them here.

I found it rather unusual that there are no hangars on the field, and I can imagine the discomfort to say the least, the mechanics have to go through to do any repairs on the aircraft in the inclement weather. The Soviets did enlarge the field by creating additional taxiways and constructing 32 revetments needed to park their cargo and transport aircraft. When it became evident to the Soviets that they would eventually have to abandon this base, the field was completely neglected, at least this part of it. Tall grass now grows between the concrete slabs of the taxiways leading to, and including, the parking area of the revetments themselves. I was disappointed at not having more time to visit the control tower, and taking a look at the runway.

As I was leaving to return to Vilnius, Saulius Ramanauskas invited me to come again, and I promised him that I would make every effort to do so the next time I visit Lithuania.

I was very impressed and deeply moved with what I saw. Lithuania strove so hard to regain her independence after fifty years of hopelessness. I was heartened to see young men who love their homeland and are dedicating their lives to preserve the freedom that was once lost. I salute each and every one of them!

*Jogaila’s Cross: The emblem of the Lithuanian nation is the Vytis (Knight). It depicts a knight riding on horseback with a sword in his right hand held high above his head, and his left arm carrying a triangular shield with a two-barred or a six-pointed cross on it. The origin of this type of cross is still obscure, and it was found for the first time on a seal of Jogaila in 1388. (Perhaps that is why some Lithuanians call it "Jogailos Kryzius".) It is known that Vytautas the Great struck coins with this same design of cross, possibly to show that it was connected to an independent Lithuania. (Ref.: Encyclopedia Lituanica, Vol. VI, p 223-224)

All Photos from Ed Baranauskas