1st Transport Air Base

The 1st Transport Air Base (Polish: 1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego, 1 BLTr) is a tactical-level transport aviation unit of the Polish Air Force, based at Warsaw Okęcie Airport. It was formed on 1 January 2012 by reorganising the former 1st Air Base (1 Baza Lotnicza) under Decision No. Z-78/Org./P1 of the Minister of National Defence dated 5 August 2011, which ordered the transformation to be completed by 31 December 2011. The base is the air transport unit responsible for the most sensitive passenger missions of the Polish state: it provides air transport and passenger service for the supreme organs of state authority of the Republic of Poland and for organisational units of the Ministry of National Defence, and it ensures the proper functioning of units and institutions that it supplies. Until mid-2022 it was subordinate to the Commander of the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing (3 Skrzydło Lotnictwa Transportowego); it now reports directly within the Polish Air Force structure. The base operates a mixed fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Its aeroplanes include two Gulfstream G550 long-range VIP jets and three Boeing 737-800 aircraft used for government and state transport. Its helicopter inventory consists of seven W-3WA VIP Sokół, two W-3WA Sokół, one W-3P Sokół and Mi-8 helicopters. This fleet supports the transport of Poland's highest state officials, including the President and the Prime Minister, as well as military and government delegations. The unit cultivates an extensive set of military traditions inherited from earlier Polish air units, including the 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron (1918–1925), the 13th Air Squadron of the 1st Air Regiment (1925–1934), the 301st Bomber Squadron of the Pomeranian Land (1940–1943), the 1586 Special Duties Squadron (1943–1944), the Government Transport Squadron (1946–1947), the Special Air Regiment (1947–1951), the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment "Defenders of Warsaw" (1974–2011), and the 1st Home Army Air Base "Łużyce" (2002–2011). By Decision No. 62/MON of 6 March 2012 it took over these traditions and the banner of the disbanded 1st Home Army Air Base "Łużyce", and its annual holiday was set on 5 October. Its commemorative badge, recognition mark and aviation emblem were updated by Decision No. 120/MON of 25 September 2024. The base is a state-owned military unit rather than a commercial company, but it functions as an institutional brand within the Polish Air Force, with its own emblem, public website, news service and community engagement. Its commanders have included Col. Sławomir Mąkosa (from 1 January 2012), Col. Dariusz Tatarowski (from 9 June 2014), Col. Stanisław Kondrat (from 2 May 2016), Col. Mirosław Jakubowski (from 5 January 2022) and Brig. Gen. Paweł Bigos (from 15 August 2022).

The 1st Transport Air Base (1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego, 1 BLTr) is a tactical-level transport aviation unit of the Polish Air Force. It was established by the reorganisation of the former 1st Air Base (1 Baza Lotnicza) under Decision No. Z-78/Org./P1 of the Minister of National Defence dated 5 August 2011, with the transformation to be completed by 31 December 2011. The new unit began functioning on 1 January 2012. It is located in Warsaw at Warsaw Okęcie Airport. Until mid-2022 it was subordinate to the Commander of the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing (3 Skrzydło Lotnictwa Transportowego). The base's principal tasks are to secure air transport and passenger service for the supreme organs of state authority of the Republic of Poland and for organisational units of the Ministry of National Defence, and to ensure the proper functioning of the units and institutions remaining under its supply. The unit cultivates the heritage of a long line of Polish air force units. By Decision No. 62/MON of the Minister of National Defence dated 6 March 2012, the 1st Transport Air Base took over and honourably cultivates the traditions of: the 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron (1918–1925); the 13th Air Squadron of the 1st Air Regiment (1925–1934); the 13th Escort Squadron of the 1st Air Regiment (1934–1939); the 16th and 19th Escort Squadrons of the 1st Air Regiment (1937–1939); the 301st Bomber Squadron of the Pomeranian Land (1940–1943); Squadron "C" of the 138th Special Duties Squadron RAF (1943); the 1586 Special Duties Squadron (1943–1944); the 301st Bomber Squadron of the Pomeranian Land named after the Defenders of Warsaw (1944–1946); the 6th Independent Transport Aviation Squadron (1945–1946); the Government Transport Squadron (1946–1947); the Special Air Regiment (1947–1951); the 36th Special Air Regiment (1951–1955); the 36th Independent Special Air Regiment (1955–1974); the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment "Defenders of Warsaw" (1974–2011); the Home Army Air Base "Łużyce" (1942–1944); the service battalion of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Country Area Command (1959–1962); the service battalion of the Air Defence of the Country Area Command (1962–1979); the Security Detachment of the Air Defence of the Country Command (1979–1990); the Security Detachment of the Air Force and Air Defence Command (1990–2001); and the 1st Home Army Air Base "Łużyce" (2002–2011). It also took over the banner of the disbanded 1st Home Army Air Base "Łużyce". The same decision established the annual holiday of the 1st Transport Air Base on 5 October. Further decisions shaped the unit's insignia. Decision No. 189/MON of 3 July 2013 introduced the commemorative badge and the emblem of the 1st Transport Air Base. Decision No. 47/MON of 17 February 2015 introduced the recognition mark. Decision No. 118/MON and No. 119/MON of 25 September 2024 repealed the decision on the recognition mark and the decision on the commemorative badge and emblem. Decision No. 120/MON of 25 September 2024 introduced the commemorative badge, recognition mark and aviation emblem of the 1st Transport Air Base. The base's aircraft inventory includes two Gulfstream G550 aircraft, three Boeing 737-800 aircraft, seven W-3WA VIP Sokół helicopters, two W-3WA Sokół helicopters, one W-3P Sokół helicopter and Mi-8 helicopters. Its commanders have included Col. Sławomir Mąkosa (from 1 January 2012), Col. Dariusz Tatarowski (from 9 June 2014), Col. Stanisław Kondrat (from 2 May 2016), Col. Mirosław Jakubowski (from 5 January 2022) and Brig. Gen. Paweł Bigos (from 15 August 2022).

• Decision No. Z-78/Org./P1 of the Minister of National Defence orders the reorganisation of the 1st Air Base into the 1st Transport Air Base by 31 December 2011.

• The 1st Transport Air Base begins functioning; Col. Sławomir Mąkosa becomes its first commander.

• Decision No. 62/MON sets out the traditions taken over by the base, adopts the banner of the disbanded 1st Home Army Air Base "Łużyce", and establishes 5 October as the annual holiday.

• Decision No. 189/MON introduces the commemorative badge and emblem of the 1st Transport Air Base.

• Col. Dariusz Tatarowski becomes commander.

• Decision No. 47/MON introduces the recognition mark of the 1st Transport Air Base.

• Col. Stanisław Kondrat becomes commander.

• Col. Mirosław Jakubowski becomes commander.

• Brig. Gen. Paweł Bigos becomes commander.

• Decisions No. 118/MON and 119/MON repeal earlier insignia decisions; Decision No. 120/MON introduces a new commemorative badge, recognition mark and aviation emblem.

State-owned military air transport unit responsible for VIP and government flights of the Republic of Poland.

• Gulfstream G550

• Boeing 737-800

• PZL W-3WA VIP Sokół

• PZL W-3WA Sokół

• PZL W-3P Sokół

• Mi-8

1. 1Strona główna – 1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego1bltr.wp.mil.pl
2. 21st Transport Air Base – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 31 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org