History of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron
In the years 1973–1974, four more missile squadrons of the 4th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the Coastal Defenders were established, this time armed with the S–125M Neva PZR.
In 1973 (Chief of the General Staff’s Order No. 057/Org. of August 2, 1973, and Commander of the 2nd Air Defense Corps’ Order No. 0101/Org. of August 24, 1973), personnel were trained at CSSAiR for the newly formed squadrons:
- 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór, commanded by Major Krzysztof Olszewski;
- 65th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Rozewie, commanded by Captain Wiesław Kozikowski.
And in 1974 (Commander of Air Defense Forces’ Order No. 0188/Org. of September 19, 1974) for the newly formed squadrons:
- 68th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Łeba, commanded by Major Franciszek Bujalski;
- 69th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Rowy, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eugeniusz Szumowski.
In November 1974, the first S-125M Neva PZRs for the newly formed squadrons arrived by rail transport from the USSR at the Hel railway station.
Location of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron within the formation of the 4th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Location of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Objects of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Squadron Commanders:
- Major Krzysztof Olszewski (from 1973 to 1976);
- Major Kazimierz Kucharski (from 1976 to 1979);
- Major Stanisław Wojniusz (from 1980 to 1983);
- Major Władysław Jarosz (from 1983 to 1984);
- Lieutenant Colonel Mirosław Ulatowski (from 1984 to 1990);
- Major Leszek Czarnecki (from 1990 to 1993).
The squadron was disbanded in 1993 as part of the restructuring of the Armed Forces.
Reminiscences of Lt. Col. (ret.) Ryszard M. Sienkiewicz
Lt. Col. (ret.) Ryszard Marek Sienkiewicz is a graduate of the Military University of Technology. From August 1973, he actively participated in the formation of the 65th Air Defense Artillery Squadron (doar OPK) as the Chief of Armament and Electronics Service. He concluded his service in the 65th doar OPK in December 1976.
From December 1976 to March 1979, he served as the commander of the radio-technical battery in the 63rd Air Defense Missile Squadron in Rusiec. Subsequently, until the end of October 1982, he served as SSUiE in the 61st Air Defense Missile Squadron in Małocice.
From November 1982 to October 1993, he served at the Military University of Technology, Faculty of Electromechanics, as the commander of the Equipment Park, then as a senior constructor in the Department of Rocket Construction and Operation.
From August 1973, personnel of the 64th doar OPK (Military Unit 4640) and 65th doar OPK (Military Unit 4646) from the 4th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the Coastal Defenders in Gdynia began training on the S-125 Neva system at the Artillery and Radiotechnical Specialists Training Center in Bemowo Piskie. Personnel from the 66th doar OPK and 67th doar OPK from the 26th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Gryfice also participated in the training. After successfully completing the exams at the end of November 1973, the squadrons proceeded to their designated garrisons.
The 64th doar OPK was stationed in Bór, located on the Hel Peninsula, halfway between Jastarnia and Hel (14 km).
Visit of the Chief of Missile and Artillery Forces of Air Defense Forces to the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór in 1988. From right: Lt. Malik – Deputy Commander for Political Affairs, Col. Franciszek Żygis – Chief of Missile and Artillery Forces of Air Defense Forces, Lt. Col. Mirosław Ulatowski – Squadron Commander. Photo: From Mirosław Ulatowski’s archive.
The squadron’s barracks facilities were located within a complex also occupied by the 43rd Naval Sappers Battalion from the 9th Coastal Defense Flotilla in Hel. The barracks complex was protected by Naval forces, while the squadron only provided duty service at the gate of its facility.
In Bór, there was also a Naval recreation center, the so-called SNDW “Rybitwa.” Bór was a specific locality, inhabited only by military personnel and civilians closely associated with the military.
1988, Commander of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron Lt. Col. Mirosław Ulatowski and Lt. Malik – Deputy Commander for Political Affairs with squadron soldiers. Photo: From Mirosław Ulatowski’s archive.
The squadron’s combat zone was located approximately 2.5 km from Bór, opposite the current presidential center, beyond the railway tracks towards Hel, almost on the beach, overgrown with young forest. Firing and technical positions were built there by the engineering-construction regiment from Gdynia. There was also a two-story building housing a guardhouse, training rooms, and other facilities. Additionally, there was a vehicle maintenance station (PSO), a fuel station (MPS), a PKT (Technical Control Point), and a building adapted from the construction site for a spare parts warehouse.
Upon arrival at the garrison, the personnel were quartered in military housing estates in Hel and Władysławowo.
A period of intense development of facilities began, including the organization of administration and other aspects of the new military unit. Essential equipment was not yet available, but theoretical training for personnel and conscripted soldiers was conducted. Successively, vehicle equipment, armaments, POT equipment, and missiles were received.
October 12, 1989 – Polish Army Day at the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór. From right: Capt. Stanisław Bober – Chief of Technical Services, Capt. Piotr Skórak – Quartermaster, Lt. Col. Mirosław Ulatowski – Commander and Lt. Zbigniew Krzywosz – Chief of Staff. Photo: From Mirosław Ulatowski’s archive.
To maintain proficiency in operating combat equipment, superiors organized rotational training trips for officers and soldiers to the squadrons of the Warsaw 3rd Łużycka Air Defense Artillery Division. The wait for combat equipment lasted almost a year from the completion of training at CSSAiR in Bemowo Piskie.
The long-awaited equipment was delivered by rail from the USSR to the Hel railway station in November 1974, also for the 65th Squadron from Rozewie.
First Personnel Composition of the 64th doar OPK, November 1973:
- Commander: Major Krzysztof Olszewski
- Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander: Captain Józef Wójcik
- Chief of Technical Services – Deputy Commander: Second Lieutenant Andrzej Olasz
- Deputy Commander for Political Affairs: First Lieutenant Jerzy Jessa
- Quartermaster: Captain Zygfryd Pożarski
- Commander of Radio-Technical Battery: Captain Stanisław Wojniusz
- Commander of SNR – Senior Guidance Officer: First Lieutenant Władysław Jarosz
- Guidance Officer: Second Lieutenant Krzysztof Litwinowicz (from 1974)
- SNR Technician: Junior Warrant Officer Jan Konarski
- UWW Technician: Junior Warrant Officer Krzysztof Bil
- UWK Technician: Junior Warrant Officer Stanisław Jóźwik
- UNW Technician: Junior Warrant Officer Jerzy Kłonica
- SCR Technician: Junior Warrant Officer Krzysztof Orysiak
- Commander of RSWP: Acting Junior Warrant Officer Jan Chlebek
- Commander of Launching Battery: Captain Wiesław Publicewicz
- Commander of Launching Platoon: Second Lieutenant Andrzej Pajdo
- Commander of Launching Platoon: Second Lieutenant Marian Jaroszewicz
- Commander of POT: First Lieutenant Henryk Rewers
- Senior Assistant to Chief of Staff for Operations and Training: Second Lieutenant Waldemar Chyliński
- Chief of Armament and Electronics Service: Second Lieutenant Leszek Szumełda
- Chief of Vehicle Service: Second Lieutenant Łuczyński (1973-1974), First Lieutenant Waldemar Czajkowski (from 1975)
- Doctor: First Lieutenant Grzegorz Tracz
- Medical Non-Commissioned Officer: Sergeant Mieczkowski
- Head of Secret Chancellery: Sergeant Jan Kowalski
- Chief of Uniform Service: Sergeant Wiesław Niewiadomski
- Chief of Food Service: Junior Warrant Officer Roman Szczerbowski
Those not present for training in Bemowo Piskie were: the deputy commander for political affairs, the quartermaster, and the chiefs of vehicle, food, and uniform services, the commander of RSWP, the doctor, and the head of the secret chancellery.
Commanders of the launching platoons arrived directly at the squadrons after their promotion.
The 64th doar OPK did not have its own RSKP (Rocket Technical Control Station); it was serviced by the RSKP of the 65th doar OPK from Rozewie.
In December 1976, a terrible and tragic incident occurred: one of the squadron’s officers shot the chief of staff and the quartermaster. After this incident, Major Kazimierz Kucharski took command of the squadron, Captain Stanisław Wojniusz became chief of staff, Captain Wiesław Publicewicz became senior assistant to the chief of staff, Captain Adam Śmigiel became deputy commander for political affairs, and Second Lieutenant Zdzisław Rochewicz became chief of vehicle service.
Commander of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór, Lt. Col. Mirosław Ulatowski, being awarded the “Merited for the ZHP Hel Detachment” badge in 1989. Photo: From Mirosław Ulatowski’s archive.
The 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron was disbanded in 1993. The farewell ceremony for the squadron, organized by the commander of the 2nd Air Defense Corps, was attended by all living former squadron commanders. The barracks facilities were taken over by the then-existing 9th Coastal Defense Flotilla. The combat zone came under the management of the State Forests, and as of August 28, 2011, no engineering structures indicating its former purpose have been preserved there.
This study was developed with significant assistance from Lt. Andrzej Olasz (ret.) in reconstructing the personnel composition from November 1973, for which I extend my sincere thanks. I also sincerely thank Lt. Col. Mirosław Ulatowski (ret.) for his help in taking and describing photographs in August 2011 of the former facilities and areas of the squadron, and for providing photos from his archive.
Present Day, Documents, and Photographs
Lt. Col. (ret.) Stanisław Wojniusz:
Lt. Col. (ret.) Stanisław Wojniusz, a graduate of OSR Jelenia Góra from 1966. From 1966-1973, he was a RNK technician and commander of the WCz platoon in the 22nd doar OPK. From 1973-1980, he was the commander of the radio-technical battery, and from 1980-1983, he commanded the 64th doar OPK in Hel-Bór. In 1978, he graduated from WKDO at CSS WRiA with top honors. From 1983-1996, he served in the 4th GBR OP in Gdynia.
See also: Memoirs of an anti-aircraft gunner from the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron.
How do the facilities of the former squadron in Hel-Bór look today? Here are some photos taken on August 10, 2011, by Lt. Col. (ret.) Ryszard Marek Sienkiewicz, in 2010 by Maj. (ret.) Janusz Grzeszczuk, in 2005 by Lt. Col. (ret.) Jerzy Polich and Cmdr. (ret.) Józef Białogoński (provided by Lt. Col. (ret.) Stanisław Wojniusz), and in 2004 by Piotr Krajewski.
Geographical coordinates of the SNR and SD shelter of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór: 54°40’04.83”N and 18°44’39.36”E.
During the reconnaissance (in 2011) in the areas of the firing zone and POT of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron, it turned out that only excavations remained from the combat facilities. The staff facilities are at the disposal of the Navy. The combat zone has been transferred to the State Forests, and currently, as of August 28, 2011, no engineering structures indicating its previous purpose have been preserved there.
Staff building of the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron, after its disbandment used by the 9th Coastal Defense Flotilla, which also no longer exists.
Staff building of the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron.
Infirmary in the staff area of the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Multi-purpose warehouse in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Excavation site of the SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór. As late as July 27, 2010, the shelter could still be seen as shown in the next four photos taken by Maj. (ret.) Janusz Grzeszczuk.
July 27, 2010 – SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
July 27, 2010 – Maj. (ret.) Janusz Grzeszczuk against the background of the SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
July 27, 2010 – Evacuation plan of the SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
July 27, 2010 – Position of the SNR antenna column of the S125M Neva PZR on the SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór. Visible is the entrance hatch to the shelter and concrete blocks placed on rails, used to close the entrance after the SNR antenna column was brought into position.
SNR and SD shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – status as of 2004.
Evacuation plan of the SNR shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – status as of 2004.
SNR and SD shelter in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – status as of 2005.
Shelter for transport-loading vehicles with missiles in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – status as of 2005.
Shed for STZ with missiles in the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór, status as of 2005.
Excavation site of the missile launcher position in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Height finder position in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
On the RSWP embankment, former commander of the 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron, Lt. Col. (ret.) Mirosław Ulatowski.
This is what the roads in the combat zone of the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór looked like.
Position No. 24 in the POT area for missile assembly and arming in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – 2005.
Position No. 22 – control of missile onboard equipment – 2005.
SD POT in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – 2005.
Guardhouse, lecture rooms, and boiler room in sector “B” of the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron – 2005.
ZCzZ warehouse in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór – 2005.
Excavation site of the shooting range in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.
Barrier to the firing zone in the former 64th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Hel-Bór.