ANBO I – Pirmosios Lietuvos Respublikos karo aviacijos palikimas

LTPirmosios Lietuvos Respublikos laikotarpiu (1918–1940) karo aviacija sparčiai vystėsi ir pasivijo pažangiausias Europos valstybes. Baigiantis XX a. 4 dešimtmečiui pusę Lietuvos karo aviacijos parko sudarė modernūs lietuviški lėktuvai, veikė modernios karo aviacijos dirbtuvės, o lietuvių lakūnai, pilotuodami garsiuosius ANBO lėktuvus, išgarsino Lietuvos vardą. Taip Lietuvos karo aviacija atrodė 4 dešimtmetyje, tačiau pradžia buvo ypač sunki. Kuriantis kariuomenei, sykiu kūrėsi ir karo aviacija, tačiau kariuomenės, ypač aviacijos, kūrimasis nebuvo lengvas. Jaunai Lietuvos valstybei trūko ne tik lėšų, bet ir specialistų, patalpų ir, svarbiausia, lėktuvų. 1919 m. pradžioje Lietuvoje tebebuvo dislokuoti Vokietijos kariuomenės daliniai, tebeveikė vokiečių karinės bazės. Po ilgai užsitęsusio karo ir po 1918 metų lapkričio revoliucijos sužlugo Vokietijos ekonomika, smarkiai pašlijo vokiečių kareivių drausmė. Tad tvarką šalyje nuspręsta įvesti pasitelkiant labiau motyvuotus ir lojalesnius savanorių dalinius. 1919 m. pradžioje vokiečių okupacinė valdžia bandė stabdyti bolševikų veržimąsi į krašto gilumą, stiprindama Lietuvos kariuomenę ir aviaciją. [Iš straipsnio, p. 47]

ENThe article aims to present the only survived aircraft ANBO-I of the first military aviation of the Republic of Lithuania, the circumstances of its appearance and survival till nowadays. Aiming to comprehensively highlight the achievements of the military aviation in Lithuania, the following topics have been discussed: 1. The beginning of military aviation in Lithuania. In 1919, when the army was being formed, separate types of weapons were formed as well. In 1919 January, Lithuania purchased the first military aircrafts from Germany. In the course of struggles for Independence, military aviation was expanding, and a military aviation school was established. Lithuanian pilots on the front gained experience, which later helped them to construct their own aircrafts. 2. The first tests of Lithuanian aircrafts. Jurgis Dobkevičius was the first who constructed and tested the aircrafts intended for reconnaissance and combat, however, seeking for the highest possible speed, he did not pay much attention to the visibility of the aircraft. During the third test of DOBI-III aircraft, J. Dobkevičius suffered an aircraft crash and later died of injuries. 3. The aircrafts “ANBO” designed by Antanas Gustaitis. Antanas Gustaitis, after evaluating the mistakes of Dobi–III aircraft, tried to create not so fast, but safer aircraft. In 1924, the first construction of the aircraft designed by Antanas Gustaitis was started. In 1925 summer, the aircraft was tested in the air. While working in Lithuanian military aviation, Antanas Gustaitis started to create the aircrafts intended for Lithuanian Armed Forces, however, the Western European countries were interested in them as well.4. The only survived military aircraft. All aircrafts of Lithuanian military aviation due to accidents, consequences of Soviet occupation and World War II were destroyed, however, one aircraft has survived. This happened because in 1935 ANBO-I aircraft got into the museum. 5. An unwanted exhibit. Since 1944, the expositions highlighting the statehood of Lithuania were destroyed. ANBO-I was dismantled and moved to repositories. Therefore, ANBO-I aircraft spent 26 years in basements. 6. ANBO-I in other museums. From 1973 to 1990, the aircraft was the main exhibit of public Sport Aviation Museum. Later for several years it belonged to Lithuanian Aviation Museum, where it was exhibited in Kaunas airport. 7. The meaning of ANBO-I today. Since 1993, ANBO-1 aircraft has returned to its first museum and is currently one of the most important exhibits reflecting the achievements of the first Lithuanian Armed Forces. [From the publication]