Gagarinskaya letka (Second Cadet Corps)

House No. 1 on Sovetskaya Street in Orenburg, known as the “Gagarin’s entrance”, has a rich history associated with military institutions.

In 1882, this building was built specifically for the second Orenburg cadet corps. At different periods, various military headquarters and educational institutions were located here, including the school of red commanders, the school of air combat and bombing, higher military aviation schools and colleges.

One of the significant moments in the history of this building is the creation in it of the Orenburg Higher Military Aviation Red Banner School of Pilots named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation Ivan Polbin. This school, founded on August 10, 1921, made a significant contribution to the training of military pilots and aviation specialists.

Among the graduates of this school are more than 150 generals, more than 450 Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Socialist Labor, as well as famous test pilots and cosmonauts.

In 1993, the school was disbanded, and on its basis the Orenburg Cadet Corps was created, which continues the traditions of military training and education of the new generation.

Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin in Orenburg

Yuri Gagarin, the first cosmonaut in human history, has particularly close ties to the city of Orenburg. Here he not only received his education at the Orenburg Military Aviation School, but also found his family happiness.

In 1963, the Yuri Gagarin Museum was opened in Orenburg, which became a place where his legacy is preserved and passed on. On the memorial plaque installed at the entrance to the flight school on Sovetskaya Street, 1, it is engraved in gold letters: “The world’s first pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, studied at the Orenburg Military Aviation School from 1955 to 1957.”

On the territory of the modern cadet corps there is a MiG-15 aircraft, on which cadet Gagarin made his first independent flight. His name is also immortalized on one of the central streets of the city, where a monument to the first cosmonaut of the Earth is erected.

Yuri Gagarin was awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city of Orenburg in recognition of his contribution to the development of science, technology and world history.

Fire and destruction of the Gagarin entrance

In 2016, the entrance building experienced a serious fire that caused significant damage to its roof, floors and structures. After renovation work, which cost about 60 million rubles, it was decided to transfer the building into the ownership of the Orenburg region. Part of the building, which belonged to the Russian Ministry of Defense, was transferred to the regional authorities, and the residents were relocated.

However, for the full restoration of the building, significant financial resources are required, estimated at about 1.7 billion rubles. Governor of the Orenburg region Yuri Berg noted that the building has important historical significance and expressed his intention to restore it. The first step was to move residents from the part of the building that was damaged by the fire.

One of the possible initiatives is to move the Yuri Gagarin memorial from Chelyuskintsev Street to the river bank overlooking the Urals. It is also planned to move the plane on which Gagarin flew to the house where he studied, as well as the aviation and cosmonautics museum. The exact date for the transfer of the building has not been established, but the governor emphasized that the church is tolerant of deadlines.