The Bear Hunters

Photos of aircraft that escorted Tu-95RTs and Tu-142 from the Kipelovo AFB during their missions.

1972. F-4J from VF-84 and USS "Franklin D. Roosevelt" (CV-42) in Atlantic. Photo from Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP. Archive of Dmitriy Filonenko.

WSO of F-4E of 57th FIS (Keflavik AFB) is taking photo of Tu-142 of 76 OPLAP (Kipelovo AFB)

RAF Phantom FG.1 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over Northen Atlantic, late 1970s. The photo was taken from tail cabin of Tu-95RTs. Phantom's WSO is taking a photo of Tu-95RTs. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

USN F-4J '103-AG' of VF-102 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) during its reconnaissance flight of USS Independence (CV-62). Circa 1971-72. The photo was taken by Boris Melenevskiy (392 ODRAP).

USN F-4J '103-AA' of VF-11 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) during its reconnaissance flight of USS Forrestal (CV-59) over the North Atlantic circa 1974. Credit to Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP).

USN F-4B '103' of VF-14 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) during its reconnaissance flight to USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) that in cruise of 1973, Atlantic. The names on the cockpit: Pilot LCDR John Allen, RIO LTJG Dax Cnopp. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

RAF Phantom FG.1 XV583 'B' of No. 111 Sqd. (AFB Leuchars) escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over North Atlantic. 1970s.

The photo was taken by Tu-95RTs crew. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

Two USN F-4J of VF-102 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP during its reconnaissance flight of USS Independence (CV-62). Circa 1974-75. The photo was taken by Boris Melenevskiy (392 ODRAP).

Royal Navy Phantom FG.1 'R-011' of 892 NAS escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over Atlantic. Circa 1978. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

RAF Phantom FG.1 XV583 'B' of No. 111 Sqd. (AFB Leuchars) escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over North Atlantic. 1970s. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP).

F-4E of 57th FIS (Keflavik AFB) escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over North Atlantic. Circa 1978-85. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

F-14A of VF-102 from USS America (CVA-66) over North Sea during Ocean Safari 85. Photo from Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP. The fall of 1985

USN F-14A '112' of VF-143 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over Atlantic during USS 'America' (CV-66) cruise 1977-78. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

USN F-14A '214/AB' of VF-33 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over Atlantic during USS 'America' (CV-66) cruise (circa 1984). Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

Two USN F-14A '214/AB' and '210/AB' of VF-33 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over the North Atlantic during USS 'America' (CV-66) cruise circa 1985. Credit to Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

USN Р-3B 'LC-81' (BuNo 152761) of VP-8 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over North Atlantic circa 1979-80. Photo credit to Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

US Navy P-3 and Tu-142M from 76 OPLAP (Kipelovo AFB). Credit to 76 OPLAP archive

F-14A of VF-102. Photo from Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP. Late 1980s

F-14A of VF-102 from USS America (CVA-66) over North Sea during Ocean Safari 85. Photo from Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP. The fall of 1985

24 July 1978. Interception of Tu-142 76 OPLAP (Kipelovo AFB) of crew of Alexander Tsvetkov by the RNoAF F-104G of 331 squadron (Bodo AFB). Archieve of Victor Kibalnik

USS 'America' (CV-66) in Atlantic near Puerto Rico on February 10, 1986. The photo was taken by Tu-95RTs crew of 392 ODRAP. Archive of Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)

USN Р-3C 'LN-40' (BuNo 156510) of VP-45 escorting Tu-95RTs of 392 ODRAP (Kipelovo AFB) over Northern Atlantic circa 1977. Photo credit to Evgeniy Kalinin (392 ODRAP)