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 Sheremetyevo Airport was built as the chief aerodrome for the Soviet Army’s air force. The construction process was difficult. The first servicemen at the construction site lived in tents, built their own barracks, and simultaneously cut a clearing in the woods for the future runway and access railways. The living conditions were tough, there were no roads, and the work continued day and night.
 The new airport received its name for two nearby venues: the village of Sheremetyevsky and the Savelov station on the railway of the same name. The first airport commander was Vasily Alexandrovich Borisov, a famous pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union, and World War II veteran.
August 11, 1959 is considered to be the official birth date of Sheremetyevo International Airport. The airport’s divisions served Tu-104, the liner which had carried passengers from Leningrad for the first time on that date.
Detailed Chronology
On September 1, 1953 a Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on construction of the central air force aerodrome in the vicinity of the settlement of Chashnikovo was adopted.
On October 25, 1953 the first detachment of military builders arrived at Lobnya Railway Station. The construction of Sheremetyevsky Aerodrome started.
1953-54 — prefabricated barracks, a railway line and a temporary concrete plant were built, the site for the future airfield was cleared, and twelve residential buildings of eight apartments each were put into commission.
1954-55 — construction of the runway, aerodrome facilities, POL storages, and a pipeline began. Preparatory work for building a “pan” (runway foundation), a taxiway and airport ramps were completed. The foundation for the control tower building was laid.
1956 — a bridge over the Klyazma River was built, government motorway No. 9 to connect the venue with Leningrad Highway was put into commission. POL storages No. 1 and No. 2 were built, the main POL storage was put into commission and connecting pipelines were laid. The construction of the runway, 3,500 m long and 80 m wide, was completed. The area of the concrete platform totaled 280,000 m².
1957 — the runway, main and connecting taxiways, three aprons with ramps, and the control tower building were put into commission. The aerodrome’s radio and lighting systems were installed.
 October 7, 1957 — the first aircraft landed at the aerodrome. 18 long-range Tu-95 strategic bombers, which took part in the air display over Red Square to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, landed at Sheremetyevsky.
This type of aircraft constitutes the basis of strategic aviation in Russia. The first flight of the experimental 95-1 bomber took place on November 12, 1952. In August 1955, the first Tu-95 production bomber was built in Kuibyshev. The all-up weight of the production Tu-95 totaled 172 tons, while its practical range was 12,100 km. Even in the development stage the possibility of using the Tu-95 to carry guided air-to-surface missiles was considered. The first experimental Tu-95K took to the air on January 1, 1956, and on June 6, 1957 the first X-20 cruise missile was launched from the aircraft. In 1989, Тu-95 MS aircraft set 60 records in speed and height when flying with cargo. The Tu-95 MS engine unit consists of four NK-12M (MV) turboprop engines of 15,000 hp each. The all-up weight of the aircraft is 185 tons, the maximum flight range with aerial refueling is 18,700 km and maximum ordnance load is 20 tons. The aircraft can fly at a speed of up to 830 km/h, its practical service ceiling is 10,500 m and practical range (without refueling and with normal weapons load) is 10,500 km.
December 31, 1957 — military cargo planes of the 2nd Special Aviation Red Banner Division, which were earlier during 15 years stationed at the Central M.V. Frunze Aerodrome, landed at Sheremetyevsky Aerodrome.
The special aviation division was set up after the German invasion during  World War II. From 1942 onwards it was stationed at the Central M.V. Frunze Aerodrome, located at Khodynskoe Pole. The aircrew of the division performed over 80,000 sorties during the war. The military cargo planes of this aviation group carried 290,000 servicemen and delivered 26,000 tons of various types of cargo to troops. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR of August 18, 1945, the aviation division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the exemplary execution of command’s orders. The commander of the Special Aviation Division, Major General of Aviation V.G. Grachev, was bestowed with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The most important missions which were carried out with the direct participation of the personnel of the aviation division included aviation support for the USSR delegations at the international conferences in Teheran (1943), Potsdam (1945) and Paris (1946). From February 21, 1950 this elite division bore the name of the 2nd Special Aviation Red Banner Division (2nd AKDON). The special division was specially equipped: all of the latest developments of the country’s aircraft industry were immediately supplied to the 2nd AKDON. In service with the division were Il-14 aircraft, which had been rejected by civil aviation. Pilots continued to study the aircraft and identified its flaws. Thanks to such persistence, the Il-14 was brought in line with the quality control and safety performance requirements and subsequently operated on airlines both by military and civil agencies. In 1958 the division was the first to operate Il-18 planes, and in 1959 was the first to switch to Tu-104 jet planes. The division has always been the leader in the air force in mastering the new models in aircraft engineering. The aircraft seemed not to differ much from production cargo aircraft—apart from being shinier. The insides, however, were different. The main cabins of the special liners were equipped for comfort corresponding to the status of their passengers.
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