The glory days of 22 and 23 March 1993. Over 100 MiG-23UB's and MiG-27D/K's of three important Russian regiments seen departing to the motherland. The MiG-27's of Grossenhain and Rechlin-Lärz were inferior to the more sophisticated MiG-27K's of Finsterwalde, despite the fact that 19.GvAPIB was the only 'Gvardija'-unit. This unit replaced its Su-7's for MiG-27's in 1977.

The 19th departed as the last of the three regiments, starting in the very early and cold morning of the 23rd of March. An impressive flightline, ceremonies, departures and tears. Plus a few aircraft returning with failures.

This particular withdrawel was an impressive logistic operation, with a special corridor over Poland. All aircraft would be withdrawn from service after returning home. No money for operations, supported by a lack of spare parts and the will to fly. Storage and scrapping took place at Chebenki, near Orenburg.