Miyoshino Airfield

The closure was primarily due to economic reasons and large-scale military downsizing. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the new Russian Federation could no longer afford to maintain numerous remote and costly Cold War-era military outposts. The strategic importance of this specific base diminished, leading to its abandonment.

The site is completely **abandoned and in a state of ruin**. The concrete runways and taxiways are heavily cracked, weathered, and overgrown with vegetation. Remnants of Soviet-era hangars, bunkers, command posts, and barracks are decaying and collapsing. The area is littered with military scrap from both the Japanese and Soviet periods, including rusted vehicles and remnants of fortifications. The island of Shumshu is uninhabited except for a small border guard post and a lighthouse. The airfield has become a destination for military history expeditions, battlefield archaeologists, and tourists interested in historical ruins, with organizations like the Russian Geographical Society conducting searches for artifacts.

The airfield has significant historical importance from two distinct eras:

1. **WWII (Japanese Era):** Originally built by the Empire of Japan and named **Kataoka Airfield** (also referred to as Miyoshino), it was a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on Shumshu Island. It was a critical part of Japan's northern defenses and played a role in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Its most notable moment was during the **Battle of Shumshu (August 18-23, 1945)**, one of the final battles of World War II. Soviet forces invaded the island after Japan's official surrender announcement, and the airfield was the scene of intense fighting before the Japanese garrison capitulated.

2. **Cold War (Soviet Era):** After its capture in 1945, the Soviets renamed it **Baykovo Airfield (Аэродром Байково)**. Throughout the Cold War, it served as a forward operating base for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO). It hosted fighter-interceptor aircraft (such as MiG-17s and later generations) to patrol the sensitive maritime border with Japan and the United States (near the Aleutian Islands), making it a key outpost on the Pacific front of the Iron Curtain.

There are **no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening** the airfield. The infrastructure is beyond repair, and the cost of rebuilding in such a remote, harsh, and unpopulated location would be prohibitive. While Russia has been increasing its military presence in the Kuril Islands, efforts are focused on building new, modern facilities on more strategically located islands like Iturup and Kunashir, rather than renovating derelict Soviet-era bases. The site is expected to remain a historical ruin.