Word: antonov
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Dates: during 1980-1980
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...airport a large billboard says, in English and French, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT. The latest and biggest package tour to arrive at Kabul Airport looks set for a long visit. The Soviet army has pitched a tent city there. Its equipment includes hundreds of helicopters, scores of giant Antonov and Ilyushin transport aircraft, spotter planes, radar trucks, tanks, artillery, antiaircraft batteries, radio rigs, armored personnel carriers, lines of trucks, gasoline tankers, innumerable smaller vehicles. Huge transports, some in Aeroflot's blue and white paint, others in military silver, come and go. The view from the departure lounge...
...divisions spread into the hinterlands to stiffen the Afghan army's wavering resistance against the Muslim insurgency. A huge Soviet military airlift, which set the stage for the Christmas overthrow and execution of President Hafizullah Amin, showed no sign of slowing. Each day, eight to ten gigantic Antonov transport planes landed at Kabul and Bagram airports. Besides an arsenal of T-62 tanks and armored personnel carriers, the planes disgorged electric generators, bulldozers and building materials-telltale fixtures of an army that was digging in for a long stay. At least five Soviet combat divisions were in the country...