The formation's combat path began in July 1942 during a defensive operation in the town of Bely, Tver Oblast, then participated in Rzhev-Sychevskaya and in the Luki operation. In February 1943 a number of its formations supported the troops of the North-Western Front in the liquidation of the Demyansk pocket. Later , as part of the Kalinin Front (October 20, 1943, renamed to 1st Baltic Front), the 3rd Air Army participated in the Front's Smolensk, Nevel, Gorodok, Vitebsk, Belarusian and Baltic Offensives.&lt;br&gt;