After the completion of its formation and receiving new units, the corps was sent to the Kalinin Front, joining the 3rd Air Army.
Between November 1942 and January 1943 its units supported the troops of the front in the Velikiye Luki Offensive.
For its successful completion of assigned tasks in the battles for the liberation of Minsk the corps received the name of that city as an honorific.
During April and May 1945 the corps fought in the Berlin Offensive as part of the 16th Air Army of the 1st Belorussian Front.
On 10 January 1949, a decree was issued renaming the formation the 61st Guards Fighter Aviation Corps.