ZERBST AND WELZOW AIRFIELDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R001000010007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 15, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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1, ib'i44
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
l59ic`'u`'
This Document contains tnfonnation of eccting the Na-
tional Defense of the United states, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 7S3 and 794. of the Q.B. Code. as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorised person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
STRZCONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
URITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY East Germany REPORT L-
SUBJECT Zerbst and Welzow Airfields DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES 1
DATE OF INFO. REQUIREMENT NO. RD
PLACE ACQUIRED REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
reports on the observation of Soviet airfields
15 April 1953
SEREr/CONTR.CL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
STATE IARMY NAVY I lAIR I fFBI AEC OCD I]C
(1t
50X1-HUM
of*: Washington DIM-ibutiea Iedkatd ly "X"; Field DId.IbwMm By "#".) Forrl : Q. 51 )1, Ja,;1ur ry 1953
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+i. S. OFFICIALS ONE
ZERBST Airfield
GERMANY (Russian Zone)
AIR/h';I TTARY
1, Summary
(a) ZERBSTirfi
(b) 26 MIG 15s
(c) Nil recorded
(d) Nil
situated approximately 600 metres to thWEasty
of f
l i
t
ue
ns
allation.
T'ehted site to North of fuel installation struck.
2. Layout
See Appendix 'A'
3. Aircraft Counts
(a) 26 r:ZIG 15s
(b) All hangar doors were open and no aircraft were
visible within.
Air Activitr
By day Visibility: Approximately 3 - 5 miles
Wind velocity: From 2000/20-25 mph
Low cloud, 8/8 with intermittent snow showers.
Base lowering in showers to 100 metres.
General: Turbulent and stormy.
(a) No flying whatsoever took place during the
period of observation.
(b) 6 MIG 15s were parked on the South-western
perimeter' of the airfield at point 8 on
Appendix 'A'.
Approximately 30 metres ;'Test of the aircraft at
point 9 of Appendix 'A', 2 lorries, 1 Jeep and
1 fuel bowser were parked, with a further radio
van parked nearby, at point 10 of Appendix 'A'.
In front of hangars 1, 2, 3 and 4, a further
20 MI6 158 were parked in three groups, as at
points 5, 6 and 7 of Appendix W. At
Approximately 1500 hours these 20 aircraft were
S.
offO,
RI Pro,.,-
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manhandled into the nearby hangars and the
doors -closed.
5. WIT and RADAR
(a) The previously reported radar array situated
on the North-western end of the runway (see
point 17 of Appendix 'A') remained unchanged.
(b) Static w/T station situated North-east of the
runway (see point 18 of Appendix 'A') remained
unchanged.
(e) The ADCOCK type D/F station situated North-east
of the radar array (see point 19 of Appendix 'A')
remained unchanged.
(d) The IJMBO type radar array with its associated
radio van and tents (see point 20 of Appendix 'A')
remained unchanged.
(e) The large static 'v/T station situated at .
point 21 of Appendix 'A' remained unchanged.
(f) The static y1/T station situated North--east-.
of the runway beyond the ADCOCK type D/F
station (see point 22 of Appendix A')
remained unchanged.
A.A. Bite
(a)(i) On the A.A. site situated at point 12 of
Appendix 'A', 4 wooden barrack huts, each
measuring 25m x 7m, have been erected.
Troops from the A.A. Battery have been
accommodated in these buildings. The
former nearby tented encampment has been
dismantled
could not be observed due to inclement weather.
(ii) 6 - 37 mm BOFORS A.A. guns are at present
set up on this site.
(b) The A.A. Battery set up at point 14 of Appendix 'A'
8. Personnel
It is esti elated that the airfield conV3:nues to be
occupied by 1500 all ranks.
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CW tONtROL
A J. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
KEY TO ' APPENDIX 'A'
1. Hangar
Ma jor repair hangar
3. Hangar
4. Hangar
5. 7 MIG 15s
6. 3h2IG15s
7. 10 MIG 15s
8. 6 MIG 15s
9. 2 lorries, 1 jeep, 1 fuel bowser
10, 1 mobile workshop lorry
11. Fuel installations
12. 4 newly erected wooden huts
13. 6 - 37 mm BOFORS A. A. guns.
14. Old A.-`.. site
15. 2 wooden sheds
16. Power cable carried on poles
17. Radar array (Haupteinflugzeichen)
18. Static ?111/T Station with 2 small huts
19. ADCOCK type L/F Station
20. DUMBO Radar apparatus
21. Large static 1w1/T station.
22. Static `V/T station
23. 3 aircraft blast shelters
SVI
V
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M2' ta' Str`agwth
t \\ /G,GDbAon/ti
Pulspf orde
m.- 4:A5 000
APPGENKX .A?
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ANSC?LUSSBLI'TTER
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WELZOW Airfield
SUMMA
iff
WEL7L)W Airfieeld
8 IL 288, 2 LI 2s, l PC 2.
Slight air activity.
Nil
LAYOUT:
.3. A aft:
(a) N~er?'
(b) -
CYANIC (Russian Zone)
AIR/4IIISTARIC.
Aircraft were parked on the widened portion of the EASTern taxi-troOk
(see points 42, 43, and 4 at App "A".
(d) Ranarks:
4.
Air activity:
Approx 600 ORs. were employed together with three tractors clearing snow
from the runway and taxi-tracks after snow falls.
(a) B :
(i)
See Appendix "A".
Weather - visibility approx 12 miles; wind from 2800 at50X1-HUM
2.- 4 mph; low cloud 4500 ft - 8/10.
Red landing T was placed out approximately 250 metres from the end of-the
runway (see point A. APP "A"). One IT tender with whip aerial was
parked at point 46 at App "A" A further tender without Whip aerial
was parked at point 47, App -A". Duty vehicles comprising', craBb
tender and ambulance were parked at point 45, App "A". All aircraft
seen were parked on the widened portion of the taxi-trade (see point
42, 43 and 4)+ at App "A"). Two lorries were parked at point rj4. at
App "A".
IL 28, 06 taxied to the take off point in the region 50X1 -HU M
of the Wi a er and waited for a period of five minutes. The
MC OOV" 50X1-HUM'
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U. S. OFFIaALs QItT
aircraft was taxied to the runway to take off. An OR was situated at the
take' off point carrying a red flag. The aircraft took off and became
airborne lifting its wheels almost immediately it left the ground. The
aircraft climbed to an approximate height of 750 ft, made a left-hand
ciropit of the airfield and climbing to approx 1200 ft, circled the airfield
and prepared to land. On landing the under carriage was let down at approx
300 - 350 ft before landing. On landing the aircraft taxied back to the
take-off point via the southern taxi-track. Crew changes were not observed.
ii)
maintenance work on the aircraft. Turbines were started up and shut down
repeatedly during the period. Further details could not be observed.
No flying took place at the airfield during the
day
approx 30 - 4.0 ground crew were observed carrying out the
Weather - visibility approx 7 miles; still air; 50X1-HUM
cloud approx 1500 ft - 7/10.
General - empyting cloud.
Flying commenced at approx 1000 hrs and ceased towards 1600 hrs. One
IL 28 was used throughout the flying programme. The 50X1-HUM
aircraft carried out local flying for periods of 20 - 25 minutes with
approx 40 minutes between each take-off. Further detail:. could not be
observed,
iv) Weather - visibility approx 7 miles; still air; nil. 50X1 -HU M
iii
cloud.
General - fair weather, light haze.
Two IL 28s with the Nos. 06 and 52 took part in the flying programme which
commenced at 0925 lrs and ceased towards 1600 hrs. Aircraft carried out
local flying.in flights of 15 - 20 minutes duration, with irregular pauses
of 10 - 35 minutes between each take-off.
50 and RAtlAR.
(a) The aerial array reported at the.Wrtheast end of the runway (see point 51
at App "A") is still in situ.
(b) The aerial array situated Northeast of the eastern taxi-track (see point 50
at App. "A") is still in situ. The dipoles are aligned across the runway.
*ml / IRUL
ow
` Ats v 50X1-HUM
J. OFS
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. -3
~. S. Off K IM -S Owl
6. Airfield and taxi-tracks.
(a) Cement posts and slabs have been continually unloaded at the new building
site at the airfield during the period under review.
(b) Approx 200 constructional workers have been stood off at the airfield
owing to bad weather.'
7. Fuel installations.
The store of approx 400 x 200 litre drum containers, previously
reported (see point 38, App "A") are still in situ.
8. Personnel.
(a) It is estimated that the airfield continues to be occupied by approx
1200 all.ranks of the SAF, of whom approx 300 are officers and the
remainder, including approx 30 uniformed females, were ORs.
(b) Approx iCf of the ORs ware MT insignia.
9. AA defences.
(a)
The AA site remained without change of personnel and equipment during
the period under review.
(b) Guns were manned and muzzle covers removed during flying.
50X1 -HUM i
Key to Appendix "A".
1 - 3
Occupied by Air Unit, work shops-
35-36
Refuelling point
l tanks
f
t
000 l
4. Off icers t club 37
,
ue
re
i
3 x approx 2
d
5
Transformer house
.
railway bogies remove
6 - 7
Of'ficerst accommodation
,48
1,00 x 200 litre e'run containers .
8
6 wooden huts
39-40
'8 x 3.7 centimetre AA gins, ocnr
9
3 brick huts
41
Flare path'
10-11+
Brick huts
42
2 LI 2
15
Administration building
43
8 IL 28
16
Brick hut
44
1 r0 2
17
Transformer houso
45
Crash tender and ambulance
18-19
Brick bits.
46
1 W/rT tender with. whip aerial.
l
i
'
20
Garage
47
a
T tender without whip aer
1 W/
21
4 brick huts
48
Red landing T.
22
Guard room
49
OR with red flag.
23
Provisions stores
50
Aerial array
24
Coal ssheds
51
Tender with aerial array
ht
d l
25
2 small brick huts
52
s
ig
Wooden masts with two re
26
Transformer house
53
Approx 10 lorries
27-28
Brick buildings
54
2 lorries
29
Met. office
55
Wooden fencing
30-31
5 wooden sheds
56
Wire fencing
32
New constructional site
57
Gun zeroing butts
33
AA bunkers
58
8 x 8.5 centimetre AA guns.
34
Wired in compounds
~~t~ ~i+11 KL-~
p MS ONt-
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A ;D endix "A"
4 4
A(I?Sooo
/7ugfia. ?QeIzow
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