SOFIA CIVILIAN AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 21, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
50X1
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT
50X1
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
Sofia Civilian 'Airfield
cvf.' r
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
21 September 1953
7
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THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE,
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE,
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
SOURCE:
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Comments The coordinates for the Sofia Civilian Airfield (Para. 1, line 1)
ehould read r 42-431 3 23-24,
50X1
SECRET
50X1
STATE qrk. X
ARMY 41-
NAVY 4, t- x
A I REV
FBI
AEC
aote: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
50X1
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT
50X1
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY S
50X1
SECURITY INFORMATION
Sofia Civilian Airfield
DATE OF INFORI
50X1
NIIIIIIM111111111111011~?
SOURCE
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
REPORT N
DATE DISTR. 51 auq 13 /
NO. OF PAGES IS
NO. OF ENCLS. 2
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. The Sofia Civilian Airfield25243N-2324E7'47'nel A, Point 27, also
known by the name Vrashdebna, was located 'five to six kilometers
east-northeast of the center of Sofia, and one kilometer west of
the Iskiri River, at an elevation of over 500 in. above sea level.
A row of hills 15 km?southwest of the field with the highest
point 2,400 m. offered the only obstruction. The field ffnc1.B.17Was
rectangular, 2,500 in. east to west, and 1,000 in. north to south.
It would be possible to extend the field, but extension seemed
unlikely. The field had one runway 27nc1. B, Pt. /7% one apron
5nc1.11, Pt. 17% four taxi-strips, and no perimeter tracks, hard-
stands, or revetments. The surface of the field was grass except
for the concrete areas. I believe that drainage ditches were
located along the runway, and that the other parts of the field
had only the natural drainage afforded by a sandy base.
2. Fuel was supplied to planes at this field by means of old Russian-
type civilian trucks which had gas-driven pumps. I do not know
the source of the fuel supply itself. Neither do I know anything
about the water supply, other than that spigots were located in
the terminal building 2Enc1. Bp Pt. g.
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
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3. A new Czech Praga bus, with a seating capacity of about 30
persons, supplied transportation for passengers and personnel to
and from the airfield. This bus traversed the main road ffricl. B,Pt. 5
4. The airfield commander was a Russian civilian about whom I know
nothing. Other personnel at the field were Bulgars, but I believe
that the pilots of the Bulgarian airlines were all Russians.
Administrative personnel at the field wore dark blue Bulgarian
uniforis. Guards and customs officers wore light green uniforms
with high black boots, and were armed with pisvols. I do not
know the personnel strength at the field.
5. Pilot?s used "Dunaj" when calling the tower for landing instructions.
Enclosures:
A. Overlay of German Map, Blatt VI, Bulgarien, 1:100,000 Sofia,
Vorlaufige Sonderausgabe; Pinpointing Location of Sofia
Civilian Airfield.
Memory Sketch of Sofia Civilian Airfield.
6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
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Enclosure A
Overlay of German Map, Blatt VI, Bulgarian, Stale 1:100,000
Sofia Vorlaufige Sonderausgabe; Pinpointing Location of Sofia
Civilian Airfield.
LEGEND
1. Sofia Civilian Airfield
2. Iskiri River
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
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Enclosure B
Memory Sketch of Sofia Civilian Airfield
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Enclosure B (CONT,D)
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LEGEND
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POINT # 1. concrete, 250 x 20m., very good condition.
POINT # 2. Taxi-strip: concrete, 350 x 20 in,, excellent condition
This taxi-strip was under construction during 1951 and
50X1 used it for the first time in the summer of 1952. This
was the only new construction at
50X1 the field.
POINT # 3. Apron: concrete, 200 m. long east to west x 50 m. wide
north to south, very good condition. This apron was used
as a parking area for aircraft while loading or unloading
passengers or freight.
POINT # 4. Parking Area: grass, 200 m. long, well kept, used by
transient aircraft for over-night parking and for re-
fueling and repair.
POINT # 5. Road: concrete, five to six meters wide, fair to good
76173ition. This concrete road led from the field and
50X1 later became asphalt as it headed towards Sofia.
could not estimate the extent of the concrete section
accurately.
POINT # 6. Terminal and Administration Building: two stories, stone,
r0ri-3737715-1177-na roo . The first floor contained
the passenger waiting room, pilots' operations office,
weather briefing room, customs offices, lavatories, and
50X1 several other rooms. The second floor contained offices
for the airfield commander, eanteen and other rooms of
which knew nothing. The radio room for air traffic
50X1 control was also located in this building and operated on
a wave length of 3255 kos.
specific as to exact locatic:1could not be more
;h; interior walls of this
building were of very highly polished stone, such as
polished granite dr marble, which helped maintain a much
lower temperature within the building during hot weather
than outside.
POINT # 7. Runwa concrete 2,500 m. x 60 m., magnetic headings
50X1 09 700, very good condition. Lit was
suitable for sustained use by four-engine aircraft.
POINT # 8. Military area: this area contained four hangars, painted
gr en, and several one-story buildings. No information
about construction or dimensional data. one
50X1 YAK-15 and several single-engine biplanes (LI-'I and
P0-21s) parked in this area in August 1952. He believes
the biplanes were used by Russian instructors for training
Bulgarian student pilots and for crop dusting. No
further information.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0
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Enclosure B (CONT,D)
POINT # 9. 212EA:A/E12) concrete, 700 x 20 m., very good condition.
POINT # 10. Taxi-strip: same as Point 1.
POINT # 11. Parkin Area: concrete, 100 x 15 m., good condition,
?se y a r ield bus and other passenger vehicles.
POINT # 12. Road: Same as Point 5.
St: cREr
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/24: CIA-RDP82-00046R000100210007-0