BULGARIAN AIRPORTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R004800130004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 3, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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%JEAN I a ritisiutmut AGENCY REPORT
?
? INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Bulgarian Airports
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
co
FIDENTEAL
DATE DISTR. 3 mky 50
NO. OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
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U.S. C.. 31 AIM AZ AS AOIIIDAD. ITS TRACSOISItt011 on IMO MIVIUTI011
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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There follon a partial list of tie airports in Bulgaria, the majority -of
which are under the supervision cf the Soviets.
1. Donhurishte Airport. A permanent airport under the supervision of the Soviets.
One transportation squadron is Licated here. This airport has only one very
good rurvray, 1,100 meters long oad 500 meters wide. There are three hangars
and one underground hangar.
2. Plovdiv Airport. This is a permanent military airport which is also used as
a civilian airport by the Soviets. It had some damage during the war but was
repaired by the Soviets. Thein are six large natal hangars and one repair
shop. At the north end there is a warehouse. There are installations for
both day and night flying. ft; present, 438 Soviet Bombing Battalion is
located here* There are also four Bulgarian pursuit squadrons, equipped with
new JAK-9 type fighters.
30 Gotta Dikanya Airport. This is a permanent airport, One Soviet bombing
regiment is -located here. This airport has an exceptional runway, 1,500
meters long and 750 motors (ride; a content runway 1,000 motors long ant 45
meters wide was recently ccnstructed by Bulgarian soldiers under Soviet
supervision* There are fix') hangars and others under construction (number
not known). The airport hrs a repair shop, one radio station, and all
installations for day and. night flying.
4. Dobrich Airport. All work vas completed in October 1949 at this airport.
Two hangars were constructed by the Soviets, There are underground resovoirs
(presumably P.O.L.) with a ..:apacity of 30,000 liters and another of' 10,000
liters. The runway is constructed of cement, 1,200 meters long and 60 meters
wide. There is also a redo station whose antennae is located near the
airport. There is a traroportation squadron which the Soviets use to
transport goods to Albinia (airlift) and as a link with the Soviet Union,
Large four engine carp planes land at this airport..
5. Yarabol Airport. This is a permanent airport under the control of the
Soviets. A cement runway was constructed on Soviet orders.. There are four
hangars and one factory with Soviet machines. There is also a large under-
ground tank of gascline between jje hangars. The airport is used only by
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'This document is hdeby tezaded' to
CONFIDENT/4 in accordanceWW1/1e
letter of 16 October 19T6: trent. the
Director of Central Intelligence to, the
Archivist of the United States.
Next Review Date: 2008 .
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the Soviets. There is one bombing, one .pursuit, and a transportation
squadron here. There is a large warehouse for bombs and ammunition. Tho
airport her installations for night flying.
!. Telish Airport. This is a permanent airport used by the Bulgarian Army
Air Porce. It was constructed and used by the lemma. This airport has
an exceptiOnal runuay of cement 1,200 meters long and 100 motors wide. It
has installations for day and night flying. There is a new hangar and one
shop, a radio station0 and a radar station. One Soviet bombing squadron it
located here.
7. Kazanlik Airport. This is a permanent airport which was used by the Germans.
The cement runway was constructed by the Germans; measurements of the airport
are as folloms: 1,500 meters long curl 1,300 meters wide. During 1949 tla
' Soviets constructed another runway of cement and concrete taxi approaches.
This airport has installations for night and day flying. One squadron of the
Bulgarian Bombing Division (135 Bombers Squadron consisting of 112 type planes)
is located hare. There is also a "half unit" of Soviet transportation planes
which are used for the airlift to Albania.
8. Vrazhdobna Airport. This is a permanent airport used by the Bulgarians.
Ifhilis one of the best and largest airports because of location and the
native terrain. The airport is 2,000 meters long and 1,000 meters wide.
There are four large stool hangars, one repair shop, and various other
installations. At the beginning of December 1949 the construction of one
cement runway was completed. The largest portion of the Bulgarian Air Force
is located at this airport. There is also one pursuit squadron, whose
airplanes have been furnished by the Soviets.
9. Dolna ritropoliya Airport. This is a permanent airport of the Bulgarian Air
carrngthewar ft was almost destroyed but it WAS repaired in 1946.
There is one defense squadron with jot planes furnished by the Soviets at
this airport. Its commander is n Soviet officer* There is also one Soviet
transportation squadron at this airport which regularly conveys goods and men.
It has a cement runway 1,500 meters long and 200 meters wide. The other cement
runway is under construction. Tho airport has all necessary installation and
one new radio station. There are two hangars and one repair shop. There is
one gasoline tank located between the hangars.
10. Atanassovo Airport. Thin is an auxiliary airport which is scheduled to
'become a permanent airport this year. At present there is a pilot school
there. There is no cement runway and only a repair Shop constructed of cement
blocks and steel. The personnel of the airport and the pilot school is housed
in four buildings. To the left of the airport there is a 50,000 liters cement
tank for gasoline. There is an active radio station and installations for
night and day flying.
11. thorn Gora Airport. This is an auxiliary airport with a firm, dry runway
17212Mflmeters long and 1,000 motors ride. It is Plovdiv's alternate airport.
At present there is one formation of Soviet pursuit planes and ono squadron
of Bulgarian pursuit planes located here. The. Soviet formation has JAKal2
airplanes, and the Bulgarians have nesserschmidt 109'00
12. Ivanovo Airport. This auxiliary airport is located near the village of
Imanovo near -Bvilengrad. There are only two buildings at this emergency
airport which are used for housing.
13. Karlovo Airport. This is a permanent airport of the Bulgarian Air Force. The
war damago has been completely repaired. There are four large hangars, ceas
permanent repair shop, and the regular installations of a permanent airport.
14. Dalcik Airport. This is a perraanent airport of the Bulgarian Air Force.
The is 2.000 rioters long and 1,500 meters wide, and has a cement runaay
1,000 meters long and 60 meters wide. It has four large hangars, and two
more under construction. There is aworkshop and a gasoline tank with a
100.000 liters capacity. There is one Bulgarian bomber squadron and two
Soviet transportation squadrons here.
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15. Dospat Airport. This is a Bulgarian auxiliary airport and is located on a
pla .au of the Rodopi Mountains. During the war it was used by the Germans.
In 1940 it was reconstrudted and completed with non installations. Although
this is an auxiliary airport: it has two cement =slays. One is 650 meters
long; the other is 45 meters wide (sic). At this airport there is a Soviet
pursuit formation. The airport is guarded by a company of the Soviet Army.
16. Rrumovo Airport. This is a nou airport constructed in 1948 with two hangars
and one factory. Tho airport is 1,500 motors long and 800 motors wide. The
runway Scomodabas the heaviest planes during any season, There are installa-
tions for day flying only at present. There is one Soviet pursuit squadron
(15 planes) and one unit of the Bulgarian Pilot School under the osnmand of
a Soviet officer.
17* Buhovo Airport. This is a Bulgarian auxiliary airport 1.000 motors long and
450 motors wide. There is a mall radio station and a gonimotor (RDF
equipment) which was left by the Germans during their retreat. There is a
training squadron of the Bulgarian Air Force located hero.
180 Sopot Airport. Construction of this airport began in 1948 for use by the
Soviets. Construction has not been complotod. Until now hangars, one repair
shop, and two fairly large warehouses have been conutructod. Thero in one
coment runway 1.300 notors long and 60 motors wide under construction.
19. Stara Zagora Airport. This was used during the war by the Germans. It has
no permanent runuay and floods easily. It is 1.000 motors long and 600
meters wido. It has four hangars and one small repair shop. It is used
only for training purposes during the aummer.
20. Dolni Burnie (sic) Airport. This airport was built for the use of the
Soviets and is designed for bambors. It is 1.600 motors long and 1.000
meters wide. It has installations for night and day traffic and is now
being used by the Soviets in their airlift.
21. Graf Imatiev Airport. This is a permanent Bulgarian airport with a cement
hangar and a new permanent repair shop. South of the airport is a gasoline
tank. An underground tank ,is also under construction which will have a
capacity of 100.000 liters. The airport has installations for day and night
flying. There is one formation of Soviet bombing planes with jot motors.
22. Chirpan Airport. This airport is still under construction. It is being
constructed by a unit of the Bulgarian Army.
23. Lovoch Airport. This airport is located near a temporary factory whore
airplanes are assembled9 the parts caning from the Soviet Union. This factory
also makes general repairs to airplanos. Because of the good terrain the
heaviest planes are able to land during all masons. For this reason it will
be one of the largest bases for Soviet pursuit planes.
24. Maslerevo Airport. This is an auxiliary airport 1,600 motors long and 800
meters wide, it has a dry runllay at all seasons. Thore is no commit rumay
? .but construction is to be made during 1950. There is one Soviet pursuit
squadron.
25. Urba Airport (sic). This airport is five kilometers south of Varna. It is
small with a few Soviet transport planes stationed there.
26. Orlino Airport. This is a Bulgarian auxiliary airport which was used by the
Germans during the war* A cenorrt runway is under construction. It is located
on a plateau on the Rodopi Mountains near the village of Spatsko (sic). There
are only a few Soviet planes here. There are plans to make this a large base
for Soviet pursuit planes.
27. Yambol Batevo Airport. This is an auxiliary airport and is located 10
kilmoters smith of Yambol. This airport will be used as a pilot training
school by the allgarians. There is only one hangar and a few buildings where
the Bulgarian personnel lives,
SE .5T/CO1!TROL - U. S. OFFICIALS OULY
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28o Varna Chaika Airport. This is an old Bulgarian base near the Black Sea. It
has two hangars and installations for Saviot sea planes. Those are mainly
transport planes and are used to transport coeds from the Soviet Union into
Bulgaria. At the same time it is a station for sea planes which fly from
the Soviot Union to Albania. Mout of the tine it is filled with planes.
Cornont
10
the following airfields
as listed beltswere not in existence at the end of 1945:
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 2p
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 28
. Gonna Dikanya
. Atanassovo
^ Cherna Gora
? ITMUOVO
Buhovo
? Sopot
? Dolni Dupnic (sic)
? Chirpan
? Maslarovo
? Urba (sic)
? Orlino
. Umbel Botevo
. Varna Chaika
2. Most of the places mentioned above are in Mmnediate proximity of existing
airfields or leveled off emergency landing graands and it does not appear
probable that the alleged elaborate constructions were carried out.
3. The airport alleged to be at Atanascovo might have been mistaken with
the airport Sarafovo. The former is a village within throe miles of
Burgas and is located on terrain unsuitable for an airfield. The
airfield of Sarafavo is within five miles of Burgas and has been in use
for a number of years. Similarly the airfields given as Urba and Chaikas
near Varnas might refer to the established air bases known an Peinordjik
and Sessevmez.
4. The alleged concrete rumvay construction doss not seem feasible? Prior
to 1945 Bulgaria had one inadequate concrete runways at Vrazhdebnas whioh
was about 800 meters long and could not accommodate heavy bombers?
5. The existence of underground hangars and radar stations likewise do not
seem feasible; they did not exist in Bulgaria up to 1945.and the present
size Of the Bulgarian Air Force hardly warrants such construction.
SEUL ONTROL U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
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