WARSAW-BERNEROWO AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R010000170006-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 29, 1999
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: December 10, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10000170006-0
CLASSIFICATION
Poland SECURITY INFCRMATION
in the late summer of 1950,
the area of Warsaw-Berneraco (R 53/P 99) airfield was completely
graded. Hills were leveled and the overground installations of Fort
Bema were removed. At the same time, the construction of hangars and
LO?) quarters started. Excavating was exclusively done by Polish workers.
About 1,000 laborers were allegedly employed. The underground installa-
tions of Fort Bema were to be converted for storage facilities. A con-
crete road, about 25 meters wide and 500 meters long, was to be construc-25X1X,
ted between the field and the fort. The road was to terminate 30 meters
25X1X underground into the fort installations.
2. grading work and sowing of grass was being done on the
edges of the field. Two parallel concrete strips were observed extending
from SE to NW on the landing field. One strip was approximately as wide as,
a German autobahn, whereas the other strip was as wide as one lane. A cir-
cular taxiway allegedly was around the landing field. A spur track led
from the eastern railroad line to the field passing south of Fort Bema. (1)
3. About 12 to 15 hangars of various sizes were located in groups of two and
three on the edge,of the landing field. About nine newly built three-story
and four-story houses which were not fully occupied were observed in the
western section of the field. Air force soldiers who entered and left these
buildings wore steel blue uniforms, caps with light blue ribbons and light
blue pipings on their upper edges, pentagonal light blue collar patches
with two-bladed propeller insignia,, and narrow light blue stripes on their
sleeves. The framework of about 30 four-story dwelling houses, each 2A x.
60 meters, was completed outside the western field boundary. Two acquair~,
antes of source said that the villas in the western section of the field/
were evacuated by the civilians in March 1951. The villas were then macs.
part of the field area. (2)
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Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10000170006-0
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Approved For Rel lli f /d 4 PG M5M1010000170006-0
5.
(3)
A target range with earth and concrete revetments was observed in the north-
western extension of the main runway, The road to the field approached from
the west.
A cantonment consisting of about 12 low wooden buildings each 12 x )GO me-
ters was located beyond the western field border. It was surrounded by a
high board fence and occupied by air force soldiers.
A small tier about 10 meters high and topped by a capper cupola was located
in the eastern section of the field, not far from Fort Bema. In the western
section of the field there were two steel masts about 25 meters high which
were interconnected by a wire with a lead-in to one of the barracks buildings.
6. Aircraft observed in front of the hangars and on the landing field included
about 12 swept-back jet aircraft with high and single rudder assemblies,
high elevator assemblies, air intake aperture in noses, nose wheels and
landing gears retracting rearward. About 7 twin-engine planes with double
rudder assemblies and Polish national emblems were also observed.
7. It appeared that flying activity was not intensive, Mostly three swept-back
jet aircraft were observed flying at the same time. nine
swept back jet planes flying simultaneously only once and, another time,,25X1X
three planes of the same type were observed taking off side-by-side,
8. Two other jet fighter types were observed over Warsaw, One plane had straight
wings and no fuselage step, while the other had swept-back wings and a fuse-
lage step. (4)
25X1A -CommentU.
(1) Previous reports contained information that two runways were under construc-
tion at Warsaw-Bernerowo airfield and that three runways were plannod to be
built.. It is possible that grading or construction on the taxiways was con-
founded with, runway construction. From the present report it is believed
that the airfield was provided with only one SE-NW runway and a taxiway
parallel ttQwt t wayt, For-layout sketch of airfield, see Annex. The re- .
ported tier . ~angars is not accurate, About 10 hangs are beli*oC
(2) Varge!,number of buildings may indicate that the field iwprobabl~v
stAemen s"` &I the soldiers observed does not perrriit, def?nite cencl
to the present occupation of the field. From the presence of jet aircraft,
mentioned in paragraphs 6, 7, and 8, it is inferred that Polish pilots are
being retrained on jet planes. It is probable that additional planes were
parked in the hangars during the period of observation.
(3) The installation is possibly a radar set. The steel masts are probably a
radio installation.
(!t) From the vague description of the aircraft their types cannot be identified.
It is possible that the planes are of type-7 and type-18 which are old models r
of the Soviet Air Force and, therefore, were turned over to the Polish Air
Force.
CO - ENTIAL
Appr~
No Change in class, 0
[] Ceelassified
Document NoY
Attfh.e I;I4 7-:' It' $ 730
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