PETROZAVODSK SEAPLANE BASE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R010800150002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 16, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 1, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved F Al 4 *.* _
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY US; R (Karelo-Finnish SS R)
SUBJECT Petrozavodsk Seaplane Base
25X1
(LISTED BELOW)
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NAtONAL DEFENSE
25
---------------
CD NO,
DATE DISTR.
1 March 1952
NO. OF PAGES
2
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1
1. A seaplane base was located on the northern perimeter of Petrozavodsk (610
)46' N/3)4?20' E) , Karelo- nni_sh S . Ft. The land area of the base measured
about 500 meters from east to west. The delineation of the base's water
area ;waste,marked by buoys, moored. about :L50 meters apart. A spur track
entered the ground area from the east. (1)
2. Six hangars, each about 20 x 60 meters, were seen on the shore. The three
westernmost hangars were of wood, while the others were of corrugated sheet
metal. (2) Construction material arrived at the field in .1947, Soviet
soldiers said that this material was to be used for barracks buildings. An
under ;round fuel and bomb dump, erected in 1946/1947., was located south
of the hangars. The bombs, which were hauled to the field by trucks, were
painted dark red, had a ler.?;th of about 1.)4 to 1.5 meters and were about
30-cm in diameter. The rations were stored in a two-story building, 8 x 15
meters, in to southwestern. section of the field. A lighthouse, about 20
meters high with a flashing light, was seen in the row of buoys. A radio
stationv+ass located south of" the field and the road leading to Petrozavodsk,
not far from a large bakery, The radio tower was a braced steel structure
and had five antenna rods radiating from its top. `Where was a red blinker
light on top? Six antenna rdescended from the upper third of the
mast and were carried on low wooden po.l.eo,>.to a large tent. The, poles were
fitted. with insulators. Several air force soldiers with light blue epau-
lets were seen near the tint;. (3)
3. Since the Onega Lake is .Pozen in winter, flying activity was conducted
from 24 arch or A
il t
pr
o September cr October. During that period, flights
were made throughout the dar. Most of the flights were made individually
but there were occasional formation flights of up to eight planes. The
aircraft were twin engine, mid?--wine, monoplanes with radial engine, wings
with s traight leading e des an( swept-for- ard. trailing edges, single rud=-
der assembly, a boatshap_l goon under each win[, and a third -Pontoon
under the tail Th
ey
 Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457R010800150002-8
A rod-like devicE projected forward from the nose. (1t)
1 . The seaplane base was about two km northeast of the Petrozavodsk railroa~.c
station and. was bordered on the south by various construction supply
r)lants. The terrain slope(l to the west and northwest and was built up
w_Lh a:u_)artment houses. The land area was about 150 x 500 meters, end
was fenced-in on three sides with the fourth side open to the lake.
No construction was done from June 191 6 to November 191L9. There was a
concrete strip about 100 meters i,,ride ihich sloped down toward the lake.
A narrow-gauge spur track with a cable: line i^as seen on this trip.
5. About three or four temporary bui i.din.._;s '!a-erc: located along the concrete
strirn. Two huts with antenna. masts were seen at the southern edge of the
'field. A -vriLre ran from the middle o iii : antenna to one of the huts.
There was also a wooden ,etas about 2u ]meters hi h with antenna on top.
6. "Between June 19146 and the l,aa11 of 19)4("', two biplanes more, seen ~lyi n?
After, the fall of 1048, two scan-)lanes were seen flying for the f it st time.
The biplanes bad an. in-line engine, and, instead of the landing gear,
pontoons 2 to 3 meters lonk The loyae r .Tint,, was shorter than the upper
wing. The seaplanes were iczr xi-wing monope_aries with an engine on top of
the n s and. two ping-tip pontoons und. the wings . ','then shown aircraft
~)
charts, the ,_>capla.ne::) v:,ere of ITR-2 type. (~
ILLEGIB
Comments.
(1) Ti is is the first report on the e -~istence of the six hangars. The size of
the hangars is believed to be cver:?estimated. Accord.in ; to ra. location sketch
-trhich. was produced the hangars ire allegedly located directly
nn I-Jin sh. re? this is e ievee to be :incorrect.
a concrete landing ramp runs .-
the lake to the south, it is be .ievec t tat the hangars are located along
this strip.
(3) A radio station was previously reported at approximately this location.
It is doubted that a radio station would be occupied by air force soldiers
at a seaplane base equipped with its own radio installation.
(h) ccordirlg to available infor aat-ion such an aircraft does not exist in the
Soviet Air Force.
(5) This information and the designation of the 'I''BR-2 seaplane type are believed
to be possibly. The biplanes observed are probably IJ-2s with Vri n; tip
1j -
pontoons. Until November 1949, the seaplane base was obviously of little
military significance. The sritall_ member o aircraft observed there acre
pmbably employed for coastal patrol anca sea. rescue service or for weather
reconnaissance duty.
Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO10800150002-8