KUMMERSDORF BOMBING AND SHOOTING RANGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001800350009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 21, 2003
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY, gust. Q
TOPIC- Kwn ersdorf Bombing and Shooting Range
a
e
qwm.q ? meters. They then ia,red -L,~ twee
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EVALUATION see below PLACE OBTAINED
DATE OF CONTENT 27 February to 22 April 1953 25X1
DATE OBTAINED----F DATE PREPARED 19 June 1953
ILLEGILBA
REFERENCES 25X1
PAGES 3
EVCLOS.URES (rve. & TYPE)
I L L.iA.KS 4
25
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500 meters for individual attacks and attacks by twos, each time dropping one
f
] titud
f
,REPORT NO.
1. Between 3 p.m. and ::30 p.m. on 27 February 1953, nine jet bombers were seen
over the Kummersdorf bombing range. The.aircraft approached in V formation at
an altitude of about 11.500 meters - a.nd. made three attacks in horizontal flight,
each time dropping one bomb. Between 12:30 a.m. And 2 P.M. on 28 February, 36
jet bombers pracsticed bombing. in to on flit and then, flying wider apart,
fired their ,'ans.- At 9 a.m. o x $ ~s nine: t bombers flying in V for Cation
approach ate: Caret area at an +rt,tude of between 1, 500 and 2,000
metes. Gi c Q a o b a the : r tipr~ descended to an
alt :Cud ' about 5 , 000 me rg,, an ying n hor ontal flight in V formation,
made three attacks on the wets `prat ee; range each time dropping one bomb.
About 10:00 a.m,, .29 aircraft flying in formation flew over the bombing range
at an altitude of about 2,000 meters. Another 29 aircraft arrived at 1 p.m., flew.
over the practice ground, broke formation and descended to an altitude of about
at an altitude of _nu t 2,000 meters. At ab
jet bombers flying at an altitude of about 5,000 meters practiced: bombing . No
bombing was observed between 28 and 30 March 1 Machb p, ,was practiced
than on the previous days. In the mornings between 20 and 27 March i di~vdual
illuminating the firs hha f of the flight pat t o1`' .fee bomb. The
was clear. At about 1:30 P.M. on 5 April, one jet bomber flew over the bombing
range.
bombers flying in V formation approached the bombing range from the south at an
altitude of about 1,500 meters, circled once over the range and, on the second
approach, dropped two bombs each on the dummy village at the range. The weather
tion to the bomber.a wo swept ~'baok et fighters were seen over t'he"''targe't range
as the second six bombs were dropped. On 3, April at about 10:30 a.m., three jet
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o en standard size freight cars, a village com-
d of sverahousesanc avehlcle column and a large area fenced in by
2. Tgets observed at the eastern practice range at Kummersdorf included a
it is po s sible that this large
w Q an uar e s6id rs with dogs.
Vaircraft guns was repeatedly
fed in area was a testing fleld as iring with
in the a v llage. One photograp1 showed a meet-metal
m
true lire. r n of another photograph two similar objects made
?~'tanding in the , obably were to represent a radar station. 2
r e e .d . On 1'7 ri , individual jet bombers
is overcast.
ch 1953 a siren was sounded at Kummersdorf shortly before bombing
p~ ee started atie target range. The Soviet work detail which was re-
soti the target vii ale, ay and night except for bombing hours, then
er araund the practice are11 a. The guard posts were interconnected by
s~~r
t*, k covett
~;no _gun ted guards also patrolled the area. Other Beta' with horse
wi ca'b les and telephones, stood by to be employed in case of
All guards wore 'blue epaulets and were stationed at the Gut Kummersdorf
On 28 Fehr ry, flights-of jet bombers were repeatedly observed over the
.i ~, pp
a ft a coached at
ors ~somp~n rsn n r`c~i a a~out4~tla. rcra
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5. Between 14 and 24 March 1953, jet bombers almost daily practiced bombing at
the Kummersdorf target range. The weather was generally good. At 7130 a.m.
on l~?April, jet bombers approached the target range from the east, dropping
one bomb on the first attack and three bombs on the second. They then flew off
toward the. pouthwest. This maneuver was repeated about every hour. After 1 p.m.,
J,y thts were de. The weather was clear. On 14 April, bombs were
ma
or individual fli'
dropped tram very high altitudes and, even though the weather was clear , it
w Dossibe to see the aircraft, 'Bombing was practiced until 2 p.m. and was
repeated throughout the following days.
6. Between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on 15 March, individual jet bombers approached
the target range at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 meters and dropped bombs,
flying horizontally. ng dropped the bombs, some of the planes left the
practice area, while o ers circled once over the field and came down to an
tlttt o meters and fired their guns at ground targets, gliding at an
titu_o of between 100 and 15.6 meters. o firing of tail guns was observed.
On 24 March, bombing practice started before 1 pm. Individual jet bombers
lying a t 'aria es bf_l,5CO to 2,O 6 meters dropped one bomb on each approach
Over' the target ' a e. During one hour, seven jet bombers attacked the target,
but only one ,it was determined . 1
7. The target villa e is situated between the two'practice ranges and the Kummers-
~` *ctt w an umersaorf-Woltersdorf roads. rn he southern section of the
.rg t v`ii1a e is a church and, in its eastern section a railroad line Two
ti
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ttt d Q Q to 3
individual
QOn. `fin arch
sou i
rromlli,i
t a rra. guns
srocaed on ~e eastern
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ers an nTnuuet in ervaIs, maw two
ecT e'" M ng range in "the
ae bombers a p p r o a is
e same air actvty was observed as on 14 March. In
at''bombere drropped bombs on the practice range from
OO meters. At about 9 a.m. on 8 April, 27 jet bombers
a1itude of about 1,500 meters in three V formations.
11 1 were escorted -y six. et'.fighters. Other jet bombers which frequently
-
ce
dummy motor vehicles we=. located east of the eastern prac
ueuiy eeeorutu Diu we
tile. t et round during the aay were repea
ers: .e wea her was clear On 9 single-engine
st" to the railroad line-. They
tes with white scale type mark-
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SECRET/1
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. It is believed that the_Kummersdorf bombir practice
r
d
g
oun
is uedb the regiments of the southern bomber division d the GA regiment
stationed at Jueterbeg. Fighters received training in escirting and attacking
25X1 3. G . ace Annex or sketch of the dtht y village and Annex fob
c of th'e armor plat'
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SST)
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;'Fate^t N %~ ltie
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Armor_ Plates Observed At Kummersdorf
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Layout Sketch of the Kummersdorf Bombing Practice Ground
Legend.
A Sentry
B Observation tower
C Double sentry
D Dummies of motor vehicles
E Railroad line
F Double sentry
0 Practice range Lest
Practice range West
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