TEN AIRFIELDS IN CHINA AND TIBET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A000800010075-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2000
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: September 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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N P I C/R-220/63
September 1963
TEN AIRFIELDS IN CHINA AND TIBET
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This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws U. S. Code Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the
detriment of the United States. It is to be seen only by personnel especially indoctrinated and authorized to
receive TALENT-KEYHOLE information. Its security must be maintained in accordance with KEYHOLE and
TALENT regulations.
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
OOOF
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1 Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA000800010075-8
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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
TEN AIRFIELDS IN CHINA AND TIBET
N P I C/R-220/63
September 1963
' NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
1
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NPIC/R-220/63
This report, NPIC Project J-47/63, is sub-
mitted in response to CIA Requirement ORR/
45/63. It presents the best current information
on ten selected airfields in Tibet and Western
China. The photography* utilized represents
the latest good coverage for each target.
The information on each airfield provides,
where quality permits, runway length, width,
surface composition and condition; the location
of primary support buildings; other installations;
types of aircraft, if any were observed on the
photography; and each airfield's approximate
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elevation above sea level.
The areas listed below were also searched
for the existence of reported airfields but none
were observed on available photography.
1.
Chamdo (31-05N 097-15E).
2.
Kar-tzu (31-38N 100-OOE).
3.
Tash Kurghan (Pu-li) (37-48N
075-10E).
4.
Rudog (33-27N 079-42E).
5.
Tashigong (32-32N 079-41E).
6.
Gartok (31-45N 080-22E).
7.
Zhikatse (29-17N 088-54E).
8.
Gyangtse (28-57N 089-38E).
9.
Tsona Dzong (28-OON 091-58E).
10.
Tingri Dzong (28-35N 086-38E).
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The Cheng-tu/Wen-chiang Airfield, 6.7 nm
NW of Cheng-tu at 30-43N 103-57E and just west
of the Cheng-tu airframe plant, has an 8,200 x
200 ft, NNE/SSW, hard surfaced runway. First
observed on Mission it was in
an early stage of construction. Presently in a
25X1 D late stage of construction it will
probably be utilized as a fly-away airfield for
the plant. Facilities include two loop taxiways
to the east, one still under construction; a
possible GCA system 2,400 ft south of the runway
center; a possible communications center in the
NW corner of the airfield; an aircraft engine test
revetment under construction and a new hangar
NE of the runway and NW of the airframe plant;
POSSIBLE
GROUND CONTROL
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and a POL storage area containing five buried
tanks immediately north of the airframe plant.
All administration and support facilities are
part of the airframe plant.
Photography on
aircraft.
The airfield is approximately 1,700 ft above
mean sea level.
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: AMS Series L500, Sheet NH 48-6,
1st ed (U)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Apr 61 (SECRET)
RCRAFT ENGINE
EST REVETMENT
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NPIC/R-220/63
Kashgar/Zang Karavul Airfield, 5 nm north
of Su-fu (Kashgar) at 39-32N 076-OOE, has a
serviceable, 4,500 x 150 ft, WNW/ESE, graded
earth runway with a parallel taxiway and five
hardstands on the SSW side. An administration
building, ten support buildings, and a secured
open storage area are also on the SSW side.
Since TALENT photography of_Mis-
sion = three new areas have been con-
structed near the airfield. The first (Area A),
just SW, contains eight possible barracks and 18
probable support buildings. The second (Area
B), one nm WSW, includes a large secured area
and six possible storage-type buildings, one in-
side the secured area and five outside it. The
25X1 D
25X1 D
third (Area C), a possible barracks area one nm
SSW, contains 26 possible barracks and approxi-
mately 25 other probable buildings.
Large barracks areas were also found SE
of Su-fu.
No aircraft were observed.
The airfield is approximately 4,000 ft above
mean sea level.
60A000800010075-8
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MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 335-2AL, 1st ed,
Dec 60 (SECRET)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Dec 58 (SECRET)
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Kan-tzu Airfield, approximately 1.5 nm east way center on an abandoned runway.
of Kan-tzu at 31-37N 099-55E, has a service- No aircraft were observed.
able, 10,550 x 260 ft, ESE/WNW runway with a The airfield is approximately 11,500ft above
probable crushed rock surface. Facilities in- mean sea level.
clude five administrative or support and one
25X1 D probable maintenance building, all immediately REFERENCES 25X1 D
north of the runway center. Photography of ^
25X1 D _ revealed activity underway probably to
extend the runway 1,200 ft at its WNW end. A
probable military camp with approximately 30 MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 200, Sheet 0436-4,
1st ed, Oct 60 (SECRET)
buildings was observed one nm SSW of the run- ASSOTW, Vol 31, Sep 60 (SECRET)
FIGURE 4. KAN-TZU AIRFIELD 25X1 D
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SO-CHE AIRFIELD, CHINA
So-che Airfield, 5 nm NE of So-che at 38- The airfield is approximately 4,400 ft above
25N 077-17E, has a 5,400 x 1,350 ft, NE/SW, mean sea level.
sod landing strip. Facilities include three prob-
able support buildings immediately north of the REFERENCES
landing area and one possible support building
adjacent to the SW edge.
No aircraft were observed on the photog-
raphy of - Small scale and haze pre-
clude a detailed interpretation.
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: AMS Series 1301, Sheet NJ 43,
4th ed, 1955 (U)
USATC Series 200, Sheet 0335-8A, 1st ed, Jun 60 (SECRET)
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W,
Kun-ming Airfield, 3.7 nm SE of Kun-ming
at 25-OON 102-45E, has a 9,800 x 200 ft, NE/
SW, hard-surfaced (probably concrete), primary
runway with a 1,250 ft overrun at the SW end; a
6,500 x 175 ft parallel runway immediately NW
now used for parking; a parallel taxiway connect-
ed by five links to the primary runway; an assem-
bly apron at the NE end of the shorter runway;
three parking aprons on the north side of the
field; and two loop taxiways, one to the north and
one to the east. Other facilities include a com-
bination control tower and administration build-
ing, repair and maintenance hangars, a 2,500 x
950 ft secured administration and housing area
"` CONTROL TOWER AND
s ADMINISTRATION BUILDIN
PARKING
!APRONS
SECURED ADMINISTRATION
AND HOUSING AREA
REPAIR AND
MAINTENANCE
HANGARS
FIGURE 6. KUN-MING AIRFIELD _
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to the NE containing approximately 80 buildings,
a probable instrument landing system, a motor
pool, and POL storage.
Photography on - revealed 22 25X1 D
FAGOT, 5 FRESCO, 2 CAB, 2 COLT, and 2
COACH.
The airfield is approximately 6,220 ft above
mean sea level.
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 200, Sheet 0496-
17A, 1st ed, Sep 59 (SECRET)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Jan 59 (SECRET/No Foreign Dissem)
REPAIR AND
MAINTENANCE
HANGARS
"IF
 Approved Fob
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ably serves to reduce sand and snow drifting on
the airfield.
Photography of - revealed no air- 25X1 D
craft.
The airfield is approximately 12,525 ft above
mean sea level.
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: AMS Series 1301, Sheet NI 47,
2d ed (U)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Feb 59 (SECRET)
Yu-shu Airfield, 20 nm SE of Yu-shu at 32-
53N 096-47E, has an 11,200 x 590 ft, E/W
graded area. Snow cover precluded delineation
of the runway. Housing and support facilities
immediately north of the airfield center include
one operations building, one administration
building, 4 barracks, 5 storage buildings, 6
other buildings, and one probable POL tank. A
secured ammunition dump with six medium-
sized storage buildings and one small build-
ing was observed .5 nm NE of the support
area. A low fence or wall on three sides prob-
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NPIC/R-220/63
NAGCHHU DZONG AIRFIELD, CHINA
M
Nagchhu Dzong Airfield, 14 nm WNW of craft but the field appears operational.
Nagchhu Dzong at 31-33N 091-44E, has a 12,610 The airfield is approximately 15,000ft above
x 325*ft, ENE/WSW, graded earth runway. The mean sea level.
only facility is a communications site south of REFERENCES
the runway containing four buildings surrounded
by an earthen parapet holding gun pits. Eleven
stick-mast antennas are mounted outside the
parapet.
25X1 D Photography on
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 200, Sheet 0437-
2HL, 1st ed (SECRET)
Approved For Relenp01ff(t1 RA-F @I~7~9'~45"
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maintenance and refueling stand on a parking
apron NE of the main support area with four
additional buildings immediately SE of these.
Probable navigational aids are approximately
4,500 ft distant from each end of the runway, and
two possible GCA radars are between the taxi-
way and the runway.
Photography on revealed no air-
craft.
The airfield is approximately 9,000 ft above
mean sea level.
Ka-erh-mu Airfield, 67 nm NNE of Ka-erh-
mu at 36-45N 095-35E, has a serviceable, 12,685
x 400 ft, ENE/WSW, probably claybound, crushed
rock runway. Facilities include aparkingapron
at each end of a parallel taxiway connected by
seven links to the main runway, an 1,800ft over-
run under construction at the east end of the run-
way, a 2,000 ft overrun completed at the west end,
and an aircraft parking apron immediately south.
Housing and support facilities immediately south
of the runway center include a combination con-
trol tower and administration building, eight
probable barracks, and approximately 20 support
buildings. Southwest of the runway center, a
secured housing area contains 21 barracks-type
buildings and six support or administration
buildings. Three buildings probably used for
4OA000800010075-8
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: AMS Series 1301, Sheet NJ 46,
2d ed (U)
FIGURE 9. KA-ERH-MU AIRFIELD
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Ho-tien Airfield, 7 nm SSW of Ho-tien at vicinity of the airfield; however, Ho-tien contains
37-01N 079-52E, has a 5,610 x 250 It, ESE/ several possible military storage and barracks
WNW, graded earth runway. Facilities are north areas.
of the runway and include an aircraft parking The airfield is approximately 3,600 ft above
area, an operations building with a probable mean sea level.
control tower, 16 support buildings, a secured
POL storage area, and one secured area of REFERENCES
undetermined function.
25X1 D Photography on - revealed two
CRATE aircraft in the parking area.
No other airfields have been observed in the
Ho-tien area and no military installations in the
MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 200, Sheet 0335-
20A, 1st ed, Oct 60 (SECRET)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Dec 58 (SECRET)
FIGURE 10. HO-TIEN AIRFIELD
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Lhasa Airfield, 15 nm NE of Khochhe and
50 nm north of Lhasa at 30-30N 091-06E, has
two runways. One is a serviceable 9,100 x 175
ft, NE/SW, runway with a probable asphalt sur-
face and a 1,500 x 590 ft crushed rock parking
apron at the northeast end. The other is a 12,100
x 110 It, ENE/WSW, crushed rock runway, ap-
parently serviceable, but probably not in use.
The facilities, all SE of the runways, include a
taxiway, a parking apron, an operations building
with a control tower, two radio stations and
16 support buildings. An adjacent barracks area
contains approximately 40 buildings, a motor
pool; and secured, open storage areas.
Photography of -revealed no air- 25X1 D
craft.
The airfield is approximately 14,000 ft above
mean sea level.
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MAPS AND DOCUMENTS: USATC Series 200, Sheet 0437-
6, 1st ed, Jul 62 (SECRET)
ASSOTW, Vol 31, Sep 60 (SECRET)
KHOCHHE 15 NAUTICAL MILES
,_RADIO STATI3 NAUTI
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